Fort Myers

This riverside complex holds the winter homes and tropical gardens of inventor Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) and auto manufacturer Henry Ford (1863-1947), who became lifelong friends in 1896. — Michelin Guide

John Ringling's primary work was his traveling circus, which still entertains Americans to this day. But he also dabbled in oil, real estate, finance, and ranching. — Frommer's

Crammed with artifacts, this small museum leapfrogs from the giant sloths of the Pleistocene Era to the twisted props of downed WWII fighter jets in a veritable blink. — Lonely Planet

Kids get to touch such cool stuff as stingrays (minus the stinger) and watch sharks in the shark tank at this excellent aquarium. — Frommer's

This bright, cheery 30,000-square-foot ode to playful learning burst onto Naples's cultural scene in 2012 after a decade of much-anticipated planning, and its 12 state-of-the-art permanent galleries do not disappoint. — Fodor's

The pride of Naples, this engaging, sophisticated art museum is part of the Artis–Naples campus, which includes the fabulous Philharmonic Center next door. — Lonely Planet

Orchids make up nearly a third of the 20,000 species of flowers and plants here. — Fodor's

An old-guard establishment created in the 1880's, which now has 319 beachfront rooms. Articles Celebrity Travel Guide to Florida T L's Ultimate Guide to Florida. — Travel + Leisure

This county park covers 35 acres of coastal habitat, including a 0.75-mile boardwalk through a mangrove forest that leads out to a powdery white-sand beach. — Lonely Planet

Nestled on the Manatee River, west of downtown, this park attracts history buffs by re-creating the look and atmosphere of the period when Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto landed in 1539. — Frommer's

It's best to stop by Manatee Park, a refuge for Florida manatees, during the winter season (between December and February). — U.S. News & World Report

This reserve protects 110,000 acres of coastal lands and marine estuaries at the northern end of the Ten Thousand Islands, just south of Naples and north of Marco Island. — Lonely Planet

Do you prefer your beach loud and active with a big dose of good old-fashioned fun? Kids running around in the surf, volleyballers hitting the sand, and tykes getting up close and personal with the park's most colorful residents, the red-throated Muscovy ducks, are all part of the Lowdermilk experience. — Fodor's

As kid-friendly as nature gets, there are hands-on exhibits, a planetarium, easy to manage walking trails into three different biomes, and enough wildlife to satisfy the most avid amateur zoologists. — Lonely Planet

Considered one of Florida's oldest and largest state parks, Myakka River State Park stretches across 58 square miles of wetlands, hammocks, pinelands and prairies. — U.S. News & World Report