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Fort Myers | Cape Coral, Pine Island, and North Fort Myers
In parts of Fort Myers, old Southern mansions and their modern-day counterparts peek out from behind stately palms and blossomy foliage. Views over the broad Caloosahatchee River, which borders the city’s small but businesslike cluster of office buildings downtown, soften the look of the area. These days it’s showing the effects of age and urban sprawl, but planners work at reviving what has been termed the River District at the heart of downtown. North of Fort Myers are small fishing communities and new retirement towns, including Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island; Englewood Beach on Manasota Key; and Port Charlotte, north of the Peace River.
Fort Myers
80 miles southeast of Sarasota, 125 miles west of Palm Beach.
The city core lies inland along the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, a half hour from the nearest beach. The town is best known as the winter home of inventors Thomas A. Edison and Henry Ford.
Getting Here and Around
The closest airport to Fort Myers is Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), about 15 miles southeast of town. A taxi for up to three passengers costs about $20–$40. Extra people are charged $10 each. LeeTran bus service serves most of the Fort Myers area.
If you’re driving here from Florida’s East Coast, consider Alligator Alley, a toll section of Interstate 75 that runs from Fort Lauderdale to Naples. Interstate 75 then runs north–south the length of the region. U.S. 41 (the Tamiami Trail, also called South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers) runs parallel to the interstate to the west and goes through downtown Naples and Fort Myers. McGregor Boulevard (Route 867) and Summerlin Road (Route 869), Fort Myers’s main north–south city streets, head toward Sanibel and Captiva islands. San Carlos Boulevard (Route 865) runs southwest from Summerlin Road to Fort Myers Beach, and Pine Island–Bayshore Road (Route 78) leads from North Fort Myers through northern Cape Coral onto Pine Island.
Key West Express operates a ferry from Fort Myers Beach (year-round) to Key West.
Bus Contacts
LeeTran. | 239/275–8726, 239/533–8726 | www.rideleetran.com.
Ferry Contacts
Key West Express. | 1200 Main St. | Fort Myers Beach | 239/394–9700, 888/539–2628 | www.keywestexpress.us.
Visitor Information
Contacts
Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. | 2201 2nd St., Suite 600 | 239/338–3500, 800/237–6444 | www.fortmyers-sanibel.com.
Exploring
Top Attractions
Fodor’s Choice | Edison & Ford Winter Estates.
Fort Myers’s premier attraction pays homage to two of America’s most ingenious inventors: Thomas A. Edison, who gave the world the stock ticker, the incandescent lamp, and the phonograph, among other inventions; and his friend and neighbor, automaker Henry Ford. Donated to the city by Edison’s widow, his once 12-acre estate has been expanded into a remarkable 25 acres, with three homes, two caretaker cottages, a laboratory, botanical gardens, and a museum. The laboratory contains the same gadgets and gizmos as when Edison last stepped foot into it. Visitors can see many of his inventions, along with historic photographs and memorabilia, in the museum. Edison traveled south from New Jersey and devoted much of his time here to inventing things (there are 1,093 patents to his name), experimenting with rubber for friend and frequent visitor Harvey Firestone, and planting hundreds of plant species collected around the world. Next door to Edison’s two identical homes is Ford’s “Mangoes,” the more modest seasonal home of Edison’s fellow inventor. The property’s oldest building, the Edison Caretaker’s House, dates to 1860. Tours are guided or audio self-guided. One admission covers homes of both men; museum and laboratory-only tickets and botanical-garden tour tickets are also available. | 2350 McGregor Blvd. | 239/334–7419 | www.edisonfordwinterestates.org | Complete Estate Tour $20; other tours available | Daily 9–5:30, tours hourly 10–4.
FAMILY | Fodor’s Choice | Imaginarium Science Center.
Kids can’t wait to get their hands on the wonderful interactive exhibits at this lively museum–aquarium combo that explores technology, physics, weather, and other science topics. Check out the stingrays and other marine life in the aquariums, touch tanks, and the living-reef tank; feed the fish, turtles, and swans in the outdoor lagoon; visit a tarantula, python, hissing cockroach, juvenile alligator, and other live critters in the Animal Lab; dig for dinosaur bones; score in the Sporty Science sports simulator; watch a 3-D movie in the theater; take part in a hands-on Animal Encounter demonstration, and touch a cloud. Other highlights include the Tiny Town early childhood area, Backyard Nature, Discovery Lab exploration station, Idea Lab engineering design center, as well as Build-Your-Own-Coaster and Science of Motion. | 2000 Cranford Ave. | 239/321–7420 | www.imaginariumfortmyers.com | $12 | Tues.–Sat. 10–5, Sun. noon–5.
FAMILY | Manatee Park.
