Things to do in Fort Myers, FL

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Get Your Bearings in Fort Myers

Fort Myers Expert

By Gina Birch
Fort Myers Expert

See & Do
Stay
Eat
Party
Shop

Things to See

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates is one of the most visited attractions in Fort Myers. While you're downtown signup for a walking tours, including ones that claim to be haunted. The Seminole Gulf Railway offers visitors a picturesque trip through the surrounding countryside along with a murder mystery dinner show to boot. There are water parks, batting cages and nature parks, however, the main attractions here are the beautiful beaches, the abundance of shells on the shores, and the stunning sunsets. 

Take It or Leave It: The Lani Kai during spring break...it gets crazy

Avoid: Driving and searching for beach parking during spring season or weekends, take the trolly instead

Caution: Shuffle your feet in the shallow waters during the summer, just in case stingrays are hanging out under the sand.

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Where to Stay

Lodgings in Fort Myers include your typical corporate brand hotels and lots of them. The Indigo Hotel is a favorite for travelers with business in the downtown area or party goers attending weddings and events at nearby historic venues. Airport area hotels may not be close to the beach but they're perfect for hitting spring training games and outlet shopping. Families looking for accommodations on the water should check out The Pink Shell on Fort Myers Beach or Sundial on Sanibel.

Take It or Leave It: Some hotels offer free shuttles to shopping areas, the airport, and more.

Caution: Costs of hotels are often 50% more expensive during the high season.

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What to Eat

Cleveland Avenue, the city's main commercial thoroughfare, is teaming with well known chain restaurants, as well as some trendy local eateries while downtown has dozens of eclectic eateries all within walking distance of each other. For a city it's size Myers has a growing number of international food choices; many of which are off the beaten path. But seafood is the area’s main claim to fame, a reflection of the city's maritime location.

Be Sure to Sample: The local Grouper.

Hot Tips: Early dining and happy hour offer excellent values for discerning diners.

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Places to Party

The Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall hosts performances of world-class musicians and Broadway musicals while the quant Arcade Theater puts on award winning shows, and The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre offers a buffet dinner with its show. The craft brewery craze has hit Southwest Florida with  a number of fun places to experience local brew. Nightlife offerings also include lots of live music in bars from the beach to downtown including a monthly music walk downtown. You've got a good chance of seeing award winning musicians who swing through the area at The Barrel Room and the Roadhouse Cafe.

Hot Tips: Checkout Happenings Magazine online for a compressive entertainment guide

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Where to Shop

Fort Myers is home to some of the best discount shopping in the region with both Miromar and Sanibel outlets hosting dozens of name brand store sselling items at deeply discounted prices. Shopping areas like Coconut Point and Gulf Coast Town Center are laid out like neighborhoods and feature both local and national known boutiques and retailers. And at the Shell Factory you’ll find one of the largest collections of shells in the world and lots of Florida kitsch; as well as a nature park and rides. It’s a perfect place to intersperse shopping with kid-friendly fun. 

Best Local Souvenir: The Shell Factory and Nature Park sells a plethora of shells and items made from them.

Hot Tips: Sun Harvest offers free samples of freshly juiced Florida citrus

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Fort Myers Neighborhoods

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Fort Myers is known for...

Five of Fort Myers's most unique features and characteristics.

1. Spring Training:

Both the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins conduct their annual spring training in Fort Myers, each in their own ballfield.  Late February sees legions of baseball fans flocking to southwest Florida for spring training games - which run through the end of March - against MLB rivals like the New York Yankees or Chicago White Sox.   It's a lot of fun and the best weather of the year.   Fans get tan and baseball bliss all at the same time. 

2. Great Weather:

Winter is a sport watched on the Weather Channel, in Fort Myers.   Winter is a little unpredictable in December and January but "plunging temperatures" often means into the 60s, with sunshine.   Winter temps can be as high as 80.   Come to play.   Spring is lovely as well, with 70s and 80s for the highs until - typically - May, when summer comes calling.  Summer is hot (high 90s) and humid, but what will you care?  You'll be in the pool, on the beach, and never fighting any crowds;  summer is off-season here.   "Fall" offers the lowest prices of year in hotels and the heat of summer, until about the third week of October, when it cools down to 70s for a high. 

3. Nearby Islands & Beaches:

Southwest Florida has legendary beaches.   Sanibel Island is world-renowned for shelling;  its seashell-laden beaches are filled with treasures year-round.   Tiny Captiva Island faces west, so its beach is a bastion of happiness at happy hour, nightly.   Fort Myers Beach, on Estero Island, is a laid-back beach with tourist bars serving drinks right in the sand.   Pristine Lovers' Key is for paddling and sunning in seclusion.   A few other beaches are reached by charter boat or water taxi only.   All have white sand and most have lots of wildlife. 

4. Sunsets:

Vacations are often built around sunsets in southwest Florida.   Whether you watch sunset from the beach with a cocktail, or from the deck of a tour boat, to the sounds of a tropical guitar player . . . your sunset memories from Fort Myers are sure to be remarkable.   Watch for the "green flash," a seaside phenomenon that ony happens in certain weather conditions and shoots a 1-2 second bright green flash across the watery horizon. 

5. Outdoor Lifestyles:

Fishing, tennis, golf, walking, paddling, shelling . . . Fort Myers is all about these activities.  A full calendar of sunny days and temps which are rarely cold (or never cold, depending upon your home latitude) give Fort Myers visitors their choice of outdoor activities.   Fishing is great offshore or on;  golf and tennis clubs pepper the area.   Lakes Park is a particularly popular area to get outside, with its long hiking trails and canoe rentals.  The Calusa Bluewway - a water-based trail for paddlers - brings kayakers galore to the Fort Myers area.