Sports and Recreation

Boston Red Sox fans flock to Fort Myers for their team’s spring training games at City of Palms Park, while Minnesota Twins fans can be found cheering their team on at Hammond Stadium in the Lee County Sports Complex. And when the majors head back up north, our own boys of summer, the Fort Myers Miracle, keep baseball fans in cheering shape all summer long.

Cycling enthusiast? You’ll find spectacular scenery on primary roads and on hundreds of miles of scenic trails. The views are even more breathtaking from the vantage point of a sightseeing plane or a parasail. Then, of course, there are the water sports: power boating, sailing, paddling, personal watercraft—even surfing, skim boarding and kite surfing.

Boat Tours and Charters, Watersports and Marinas

EVERGLADES CITY

Captain Doug’s Everglades Safari, one mile past the bridge on S.R. 29, (800) 282-9194. Learn about native plants and wildlife.

Everglades National Park Boat Tours, S.R. 29, Chokoloskee Causeway, (800) 445-7724. See mangrove forests, manatees, dolphins, bald eagles and roseate spoonbills. $21 adults, $11 children. www.nps.gov/ever.

Jungle Erv’s Airboat World, S.R. 29, (800) 432-3367. Everglades airboat ride. www
­.jungleervairboatworld.com.

MARCO ISLAND

Blue Runner Charters, at Marco River Marina, (239) 253-4805. Offshore fishing for groups up to six. Children welcome. www.bluerunner-charters.com.

Caxambas Park, 909 S. Collier Court, (239) 642-0004. Boat ramp, restrooms, fuel, bait, tackle, refreshments and picnic area. 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Eagle Excursions, 3200 San Marco Road, (239) 642-1925. Dolphin and manatee tours. www
­.eagleexcursions.com.

Marco Island Ski and Water Sports, 400 S. Collier Blvd. at Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, (239) 642-2359, or 560 S. Collier Blvd. at Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort, (239) 642-3377. Parasailing, WaveRunners, eco-tours and more. www.marcoislandwatersports.com.

Marco River Marina, 951 Bald Eagle Drive, (239) 394-2502. Daily shuttle to Key West. Rental boats, tackle shop and ship’s store; service boat sales and repair. www.marcoriver.com.
 
Marina at Factory Bay, 1081 Bald Eagle Drive, (239) 389-2929. 72 floating docks to 107 feet. Short- or long-term, water, cable, clubhouse with wireless Internet, laundry, showers, restrooms, ice, fuel and free pump-out. www.factorybaymarina.com.

Sea Excursions, 705 E. Elkcam Circle, (239) 642-6400. A conventions services company offering support services to meeting planners for fishing, sailing, shelling and sunset tours. Dinner cruises, dolphin watching. www.seaexcursions.com.

Stop’s Marine Charters, 385 Angler Drive at Calusa Marina, (239) 394-8000. Fishing, shelling, sightseeing, eco-tours and snorkeling. www.stopsmarinecharters.com.

Marco Island Princess at Port-O-Call Marina, 550 Port-O-Call Way, (239) 649-2275 or (239) 642-5415. Daily cruises include lunch buffet, sightseeing, sunset hors d’oeuvres and sunset dinner buffet cruises. www.naplesprincesscruises.com.

NAPLES

A & B Charters, at the City Dock, 880 12th Ave S., (239) 263-8833. Half-, full- and multiday deep-sea or inland fishing trips, shelling and cocktail charters for six to 12 passengers. www
­.aandbcharters.com.

All Water Excursions, (239) 594-0213. Customized sunset charters, eco-tours, fishing excursions, luxury charters, party boats trips,water activities and regularly scheduled tours. www.allwaterexcursions.com.

Bayview Park, Danford Street off Thomasson Drive, (239) 353-0404. Two-lane boat ramp, restrooms, picnic shelters and playground. $3 ramp fee. Sunrise to sundown.