Here you may glimpse Florida’s most famous, yet often hard to spot, marine mammal. When gulf waters drop to 68 degrees F or below—usually from November to March—the sea cows congregate in these waters, which are warmed by the outflow of a towering nearby power plant. Pause at any of the three observation decks (the first nearest the outflow and last at the lagoon usually yield the most sightings, as does the fishing pier) and watch for bubbles. Hydrophones on the last deck allow you to eavesdrop on their songs. Periodically, one of these gentle giants—mature adults weigh an average of 1,000 pounds—will surface. Calusa Blueway Outfitters run the visitor center/gift shop and offer kayak and canoe rentals, as well as clinics and tours to paddle the canals and get a closer look. | 10901 Palm Beach Blvd., 1¼ miles east of I–75 Exit 141 | 239/690–5030 | www.leeparks.org | Free. Parking May–Nov. $1 per hr, $5 daily; Dec.–Apr. $2 per hr, $5 daily | Park daily 8–sunset; concession 9 am–4 pm Dec.–Mar.
Worth Noting
FAMILY | Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium.
Get a look at Florida’s native animals and habitats. Boardwalks and trails lead through subtropical wetlands, a birds-of-prey aviary, and a screened-in butterfly house. There are snake, alligator, butterfly, and other live-animal demonstrations several times daily. Museum exhibits include an Exotic Species room and the Insectarium. The domed, state-of-the-art, 90-seat planetarium hosts astronomy shows daily and special laser shows. | 3450 Ortiz Ave. | 239/275–3435 | www.calusanature.org | $10 | Mon.–Sat. 10–5, Sun. 11–5.
McGregor Boulevard.
Majestic royal palms, some planted by Thomas Edison, line one of the city’s most scenic streets and are the root of its “City of Palms” moniker. The boulevard runs from downtown to Summerlin Road, which takes you to the barrier islands.
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.
The River District has become a haven for independent galleries, and in 2003 Florida Arts, Inc., a nonprofit organization, stepped in to turn an abandoned post office from 1933 into a space for edgy, up-and-coming visual artists, musical acts, films, and theater. Even if your taste runs more to Broadway and Monet than M-Pact and Marcus Jansen, a visit is worthwhile for the neoclassical revival facade: eight towering coral-rock Ionic columns give way to swaths of intricately detailed window screens. The friendly staff is happy to answer questions about the building’s history. Renovations of the upper floors have recently been completed. TIP Plan a trip around the first or third Friday every month for Art Walk or Music Walk; the center stays open late for the throngs of passersby. | 2301 1st St. | 239/333–1933 | www.sbdac.com | $5 suggested donation | Weekdays 9–5; performances most weekend nights.
Southwest Florida Museum of History.
A restored railroad depot serves as a showcase for the area’s history dating to 800 BC. Displays include prehistoric animals and Calusa artifacts, a reconstructed chickee hut, a dugout canoe, clothing and photos from Seminole settlements, historical vignettes, changing exhibits, and a replicated Florida Cracker house. A favorite attraction is the Esperanza, a private, restored 1929 Pullman rail car. | 2031 Jackson St. | 239/321–7430 | www.swflmuseumofhistory.com | $9.50 | Tues.–Sat. 10–5.
Where to Eat
Bistro 41.
$$$ | AMERICAN | Shoppers and businesspeople meet in the newly remodeled dining room for some of the town’s most dependable and inventive cuisine. Amid brightly painted, textured walls and a display kitchen, the menus roam from “41 Prime Dip” sandwich and the popular bistro salad with portobellos and a pesto drizzle to a delicious pork pot roast. To experience the kitchen at its imaginative best, check the night’s specials, which often include daringly done seafood (crabmeat-crusted triple-tail fish with caramelized plantains and passion-fruit beurre blanc, for instance). When weather permits, ask for a table on the patio. | Average main: $23 | 13499 S. Cleveland Ave. | 239/466–4141 | www.bistro41.com | Reservations essential.
Chile Ranchero.
$ | MEXICAN | Latinos and gringos alike converge on this authentic little corner of Mexicana in a strip mall along busy Tamiami Trail. The decor is humble, but you can’t beat the prices or the portions. The warm and inviting staff speaks Spanish and so does the menu, with English subtitles. The intensely flavorful dishes appeal to American and Latin palates, with a range from fajitas and steak ranchero to seafood soup and excellent nachos con ceviche. | Average main: $12 | 11751 S. Cleveland Ave., No. 18 | 239/275–0505.
