Booked a last minute trip with wife and two college aged kids for early March. Will fly into Ft Meyers and am totally flexible about itineraries. Before I last minute book hotels, any suggestions on what to do besides beach time. Never been to the Keys, so was thinking about driving down there for a night or two. How about other activities? Was thinking about Everglades park for a day. We do enjoy nature, but no really late night party types, neither are the kids.

It's a long way to Key West from Ft Myers - 5hr drive minimum.

When we go to the area we typically like to spend our time to unwind and warm up rather than fill up our days with activities.

Our days is usually something like this.
Beach in the am - get there by 10am to get parking, bring a picnic lunch & stay a few hrs at most. We typically walk 2-3 miles round trip - covered up with long sleeves and wide hat, then sit under the umbrella & read a book till it's time to go. This past week the gulf temp was 66F, so not warm enough to bathe in. It may be a little warmer in 2 weeks, but probably not much. Pool temps will depend on how much they heat it.

Some mornings we'll take a fitness class and/or swim laps at one of the local Y's in Bonita or Naples.
Some evenings we'll go back to the beach for evening/sunset walk. Day passes for Collier co beaches are $8.00 and good at any beach all day.

Some trips we'll go to the same beach each day - our favorites are Vanderbilt (good parking) and Barefoot. Others we like are Delnor-Wiggins Pass, and Clam Pass, the latter to ride /float the tide in/out when the water is warmer.

Afternoon - relax by the pool in the shade, read. Or nap. Or both.
Our trips are typically less than a week, so after 3-4 days we're usually refreshed and ready to brave the rest of the northern winter.

From Ft Myers, you could do a day trip to Sanibel / Captiva - public beach parking there is very limited, so definitely go early.
Another option is to go to Sarasota to see the Manatees at the power plant - be sure to check ahead if they are there. That place also gets busy.

Also in Sarasota is the Ringling museum. (= art, not circus)

Ft Myers has the winter homes of Edison & Ford - never been but supposed to be interesting.

Thanks for sharing about your trip.

If you would like to see masses of alligators and you are going to the Keys, you could stop at the Oasis Visitor Centre at Big Cypress National Preserve on your way. It's free and really amazing.

For Key West.

Attractions:

Key West trip report

Food:

Recent Florida food experiences: Key West, Miami/Miami Beach, St. Augustine

Let us hope we never have another red tide on the Gulf coast.

Or brown tide from the algae blooms.