Southwest Florida is referred to as "southwest Florida" by residents. It can be seen why. The city is located on the coast and is surrounded by barrier islands. There isn't much to say to visitors that they're in a retirement community.
If you enjoy outdoor exploration and wildlife, you will not be hurting for what to do in Fort Myers. In contrast to amusement parks and themed hotels, the islands of Fort Myers offer paddle trails through mangroves, outer island beaches that seem plucked from the Caribbean, and the kind of bird watching that will make you download a birding app after just a few hours outside.
The marine preserves, state parks, and wildlife refuges around Fort Myers cover 350,000 acres of protected lands and waters, all of which provide for the area's main attraction: wildlife. The most difficult part of deciding what to do in Fort Myers is deciding which activities to save for your next trip.
A photo of Dylan York.
Sanibel, a small island in the Lee County crown, has Caribbean-class beaches and a Florida Keys vibe that attracts a lot of spring breakers. Captiva Island and Sanibel are worth the trip for wildlife lovers because of the 6,400 acres of protected subtropical habitat.
Visitors can walk, bike, or drive the one-way road that runs through the heart of the town. You should plan on a four-mile drive since the reserve is home to 428 species of birds. It is easy to spend the entire day at the welcome center, museum, and award-winning bathroom.
It's a good idea to visit in the morning. In the afternoon there is not much shade and no-see-ums. The best way to see the roseate spoonbills is to get in before lunchtime. They're here until 10 AM all summer long. One leaves and the rest follow.
It's a good idea to spend some time at the observation tower, which is the best place to see a mass of tall, beautifully pink birds.
The photo was taken by Maridav.
Sanibel Island is the world's self-proclaimed "shelling capital of the world". One of the best things to do in Ft. is to head directly to Sanibel's beaches. Right after a storm.
The spotted junonia shells, lettered olives, horse conches, and alphabet cones that draw beachcombers from around the country are washed up by the Gulf Coast currents. The most popular shelling spot in Sanibel is Lighthouse Beach. The Sanibel stoop involves being hunched over the surf, nets and buckets, combing for mollusk-free shells.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum moved to Sanibel in 1995 due to the popularity of beachcombing. It's illegal to collect live shells on the island. Visitors can see native mollusks at the aquarium.
A photo of Dylan York.
The John Pennekamp State Parks in the Keys are often visited by tourists. Cayo Costa State Park has the same calm waters and white sands, as well as seashells nearly as good as at Sanibel, and a small fraction of the crowds of other parks. Cayo Costa is a barrier island that is accessible only by boat.
The majority of the island is open to all visitors who want to hop on a ferry, paddle themselves over, or take a private boat. Tent campers have access to basic beachfront sites with showers and a few cabins can be rented. Most visitors come just for an afternoon of snorkeling and sifting through shells at the beach. Cayo Costa is the place to go if you want to get away from the crowds at the beach.
The photo was taken by Scott Hay.
Many of the most popular attractions are best reached by boat. Renting or hiring a boat for the day is the best way to spend an afternoon in Southwest Florida.
Half-day or full-day excursions are available at Jensen's Marina and Captiva Water Sports. Captain Brian on the Water is a sure way to be entertained and educated, even if you're not familiar with the area. The interests that draw visitors to these waters are shelling, snorkeling, wildlife, and photography, and that's what Captain Brian's tours center around.
The photo was taken by Howard Layne.
Visitors can arrive by boat, travel by foot, and eat on fresh Gulf Coast shrimp and fish under a ceiling made of dollar bills on the private island. The island and its restaurant are called Cabbage Key.
On land that could be mistaken for the Florida Keys, Cabbage Key was built for a relaxing day on the water.
Its roads are nature trails, its restaurant is open-air, and it has a parking lot. A lot of people visit for lunch and a quick walk as part of a larger trip. The Cabbage Key Inn is a great place to stay if you want to stay longer.
According to the Wells Family, who have owned the island since 1976, Ernest Hemingway, Julia Roberts, and Jimmy Buffet have all sat at the inn and restaurant's famous bar. It is rumored to be home to the original Cheeseburger in Paradise.
A photo of Dylan York.
The state protects the mangroves and seagrass beds between the coast and barrier islands. The Great Calusa Blueway is accessible to kayakers and canoers.
For a brief period each spring, baby sharks, sawfish, wild dolphins, and pelicans can be found in the Blueway. They are all common occurrences.
The tiny island of Matlacha has a burst of subtropical color and a surprising amount of seafood joints, making it one of the most popular jumping-off points. It is easy to get to the Great Calusa Blueway via the Matlacha Pass aquatic preserve.
The Blueway App and well-marked trails make paddling routes easy to follow for all kayakers. Don't own a kayak? There's no need to worry, Gulf Coast Kayak offers three-hour tours of the Matlacha Pass mangroves that provide the right combination of education, exertion, and wildlife spotting.
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