Cibo.
$$$ | ITALIAN | Its flavor-bursting Italian food and its propensity for fresh, quality ingredients keep Cibo (pronounced chee-bo) at the head of the class for local Italian restaurants. In contrast to the sophisticated black-and-white setting, the menu comes in colors from the classic Caesar salad with shaved Grana Padano and spaghetti and meatballs to salmon piccata and veal porterhouse with porcini risotto. The lasagna Napoletana is typical of the standards set here—a generous square of pasta layered with fluffy ricotta, meat ragu, mozzarella, and the totally fresh-tasting, garlicky pomodoro sauce. | Average main: $24 | 12901 McGregor Blvd. | 239/454–3700 | www.cibofortmyers.com | Reservations essential | No lunch.
Il Pomodoro Cucina Italiana.
$ | ITALIAN | We may say tomato or tomahtoe, but in Italy, they say pomodoro. But there’s much more than the use of fresh tomatoes to recommend this place to the locals who find their way off the beaten culinary path. It starts with hot, crusty, garlic-glazed rolls, and Caesar salad with a flavorful Romano dressing. From there you have your pick from combinations of classic Italian subs, pastas and sauces, pizzas, and proteins. The same menu applies for both lunch and dinner, but with different pricing. It ranges from standard veal parmigiana and lasagna to gnocchi pomodoro (smothered in fresh tomatoes and basil) and chicken Sinatra (battered and layered with prosciutto, eggplant, roasted peppers, and fresh mozzarella in lemon wine sauce). | Average main: $15 | 9681 Gladiolus Dr. | 239/985–0080 | www.ilpomodororestaurant.com | No lunch Sat. May–Dec., closed Sun.
Philly Junction.
$ | AMERICAN | From the bread (Amoroso rolls) to the corned beef, almost everything here comes from Philadelphia. Not only are the Philly cheesesteaks delicious and authentic, but the burgers and other sandwiches are excellent—and the prices are among the lowest around. Stay for an old-fashioned shake, or join the Philly natives for pork roll and scrapple at breakfast. The strip-mall café occupies two rooms sided with natural wood board-and-bead paneling. Signs at every table humorously reveal “25 Ways to Tell You’re from Philly.” If you come for dinner, plan on eating early because the restaurant closes at 8. | Average main: $7 | 4600 Summerlin Rd., C12 | 239/936–6622 | Reservations not accepted | No dinner Sun.
Saigon Paris Bistro.
$$$ | VIETNAMESE | Irish omelets, Belgian waffles, crêpes, steak au poivre, Vietnamese sea bass, Waldorf chicken salad: this eatery’s extensive menu clearly travels farther abroad than its name implies. And it does so with utmost taste and flavor, as its faithful local clientele will attest. The best deals are the lunchtime Vietnamese entrées and chicken egg-drop soup. The restaurant is known for its gigantic bowls of pho (traditional soup), which can be ordered any time of day (some people have them for breakfast). It also offers three-course Vietnamese or Parisian dinners for $30. Leave room for crêpes à la Grand Marnier, prepared tableside. The interior is pleasant, if a bit old-fashioned, but provides a soothing surprise in this busy part of town with its fireplace, floral motif, and classic columns. | Average main: $21 | 12995 S. Cleveland. Ave., No. 118 | 239/936–2233 | www.saigonparisbistro.com | Closed Mon. June–Sept.
FAMILY | Shrimp Shack.
$ | SEAFOOD | Seafood lovers, families, and retired snowbirds flock to this venue with its vivacious staff, bustle, and colorful, cartoonish wall murals. There’s a wait for lunch in winter season and a brisk take-out business with drive-through. Southern-style deep frying prevails—whole-belly clams, grouper, shrimp, onion rings, hush puppies, and fried pork loins—though you can get certain selections broiled or blackened, and there’s some New England flavor with seafood rolls at lunch. Create your own combo by selecting two or three fried, broiled, or blackened choices. Kids love this place for the buzzing atmosphere and parents love the inexpensive kids meals. For more savings, print out the restaurant’s “Kids Eat Free” coupon from the web site. This is your place if you like your seafood simple. | Average main: $13 | 13361 Metro Pkwy. | 239/561–6817 | www.shrimpshackusa.com.
The Veranda.
$$$$ | SOUTHERN | Restaurants come and go quickly as downtown reinvents itself, but this one has endured since 1978. A favorite of business and government bigwigs at lunch (the fried-green-tomato salad is signature), it serves imaginative Continental fare with a trace of a Southern accent for dinner. Notable are tournedos with smoky sour-mash-whiskey sauce, rack of lamb with rosemary-merlot sauce, herb-crusted honey-grilled salmon, and a grilled seafood sampler with prosciutto cream fettuccine, all served with homemade honey-drizzled bread and corn muffins with pepper jelly. The restaurant is a combination of two turn-of-the-20th-century homes, with a two-sided central brick fireplace, and sconces and antique oil paintings on its pale-yellow walls. Ask for an outdoor courtyard table when weather permits. | Average main: $34 | 2122 2nd St. | 239/332–2065 | www.verandarestaurant.com | Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
Where to Stay
Baymont Fort Myers Airport Hotel.
