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Top Reasons to Go | Getting Oriented | What’s Where | Planning
Updated by Jill Martin
With its subtropical climate and beckoning family-friendly beaches known for their powdery sand, calm surf, and nary a freighter in sight, the Lower Gulf Coast, also referred to as the state’s southwestern region, is a favorite vacation spot of Florida residents as well as visitors. Vacationers tend to spend most of their time outdoors—swimming, sunning, shelling, fishing, boating, and playing tennis or golf.
The region has several distinct travel destinations. Small and historic downtown Fort Myers rises inland along the Caloosahatchee River, and the rest of the town sprawls in all directions. It got its nickname, the City of Palms, from the hundreds of towering royal palms that inventor Thomas Edison planted between 1900 and 1917 along McGregor Boulevard, a historic residential street and site of his winter estate. Edison’s idea caught on, and more than 2,000 royal palms now line 14-mile-long McGregor Boulevard. Museums and educational attractions are the draw here. Across the river, Cape Coral has evolved from a mostly residential community to a resort destination for water sports enthusiasts.
Off the coast west of Fort Myers are more than 100 coastal islands in all shapes and sizes. Connected to the mainland by a 3-mile causeway, Sanibel is known for its superb shelling, fine fishing, beachfront resorts, and wildlife refuge. Here and on Captiva, to which it is connected by a short bridge, multimillion-dollar homes line both waterfronts. Just southwest of Fort Myers is Estero Island, home of busy Fort Myers Beach, and farther south, Lovers Key State Park and Bonita Beach.
Farther down the coast lies Naples, once a small fishing village and now a thriving and sophisticated enclave. It’s like a smaller, more understated version of Palm Beach, with fine restaurants, chichi shopping areas, luxury resorts, and—locals will tell you—more golf holes per capita than anywhere else in the world. A half hour south basks Marco Island, best known for its beaches and fishing. See a maze of pristine miniature mangrove islands when you take a boat tour from the island’s marinas into Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Although high-rises line much of Marco’s waterfront, the tiny fishing village of Goodland, an outpost of Old Florida, tries valiantly to stave off new development.
Top Reasons to Go
Heavenly beaches: Whether you go to the beach to sun, swim, gather shells, or watch the sunset, the region’s Gulf of Mexico beaches rank among the best.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates: A rare complex of two famous inventors’ winter homes comes complete with botanical-research gardens, Edison’s lab, and a museum.
Island hopping: Rent a boat or jump aboard a charter for lunch, picnicking, beaching, or shelling on a subtropical island adrift from the mainland.
Naples shopping: Flex your buying power in downtown Naples’s charming shopping districts or in lush outdoor centers around town.
Watch for wildlife: On the edge of Everglades National Park, the region protects vast tracts of fragile land and water where you can see alligators, manatees, dolphins, roseate spoonbills, and hundreds of other birds.
Getting Oriented
The Lower Gulf Coast of Florida, as its name suggests, occupies a stretch of coastline along southernmost west Florida, bordered by the Gulf of Mexico. It lies south of Tampa and Sarasota, directly on the other side of the state from West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. In between the two coasts stretch heartland agricultural areas and Everglades wilderness. The region encompasses the major resort towns of Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, Naples, and Marco Island, along with a medley of suburban communities and smaller islands.
What’s Where
Fort Myers and Vicinity. Don’t miss the Edison & Ford Winter Estates along royal palm–lined McGregor Boulevard. For museums, theater, and art, the up-and-coming downtown River District rules.
The Coastal Islands. Shells and wildlife refuges bring nature lovers to Sanibel and Captiva islands. Fort Myers Beach is known for its lively clubs and shrimp fleet. For true seclusion, head to the area’s unbridged island beaches.
Naples and Vicinity. Some of the region’s best shopping and dining take up residence in historic buildings trimmed with blossoms and street sculptures in Old Naples. Hit Marco Island for the boating lifestyle and funky fishing-village character.
Planning
When to Go
In winter this is one of the warmest areas of the United States. Occasionally temperatures drop in December or January, but rarely below freezing. From February through April you may find it next to impossible to find a hotel room.