Collier Boulevard Boating Park, S.R. 951 at C.R. 952, (239) 353-0404. Two-lane boat ramp. Sunrise to sundown.

Day Star Charters, 1221 Fifth Ave. S., (239) 417-3474. Private boat charters deep-sea and backwater fishing, dolphin watches, sightseeing cruises, restaurant trips and sunset cruises. www
­.naplescharterboats.com.

Double Sunshine/Lady Brett/Capt. Paul, U.S. 41 at Tin City, (239) 263-4949. Double Sunshine offers nature cruises, dolphin watching, sightseeing through Port Royal and sunset cruises. $28.30 per adult; half price children under 12; Lady Brett offers offshore fishing and half-day trips. $60 per adult; $50 children under 12. Capt. Paul runs bay fishing excursions twice every day. $60 per adult; $50 children under 12. www.tincityboats.com.

Grand Slam Charters, Port-o-Call Marina, Port-o-Call Way, (239) 793-0969. Backcountry and offshore fishing.

Capt. Mike Friday, (239) 593-4357. In-shore backcountry guide.

International Yachting Services of Naples, 3295 70th St. W., (239) 262-8411. Cruisers, yachts and sport boats from 40 to 130 feet.

Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., (239) 435-4353. Beach chair, umbrella, cabana, pedal-boat, kayak, double-kayak and sailboat rentals. www.naplesbeachhotel.com.

Naples City Dock, 12th Avenue South on Naples Bay, (239) 213-3070. Fuel dock,
restrooms, bait and ice. Charter boats available. www.craytoncove.com/citydock.htm.
Naples Dive Center, 2700 Immokalee Road, (239) 597-7930. A PADI five-star facility. Scuba instruction, travel, sales and service. www.naplesdive.com.

Naples Landing, 1101 Ninth St. S., (239) 213-7120. Public boat ramp. Metered parking.
Naples Princess at Port-O-Call Marina, 550 Port-O-Call Way, (239) 649-2275. See the homes of Port Royal or watch the sunset aboard the Naples Princess, a 96-foot yacht. Daily cruises include lunch buffet, sightseeing, sunset hors d’oeuvres and sunset dinner cruises. www
­.naplesprincesscruises.com.

Nautilus Boat Tours, 179 S. Bay Drive, Vanderbilt Beach Marina, (239) 597-4408. Lunch, sunset and dinner cruises; kids programs; private charters available. www.nautilusboattours.com.
SCUBAdventures, 971 Creech Road, (239) 434-7477. Snorkeling, scuba training, sales, rentals. www.scubadventureslc.com.

South Bay Marina, 179 S. Bay Drive, (239) 597-2063. Marina with fuel, bait, tackle and boat rentals.

Sweet Liberty, at the City Dock, 880 12th Ave. S., (239) 793-3525. Beachcombing, dolphin tours and sunset sails on a 53-foot catamaran. www.sweetliberty.com.

BONITA SPRINGS

Big Hickory Fishing Nook Marina, 26107 Hickory Blvd., (239) 992-3945 or (239) 992-0991. Pontoon boats, kayaks, bait, fuel and slips. Landing for the Great Calusa Blueway canoe and kayak paddling trail.

Bonita Boat Rentals, 26395 Hickory Blvd., (239) 992-2137. Twenty-two-foot pontoon boats for rent. Choose either 35 horsepower with seating for up to 10 passengers or 50 horsepower with seating for up to 12 passengers. Rates start at $70 for two-hour charter up to $200 for a full day.
www.bonitabr.com.

Bonita Jet Ski and Parasail, 27908 Hickory Blvd., (239) 992-0487. Jet skis, chairs, cabanas, umbrellas and parasailing.

Estero Bay Boat Tours, 5231 Mamie St., (239) 992-2200. See dolphins, manatees, bald eagles, ospreys and wading birds. Shelling, lunch or dinner cruises, fishing and private parties. $15 adults, $10 children.