$ | HOTEL | A top option for its value and facilities, this spot is close to the airport and interstate, with complete business services, a basic gym, and a warm, cozy lobby. Many restaurants are within walking distance. There is also great shopping nearby at the Gulf Coast Town Center and Miromar Outlets. During spring season, rooms fill up with baseball fans, so make reservations in advance. Pros: near airport; many dining options nearby. Cons: no frills; high-traffic area. | Rooms from: $140 | 9401 Marketplace Rd. | 239/454–0040 | www.baymontfortmyersairport.com | 67 rooms, 18 suites | Breakfast.
Crowne Plaza Hotel Fort Myers at the Bell Tower Shops.
$$$ | HOTEL | Baseball fans often make this hotel home base since spring training and other sports parks are just a few miles away, while singles love the sports bar downstairs and being a stroll from the Bell Tower Shops, and families appreciate the mini-refrigerators and microwaves in the rooms. Expect tasteful, traditional furniture in medium-tone woods with bright accent walls; rooms have granite bathroom vanities . Some particulars, including tubs and door hardware, are in need of some attention, but the room rates reflect that. A rock waterfall adds a nice touch to the quiet pool deck. New rooms geared toward female travelers have upgraded hair dryers, flat irons, king beds, robes, slippers, yoga mats, and blocks. Pros: free airport shuttle; complimentary transportation within a 3-mile radius; laundry facilities. Cons: showing signs of age; rooms a bit tight; meeting traffic crowds the lobby. | Rooms from: $210 | 13051 Bell Tower Dr. | 239/482–2900 | www.cpfortmyers.com | 225 rooms | No meals.
Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers.
$$$ | HOTEL | This compact, prettily landscaped low-rise is near Fort Myers’s cultural and commercial areas, and a business clientele favors it for its convenience. Rooms, done in light-color wood, are spacious, with marble vanities in the bath, and have high-speed Internet access and free HBO. A huge aquarium in the lobby adds a nice Florida feel for vacationers. Pros: near performing-arts center; enjoyable restaurant; large rooms. Cons: chain feel; small pool; at busy intersection. | Rooms from: $199 | 12600 University Dr. | 239/790–3500 | www.fortmyers.stayhgi.com | 126 rooms | Breakfast.
Hotel Indigo, Ft. Myers Downtown River District.
$$$ | HOTEL | The only modern boutique hotel downtown, it attracts a cosmopolitan set that wants to be in the center of the River District’s art, dining, and shopping scene—and just minutes from other attractions. The eight-story tower was built in 2009 but cleverly designed to blend in with the historic setting. Pretty bas-relief Corinthian columns travel up the façade, and first-floor common areas that spill out onto a historic arcade are kept simple. But inside the hotel proper, white walls, graphic palm tree prints, and espresso woods dominate. These contemporary elements carry over to rooms and mix with soothing blues and retro photos of Old Florida. Art is bold and comes entirely from local artists. The two-queen rooms appeal to families, but for about $10 more, book the spacious king-sofabed combo with a huge double-vanity bathroom (couples and singles also take note: it runs $30 above the standard king, but is almost the same size as a suite). Pros: sleek design; walking distance to restaurants and nightlife; tower built in 2009 and lobby part of historic arcade; rooftop bar. Cons: must drive to beach; no suites have full kitchens. | Rooms from: $199 | 1520 Broadway | 239/337–3446 | www.hotelindigo.com | 60 rooms, 7 suites | No meals.
FAMILY | Fodor’s Choice | Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa.
$$$ | RESORT | Vacationing families and businesspeople who want luxury pick this sprawling resort complex that towers over the island-studded San Carlos Bay at the last mainland exit before the Sanibel Causeway. Choose from two lodging options—a concierge club–style inn and the hotel—most rooms with sweeping bay views. There’s also tennis, the best resort spa in the Fort Myers area, restaurants (one of which is a buffet-dining yacht), the gorgeous circular windowed Charley’s Bar, and a large free-form pool, among other facilities and activities. Rent a kayak, Jet Ski, or pontoon boat; take a wildlife-viewing cruise; or go fishing. The beach is small and bay-side, but Sanibel’s gorgeous stretches of sand are a quick ride away. Pros: top-notch accommodations; full amenities; updated spa. Cons: daily parking fee as well as resort fee added to rate; unspectacular beach. | Rooms from: $369 | 17260 Harbour Pointe Dr. | 239/466–4000, 800/767–7777 | www.sanibel-resort.com | 283 rooms, 64 suites | No meals.
