Americans and Canadians have been flocking to Fort Myers for years, and for good reason. The region gets around 300 days of sunshine a year, and a cold day is still warm enough for shorts if you’re from north of the border.
Visitors will find fun family attractions, marvelous beaches, quiet nature, fine food, and hotels of every style and price range. Air Canada, WestJet, and Porter fly directly from YYZ to RWS/Southwest Florida airport, and there are easy connections from other major Canadian cities, as well as from New York, Boston and other big U.S. cities
Beaches and most attractions are open along Fort Myers Beach, as well as on Sanibel and Captiva islands. Many hotels and resorts open along the beach and pretty much all of them are open in and around Fort Myers proper, which sports a vibrant, handsome downtown on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River.
Visit Florida recently stated that last year’s fourth quarter arrivals to RSW were up 32.4% from the final three months of 2022.
Here’s a look at some great options in the Fort Myers region.
TOP HOTELS
The Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande, Florida.
You can find hotels and resorts for just about every type of traveler in the Fort Myers area.
Margaritaville Resort, Fort Myers Beach opened late in 2023 and offers a lively, vibrant beachfront experience.
Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa, Fort Myers is a modern, attractive spot on the water between downtown Fort Myers and Sanibel Island.
The Gasparilla Inn and Club in Boca Grande is one of the great hotels in Florida, with beautiful decor and a relaxed, old-time feel.
Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village fronts a pretty marina and features a water taxi to Fort Myers Beach.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa is an upscale spot in Bonita Springs with water slides and a lazy river, as well as a Stillwater Spa.
TweenWaters Island Resort & Spa is a quiet spot on Captiva Island that faces a pretty channel.
The Luminary Hotel, a Marriott Autograph Collection property is a stylish, urban property on the water in downtown Fort Myers.
Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina is a popular mainstay on a quiet stretch of Fort Myers Beach, with both suites and cottages.
ISLAND GETAWAYS
The Sanibel Island lighthouse. Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau Photo
Just a short drive from Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva islands are both superb spots for collecting seashells and enjoying nature.
The Sanibel Lighthouse, built in 1884, towers over a fine stretch of beach. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a great spot to enjoy an hour or two of tranquility, and to spot beautiful birds. It’s part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States.
Captiva is a super chill spot with a fun restaurant called the Mucky Duck, where you can dine with your feet in the sand. The popular Key Lime Bistro on Captiva is slated to reopen next month.
Reachable only by boat, Cabbage Key is a joyful, super-casual place. Check out the island’s restaurant, where visitors tack up thousands of dollar bills each year and where Jimmy Buffett is said to have been inspired to write “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” You might spy a pod of dolphins cavorting in the wake of the boat or a lone bird carrying a fish back to its nest as you cruise along the water.
Gasparilla Island is a real throwback kind of place, the sort of laid-back spot where the official time piece should be a sundial. The town of Boca Grande has fine shopping and an outstanding golf course designed by top architect Pete Dye.
FAMILY FUN
The Sun Splash Family Water Park offers water slides for kids of all ages, as well as a lazy river.
Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park has mini-golf, paintball, axe throwing, arcades, a zip line and more.
The IMAG History and Science Center has a new stingray touch tank the kids will love. You also can learn about fascinating Native American culture and star in a weather forecast in the IMAG TV studio.
MORE NATURE
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Lover’s Key State Park features a protected, two-mile beach. You can go hunting for shells, relax under a beach umbrellas, or explore canals and lagoons that are favourite grazing spots for manatee and shorebirds.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is partly located in Lee County. It’s a great place to enjoy the warbling of tiny birds in overhead pines and admire the dappled morning sunlight as you stroll along a raised boardwalk.
Manatee and Eco River Tours offer up sunset tours, as well as the chance to see massive manatees in their natural habitat.
MORE FOOD AND DRINK
Located in the lobby of the stylish Luminary Hotel in downtown Fort Myers, The Silver King Ocean Brasserie features an open kitchen and a cool, light industrial-style décor. The scallops are fabulous, as is the rack of lamb.
In Fort Myers Beach, Fresh Catch Bistro is a very good dining spot overlooking a pretty bay. Try the fresh grouper with perfectly cooked veggies, or perhaps the blackened shrimp. Junkanoo Below Deck is a casual dining spot on the ground level, just below Fresh Catch.
ARTS AND CULTURE
The lovely Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers, Florida. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The Center for the Arts Bonita Springs hosts wonderful live performances and festivals, as well as exhibitions and special events. The same goes for the gorgeous Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers.
SHOPPING
Miromar Outlets features great shops, including Kate Spade, J. Crew, Ann Taylor and Saks off Fifth. Kids will love the playground and wall-climbing facility. The center also sports more than a dozen food outlets, with everything from pizza to sushi, as well as tacos, burgers and Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches.
Downtown Fort Myers has lovely, independent boutiques. One of the best spots for local art, clothing and jewelry is The Franklin Shops, a collection of around 100 southwest Florida artists.
