Clewiston is a city of approximately 7,000 residents in Hendry County, central Florida, on the southwest shore of Lake Okeechobee.
Before official settlement, the area was inhabited by Seminole Native Americans, dating back more than 100 years and being one of the largest sugar producers in the state.
Clewiston is relatively equidistant between the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, giving those with a car several day-trip options. But for those who would rather stay nearby, there are also various historical, natural and cultural options.
Here are 15 things to do in and around Clewiston, Florida.
1. Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Indian Museum
The Seminoles had lived in much of what is now Florida for countless generations prior to their initial settlement. For those interested in learning about its fascinating culture, there is no better place than the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Indian Museum.
The museum is located on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, a sanctuary in the Everglades that houses more than 100,000 unique artifacts, including art, clothing, weapons, and everyday life. Items used in life.
In their language, Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki means “a place to learn”, and most guests find it an apt description.
The entrance to the museum is on West Boundary Road in Clewiston.
2. Lake Okeechobee Scenic Walk
Stretching over 100 miles, the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail passes through a variety of unique natural habitats and is one of the largest trails of its kind in the country.
It is also part of the larger Florida National Scenic Trail, which runs between Pensacola in the Panhandle and Miami, South Florida.
Much of the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Walk follows the lake’s contours, offering guests unique opportunities to see wildlife, escape crowds, and enter Florida in the same way it has been in years past.
About half of the trails are paved and are suitable for strollers and wheelchairs in these areas.
3. Clewiston Museum
Located on Central Avenue in Clewiston, the Clewiston Museum is a convenient and inexpensive attraction popular with travel history buffs and local culture buffs.
Housed in an old but renovated newspaper building, the museum is filled with artifacts, photographs, documents, and first-hand accounts of people who settled and lived in the area in the past.
Business hours are 9am-4pm on weekdays and special appointments are required on weekends, so plan accordingly.
Admission is just a few dollars, and senior and student discounts are available, so bring your ID if you’re eligible.
4. Clewiston Golf Course
The 18-hole Clewiston Golf Course is just over 6,300 yards from the blue tee and can usually be completed in three to four hours, depending on how busy it is.
This is a par 72 course open to the public, but previous guests have commented that its greens and fairways are very well manicured compared to other public courses in the area.
The course is just off Highway 27 outside of Clewiston and is also convenient for those who live on the shores of Palm Beach.
If you will be playing during peak hours, consider booking tee times in advance.
5. Civic Park
Municipal parks are often overlooked by travelers who prefer to visit more commercial tourist attractions, but for those on a budget who would rather experience the outdoors than spend half a day in the car and leave a pile of dough , they are a great resource.
At just over 4 acres, Civic Park isn’t the largest in the city, but it features covered pavilions, picnic tables, and plentiful walking trails. It also hosts popular concerts in the park series, as well as other annual festivals that really draw crowds.
Check out the city’s website for a full schedule of upcoming events.
6. Billy Marsh Wildlife Park
Florida is full of swamps full of natural charm and an abundance of unique wildlife, and swamp tours are one of the most popular vacation activities in the state.
Billie Swamp Safari, located on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, gives guests access to thousands of acres of pristine swamps and glades otherwise inaccessible to most travelers.
They offer a variety of tour options, including airboats and swamp cars. There are many permanent exhibitions and regularly scheduled exhibitions, making it one of those places that tends to take up more visitor time than originally planned.
7. Skydive Space Park Florida
For adrenaline junkies and die-hard thrill-seekers, nothing beats jumping from an airplane thousands of feet above the ground.
Located on Everglades Boulevard in Clewiston, Skydive Spaceland Florida is a popular family-owned attraction that has been taking the vacation experience to a whole new level for 15 years.
From novice to seasoned jumper, they have options for just about everyone. Those who have never tried it will get all the guidance and training they need for a fun and memorable experience.
They are open Thursday through Monday from 9am to sunset.
8. Clewiston Sugar Festival
During most of its existence, sugar cane plantations and refining facilities generated a significant portion of the region’s revenue. The origins of the Clewiston Sugar Festival can be traced back to the 1930s, when the U.S. sugar company first held a celebration for its employees.
