You may just be here for a week on the beach, dipping your toes in the sea occasionally, or you may want to get out and see what Fort Myers and Florida have to offer. Either way, you’ll find this a laid back and charming area that has something for both culture vultures and sun seekers.
Winter Wonderlands
With sunshine all year round, it’s hardly surprising that many of America’s rich and famous winter here in Fort Myers. Two legends of industry, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, bought two properties adjacent to each other, such was their friendship, and these estates are now open to the public.
Edison’s house dates from 1886, while Ford moved into his in 1916 and one of the highlights of a visit is the botanical garden. Boasting over a thousand varieties of plants, it includes the first Banyan tree ever planted in the US.
With a research laboratory, museum and guided tours available, it’s a great glimpse into these two titans of American history, and how they lived.
Get your body to the beach
The beaches in Fort Myers will not disappoint – and there’s a rich choice of them too. Fort Myers Beach has the soft, golden sand of your dreams and also attracts water sports enthusiasts with its excellent kayaking and parasailing. It’s easy to find places to stay and eat right on the long beach, or you can hop on a waverunner to watch dolphins or join a fishing boat.
The beautiful islands of Sanibel and Captiva, just off the coast, are popular with shell collectors, and you’ll come across some gorgeous examples as you let the sand squidge through your toes.
Freshwater Florida
If you fancy a more active trip to Fort Myers, there’s lots to get involved with. The Babcock and Webb Wildlife Management Area, to the north, is a nature preserve that is remarkably unspoilt. There’s great places to go mountain biking and bird spotting here.
To the south of Fort Myers is Pine Island Sound and Aquatic Preserve. This protected shoreline is dotted with mangroves and home to pelicans, egrets and herons. Charlotte Harbor also has a state park with 100 miles of protected shoreline, peppered with marshes and pine flatwoods. You can follow trails to enjoy the wildlife or take to the waterways in a canoe or kayak.
All aboard
If you fancy something completely different, park up your hire car and take the train – the murder mystery dinner train that is. On this 3 ½ hour train ride, that crosses the Caloosahatchee, you’ll enjoy a five course meal while watching a live murder mystery show played out. Tuck into Super Sleuth Salmon or Who Dunnit? Prime Rib as you try to be the on-board Sherlock who cracks the crime and wins a prize.
Hiring a car in Fort Myers opens up this wonderful part of the south-west Florida to you, and also means you can explore the rest of this sun-kissed state in comfort.