Cape Coral, Florida
Cape Coral, Florida, located in Lee County, was the brainchild of Jack and Leonard Rosen. Back in the late 1950's they purchased 60,000 acres and turned it into what is today one of the fastest growing residential communities in all of the United States. With 114 miles of canals, Cape Coral is often compared to Venice, Italy. Most homes in the area are equipped with a driveway in the front of the house and a boat dock in the back.While primarily a residential community, Cape Coral has everything a Florida vacation has to offer. It is located on the Caloosahatchee River, and is a perfect spot for enjoying all types of water based activities. Boating, fishing, and sight-seeing tours are all in great supply. There are golf courses to challenge every skill level, and the Sun Splash Family Water Park, with its twelve acres of slides and wave pools will drive children into a swimming frenzy!
Among Cape Coral's many assets, the Burrowing Owl makes its home in the estuarial region in and around the Cape. The area is home to roughly ten percent of the state's Burrowing Owl population, and the community takes great pains in ensuring the survival of these beautiful birds. Building restrictions are in place in an effort to make their habitat safe for the specie's continued growth.
For the history buff, the Cape Coral Historical Museum has an excellent display on the origins of the area, from the Seminoles to the dredging of the canals that run through the city. Across the bridge into Fort Myers, you can see "Seminole Lodge" and "Mangoes", the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. See where Mr. Edison worked on his ideas that led to more than 1300 patents. Everyone knows about the light bulb, but did you know he also invented wax paper?
Cape Coral is centrally located in the middle of the Lee Island Coast, making it a great "jumping off" point for visiting the area's other tourist attractions. If you want some high octane fun, Fort Myers Beach is real close by. Or if you prefer a nice relaxed day of picking up sea shells, Sanibel Island, and the famed "Sanibel Stoop", is also close at hand.
Wherever you go, Cape Coral can take you there. Come see why the people who live there say it is "Just Paradise."