The Sugar Festival draws visitors from all over the state and includes food, live entertainment, car shows, and even heritage appreciation days at local museums.
For the many visitors who stumbled upon the festival in recent years, it ended up being one of the most memorable experiences of their travels in the region.
9. Lake Okeechobee
Florida seems to have more than its fair share of natural wonders, and Lake Okeechobee is one of the most famous.
Often referred to as Florida’s Inland Sea because of its vast expanse, it offers guests an opportunity to admire wonderful swaths of untouched nature and engage in a variety of outdoor recreational activities.
Part of the lake’s reputation is that it is home to some of the largest largemouth bass in the state. So it’s a holy place for bass anglers who flock from all over the country to try to land a species of bass in the state that typically weighs over 10 pounds.
10. Dupuis Nature Center
The Dupuis Nature Center is the heart of the Dupuis Management District and consists of more than 20,000 acres of diverse natural habitats.
The mission of the Nature Center is to provide interactive educational programs for students, teachers and families in the local community. To that end, they offer an impressive array of staff-led field trips, interactive events and lectures.
The area surrounding the nature center includes swamps, cypress swamps, wet grasslands, and pine forests, which are home to a variety of flora and fauna. Many of the center’s projects focus on pressing environmental issues such as habitat destruction and climate change.
11. Tiger Shark Bay Park
Tiger Shark Bay Park, on Greenbrier Avenue near Wellington, is a popular local attraction, and oddly enough, there isn’t a single tiger shark here.
However, it’s a fun and free community resource filled with amenities like playgrounds, slides, and walking trails. For those with young children who need physical activity, this is a great place to spend a few hours in the morning or afternoon.
The park also has plenty of covered seating areas and picnic tables, so even for those who aren’t walking around with kids, it’s a great place to take a walk, have a picnic, or read a good book in the afternoon.
12. Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly Garden
The Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly Garden is located on Cape Coral east of Clewiston. This is a facility dedicated to providing a sanctuary for native butterfly species before being released back into the wild.
The garden is located in the Rotary Park in Cape Coral, and many guests were surprised by the different stages of the life cycle that butterflies go through in a relatively short period of time.
Free tours are offered every Monday, Friday and Saturday morning, led by knowledgeable and welcoming staff, providing a fun and educational experience for visitors of all ages and interests.
13. Cape Coral Farmers Market
Cape Coral has three farmers markets compared to its neighbors with just one. No matter what time of year you visit, at least one of them will be open.
With three markets and three schedules, it can be a little challenging to keep track of who’s open when, but they’re all run by the same organization, which means everything you need to know is on one convenient site.
In addition to produce, the market offers locally made handicrafts, prepared foods, and health and body products. With the doors open at 8 a.m. on Saturdays, many guests are drinking coffee and freshly baked goods before shopping.
14. Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery
Dolphins aren’t evil, and they don’t distill intoxicating liquors, but that doesn’t mean the Evil Dolphin Rum Distillery isn’t for small-batch spirits lovers.
This distillery is located on SW 3rd Place in Cape Coral and, as their name suggests, they are known for their fiery, delicious, award-winning rums.
Guided tours of the facility are fun and informative. Along the way, visitors will learn about every step it takes to source ingredients and turn them into rum.
Tours are offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and many guests are surprised to find that rum has a unique flavor like wine.
15. Palm Beach Skateboard Area
The Palm Beach Skateboard Area is the only South Florida attraction with three different ice skating rinks, and it’s located off the Florida Turnpike just a short drive from Clewiston.
Air conditioning and ice are welcome alternatives to Florida’s often oppressive sunshine, and when the weather isn’t conducive to the outdoors, there’s no better place to spend an hour or two than the Palm Beach skate area.
With food and beverages, arcades, changing rooms and specialty stores, Skate Zone is a popular destination for traveling with kids. If you’re a little rusty and need some professional help, take a class.
Where to Stay: Best Hotels in Clewiston, FL (FL)
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