Nightlife
Performing Arts
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.
Catch Broadway musicals, concerts, symphony performances, and comedy shows. | Edison State College, 8099 College Pkwy. | 239/481–4849, 800/440–7469 | www.bbmannpah.com.
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre.
Buffet dinners come along with some of Broadway’s best musicals. There’s also a 100-seat black-box theater that hosts smaller-scale comedies and musicals. | 1380 Colonial Blvd. | 239/278–4422 | www.broadwaypalm.com.
Florida Rep.
In the restored circa-1915 Arcade Theatre downtown, this top professional company stages Tony- and Pulitzer-winning plays and musicals. There’s also an adjacent, more intimate space for edgier works and a Lunchbox Theatre Series for children. | 2267 1st St. | 239/332–4488 | www.floridarep.org.
Crü.
Trendsters in the mood for a drink and excellent global tapas crowd the lounge area of this cutting-edge restaurant. The lounge serves food until midnight on weekends. | 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 241 | 239/466–3663 | www.eatcru.com.
Groove Street Grille & Discotheque.
Dance to those fabulous songs of the 1970s and hot hits from today. Happy hour, ladies’ night, and good food add to the fun atmosphere. Comedy shows play regularly in the Laugh-In Comedy Cafe, which is in the same building. | College Plaza, 8595 College Pkwy., #300 | 239/437–2743 | www.groovestreet.com | Thurs. 9 pm–2 am, Fri. 5 pm–2 am, Sat. 8 pm–2 am.
The Happy Buddha.
A giant gold statue of his Zen-ness out front greets fans—a fun mix of frat boys, retirees, and young professionals—who crowd the casual, smoky bar and groove to hits from live bands and DJs. This is a local favorite. | 12701 McGregor Blvd. | 239/482–8565.
Laugh-In Comedy Cafe.
For more than 20 years, this is the place to watch top comedians perform every Friday and Saturday, in a no-smoking atmosphere. | College Plaza, 8595 College Pkwy., No. 300 | 239/479–5233 | www.laughincomedycafe.com.
Stevie Tomato’s Sports Page.
Five miles up on Interstate 75 from the buzzing Gulf Coast Town Center bars, this is a low-key spot to catch a game and feast on good food; earlier in the evening it’s very family-friendly. Best bets are their baby back ribs, Chicago-style pizza, and Italian beef. | 9510 Market Place Rd. | 239/939–7211 | www.stevietomatossportspage.com.
Shopping
Bell Tower Shops.
This open-air shopping center has about 40 stylish boutiques and specialty shops, a Saks 5th Avenue, some of Fort Myers’s best restaurants and bars, as well as 20 movie screens. | S. Cleveland Ave. at Daniels Pkwy. | 239/489–1221 | www.thebelltowershops.com.
Edison Mall.
The largest air-conditioned indoor mall in Fort Myers houses several major department stores and some 160 specialty shops. | 4125 Cleveland Ave. | 239/939–1933 | www.simon.com/mall/edison-mall.
Fleamasters Fleamarket.
Just east of downtown, more than 900 vendors sell new and used goods Friday through Sunday 9–5. Its music hall hosts live entertainment. | 4135 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 1.7 miles west of I–75 Exit 138 | 239/334–7001 | www.fleamall.com.
Fort Myers Tanger Factory Outlets.
Its boardwalks are lined with outlets for Nike, Van Heusen, Maidenform, Coach, Under Armour, Bath & Body Works, and Samsonite, among others. | 20350 Summerlin Rd. | 888/471–3939 | www.tangeroutlet.com/fortmyers.
Gulf Coast Town Center.
This a megamall of stores and chain restaurants includes a 130,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Best Buy, Costco, Golf Galaxy, and movie theaters. | 9903 Gulf Coast Main St. | 239/267–0783 | www.gulfcoasttowncenter.com.
Sports and the Outdoors
Baseball
The region is a popular outpost for spring training teams, with two in Fort Myers.
Boston Red Sox.
The Sox settled into new digs in 2012 at JetBlue Park at Fenway South, a new $77 million, 10,823-capacity stadium and 106-acre training facility. The field itself is an exact duplicate of their famous home turf, with a Green Monster wall and manual scoreboard. | JetBlue Park, 11581 Daniels Pkwy. | 239/334–4700, 888/733–7696 | boston.redsox.mlb.com.
Minnesota Twins.
The team plays exhibition games in town during March and early April. From April through September, the Miracle (www.miraclebaseball.com), a Twins single-A affiliate, plays home games at Hammond Stadium. | Lee County Sports Complex, 14100 6 Mile Cypress Pkwy. | 800/338–9467 | minnesota.twins.mlb.com.
