A ready-made week based on the guide's own beaches, restaurants, shopping and events. Swap days around — and check the events calendar for what's on during your dates.
Day 1 · Settle in & the Cape
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Morning
Coffee and a walk around Cape Harbour or the Yacht Club beach and fishing pier — the easy first look at the river.
Open →Afternoon
Cape Coral Farmers Market if it's a Saturday (Club Square / SE 47th Terrace) — the easy default when staying at the house.
Open →Evening
Dinner in the South Cape (downtown Cape Coral) and check what's on tonight.
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Day 2 · Sanibel & Captiva beach day
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Morning
Sanibel for shelling — go at low tide; the Shelling page has today's low-tide times and moon phase.
Open →Lunch
Periwinkle Way — casual island spots and the Sanibel Farmers Market on Sundays.
Afternoon
Drive up Captiva to Blind Pass / Turner Beach for more shells, then stay for the sunset.
Open →Note
The causeway toll is paid on the way onto the island. In season (January–April) traffic backs up on the causeway and Periwinkle — go early.
What to book
Book a dolphin or shelling cruise for this day — mornings sell out in season. Tarpon Bay Explorers rents kayaks and canoes in Ding Darling refuge.
Booking links ↓Day 3 · On the water
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All day
Rent a boat or join a charter — the Boat rentals page lists what you need (license rules, where to rent).
Open →Lunch
Dock & dine — 58 waterfront restaurants you can reach by boat, from Cape Harbour to Boca Grande.
Open →Alternative
No boat? Take me somewhere picks a destination, and the party islands & sandbars page covers the boat-up hangouts.
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Day 4 · Shopping & the River District
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Morning
Downtown Fort Myers River District — galleries, boutiques and the Edison & Ford estates nearby.
Open →Afternoon
Miromar Outlets in Estero or the Coconut Point mall on the way back.
Open →Evening
First Friday is Art Walk, third Friday is Music Walk downtown — both are in the events calendar.
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Day 5 · Old Florida: Matlacha & Pine Island
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Day 6 · Fort Myers Beach or Bonita
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Morning
Fort Myers Beach — the pier area, or Lovers Key in Bonita Springs for a quieter beach.
Open →Afternoon
Bonita has weekend farmers markets in season; Estero's Hertz Arena often has evening games or shows.
Open →Sunday option
Bayside Park Sunday Series — free concerts with local bands and food trucks, 4–7pm on Fort Myers Beach.
Day 7 · The big event day
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All day
Build this day around whatever's on: art festivals, boat shows, spring training, concerts. The events calendar has every date.
Open →Plan ahead
The season guide rates every weekend and lists the marquee trips worth planning around.
Open →Custom trip
Want a plan built around your exact dates and interests? Use the trip builder.
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Book it
Every link goes to the official hotel, rental or tour site; nothing here is a sponsored placement.
Hotels
Book direct on the hotel's own site — usually the best rate and the easiest changes.
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village
Full-service resort on the river at Cape Harbour — marina, pools, restaurants.
5951 Silver King Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33914
Hampton Inn & Suites Cape Coral
Mid-range, central Cape Coral near the South Cape dining district.
Holiday Inn Express Cape Coral–Fort Myers Area
Budget-friendly, near the Midpoint Bridge into Fort Myers.
Dolphin Key Resort
Waterfront resort on the Caloosahatchee with a tiki bar and marina.
Vacation rentals
Whole homes, many canal-front with private docks and pools. Every rental in Cape Coral must be city-registered — the rules page explains what to look for.
Vrbo — Cape Coral
The biggest selection of whole-home vacation rentals in the Cape; filter for canal-front with a dock.
Airbnb — Cape Coral
Homes, condos and guest suites; check the listing shows a Cape Coral rental registration number.
Booking.com — Cape Coral
Hotels, condos and homes with free-cancellation filters.
Tours & tickets
Boat trips, nature tours and attractions — booked on each operator's official site.
Captiva Cruises
Boat trips from Captiva to Cabbage Key, Useppa and Cayo Costa — the classic day trip.
Adventures in Paradise
Dolphin cruises, shelling trips and sunset sails out of Sanibel.
Sanibel Thriller
High-speed dolphin and sightseeing boat ride around Sanibel and Captiva.
Tarpon Bay Explorers
Kayak, canoe and pontoon rentals plus guided nature tours in Ding Darling refuge.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Book tickets for the historic estates and museum in Fort Myers.
Renting a home? See the vacation rental rules before you book.
Check each link for current times — event data is updated regularly but isn't real-time.