Things to do with kids in Fort Myers: IMAG science museum, the Calusa Nature Center planetarium, Lakes Park splash pad and train, manatees and the library.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Every hour and address here comes from the venue’s own website, linked. Hours change with the seasons and holidays, so check before you go. Sources: IMAG History and Science Center, the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, Lee County Parks and Recreation’s Lakes Park and Manatee Park pages, and the Lee County Library System’s Fort Myers Regional Library page.

Fort Myers has a hands-on history and science museum, a nature center with a planetarium, a big county park with a splash pad and a miniature train, a warm-water canal where manatees gather in winter, and a downtown library with children’s programs.

At a glance

  • Rainy day: IMAG, 2000 Cranford Ave.; Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St.
  • Splash pad: Lakes Park, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
  • Nature and stars: Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave.
  • Manatees: Manatee Park, late December to February
  • Seasonal: Halloween events, holiday lights, summer camps and pools

Indoors and rainy days

IMAG History and Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave. A hands-on history and science museum with an exhibit hall of interactive exhibits. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday to Saturday, closed Tuesday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The museum asks for a valid ID at check-in for student tickets and ASTC Passport members.

Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St. The downtown branch of the Lee County Library System lists children’s services, including programs for birth to pre-K. Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday. Story times and kids’ programs are on the library’s online events calendar. Phone: 239-479-4636.

Edison Mall, 4125 Cleveland Ave. The JCPenney Kids Zone holds a free craft from 11 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of each month, according to the mall’s events page.

Nature and the planetarium

Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave. Trails, live animals and a planetarium. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday. The center lists planetarium shows at 12:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. and an animal talk at 1:30 p.m., and says there is no entry once a show has started. Its Haunted Walk runs on October weekends; see Halloween events.

Manatee Park, 10901 State Road 80. A 17-acre Lee County park on a canal warmed by the Florida Power and Light plant across the street, where wild manatees gather in cold weather. The county says the best months are late December, January and February, when the Gulf drops below 68 degrees, and manatees are not present from April to early December. The park is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; parking is $2 an hour or $5 a day. Kayak rentals: Manatee Kayaking Company, 239-913-9993.

Playgrounds, splash pads and the train

Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive. The big family park in south Fort Myers, open 7 a.m. to dusk:

  • Splash pad: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; cold-weather hours 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Train Village: a miniature train. The county’s regular train hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends, with seasonal changes posted on the park page.
  • Fragrance Garden and walking paths around the lake.
  • Parking: $1 an hour or $5 a day; the Lee County annual parking pass is valid.

In October the park hosts the Lakes Park Fall Festival; see fall festivals and pumpkin patches.

Quick guide

Place Best for Hours
IMAG, 2000 Cranford Ave. Rainy days, science 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5; closed Tuesday
Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave. Trails, planetarium 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday
Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive Splash pad, train, paths 7 a.m. to dusk
Manatee Park, 10901 State Road 80 Manatees in winter, kayaks 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St. Story times, books Closed Sunday

What this means for you

  • On a stormy afternoon, IMAG and the library are the indoor picks; IMAG is closed Tuesdays.
  • Plan a Manatee Park visit for a cold morning between late December and February.
  • Lakes Park’s splash pad is free to use; you pay only for parking.

Related: summer camps and pools, free things to do and parks and trails.

Frequently asked questions

What are IMAG’s hours in Fort Myers?

IMAG History and Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave., is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, closed Tuesday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. It closes Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Where is the splash pad in Fort Myers?

Lakes Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, has a splash pad open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with cold-weather hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parking is $1 an hour or $5 a day.

When can you see manatees at Manatee Park?

Lee County says the best viewing is late December through February, when the Gulf is colder than 68 degrees; manatees are not present from April to early December. The park is at 10901 State Road 80.

Is there a planetarium in Fort Myers?

Yes. The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave., is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday and lists planetarium shows at 12:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.

What are the Fort Myers Regional Library’s hours?

The library at 2450 First St. is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and closed Sunday. Phone: 239-479-4636.