The U.S. - Southeast / March 22, 2021

48 Hours in Estero, FL

48 hours in Estero, Florida is a quick weekend trip, but the beauty and diversity is totally worth it. Located in Lee County on the west coast of Florida on the Gulf Of Mexico just south of Fort Myers and just north of Bonita Springs, Florida. Estero is just 20 square miles, but there is a lot of history in such a small area. For a quick weekend trip, make sure to hit the top sites in Estero. There are so many wonderful things to do in Estero, this list is just the top things to do. Estero is really safe place to live and visit!

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The view from Estero River while kayaking

Table of Contents

Kayaking Estero River

Day 1 You cannot go wrong, with kayaking on the Estero River. The view is beautiful, and the experience is wonderful. Estero River Outfitters is a great spot for getting rental equipment for kayaking and stand up paddle boards (SUP). You will likely spend a couple hours here, and if it is season (November- May) you may want to get there early as they can run out of rentals and you have to wait for people to come back in. Overall kayaking the river is an amazing experience you and your fellow travelers will enjoy.

Next stop, FK Your Diet this restaurant is a must hit, the comfort food here is amazing, but it also is a local restaurant focused on supporting the local community. They donate 5% of their revenue to local agencies, a way of giving back to the Foster Kids (that is what FK stands for) community. Just by having a super yummy meal there you are giving back too. It also doesn’t hurt to buy a mug to take home, “if it makes you happy it’s healthy” now that is a mug to get behind.

Find a great place to stay in estero!

Hotels.com: The Obvious Choice. Book now and save! Hotels.com: The Obvious Choice. Book now and save!

potatoes and biscuits and gravy at FK Your Diet amazing and made from scratch — Yummy food at FK Your Diet

Miromar Outlets

Next Stop, Miromar Outlets this place is full of so many stores! You could easily spend an entire day here, and hey there is always tomorrow! There are multiple ways to attack it, you can start at one end and try to make it to the other and back, or you can look at the enormous list of stores and only hit your favorites. You must hit Off Saks 5th Avenue, as even just looking is fun considering all the interesting designer goods.

You will be hungry by the time you finish but don’t worry there is a Starbucks for coffee and multiple restaurants to eat at. Ford’s Garage is a bit of a unique location, and a Ford himself used to winter in Southwest Florida it seems a fitting spot to dine. You cannot go wrong with the pulled pork mac-n-cheese! For dessert do not miss Norman Love Confections there is a location right in Miromar Outlets and you will not find a more beautiful dessert in town. All of the chocolates are hand painted! They are delicious, and also make an amazing souvenir, for those you had to leave at home.

hand painted truffle chocolates, a rainbow of colors red yellow orange green white and brown — Norman Love Chocolates are beautiful and so delicious!

If you still have the energy, check out what is on the docket at Hertz Arena. The local hockey team that plays there is really good, and it can be a super fun time. It also hosts some amazing concerts, and because it is a smaller arena, you can get pretty close without dropping a ton of money. Quick tip parking can be expensive $20 per car on event nights, but you can avoid it by walking over from the outlet parking lot.

Looking for late night can be limited in Estero, but down the road both Naples and Fort Myers have some great options.

Hotels.com: The Obvious Choice. Book now and save! Hotels.com: The Obvious Choice. Book now and save!

Koreshan State Park

Day 2 Koreshan State Park is located at the end of Corkscrew Road and US-41 and is a very interesting place to visit. It was founded by the Koreshan Unity Settlement in 1894. They had some very interesting beliefs, and moved to Estero to be safe from those to who viewed them in an unfriendly manner. They were relatively prosperous, under the leadership of Dr. Teed, but after his death in 1908 the membership steadily declined.

The Koreshan Settlement Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. You can visit the structures, and gardens either with a tour guide or on your own. There are 11 restored buildings to explore. There is also a nature trail, that winds along the Estero River. There is also a huge 60 site campground, if you are feeling even more naturey.

You can rent kayaks and canoes, and there is a boat dock to launch off. If you go this route, and you are up for it paddle out to Mound Key Archeological State Park, fair warning it is a few miles there and back, and Mound Key does not have any facilities currently. This location was made over 2,000 years ago by the Calusa Tribe, and is a build up of all the food waste or trash heaps from the tribe.

The Calusa formed the canals and mounds that still exist today. The Calusa lands extended from Tampa Bay south to the ten-Thousand Islands and east to Lake Okeechobee. It was a very large kingdom! Spanish explorers were the beginning of the end of the Calusa Tribe, and they died out in 1750 from exposure to diseases they had no immunity to.

Great Spots to Explore in Estero

The Happehatchee Center offers some great activities including yoga in the gazebo. It is a lovely nature center, and focuses on meditation and sanctuary in nature. If you are looking for some quiet and some relaxation a quick visit might be just the key.

Estero Bay Preserve State Park has two entrances, the Winkler Point Entrance in Fort Myers and the Estero River Scrub entrance. The cost to visit is only $2 per vehicle. There are many miles of trails, and although some areas can flood in the rainy season it is worth the work. Always, always, always bring bug spray and sunscreen, you will thank me.

Your pet is welcome too, just make sure the leash is less than 6 feet, and you take any messes with you when you go. There are 4 trails from the Estero entrance side, and you should keep your eye out for gopher tortoises, hint they actually create mounds on the ground that they live in. Also, look for bald eagles they have been spotted here too!

Estero Community Park is a great free option to burn off some steam. It is a 55 acre facility and has a gym, walking trails, and a super fun playground! What a great place to have a little fun, friendly reminder you are never too old to swing!