Attractions
Fort Myers, Florida, has many attractions, including beaches, museums, and historical sites. Fort Myers serves as the anchor of Southwest Florida’s Strande of Fort Myers and Sanibel, providing easy access to assorted areas of appeal.
With pristine A stretch of white sand beaches along the gulf side and dense mangroves on the east side, Fabled Sanibel and Captiva islands combine to form one of North America’s greatest shelling experiences, great biking/hiking trails, and a wildlife sanctuary spanning miles and miles.
Sanibel and Captiva are, in fact, so eco-conscious that building heights can’t be more than the height of a palm tree in those two islands. There are back bays, estuaries, and lush mangrove forests on Estero Island, where Fort Myers Beach (recognized as one of the safest family beaches in the world) is home to kayaking and bird-watching opportunities.
There are freshwater fishing opportunities in Bonita Springs, and there are golf courses, marinas, and tennis courts in Cape Coral. When you cross the bridge to Pine Island on the way to the Florida Keys, you’ll be reminded of days when fishing was the area’s top industry.
This picturesque island, known for the “Fishing Bridge in the US,” appeals to anglers. There are miles of freshwater canals, 16 well-stocked lakes with excellent fishing, tennis courts, horseback riding trails, hikes, and biking trails in Lehigh Acres.
Boston Red Socks Spring Training
City of Palms Park in Fort Myers is the site of Red Sox spring training and Red Sox Grapefruit League action.
2201 Edison Avenue. (239) 334-4700
Cabbage Key
There are no cars here, not even a paved road, and Cabbage Key can only be reached by boat, helicopter, or seaplane. Jimmy Buffett’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise” is said to have been inspired by Cabbage Key. Originally the playwright/novelist Mary Roberts Rinehart, the Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant was built in the 1930s.
It sits atop an Indian shell mound, and the view of the Gulf of Mexico is breathtaking from here. Pine Island, Captiva, and Punta Gorda have scheduled boats that run daily.
Known for its nightlife in the Dollar Bill Bar, Cabbage Key is typically defined by its pleasantry, where patrons tape thousands and thousands of Dollar Bills to its walls – John F. Kennedy Jr. included his – and later donate them to charity. As there is no microwave on-site, patrons must gut and clean their catch.
Mile Marker 60. (239) 283-2278


Calusa Nature Center
A museum, nature trails, planetarium, aviary, gift shop, and picnic area are available at the 105-acre Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium. Visitors can see snakes, alligators, and crocodiles up close in daily programs. Also waiting is a variety of amphibians and arthropods. Water resources, as well as the plight of manatees, are addressed in the interpretive displays.
3450 Ortiz Avenue. (239) 275-3435
Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
Some 30 exhibitions are displayed in the Great Hall of Shells, including Gifts from the Seas of Sanibel & Captiva (seashells washed ashore along the beaches and backwaters on Sanibel & Captiva); The two exhibits are: Worldwide Shells (the centerpiece of which is a globe containing specimens from far-flung places); and Children’s Learning Lab (a hands-on exhibit with live creatures.)
3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road. (239) 395-6706
