Fort Myers Area

The Fort Myers area has everything you could want in a Florida holiday. From relaxing on the beach, to playing on the water, to checking out some of Florida's varied wildlife and historic attractions, this Gulf Coast area has something to please even the most fickle visitors.

Fort Myers

Located in Lee County along Southwest Florida's Gulf coast, Fort Myers is known for its white-sand beaches, great fishing facilities, over 50 golf courses, and plentiful shopping destinations. You can also observe huge amounts of wildlife in river and swamp habitats.

Father walking on the beach in Fort Myers with his two daughters looking for seashells.

Without a doubt, the city's prime attractions are the homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. In 1886 Edison and his wife purchased a winter home they called Seminole Lodge and used it until the inventor's death in 1931. Mrs. Edison later gave the estate to the city of Fort Myers and it has since become south Florida's top historic attraction. The home is now a museum that looks just like it did during Edison's lifetime. There's much to see and do, including visiting Mangoes, the house next door where Henry Ford and his wife Clara spent their winters. Costumed actors portraying the Edisons, the Fords, and their friends, give historical accounts of how the wealthy lived in those days. You can also check out the Model-T Ford, a gift to Edison from his good friend Henry Ford.

Mr Edison spent much of his time at his winter retreat in Fort Myers developing many of his inventions

There are also plenty of other interesting and family-friendly attractions in Fort Myers such as Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, Fort Myers Historical Museum, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Manatee Springs State Park, and the Butterfly Estates.

If shopping is on your list of things to do you'll find plenty of places in which to do it. Along the beaches of Fort Myers you'll find galleries, boutiques, and flea markets. Outlet shoppers will find a large selection of brand-name shops at the Sanibel Tanger Factory Stores and Miromar Outlets. On Fort Myers Beach, Times Square serves as a pedestrian shopping hub. If touristy attractions are what you're looking for check out the Shell Factory and Nature Park which not only carries one of the world's largest collections of shells, sponges, coral and fossils, but also has bumper-boat rides, a gallery of African art, a light show, a small zoo, and two restaurants. Edison Mall is Southwest Florida's largest indoor mall, while the downtown Fort Myers' entertainment district features renovated shops full of books, jewelry, and antiques, along with theaters, romantic bistros, coffee shops, cigar and martini bars, and sidewalk cafes.

When you're in Fort Myers you'll never want for things do to.

Sanibel Island

Long a holiday retreat for families and romantic couples alike, Sanibel is known for its white-sand beaches, abundance of seashells, and the huge variety of wildlife that calls Sanibel home. It's also known for its quiet and charming atmosphere.

Aerial view of Sanibel Island

Visitors and residents can choose whether to spend their days relaxing on the beach, biking along protected paths, watching birds and wildlife in refuges, attending cultural events, or enjoying fabulous fresh seafood at one of the many island restaurants.

More than half of Sanibel Island is preserved in its natural state as a wildlife refuge. You can ride, walk, bike, canoe, or kayak through the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States.

For those who like entertainment and adventure as well as dining and shopping, Sanibel has it all. Live theater, art classes, music festivals, performances, and art exhibits are just a few of the things you can enjoy. Of course, recreation is never-ending. Golf, tennis, parasailing, fishing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, bird watching, and hiking are all abundant. The island also has all the shops and services you could ever want: beach supplies, bike rentals, great restaurants, unique shops, day spas, museums, theaters, and more.

Sanibel Island offers the slow pace and quaint island life with just enough fabulous amenities to make it an unparalleled holiday retreat.

Captiva Island

Connected to Sanibel by a bridge, visiting Captiva Island is like visiting another world. One of the most exclusive islands in North America, Captiva still manages to retain a casual ambiance and atmosphere. The Island is quite small and so narrow in spots you can see both the Gulf and the Bay.

Captiva Island Beach

Captiva's village is a quaint mix of restaurants, shops, homes and vacation retreats. The heart of Captiva, "the village" is a lively place to see and be seen. Shopping, boating, golfing, and dining are fabulous. Be sure to get out on the water and explore the area; the out-islands are a short boat ride away, and sailing, fishing, parasailing and kayaking are all available.

Captiva Island beaches all face west and offer incredible sunset views. Visitors and locals alike congregate regularly for the nightly event. In Captiva it's never more than a five-minute walk to the bay, the beach, a great view or a great meal.

Cape Coral

What was once a sleepy little town is turning into one of the most popular communities in Southwest Florida. Thanks to its proximity to Fort Myers, and the amazing Gulf Coast whether, a stay in Cape Coral promises to be a great time.

With more canals than in Venice, Italy, Cape Coral has over 400 miles of waterways perfect for boating, fishing and all kinds of water sports. Year round outdoor recreation such as golf, tennis, and walking through the nature preserves are some of the other activities in which to take part. Cape Coral also has plenty of shopping with streets full of furniture, jewelry, clothing, and other specialty stores. Whether you want to relax on the water, get in some exercise, or stroll the quaint streets, Cape Coral is a great place to do it. And if you want to give the kids a special treat, take them to Sun Splash Water Park, one of Cape Coral's most popular family attractions.

Being next door to Fort Myers (the cities are connected by two bridges), visitors and residents of Cape Coral have access to all of the restaurants, entertainment venues, and attractions of the neighboring Florida city. Who says you can't have it all?

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See also Englewood and Rotonda | Sarasota