Lee County [US]

Outdoor adventure | beaches & islands | arts & culture | family fun | dining & nightlife

Fort Myers

The islands, beaches and neighborhoods of Fort Myers have made huge strides toward recovery over the past year, which means nearly all the region’s white-sand beaches are once again open for lounging, playing and seashell hunting. More than 10,000 hotel rooms are open for visitors, and a buzzing activities scene offers everything from live entertainment to family-friendly museums to nature-rich outdoor adventures. The local craft beers, the just-caught seafood and the beloved laid-back vibes are all waiting to be rediscovered. And there’s another reason to plan that beach getaway now: while you’re enjoying all the natural beauty, breezy charms and thriving city life, you’ll also be supporting the region’s epic comeback after Hurricane Ian. Here’s more about what to see and do in the Fort Myers area on your next getaway.

As you traverse wooden boardwalks that trail past thousands of acres of precious wetlands, estuaries and subtropical forests, turning off the outside noise suddenly becomes easy. Keep a watchful eye as you walk amid the mangroves of J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island and you're likely to spot tree-climbing crabs, alligators, small lizards and wading birds (ibises, herons and, if you're lucky, pink-hued Roseate Spoonbills). Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers is a wetland that catches and filters rainwater on its way to Estero Bay. The slough (pronounced "slew") is home to numerous plant and animal species—some of them endangered. Stop by the Interpretive Center to learn about this crucial ecosystem and ongoing conservation efforts.

As a place bounded and shaped by its waterways, paddling the rivers, bays, sounds and Gulf waters is an essential part of getting to know the Fort Myers area. There are countless put-ins for starting an exploration by kayak, canoe or stand-up paddle board, but the Great Calusa Blueway is an especially bucket-listy option to consider. The 190-mile marked paddling trail covers all manner of waterways, from open Gulf to sheltered mangrove creeks to the bays of Sanibel and Captiva. You can spend anywhere from an hour to a week pursuing this nature-rich path, thanks to campsites and hotels set close to trail access points. If you aren't bringing your own gear, at least half a dozen outfitters can help you with equipment and watercraft rentals, plus expert guidance. Keep an eye out for slow-moving manatees and curious dolphins as you go.

Parks and preserves

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Without spending a fortune, visitors to Fort Myers can try on an island-hopping lifestyle fit for the rich and famous. Small-group cruises, tours and private boat charters are easy to book for days spent exploring, fishing or soaking in the utter serenity. Cabbage Key makes a postcard-worthy day trip; gopher tortoises wander the grounds and the island's historic inn and restaurant serves fresh seafood, tasty cocktails and a famously delicious frozen key lime pie for dessert. The Boca Grande community on Gasparilla Island—labeled "America's Best Small Beach Town" by Travel + Leisure—is home to a lighthouse museum and art gallery, on top of scenic beaches and bike paths. For a getaway with a laid-back castaway feel, book a vacation rental on car-free North Captiva Island. You can reach this beautifully unplugged beach community by ferry.

Easy island hopping

White-sand beaches

Of course, the local beaches are good for more than hunting nature-made souvenirs. On the northern tip of Fort Myers Beach, Bowditch Point Park is a peaceful, nature-rich spot to swim, picnic and catch an unreal sunset. The waters are relatively shallow, making it a family-friendly option. With its charcoal grills and sheltered pavilions, Bonita Beach Park on the region's south end is another favorite for families. Lovers Key State Park's pristine sands extend for two miles on south Fort Myers Beach. Lounge all day or work up a sweat on five miles of trails, leading to a butterfly garden and an alligator-inhabited pond. For a beach day close to the Fort Myers Beach dining and shopping, head to Lynn Hall Memorial Park. Gasparilla Island State Park on Boca Grande offers a secluded beach—and overnight camping with advance reservations.

Seashells

As an adult, you may not think of seashell collecting as an activity you would plan a vacation around, but that's probably because you haven't set foot on the islands and beaches around Fort Myers. Each wave washes up a staggering new bounty of treasures from the glittering Gulf, and the pursuit of perfect olive shells, conical lightning whelks, prized sand dollars and rare spotted junonias soon becomes an absorbing form of meditation. For the richest selection, head to Sanibel Island, known unofficially as the Seashell Capital of the world, or its northern neighbor, Captiva Island. Bring a bucket and hit the sand in the morning, while the tide is low. In the early hours, you'll have the added benefit of sharing the shoreline with only a few other dedicated collectors.

The area's earliest inhabitants, the Calusa, lived off the bounty of the waters, used the abundant shells for everything from tools to jewelry and traveled the waterways in cypress log canoes. Visitors can learn more about this indigenous culture at Mound House, an interactive museum set top a 2,000-year-old Calusa shell mound in Fort Myers Beach. Or explore a permanent exhibit within Fort Myers' IMAG History and Science Center showcasing artifacts and replicas of masks, tools, weapons, fishing equipment and canoes. (Fossil hunts and weather-themed activites are among IMAG's other kid-friendly features.) For a more recent trip back in time, visit the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, also in Fort Myers. These side-by-side vacation homes were purchased by American innovators Thomas Edison and Henry Ford at the turn of the 20th century.

