Travel Eye on Fort Myers Beach (Florida, USA)

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Overview:

Fort Myers Beach is perhaps best known for the popular, sandy beaches of Estero Island, a long, narrow barrier island 8½ mls long and 1 ml at its widest. Running the length of this island is busy Estero Blvd, lined with beach bars, restaurants, some high-rise hotels and an array of tourist shops; there are also several full-service marinas, 3 parks, a wide range of water sports and diverse restaurants and shops. Lynn Hall Memorial Park (also known as Times Square) has a selection of busy beach bars, clubs, fast-food outlets and water sports; it's also the venue for outdoor concerts. The island does offer pockets of peace and quiet, however, most notably at the attractive bays on the NE shore. Much smaller San Carlos Island lies between the NW end of Estero Island and the mainland and is connected to both by bridges, which can get busy during the weekends and at holiday times; dive shops, fishing charters and a seafood market line the main road. The built-up mainland area has factory stores, some fast-food restaurants and an information centre. About 10 mls E is Fort Myers City, a sedate, attractive, primarily residential community with many fine old restored period homes as well as a large boating centre, the City Yacht Basin. Though only about 2 mls at the widest, the city is 19 mls long. To the N lies North Fort Myers, a rural community with woodlands and ranch land for cattle, although it is getting its share of development every year.

Locality:

Fort Myers Beach is located in the SE United States, midway down the W coast of Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico. It is 10 mls SW of Fort Myers City, 130 mls NW of Miami and its international airport, 15 mls NW of SW Florida International Airport. It is set on level, low-lying land, and comprising 3 main parts: Estero Island, San Carlos Island and part of the mainland. Estero Island is connected to the mainland by a narrow bridge spanning Estero Bay and another one farther S giving access to Bonita Springs. Fort Myers City occupies generally low-lying terrain bounded on the N by the Caloosahatchee River.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

On Estero Island, lively Lynn Hall Memorial Park and its environs appeal to the 18 to 35 age group, and get extremely busy during the US colleges' Spring Break. The quieter NW end is a popular place for anglers. Fort Myers City attracts visitors in their 30s and 40s.

The main beach on Estero Island is lined with tower block hotels, motels and condominiums; there are also several quieter bayside hotels, campsites and a few cottages. Fort Myers City offers mainly high-rise hotels; some condominiums and home rentals.

Fort Myers Beach has a sandy 7-ml-long stretch on the SW side of Estero Island, just steps away from numerous hotels. Public access is widespread but parking is limited. Times Square Beach at Lynn Hall Memorial Park has better parking facilities, picnic tables, barbecue grills, playground equipment and changing facilities. Fort Myers City has Bunchie Beach, a fairly non-commercial place popular for quiet sunbathing; it is unsuitable for swimming owing to strong currents.

Estero Blvd (on Estero Island) is lined with a wide range of outlets, from independently owned stores offering some local flavour to large shopping centres such as Edison Mall, Bell Tower shops and Royal Palm Square featuring well-known names. Far greater choice in Fort Myers City, including upmarket shops, big-name retailers and outlet malls. A cluster of antique shops at McGregor Blvd; downtown Fort Myers has a scattering of collectible stores, some specialising in the 1950s. Giant flea markets in N and E Fort Myers. Arts and crafts, fresh farm produce and Florida souvenirs.

Activities in the area include: all water sports, volleyball, beach gym and bike and scooter rentals. Tennis, scuba diving and fishing. Marine museum on San Carlos Island and a public golf course. Lover's Key Park (a state recreation area) on the S end of Estero Island. Lynn Hall Memorial Park. Bowditch Point Park, on the N tip of Estero Island, has gulf and bay views, picnic and barbecue areas, a hiking path and a free transport service but no parking. Nightlife: lively bars and clubs with reggae, modern music and live entertainment. Also a movie theatre, Broadway musicals, dance performances and casino. Fort Myers City (daytime): tennis, golf, in-line and ice skating, greyhound racing, baseball. Natural history museum and planetarium; Imaginarium, a hands-on environmental museum and aquarium; winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Sightseeing boat cruises. Bicycle hire; numerous cycle paths. Fort Myers is the spring training ground for 2 national baseball teams, the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. Nightlife: live entertainment, cigar and wine bars, Latin sounds and dance lessons, live music, folk music, karaoke, comedy cafes and performing arts. Home of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra.

There are an abundance of restaurants, from cheap snack bars to restaurants with "Old Florida" appeal, as well as some more expensive fine dining overlooking the beach or bay. Fort Myers City has a selection of fine waterfront dining and smart restaurants.