Biking
One of the longest bike paths in Fort Myers is along Summerlin Road. It passes commercial areas and gets close to Sanibel through dwindling wide-open spaces. Linear Park, which runs parallel to Six Mile Cypress Parkway, offers more natural, less congested views. Trailhead Park is linked to the new John Yarbrough Linear Park to create a 30-mile pathway, the longest in Lee County.
Bike Route.
Since 1974, this is the place to come for a good selection of rentals. | 8595 College Pkwy., Suite 200 | 239/481–3376 | www.thebikeroute.com | Closed Sun.
Boating and Sailing
Southwest Florida Yachts.
Charter a sailboat or powerboat, or take lessons. With 30 years in the business, they can help you explore Southwest Florida like a native. | 6095 Silver King Blvd. | Cape Coral | 239/656–1339, 800/257–2788 | www.swfyachts.com.
Fishing
Anglers head for the gulf, its bays, and the estuaries for saltwater fishing—snapper, sheepshead, mackerel, grouper, and other species. The Caloosahatchee River, Orange River, canals, and small lakes offer freshwater alternatives.
Golf
Eastwood Golf Course.
Golfers love how this Robert von Hagge– and Bruce Devlin–designed course is in an area where there is little development, meaning no homes around the course, just plenty of water, trees, and wildlife (aka gators). The driving range and course are affordable, too, especially if you don’t mind playing at unfavorable times (midday in summer, for example). Test your skills on the short par 4 on hole 7, where your second shot is over water. The 10th hole will have you shooting over water, too. | 4600 Bruce Herd La. | 239/321–7487 | www.cityftmyers.com/eastwood | From $45; rentals clubs $15 | 18 holes, 6772 yards, par 72.
Fort Myers Country Club.
Walk in the footsteps of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford when you play this course known as “The Fort” to its huge fan base. Located less than a mile from the winter estates of these famous inventors, this course is one of the oldest on Florida’s west coast. In fact, it was designed in 1916 by Donald Ross and opened in 1917. Number 10 is a par 3 where you can hit anything from a 7 iron to a hybrid as the hole stretches out 203 yards. The Coors Light Open is held here early each year. Next door is a lively restaurant and bar, The Edison. | 3591 McGregor Blvd. | 239/321–7488 | www.cityftmyers.com/countryclub | $45–$65 | 18 holes, 6400 yards, par 72.
Shell Point Golf Club.
Newbies to heavy hitters enjoy the layout of this Gordon Lewis–designed course with its challenging fairways and share of water hazards—eight tees on every hole. The front nine play like a symphony, but the back nine can be rough and slow with the wind and their somewhat compacted layouts. If you’re looking for a 19th hole where you can toast your one-under-par score, you won’t find it here as no alcohol is served. One nice feature at “The Shell” is that they offer Laser Link for accurate yardage to the pin. | 17401 On Par Blvd. | 239/433–9790 | www.shellpointgolf.com | $85 | 18 holes, 6880 yards, par 71.
Ice Skating
FAMILY | Fort Myers Skatium.
Recreational ice-skating (including figure skating) and ice-hockey programs, plus skate rentals and lessons are offered at downtown’s Fort Myers Skatium. An on-site fitness center sells day passes and hosts Zumba, spinning, and yoga classes, too. Call for open skate times and prices. | 2250 Broadway | 239/321–7510 | www.cityftmyers.com/Skatium.
Kayaking
Calusa Blueway Outfitters.
Paddling enthusiasts can rent kayaks to explore the Manatee Park environs daily from Thanksgiving to Easter and on weekends in the summer; clinics and guided tours are also available, but go in winter if spotting sea cows is your aim. | Manatee Park, 10901 Palm Beach Blvd., 1¼ mile east of I–75 Exit 141 | 239/481–4600 | www.calusabluewayoutfitters.com.
Cape Coral, Pine Island, and North Fort Myers
13 miles from downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral is determinedly trying to move from its pigeonhole as a residential community by attracting tourism with its downtown reconfiguration, the Resort at Marina Village, and destination restaurants at the Cape Harbour residential marina development.
Getting Here and Around
Four bridges cross from Fort Myers to Cape Coral and North Fort Myers. Pine Island–Bayshore Road (Route 78) leads from North Fort Myers through northern Cape Coral onto off-the-beaten path Pine Island, known for its art galleries, fishing, and exotic fruit farms.
Exploring
Calusa Heritage Trail.