History

Community events

Connect with and support the local arts community at the monthly Art Walk event, held in the historic River District in downtown Fort Myers. Local crafters and artists demonstrate their techniques and sell their works, while food and drink vendors offer refreshments. The River District is also the site of the monthly Music Walk event, during which the streets ring out with songs performed by local talent in a variety of styles and genres. There are many more local events to get in on, from art fairs to foodie festivals. Sports fans can catch spring training games for the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium and the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. (Tickets are on sale now for games in February and March.) Check out the events calendar for details.

Live entertainment

You can balance all this blissful peace and quiet with engaging live music and theatrical performances put on regularly at local venues. At The Ranch Concert Hall and Saloon, the concert calendar covers everything from nationally known country and blues acts to reggae to Mexican folk music. You can sign on for a dance lesson on the 4,000 square-foot floor Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Bar-hop to the country-themed Dixie Roadhouse in Cape Coral where the party goes on into the wee hours. Catch comedy acts, symphony orchestras ballets and musicals at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. Or be entertained while enjoying the famously fair Fort Myers weather at the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater.

Family attractions

The nature preserves, beaches and museums of the Fort Myers area are all easy fits for a family vacation. That said, there's a local spot that will elicit special kinds of squeals from the young ones in your group: Gator Mike's Family Fun Park in Cape Coral. The eclectic and very Floridian theme park combines an arcade, a paintball course, go-kart track, dinosaur-themed mini golf, batting cages, ropes course, zipline and climbing wall in one place—with an onsite restaurant for convenient refueling. If your group wants to take the family-friendly fun out on the water, book Salty Sam's Pirate Cruise, departing from Fort Myers Beach. The 90-minute sailing blends a scenic cruise with engaging pretend play. The face painting, snacks and souvenirs that come with the experience are sure to be a hit with young ones, too.

Roseate Spoonbill

Outdoor adventure

Beaches & islands

Arts & culture

Family fun

Baby alligator

White ibis

Plan your trip

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Bowditch Point Park

Dixie Roadhouse

Art Walk

Salty Sam's Pirate Cruise

Dining & nightlife

You can also take home a bit of the Fort Myers "spirit" with locally crafted vodkas, bourbons and rums from List Distillery. Tours and tastings are available so you can pick your favorites.

Breweries & distilleries

Palm City Brewing Co.

Waterfront restaurants

If seafood is king here (and it is), then enjoying the fresh catch in the salty air and watching the sun make its graceful descent can only be described as divine. You can—and you should—try a new alfresco dining spot each night, for example the iconic Doc Ford's Rum Bar and Grille next to the shrimp docks on Fort Myers Beach. The macadamia nut crusted grouper in toasted rum coconut sauce pairs well with a mason jar mojito. In Bonita Springs, tiki-themed Coconut Jack's Waterfront Grille is a must-visit, known for its pretty bay views (with occasional visits from manatees), fried seafood baskets and artful tropical cocktails. Or dine canalside at Phuzzy's Boat Shack in St. James City, where the homemade crab rangoon and the raw oysters come highly recommended.

Doc Ford's Rum Bar and Grille

The freshest seafood

Digging into just-caught seafood is as much a part of the Fort Myers experience as the sunshine, sands and Gulf breezes. Don't leave without trying as many of the local specialties as possible: pink gold Gulf shrimp, oysters, snook, grouper, snapper, tripletail and—from mid-October to May—succulent stone crabs. Catching your own dinner is an option as well. There are plenty of places to cast a line, whether from a dock, a pier, a kayak or a chartered boat. Cook up the spoils of your excursion in the comfort of your vacation rental. Many area restaurants will cook your catch for you, too; give a call in advance to be sure they can accommodate you.

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Kayaking on the Great Calusa Blueway (left); Baby manatee in the Estero River, Estero (right)

Port Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum, Boca Grande (left); Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant (right)

Edison and Ford Winter Estates

For beach-inspired local beers, pencil in a visit to Fort Myers' Palm City Brewing Co., where peach- and passionfruit-infused "Summer Staycation" and lightly sweet lager "Ocean View" are popular menu choices. Ginger- and lavender-laced sours are also on offer, if you're in the mood for a palate-twister. Or sip a seasonal brew in a unique small farm setting at Crazy Dingo Brewing, where food trucks and live music acts add to the ambiance on weekends.

There's an impressive number of breweries in the Fort Myers area—13 to be exact. They're all stops along the Southwest Florida Ale Trail, a network of 34 breweries in the region; buy a "passport" to get stamps and earn prizes as you sip and sample.

Great Calusa Blueway

Sanibel Island

Coconut Jack's Waterfront Grille, Bonita Springs

Outdoor adventure | beaches & islands | arts & culture | family fun | dining & nightlife