Fish Trap Marina, 4794 Bonita Beach Road, (239) 992-6055. Bait, tackle, rod and reel repairs, and backwater charter fishing.

Hickory Bay Charters, 4242 Mariner Lane, (239) 947-3851. Bay and pass fishing and sightseeing.
High Hopes Charters, depart from Baywater Boat Dock, (239) 273-6122. Private charter fishing, sightseeing or instruction with a Coast Guard master-licensed captain.
www.highhopescharters.com.

Imperial River Boat Ramp, 27551 Tamiami Trail S., (239) 949-4615. Restrooms, grills, fishing pier and more. Parking $5 per vehicle. Sunrise to sunset; boat ramp open 24 hours.

CAPE CORAL/PINE ISLAND

Matlacha Boat Ramp, 4577 Pine Island Road N.W., Matlacha, (239) 283-4110. Two-slip boat launch with parking. Access to Matlacha Pass. Parking $5. 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

ESTERO

Estero River Outfitters, 20991 Tamiami Trail S., (239) 992-4050. Canoe or kayak the Estero River to Estero Bay. Rentals and launch. www.all-florida.com/swestero.htm.

FORT MYERS

Adventures in Paradise and Port Sanibel Marina, 14341 Port Comfort Road, (239) 472-8443. Fishing; trolley; canoe and kayak; dolphin, shelling and snorkeling tours; sunset cruises; and boat rentals.
www.adventureinparadiseinc.com.

Back Country Fishing Charters with Capt. Paul Hobby, 13371 Electron Drive, (239) 433-1007. Light-tackle and fly-fishing for snook, redfish and tarpon.
www.fishinghobby.com.

Davis Boat Ramp, 2227 Davis Blvd., (239) 690-5030. Community boat ramp with parking $3 per day. Dawn to dusk.

Delta Lady Riverboat Excursions at Manatee World, 5605 Palm Beach Blvd., (239) 694-4042. Sightseeing tours, dinner and dancing aboard a 149-passenger historical riverboat replica.
J.C. Sightseeing and Dinner Boat Cruises, 2313 Edwards Drive, (239) 334-7474. Lunch, dinner and sightseeing tours aboard a 600-passenger, triple-deck paddle wheeler or a 49-passenger power catamaran. www.modernsurf.com/jccruises.

Mullock Creek Marina, 18501 Mullock Creek Lane, (239) 267-3717. Bait, tackle, fuel.
Offshore Sailing School, 16731 McGregor Blvd. Held at South Seas Resort on Captiva Island, (800) 221-4326. Three- to five-day sailing courses, daily introductory clinics and beginner to advanced cruising, coastal navigation, performance sailing, offshore sailing adventures or women’s-only offered. www.offshoresailing.com.

Punta Rassa Boat Ramp, 18500 McGregor Blvd., (239) 461-9422. Trailer and car parking $1 per hour, $5 per day for up to 72 hours. Restrooms, two boat slips. www.leeparks.org
Southwest Florida Yachts/Florida Sailing and Cruising School, 3444 Marina-town Lane, Suite 19, (239) 656-1339 or (800) 262-7939. American Sailing Association courses. Powerboat cruising courses. Sail and power-yacht charters. www.swfyachts.com or www.flsailandcruiseschool.com.
Team Arcure, 9204 Pineapple Road, (239) 560-9366. Charter Capt. Sam Arcure’s guided fishing in Pine Island Sound, Boca Grande and Sanibel. Offers fly-fishing and light tackle. www.teamarcure.com.

Underwater Explorers, 12600 McGregor Blvd., (239) 481-4733. Scuba instruction, snorkel lessons, service, sales and rentals. www.underwaterexplorers.net.

FORT MYERS BEACH
Captain Tony’s Fish’n Express, 18800 San Carlos Blvd., (239) 415-0515. Deep-sea and half-day fishing charters.