Fort Myers Beach
Southwest Florida’s most playful destination, Fort Myers Beach occupies a series of islands located near Fort Myers and just south of Sanibel Island. Estero Island holds most of the island’s attractions ,hotels and vacation rentals. San Carlos Island, between it and the mainland, is home to the town’s working shrimp fleet and a number of tasty restaurants that benefit from them. To the south, Lovers Key holds an all-natural state park well-loved for its off-the-trodden-path beach.Beaches & Sunsets…
Ft. Myers Beach is well-known to college students in the spring and families in the summer. They come expressly for its friendly Gulf of Mexico beaches and affordability.The main beach, Lynn Hall Memorial Park, caters to families, anglers, and party animals with a playground, wide sands, calm waters, a free fishing pier, and lots of nearby bars and eateries. It is part of Times Square, a waterfront pedestrian mall filled also with shops and host to a nightly sunset celebration. Other quieter beach parks and accesses line Estero Island and Lovers Key to the south.
What is the history of Fort Myers Beach?
One of Southwest Florida’s earliest developed beach towns, Fort Myers Beach had its first bridge in place by 1921.Back then, bootlegging earned the island a reputation for partying, although legend says local pirates were the first to bring their rum to Estero Island for some serious play time between plunderings. The town celebrates its swashbuckling heritage with an annual Pirate Fest in October. The discovery of shrimp in local waters fed the local economy from the 1950s on, and a different sort of celebration – Shrimp Festival – pays homage to that still-strong aspect of salty heritage.
What sets Fort Myers apart from other Florida vacation spots?
Besides playing on the beach and eating shrimp, your Fort Myers Beach stay will be split between water sports, relaxation, spa-going, a little hiking, and other typical Florida tourist activities.