Cape Coral began as a planned community in the 1950s, and more than 400 miles of canals dotted with beautiful waterfront homes make it a big boating destination – and a popular spot for vacation home rentals. Surrounded by water, Cape Coral is a quaint coastal community with plenty to offer nature lovers, families and couples. This welcoming and vibrant community hosts many events, from family-friendly movies in the park to farmers markets and special holiday celebrations. 

The city has five marinas, offering everything from  fishing or yacht charters to rentals for kayaks and paddleboats. Be sure to check out the great restaurants and shops at Cape Harbour Marina and Tarpon Point Marina, where you’ll find the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village.

Cape Coral may have been built around the water, but with more than 1,500 acres of parks offering playgrounds, picnic areas, tennis amenities, and waterfront parks with boat ramps, kayak launches and swimming, there’s plenty to do on water and land. At Rotary Park, a nearly mile-long footpath that is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail cuts through uplands and salt marshes, offering bird sightings to quiet and patient watchers. 

Plan a couple of hours at Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve, where you can stroll along a boardwalk next to the mangroves that line the Caloosahatchee River. Wildlife watching isn’t just in our wilderness areas – throughout Cape Coral’s neighborhoods and community parks, you may spot pint-sized burrowing owls emerging from their burrows. In fact, the city has more than 1,000 nesting pairs of this rare species. The annual Burrowing Owl Festival in February offers tours of burrows, special activities for kids, and informational sessions about this special bird and other important species to Southwest Florida.

Waterfront restaurants, breweries and even a distillery offer amazing views that are rivaled only by the fresh food and bespoke beverages on offer. Known for its diverse culinary scene, the Cape’s unique local eateries offer foodies plenty of options to choose from. Adults can spend an evening out on one of the popular trolley events.

Cape Coral is a family-friendly place, and Sun Splash Family Water Park and Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park are two popular kid-pleasing attractions your whole family will enjoy. 

When your crew gets hungry, check out downtown Cape Coral’s South Cape district, where restaurants dish up everything from creative pizza and craft beers to tiki bar cocktails and live music.