Numbers drop the rest of the year, but visitors within driving range, European tourists, and convention clientele still keep things busy. Temperatures and humidity spike, but discounted room rates make summer attractive. Summer is also rainy season, but most storms occur in the afternoon and last for a flash. Hurricane season runs from June through November.
Getting Here and Around
Air Travel
The area’s primary airport is in Fort Myers, where many airlines offer flights; private pilots land at both RSW and Page Field, also in Fort Myers. Gulf Coast Airways to Key West and a couple of private charter services also land at Naples Municipal Airport, and North Captiva Island has a private airstrip.
Airport Transfer Contacts
Aaron Airport Transportation. | 239/768–1898 | www.aarontaxi.com.
Sanibel Taxi. | 239/472–4160, 888/527–7806 | www.sanibeltaxi.com.
Contacts
Naples Municipal Airport. | 160 Aviation Dr. N | Naples | 239/643–0733 | www.flynaples.com.
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). | 11000 Terminal Access Rd. | Fort Myers | 239/590–4800 | www.flylcpa.com.
Car Travel
If you’re driving, U.S. 41 (the Tamiami Trail) runs the length of the region. Sanibel Island is accessible from the mainland via the Sanibel Causeway (toll $6 round-trip). Captiva Island lies across a small pass from Sanibel’s north end, accessible by bridge.
Be aware that the destination’s popularity, especially during winter, means traffic congestion at peak times of day. Avoid driving when the locals are getting to and from work and visitors to and from the beach.
Hotels
Lodging in Fort Myers, the islands, and Naples can be pricey, but there are affordable options even during the busy winter season. If these destinations are too rich for your pocket, consider visiting in the off-season, when rates drop drastically, or look to Fort Myers Beach and Cape Coral for better rates. Beachfront properties tend to be more expensive; to spend less, look for properties away from the water. In high season—Christmastime and Presidents’ Day through Easter—always reserve ahead for the top properties. Fall is the slowest season: rates are low and availability is high, but this is also hurricane season (June–November).
Restaurants
In this part of Florida, fresh seafood reigns supreme. Succulent native stone-crab claws, a particularly tasty treat, in season from mid-October through mid-May, are usually served hot with drawn butter or chilled with tangy mustard sauce. Supplies are typically steady, since claws regenerate in time for the next season. Other seafood specialties include fried grouper sandwiches and Sanibel pink shrimp. In Naples’s highly hailed restaurants and sidewalk cafés, mingle with locals, winter visitors, and other travelers, and catch up on the latest culinary trends.
Tours
Manatee and Eco River Tours.
To spot some sea cows in the Fort Myers area, hook up with Manatee and Eco River Tours. Open November 1–April 30, during the height of manatee viewing season. You can even bring your pet. Reservations required. | 16991 Rte. 31 | Fort Myers | 239/693–1434 | www.manateeandecorivertours.com | Pet-friendly.
Captiva Cruises.
Shelling, dolphin, luncheon, beach, sunset, and history cruises run to and around the out islands of Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Cayo Costa, and Gasparilla Island. Night sky cruises and excursions also go to historic Tarpon Lodge and Calusa Indian Mound Trail on Pine Island. Excursions from $27. | McCarthy’s Marina, 11401 Andy Rosse La. | Captiva | 239/472–5300 | www.captivacruises.com.
Manatee Sightseeing Adventure.
You are guaranteed to see manatees or you don’t pay. Tours depart at Port of the Islands. Discount tickets are available online. | 525 Newport Dr. | Naples | 239/642–8818 | www.see-manatees.com.
Tarpon Bay Explorers.
One of the best ways to see the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is by taking one of these guided or self-guided nature tours. There are many options to choose depending on your activity level and desire—including a sea life cruise, open-air tram tours, and nature cruises, to name a few. Rentals of kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, bikes, and pontoon boats are right on-site. Charter boats are also available. | 900 Tarpon Bay Rd. | Sanibel | 239/472–8900 | www.tarponbayexplorers.com.