Anything between Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale?

Parent Cafe
1

<p>A friend moved to Fort Lauderdale. I’m going to be in Fort Myers. Neither of us have much free time so driving 2 hours one way isn’t practical for either of us. Does anyone know if there is anything part way between those to places where we could meet up? It looks like rte 75 is a whole lot of nothing on the map!</p>

2

<p>Well, Naples is much closer to Ft. Myers, but it is south of Ft. Myers.</p>

3

<p>Just the Everglades but there are no stops between the two, not even a gas station.</p>

4

<p>Pack a picnic lunch, bring your field glasses and sunscreen, and both of you turn off I-75 at Highway 29 south, leading to the main visitor services of the Big Cypress National Preserve. The scenery is fantastic, and you feel a million miles away from the hustle-and-bustle of city life. While bug spray is essential in the summer, the insect population declines with decreasing temperatures and rainfall around October.</p>

<p>We just traveled from Miami to Fort Myers and back last week; we had very little traffic on I-75, and left the cruise control on 70 mph without difficulty.</p>

5

<p>Here’s a map of Big Cypress: <a href=“http://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/upload/-8705721-2.pdf[/url]”>http://www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/upload/-8705721-2.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Maybe hit the Seminole Casino in Immokalee. There’s not much between Ft. Myers and Ft. Lauderdale other than swamps and gators.
[Seminole</a> Immokalee Casino](<a href=“http://www.seminoleimmokaleecasino.com/]Seminole”>http://www.seminoleimmokaleecasino.com/)</p>

7

<p>Exactly my thoughts. I know there’s probably some great birdwatching in those parts. Enjoy!</p>

8

<p>^^^ Lots of gator viewing too. It ain’t Alligator Alley for nutin’.</p>

9

<p>I had to look at the map to figure this out. My mother lived in Ft Myers for 12 years, so I am pretty familiar with Ft. Myers, but not with Ft. Lauderdale.</p>

<p>Route 75 is nicknamed Alligator Alley, because you will see alligators all along the highway. I used to fly into Miami (cheaper, nonstop flights) and drive across 75 to get to my mother’s place; it worried her and she constantly reminded me not to get out of the car for any reason. </p>

<p>Basically, there’s not much to see but the Everglades on Route 75. And the Seminole casino. There’s a gas station and mini-mart somewhere along there–I have a pair of alligator earrings my sister bought me there.</p>

<p>My advice: have your friend make the drive to Ft. Myers (it’s about an hour and a half) and spend the day on Sanibel, which is lovely, except in July when the stingrays are mating in the shallow water and they will sting you if you step on them. Learned that one the hard way.</p>

10

<p>We’ve visited Corkscrew Swamp Sancutary (near Fort Myers) several times and have always enjoyed it.</p>

<p>[Corkscrew</a> Swamp Sanctuary | Florida](<a href=“http://fl.audubon.org/corkscrew-swamp-sanctuary]Corkscrew”>Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary | Audubon Florida)</p>

11

<p>Right now there’s a hurricane…that’s about it!</p>