Cape Coral

Introduction

Cape Coral sits on the Gulf of Mexico in Lee County, Florida, and is the largest city between Tampa and Miami in both population and area. Founded in 1957, it anchors the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area as its principal city.

What sets Cape Coral apart is its relationship with water: the city has more than 400 miles of navigable waterways, more than any other city on earth. That network of canals shapes daily life here, so expect the water to be part of how you get around and how you spend your time.

Getting there

If you fly in, you will most likely arrive at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Regional airports a bit further afield include Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Punta Gorda Airport (PGD).

• Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
• Tampa International Airport (TPA)
• Punta Gorda Airport (PGD)

Cape Coral sits directly west of Ft. Myers in Lee County, and because it is a cape, two of the ways in are by bridge. There are four points of entry:

• Veteran's Memorial Parkway Bridge
• Cape Coral Parkway Bridge — both bridges charge a toll, reduced by half with a LeeWay transponder enrolled in the discount program
• Pine Island Parkway/Bayshore Dr. from North Ft. Myers, a free alternative
• Burnt Store Rd. from Punta Gorda in Charlotte County, which brings you into the northwest Cape

Getting around

Cape Coral is large and flat, and its neighbourhoods, businesses and attractions are laid out far from one another, so driving is the most convenient way to get around and most trips will involve a car. Santa Barbara Boulevard divides the city into east and west, while Hancock Bridge Parkway to the east of Santa Barbara and Embers Parkway to the west divide it into north and south. The main east–west thoroughfares, from northernmost to southernmost, are Pine Island Parkway, Veterans Memorial Parkway, Cape Coral Parkway and El Dorado Drive; the north–south roads, from easternmost to westernmost, are Del Prado, Santa Barbara and Chiquita. The southernmost tip holds the largest concentration of businesses and homes, making it the handiest area to base yourself if you want amenities nearby.

Public transport is limited to buses: the regional operator LeeTran runs an acceptable service with departures at least every hour, and day and week passes are available, but it is not a fast or comprehensive way to cover the whole city, so check routes and schedules in advance. There is no rail, metro or tram network. Taxis and ride-hailing suit point-to-point trips, particularly evenings out, rather than touring the whole city. Walking between neighbourhoods is generally impractical; a bike lane is provided and can be a handy way to navigate the southeast and southwest residential areas. If you arrive by air at Southwest Florida International Airport, or at Tampa International or Punta Gorda Airport further afield, you will need a rental car, taxi or ride-hailing service to finish the trip, as there is no rail or metro link into the city.

Where to stay

Food & drink

Cape Coral has small restaurants scattered throughout the city, though chains have been appearing too. Rather than sticking to those, head for the local hang-outs. If you want more choice, Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers is a short drive away and offers many additional dining options.

• Iguana Mia's Mexican Restaurant on East Cape Coral Parkway
• Ariani Restaurant on SE 15th Terrace, serving authentic Northern Italian cuisine with an open, friendly ambience and a good wine selection
• Masala Mantra - The Indian Bistro on Del Prado Boulevard South, a casual spot offering authentic Indian dishes

For drinking, Downtown Cape Coral has a slew of restaurants and bars along Cape Coral Parkway between Del Prado and Coronado.

• Nice Guy's Beer and Pizza Lounge on Cape Coral Parkway East, with live music, craft beer, cocktails, pub food and pizza in a decidedly alternative/indie setting
• Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery on SW 3rd Place
• Jungle Bird Tiki on Lafayette Street, an expansive tiki bar with crafted tropical cocktails

What to see and do

Beaches and water define the area's recreation. You can find typical beach and tourist activities on Fort Myers Beach, nature trails and sea kayaking on Black Island in Lovers Key State Park, and sunsets from Captiva's west-facing beach. Boating is a natural fit given Cape Coral's many canals, and neighboring Pine Island has excellent fishing. For a quieter paddling or birdwatching outing, head to the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve, a protected channel dotted with mangrove islands.

• Cape Coral Yacht Club Park
• Matlacha, an island artists' colony with Caribbean charm
• Sun Splash Family Waterpark
• Cayo Costa State Park, reachable only by charter boat, private boat, or ferry, with manatees, dolphins, and birds, plus beaches, hiking trails, picnic pavilions, primitive camping cabins, and a small nature center and gift shop
• Shell Factory in North Fort Myers
• Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve, with a covered boardwalk trail along the Caloosahatchee River, manatee viewing, and military memorials
• Yucca Pens Unit State Wildlife Management Area, open space for hunting, fishing, trapping, and frogging

When to go

Cape Coral has a borderline tropical savanna climate, so your timing depends on how you handle heat, humidity and rain. The wet season is hot and humid, with erratic tropical downpours and the majority of the year's rain falling from June to September. Afternoon thunderstorms in summer are heavy but brief. This stretch also sits in the heart of hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November.

The dry season is pleasantly warm with only sporadic precipitation, making it the more comfortable time to visit. Sunshine is abundant, and the very start of this period still falls within hurricane season, which officially continues through November, so that risk lingers into the beginning of the drier months.

Three days in Cape Coral

Day one: Arrive through Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), Tampa International Airport (TPA) or Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), then cross into Cape Coral by one of the bridges from Fort Myers — the Veteran Memorial Parkway Bridge or the Cape Coral Parkway Bridge. Settle in and spend the rest of the day along Bayshore Dr, watching the Gulf and the canals that give the city its shape. If you have time before dark, drive out toward Pine Island Parkway to see the water on the western edge of Lee County.

• Arrive via RSW, TPA or PGD
• Cross the Veteran Memorial Parkway Bridge or the Cape Coral Parkway Bridge
• Walk or drive Bayshore Dr for Gulf views
• Continue to Pine Island Parkway if time allows

Day two: Give the day to the water. Cape Coral sits on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida, and much of its character comes from the canals and the access they give you to the Gulf. Use the LeeWay system if you are driving between the bridges and the parkways, and plan a route that takes in Santa Barbara Boulevard and Hancock Bridge Parkway before looping back toward Cape Coral Parkway. End the day near the water, where the warm, humid air of Lee County is at its most pleasant.

• Spend the day on or near the Gulf
• Drive Santa Barbara Boulevard and Hancock Bridge Parkway
• Use LeeWay for bridge crossings
• Return via Cape Coral Parkway

Day three: Head north and east on the larger roads — Embers Parkway, Veterans Memorial Parkway, Burnt Store Rd — toward the edge of Charlotte County and Punta Gorda. This is the quieter, more open side of Cape Coral, and it makes an easy final morning before you turn back toward Fort Myers and your departure airport. If your flight leaves from Tampa or Miami, allow the extra time; if it leaves from RSW or PGD, the run back across the bridge is short.

• Drive Embers Parkway, Veterans Memorial Parkway and Burnt Store Rd
• Continue toward Punta Gorda and Charlotte County
• Return through Fort Myers for RSW or PGD departures
• Allow more time if flying from Tampa or Miami