Affiliated with the University of Florida’s natural history museum in Gainesville, this 7/10-mile interpretive walkway explores the site of an ancient Amerindian village—more than 1,500 years old—with excellent signage, two intact shell mounds you can climb, the remains of a complex canal system, and ongoing archaeological research. Guided tours are given 3 times a week from January to April. Check the website for special tours and lecture events. | Randell Research Center, 13810 Waterfront Dr., Bokeelia, Pine Island | Pineland | 239/283–2157 | www.flmnh.ufl.edu/rrc | $7 (suggested donation) | Open daily sunrise–sunset. Restrooms and gift shop open Mon.–Sat. 10–4.
Off the Beaten Path: ECHO Global Farm Tours & Nursery.
ECHO is an international Christian nonprofit striving to end world hunger via creative farming. A 90-minute tour of its working farm is honestly fascinating and takes you through seven simulated tropic-zone gardens and has you tasting leaves, walking through rain-forest habitat, visiting farm animals, stopping at a simulated Haitian school, witnessing urban gardens grown inside tires on rooftops, and learning about ECHO’s mission. Although the group is religiously based, the tour guides are far from preachy, plus the organization’s scope is all-inclusive, equipping and training people who deserve it no matter what their beliefs are. If you have time, spring for the Appropriate Technology Tour. It’s held in a covered facility and runs slightly shorter than the basic Global Farm Tour, and you’ll see simple contraptions that give ingenious solutions to everyday challenges in the developing world, like pressing seeds and making rope (spoiler alert—one involves a bicycle-powered saw). The ECHO Global Nursery and Gift Shop sells fruit trees and the same seeds ECHO distributes to impoverished farmers in 180 countries. | 17391 Durrance Rd. | North Fort Myers | 239/543–3246 | www.echonet.org | $10 | Apr.–Nov., Global Farm Tours Tues.–Fri. at 10, noon, and 2, Sat. at 10 and noon, Appropriate Technology Tours Tues. at 2.
FAMILY | Shell Factory & Nature Park.
This entertainment complex, once just a quirky shopping destination and a survivor from Florida’s roadside-attraction era, now contains eateries, an arcade, bumper boats, miniature golf, and a mining sluice where kids can pan for shells, fossils, and gemstones. Strolling the grounds is free, including seeing over $6 million worth of exhibits and displays, but some activities carry individual fees, and a separate admission is required to enter the Nature Park, which has the feel of a small zoo. There you can find llamas; a petting farm with sheep, pigs, and goats; a walk-through aviary; an EcoLab; a touch center; and a gator slough. The Shell Factory hosts family-friendly events throughout the year, such as the Gumbo Fest in January. It’s newest addition is the Soaring Eagle Zipline. | 2787 N. Tamiami Trail | North Fort Myers | 239/995–2141 | www.shellfactory.com | Shell Factory free; attractions starting at $2 each; Nature Park $12 | Shell Factory daily 9–7; Nature Park daily 10–5.
FAMILY | Fodor’s Choice | Sun Splash Family Waterpark.
Head here to cool off when summer swelters. Nearly two dozen wet and dry attractions include 10 thrill waterslides; the Sand Dollar Walk, where you step from one floating “sand dollar” to another; pint-size Pro Racer flumes; a professional sand volleyball court; a family pool and Tot Spot; and a river-tube ride. Rates go down after 2 pm, plus the park offers Family Fun Night specials. | 400 Santa Barbara Blvd. | 239/574–0558 | www.sunsplashwaterpark.com | $17.95 | Mar.–Sept., weekends and some weekdays 10–5; call or visit website for specific open hrs.
Punta Gorda Day Trip
A half hour (23 miles) north of Fort Myers, the small, old town of Punta Gorda merits a day trip for its restaurants and historic sites. If you’re driving to Boca Grande via U.S. 41, it also makes a nice stop along the way. On the mouth of the Peace River, where it empties into Charlotte Harbor, a new riverfront park, water views, and murals enliven the compact downtown historic district. Away from the downtown area, a classic-car museum, wildlife rehabilitation center, and waterfront shopping complex built into an old fish-packing plant fills out a day of sightseeing. Fishing and nature-watching tours also depart from the Fishermen’s Village complex.
Off the Beaten Path: Babcock Wilderness Adventures.
To see what Florida looked like centuries ago, visit Babcock’s Crescent B Ranch, northeast of Fort Myers. During the 90-minute swamp-buggy-style excursion you ride in a converted school bus through several ecosystems, including the unusual and fascinating Telegraph Cypress Swamp. Along the way an informative and typically amusing guide describes the area’s social and natural history while you keep an eye peeled for alligators, wild pigs, all sorts of birds, Florida panthers, and other denizens of the wild. The tour also takes in the ranch’s resident cattle and cougar in captivity. Reservations are needed for tours. An on-site restaurant serves “Cracker” chow in season. | 8000 Rte. 31 | Punta Gorda | 800/500–5583 | www.babcockwilderness.com | Eco-tour $24; cost for other specialty tours varies | Reservations essential | Oct.–May, tours daily; June–Sept., tours Tues.–Sat. All tours by reservation only; some specialty tours offered only monthly or seasonally.
