Fort Myers

City of Palms

The Downtown Fort Myers River District forms the core of a city that stretches for miles south along the Caloosahatchee River and east to the rural interior. The City of Fort Myers is located between Cape Coral, across the river to the north; Lehigh Acres to the east, and Bonita Springs to the south.

What is the history of Fort Myers?

Named for a Civil War-era army colonel, Fort Myers history parallels that of Florida itself.Indigenous peoples, the Calusa Indians, inhabited the islands nearby. Later, pioneers settled the pine flatwoods, and cattle drivers escorted their charges down what is now McGregor Boulevard to ships docked at Punta Rassa.Thomas Alva Edison and Henry Ford brought the town to prominence when they chose it as their winter getaway and built homes on the river. It became known as the City of Palms for the stately royal palms that Edison had planted along McGregor Boulevard.

What sets Fort Myers apart from other Florida vacation spots?

Today, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, the city’s top attraction, encompasses 26 acres of tropical gardens, historic homes, Edison’s laboratory, a museum, inventions and exhibits, a museum store, and a garden shop.Downtown Fort Myers still has many lovely old buildings, many with a Spanish influence. It’s also a destination for museums, dining, nightlife, and monthly music and art festivals.Accommodations from vacation rentals to hotels cluster around the Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and in South Fort Myers, which is the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico beaches and tourist destinations of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island.In and around Fort Myers you will find some excellent shopping that ranges from independent boutiques, pretty little outdoor shopping centers, an indoor mall, and high-end outlets.