Fort Myers Favorites
8 Can’t-Miss Experiences
Imagine being surrounded by beauty and wonder, feeling carefree, relaxed and truly connected. In Fort Myers, it’s easy to turn everyday moments – outdoors, on the water or out on the town – into a vacation that feels personal, memorable and one-of-a-kind. There are countless ways to reconnect and recharge here, and these eight experiences are a perfect place to start.
Sanibel Island, @mariamargiyeva
1. Peaceful Moments on Beautiful Beaches
Get away to a place where time is tracked by the tides and the position of the sun. Here, sunrise marks the beginning of a day devoted to barefoot walks with only seashells at your feet and bird calls to distract you. Sunset is a celebration of nature’s splendor. In between, our beaches welcome you to be as lazy or active as you like.
Bonita Springs, @kaseylitersky
2. Paddling Adventures on The Great Calusa Blueway
Moss-draped oaks, sunny beachfronts, playful dolphins, gentle manatees, mounds built by ancient civilizations and cities built by modern ones: The Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail invites you to explore 190 miles of rivers, bays and Gulf waters. Along the way, soaring ospreys and bald eagles appear like a reward.
3. Island Hopping, Your Way
Nothing compares to a day out on the water as you make your way from island to island for sunning, swimming, shelling, lunch and even shopping. You can do it all on an island-hopping tour: Stop at North Captiva for secluded beaches, Cayo Costa for shell-seeking, Cabbage Key for lunch, and Boca Grande for shopping and ice cream.
Sanibel Island, @joellualhati
4. Wondrous Sights at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Perfectly pink birds eating with spoon-shaped beaks (tip: they’re roseate spoonbills, not flamingos), herons nesting in lush mangroves and otter families on the move: Every day is a new experience in the secret reaches of Sanibel Island’s iconic refuge. Home to more than 245 species of birds and 14 federally listed species, the refuge’s paddling, hiking, biking and driving trails bring you remarkably close to wildlife where it lives.
Doc Ford's, Fort Myers Beach, @champagnenredbottoms
5. Eating “Pink Gold” Shrimp with a Water View
One of the sweetest species of shrimp in the world, pink Gulf shrimp fuels the local economy, earning its “pink gold” moniker and creating a vibrant fishing heritage in local ports. Many of our waterfront restaurants specialize in the delicacy, some of them overlooking the weathered fleet in harbor. Fresh and briny, the shrimp lend themselves to a variety of delicious dishes.
Lee Health Sports Complex's Hammond Stadium
6. Cheering at a Spring Training Game
The Sunshine State and Grapefruit League spring training season go together like balls and bats. Fort Myers, however, is the only city to host two major league baseball teams in pre-season training. The Minnesota Twins swing it out at Lee Health Sports Complex's Hammond Stadium, while the Boston Red Sox train at “Fenway South” at JetBlue Park. Catch a game late February through March.
Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Alva
7. Glimpse the Past at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Fort Myers preserves its fascinating history at its most famous attraction: the winter homes of Thomas A. Edison and Henry Ford, who were neighbors and friends. In addition to their residences, the 20-acre grounds hold a museum, Edison’s botanical laboratory, as well as lush gardens (take a photo in front of the enormous banyan tree).
8. Salute the Day’s End
Celebrating sunset is a daily ritual that never grows tiresome, whether you witness the sun’s curtain call from a lovely beach, a bar overlooking the river, on a kayak as you watch birds come to roost, or on a peaceful sail with a dolphin escort.
Captiva Island, @alyshascholten
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