Where to Eat
Bert’s Bar & Grill.
$ | AMERICAN | Looking to hang out with the locals of Pine Island? Here you’ll find cheap eats, live entertainment, a pool table, and a water view to boot. Speaking of boots, you’re likely to see some of the clientele wearing white rubber fishing boots, known here as Pine Island Reeboks. Order fried oysters, a burger, pizza, or a grouper Reuben melt from the no-nonsense menu, and enjoy live music most days. | Average main: $9 | 4271 Pine Island Rd. | Matlacha | 239/282–3232 | www.bertsbar.com | Reservations not accepted.
Rumrunners.
$ | AMERICAN | Cape Coral’s best casual cuisine is surprisingly affordable, considering the luxury condo development that rises around it and the size of the yachts that pull up to the docks. Caribbean in spirit, with lots of indoor and outdoor views of a mangrove-fringed waterway, it serves bistro specialties such as conch fritters, seafood potpie, bronzed salmon, and a warm chocolate bread pudding that is addictive. Bar staff is affable and welcoming. | Average main: $13 | Cape Harbour Marina, 5848 Cape Harbour Dr., off Chiquita Blvd. | 239/542–0200 | www.rumrunnersrestaurant.com.
Siam Hut.
$ | THAI | Lunch and dinner menus at this Cape Coral fixture let you design your own stir-fry, noodle, or fried-rice dish. Dinner specialties include fried crispy frogs’ legs with garlic and black pepper, a sizzling shrimp platter, fried whole tilapia with curry sauce, salads, and pad thai (rice noodles, egg, ground peanuts, vegetables, and choice of protein). Get your food fiery hot or extra mild. Two traditional Thai tables allow you to sit on floor pillows (conveniently with backs), or you can opt for a more conventional table or booth. | Average main: $14 | 4521 Del Prado Blvd. | 239/945–4247 | www.siamhutcapecoral.com | Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
Where to Stay
Casa Loma Motel.
$$ | HOTEL | Stay at this pretty little motel, 15 minutes from Fort Myers at the end of the Croton Canal, to be close to Cape Coral’s attractions and escape the sticker shock of beachfront lodgings. All units are efficiencies with a porch or balcony, some overlooking the canal. Right off the pool is a spacious waterfront sundeck with lounge chairs. Pros: kitchen facilities in rooms; free Wi-Fi; large sundeck with canal access. Cons: must drive to beach; on a busy street; decor a bit dated; no restaurant. | Rooms from: $119 | 3608 Del Prado Blvd. | 239/549–6000, 877/227–2566 | www.casalomamotel.com | 48 efficiencies, 1 suite | No meals.
Tarpon Lodge.
$$ | B&B/INN | A no-frills escape, this lodge, named for a local game fish, was built in 1926 on a sweep of green lawn with magnificent views out to sea. Rooms in the original building are small and simple; those in the newer 1980 building and the two efficiency cottages, however, offer a bit more modern ambiance. Each room has its own personality; the best have balconies overlooking the grounds and bay. The sunny restaurant dishes up creative surprises. It’s in the fishing village of Pineland, on the edge of Pine Island Sound, settled in the 16th century by Calusa Indians and near an archaeological site and trail. Pros: waterfront view; historic property; great restaurant; can dock boats overnight. Cons: some rooms are basic; far from other restaurants; quite far from beach by land. | Rooms from: $185 | 13771 Waterfront Dr. | Pineland | 239/283–3999 | www.tarponlodge.com | 20 rooms, 2 cottages | Breakfast.
The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village.
$$$ | RESORT | Cape Coral’s only luxury resort, this modern 19-story tower sits alongside a marina fringed with mangroves and caters to families and water-ports enthusiasts. Full-service, with a variety of high-end accommodations, it also has restaurant and other dining options, specialty shopping outlets, galleries, three resort pools, and a spa. All rooms except the most basic have kitchens and a washer/dryer. A free shuttle boat ferries guests the 45-minute distance to the beaches of Fort Myers Beach. Bike and kayak rentals are on-site. Pets are allowed in some of the units. From the marina, you can book charters and nature and sightseeing tours. Pros: designer touches; kids club; great kayaking. Cons: 45-minute ferry to beach; high-rise. | Rooms from: $309 | 5951 Silver King Blvd. | 239/541–5000, 888/372–9256 | www.westincapecoral.com | 83 studios, 83 1-bedroom condos, 82 2-bedroom condos, 16 3-bedroom condos | No meals.