Fort Myers is a booming town with great weather, entertainment and a casual feel in Southwest Florida. It was the winter home of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, and it remains a popular spot for "snowbirds" from northern states.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributors.
According to a handbook authored by Francis Asbury Hendry who lived from 1833–1917, Fort Myers first appears in about 1841 when it was first manned as Fort Harvey. The military fort was abandoned in 1842 then re-established in 1850 and named in honor of a U.S. Army officer named Abraham C. Myers, a Colonel. The fort was a center for command and control operations during war against the native Indian tribes that lived in Florida until they were defeated and relocated out of the state to regions of western United States. However, some of the Seminole Indian tribe never surrendered and remained in the Florida wilderness.
The tropical climate is perfect for bicycling, and Fort Myers is a very bicycle friendly city. But watch out for those occasional pop up showers, especially during the wet season. When cycling, be sure to bring plenty of water, wear light weight, light colored clothing, and wear sunscreen. Lee trans is the local bus service and has numerous bus lines criss-crossing the city. The Midpoint and Cape Coral Pwky/Colonial Bridge is $2 going from Fort Myers to Cape Coral only. Other direction is non toll. The bridge is generally unavoidable unless you go through downtown Fort Myers and US41 around. The Sanibel Causeway to Sanibel Island collapsed during the hurricane in 2022.
1 Edison and Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd, ☏ +1 239-334-7419. Every day 9AM-5:30PM (during Dec until 9PM). Guided tours through 15,000 ft² (1,400 m2) museum with hundreds of Edison and Ford inventions and objects, video theatres, and changing special exhibits. Beautiful and interesting plantings on the grounds. $25 for adults, $20 for teens 13–19, $15 for children 6–12, free for children 5 and under. 2 Sanibel Lighthouse. 3 Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, 3450 Ortiz Ave (at Colonial Blvd), ☏ +1 239-275-3435. (updated Jun 2020) 4 Koreshan State Historic Site, 3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero, ☏ +1 239-992-0311. 8AM to sunset.
Paint a coconut at one of the many art galleries on colourful pine island Head to Matanzas Pass Preserve on the 7 mi (11 km) long island of Estero and into the 60 acres (24 hectares) mangrove where crabs, lizards and birds live in abundance. Visit the Edison & Ford Winter Estates featuring 20 acres (8.1 hectares) of tropical gardens and the largest banyan tree in the US. Make the most of Fort Myers' Music Walk every third Friday of the month and hear the streets filled with live music. 1 Sky Zone Fort Myers. 2 Good Time Charters and Tours, 4765 Estero Blvd Ft Myers Beach (behind the Publix by the Bayfront Bistro), ☏ +1 239-218-8014, tours@goodtimecharter.com.
1 Plakka Greek Restaurant. (updated May 2023) 2 Iguana Mia Mexican Restaurant. 3 Siam Hut, 4521 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral, ☏ +1 239-945-4247. M-F 3PM-9PM, Sa 5PM-9PM. Thai. (updated May 2023) 4 Ford's Garage, 2207 First St. 11AM - 11PM. (updated Feb 2018) 5 Cabos Cantina, 2226 First Street, ☏ +1 239-332 2226, info@caboscantinafl.com. Su-Th 11AM–10PM, F Sa 11AM-11PM. Tex-mex restaurant serving generous portions of burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and the like, as well as margaritas. Vegetarian options available. $20. (updated Apr 2023)
The Cigar Bar (Two locations). (updated May 2023) 1 , 1508 Hendry St., ☏ +1 239-337-4662. (updated May 2023) 2 , 10045 Gulf Center Dr, ☏ +1 239-267-6020. (updated May 2023) Blu Sushi (Two locations). (updated May 2023) 3 , 13451 McGregor Blvd, ☏ +1 239-489-1500. (updated May 2023) 4 , 2262 First St, ☏ +1 239-362-2843. (updated May 2023) 5 Junkanoo Below Deck, 4761 Estero Blvd. Nice beachclub with full bar.
While Fort Myers is mostly safe, there are a few scattered neighborhoods, especially east and southeast of downtown, where it is wise to use a bit of caution, especially at night. The most reliable method of identifying what portions of the area are least safe is to consult the Lee County Sheriff Department. They provide Web services that graphically depict all of the high crime areas. Visitors will find that opinions not supported by statistics from the Lee County Chamber of Commerce or, Lee County Sheriff Department may not be based in fact. The Lee County Sheriff Department web-site address is: http://www.sheriffleefl.org.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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In Jul, Fort Myers typically sees ~32°C daytime highs and 22 rainy days.
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