ADVENTURES FOR EVERYONE
Outside Adventures Estero’s great outdoors is a wonderful learning laboratory for
the entire family. Adventure seekers can enjoy the thrill of the hunt at Lovers Key State Park (page 24) for a morning or afternoon of geocaching. Tis outdoor treasure hunt uses GPS devices to navigate to a specific set of coordinates. Once there, the search to find the hidden container, or geocache, begins! History buffs can accompany a guide at Koreshan State Park (page
26) for Saturday or Sunday morning strolls through the park’s gardens and intriguing structures. Learn local historic lore while identifying native and exotic plants. After the walking tour, meander the riverside trail where birds and wildlife are abundant and bobcats, foxes, river otters, alligators and manatees are occasionally sighted. Join a park volunteer at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (page 23) for a fun, interactive beachcombing adventure (free with park admission). Uncover beach treasures, and learn about seashells, sea creatures and tidal movements. Treasures of a different sort await discovery at Delnor-Wiggins’ geocache sites; visit
www.Geocaching.com for location details. In nearby Bonita Springs, explore Everglades Wonder Gardens, a
3.5-acre botanical jungle filled with alligators, plants and rescued birds and animals. More sunbathing alligators and dozens of species of spectacular
waterbirds can be spotted at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (page 26). Bring drinking water, binoculars, and cameras, and rent bikes for a full or half-day at nearby Tarpon Bay Explorers (
www.tarponbayexplorers.com). Start your day at the Visitor & Education Center, where you can pick up a brochure guide to the refuge. Ten pedal along Wildlife Drive, marveling at clusters of roseate spoonbills, snowy egrets and stately blue herons. Travel by bicycle to sightsee the Estero area thanks to our extensive network of sidewalks and bike paths (see the map on page 52). Bring drinking water, snacks and sunscreen. No bikes? No problem! Te Trek Bicycle Store (
www.TrekBikesFlorida.com) at the Coconut Point Mall rents bikes that come with complimentary helmets, bags, locks and local maps. Soft sand, a gentle surf, a jungle-gym playground and shaded picnic tables all add up to beach- time fun for every age at Lynn Hall Memorial Park (page 24.) Te licensed fishing pier is a must for young anglers. Pick up bait at the park’s gift shop, and tackle and poles at the pier’s concession, Rudy’s Treasure Chest (239-463-3333). For a memorable canoe or kayak adventure, visit Estero River Outfitters (page 29) and
paddle down the Estero River Canoe Trail. It winds through subtropical hammocks and mangrove swamps where you’ll be wrapped in the sounds of nature and amazed by sightings of yellow-crowned night herons, anhingas and cormorants. Experienced paddlers may want to stop at Mound Key Archaeological State Park for a picnic lunch or a short walk on the nature trails.
Indoor Adventures Take a break from the sun at a variety of Estero’s indoor venues. From karate and
martial arts to table tennis and tai chi, classes and activities abound at the Estero Recreation Center (page 25). Te center includes a gymnasium, video game station, computer lab and fitness center. Te center’s after-school Club Rec program provides fun and learning for kids with organized games, activities, clubs, sports, crafts and homework time. Te entire family can lace up and whirl around the ice skating rink at Germain
Arena (page 29) while listening to the weekly Top 20 tunes. A disco ball and laser show add to the fun. Rental skates are available in sizes 8 (child) through 12 (adult). No one can resist bargain shopping destinations, and Miromar Outlets (page 28) offers the best deals on designer clothing, accessories and places to eat. Keep the younger set occupied at the MundoMAX Playland, a covered kids’ play area where free crafts activities take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Wednesday. It’s never too early to cultivate an appreciation of the arts. Te Centers for the Arts
of Bonita Springs (page 23) hosts gallery exhibitions and youth theater presentations throughout the year. Residents benefit from a full program of visual and performing arts classes, workshops and summer camps specifically designed for youngsters and teens. School-age kids, smartphones in hand, will be transported in time when they see the
circa-1904 Estero Creek School House (page 14), located in the Estero Community Park. Te learning environment was quite different then using writing slates and you’ll even see a dunce chair. Next door, wander through another world at the Cottage, where photos and artifacts portray early 20th-century life. Displays are provided by the Estero Historical Society.
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www.EsteroChamber.org
Photo courtesy of the College of Life
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