Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium

We visited Calusa Nature Center and had a really nice time. The walking trails are peaceful, and inside they have interesting taxidermy displays and live animals that the kids loved. The planetarium is a cool bonus and check the schedule for show times. They have a gator there and the space seemed a little small but seemed well taken care of.

A little bit run down but a good value and experience, especially for young nature enthusiasts. Lots of variety/things to do- trails, butterfly garden, aviary, museum, planetarium

Visited on a Saturday. The parking lot was full, but once inside it didn’t feel crowded. Everyone was spread out on the premises which made it really comfortable to navigate the grounds. The staff was friendly and informative. Admission was $13 for adults and $7 for kids. The nature center had a nice variety of animals. The scheduled events added to the experience. We caught a talk on snakes and alligators and also saw a show in the Planetarium. There are several trails to walk, a butterfly garden and plenty of outdoor rest areas with benches and tables. Overall, a nice experience.

Beautiful walking trails with some nice shade. Saw a variety of wildlife including a pileated woodpecker and three black racers. Also saw a variety of butterflies both on the trails and in the Butterfly Garden. My favorite animals were the screech owls and salamander. Will definitely come back again.

This gem of natural science and planetarium is a great visit for kids and adults. Inside tha main building, one finds several live and stuffed animals with live turtles, baby owls, Baby alligators and several stuffed deer, and others. We enjoyed seeing live snakes. The outdoor butterfly garden offered several butterflies and native plants. The center offers 2 trails, one of 0.3 miles and another over a mile. We didn't see the one big outdoor alligator today The planetarium offers 2 shows daily and 3 on Sunday. The enthusiast young man in the planetarium offered a tour of all the exhibits. The outdoor trail is a nice walk except on hot summer days. Accessible restrooms in main building and planetarium. Accessible van parking in free parking lot with shells on ground and ramps to enter

Saw the "BEAUTIFICA" show on 2/1/26 @ 5:45pm.. This goes down as one of the worst shows I've seen ever. Well, wait, first let me explain: The two ladies greeting upon entry were Excellent!! They were friendly and very professional.... When we arrived apparently only the sphere show was open... They said the rest of the property was closed at 4pm. Which was a disappointment because the reason we arrived early(4:15) for a 5:45 show was to explore.... But, I guess that's my fault for not investigating in advance.... Now, Let me explain why a one star rating: Imagine being at Woodstock, alive during the Sixties, being high as a kite looking through a kaleidoscope..... Yes, that's the image.... This boring show was narrated by a monotone male voice with an annoying high pitched female yelling "sounds of agony" in the background.... This movie/video takes you through a maze of kaleidoscope of objects in a fast paced scene causing severe dizziness.... Honestly, it is/was the worst I've been through.... Save your money.... The only positive thing was: The show finally ended!!!!!! and I was able to go home... On a side note: (Something to Ponder) On these (500+)Google review(s) I see very few responses from the Owner or management...... I wonder why that is?????? I guess some owners don't really care about customer satisfaction.......

If you have a rainy weekend and are looking for something to do, the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is an inexpensive and enjoyable visit where the kids might even learn a little something. The newly renovated Planetarium has super comfortable seating and the new projection system is truly remarkable. In between Planetarium shows they offer animal experience shows where the kids can get up close and personal with anything from a turtle, snake, or even a baby gator. The rustic trails are short but can provide some quiet time in between programs. Pretty easy to spend the day.. they don't offer any food, but there is a large covered area with plenty of tables for sack lunches or snack time. Always enjoyable.

Chris was awesome and super helpful, super kid friendly and very niche experience, lovely animals and lovely people! Everyone is very knowledgeable about the wildlife house there and the planetarium experience is a must see. Definitely stay for the star talk at the end of the show 10/10 commentary. My only complaint is the guy did not know enough about dark matter and I’m confused about there only being one alligator in the universe. Would recommend.