The Greater Fort Myers area has many attractions, ranging from sunbathing on the beach to historical sites.
As anchor of Southwest Florida’s beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, Fort Myers serves as a hub for assorted areas of distinct appeal, all adding up to a Tropical Island Getaway. Fabled Sanibel and Captiva islands, with pristine white sand beaches on their gulf sides and dense mangrove forests to the east, showcase surprisingly diverse ecosystems along with North America’s best shelling, great biking / hiking trails, and acre upon acre of wildlife sanctuary. In fact, Sanibel and Captiva are so eco-minded that laws prevent buildings being constructed higher than the tallest palm tree. On Estero Island, Fort Myers Beach (recognized among the “world’s safest family beaches” because of its gentle slope into the gulf) is home to back bays, estuaries and lush mangrove forests for kayaking and bird-watching. Bonita Springs has freshwater fishing and shopping, and Cape Coral has a multitude of marinas, golf courses, and tennis.
Crossing the bridge to Pine Island recalls days when fishing was the area’s top industry. This quaint little isle, known for the “Best Fishing Bridge in the U.S.A.,” continues as an angler’s paradise. Inland, Lehigh Acres offers miles of freshwater canals, 16 well stocked lakes with great fishing, tennis, horseback riding, hiking, biking trails, and three golf courses. On the banks of the Caloosahatchee Intracoastal Waterway, Fort Myers’ status as the “City of Palms” is evident with a glance down McGregor Boulevard, lined with 1,800 majestic royal palms. Rich in Old South ambiance, Fort Myers yields year-round water sports, museums, historic tours, festivals, golf, theater and nature walks.
Winter resident Thomas Edison, who enticed his friend Henry Ford to settle in next door along the riverbank, once declared “there is only one Fort Myers, and 90 million people are going to find out.”
