Beach: Fort Myers Beach is located on Estero Island, which runs along the Gulf of Mexico southwest of Fort Myers and north of Naples. Visitors fly into Southwest Florida International Airport. The island is southwest of the airport.
Attractions: The main attraction at Fort Myers Beach is, of course, the beach. Here you can parasail, jetski, rent a canoe or kayak or just take the sun in. At the Tours Information Center near the pier, you can book a boat cruise and beach activities. An excellent choice is Fort Myers Beach Cruises, located off the island on San Carlos Boulevard, next to Johnny Leverock’s Restaurant. Check out the Getaway Marina for a fishing expedition or rent bikes to get around the island while avoiding the traffic! If you’ve had too much sun, you can catch a movie and lunch or dinner at the Beach Theatre or try your luck on one of the casino boats, either the Big “M” Casino or the Leisure Lady Casino. The surrounding communities of Fort Myers, Naples and Sanibel Island have much to offer as well.
Beaches: Fort Myers Beach is the perfect spot for a beach-lover’s vacation. Here you will enjoy the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico for family-friendly swimming and water activities, soft sandy beaches, and lots of sunshine. The beach runs all along the island, from Bowditch Point Regional Park at the north end to Lover’s Key State Park at the south end.
Shopping: While you won’t find a major mall or department store on the island, you will find a variety of shopping choices for your souvenir purchases, beach gear, men’s and women’s apparel and more. At the southern end of the island, you’ll want to stop in at the Book Nook, where new and used books are sold and you can exchange your used books for store credit toward your purchases. Nearby Sanibel Island is a shopper’s paradise, and you’ll want to stop at the Sanibel Tanger Factory Stores on the way.
Dining: Fort Myers Beach offers a variety of dining options, from fast food to ethnic specialties to fine dining. Many restaurants offer outdoor seating -- one good choice for a casual, moderately priced lunch or dinner is the Beached Whale, where you can dine rooftop with a beautiful view of the island and the gulf or enjoy live entertainment on the first floor. Another is the Beach Pierside Grill, which offers outdoor seating right at the beach and live entertainment. A personal favorite for breakfast is the Gulfshore Grill, which is also located on the beach and offers a panoramic gulf view. And for fine dining, you can’t miss with Channel Mark.
Location: Marco Island is located at the southernmost tip of mainland Florida’s west coast, just west of the Everglades. It is the largest inhabited island of the 10,000 Islands. It is about an hour’s drive south of the Southwest Florida International Airport. Charter and private flights arrive at the Marco Island Executive Airport.
Attractions: Marco Island’s main attractions are the beaches and waterways. It is a boating and fishing paradise, with mangrove islands galore. The back-country fishing is extraordinary and there are plenty of boats waiting to take you on a sightseeing tour. Shelling is also a visitor’s favorite pastime. Marco Island is known as the “western gateway to the Everglades”, where you have easy access to various Everglades excursions. The Briggs Nature Center has a half-mile boardwalk through scrublands and features ranger-lead nature excursions and a self-guided canoe trail (canoe rentals available). You can come in from the sunshine and enjoy a first run movie along with lunch, dinner or a snack at the Marco Movie Theater. The Marco Island Trolley is not only a great means of transportation around the island, but also a guided tour. Finally, you’ll want to check out the nearby Naples attractions for more great things to do.
Beaches: Crescent Beach is located on the curved western shore of Marco Island, running about 3-1/2 miles. Tigertail Public Beach is located on the northern shore of Marco Island, running about 1-1/2 miles. At this beach you’ll find restrooms, showers, a playground, a snack bar and water-sports rentals.
Shopping: Marco Island has resort boutiques and specialty shops for all your needs. The Esplanade features upscale shops and restaurants. The Marco Town Center Mall features the largest selection of shops on the island.
Dining: Marco Island offers many restaurant options. Kretch’s is a good value, seafood/continental restaurant known as Marco’s best all around restaurant. You can visit Snook Inn by land or by water (plenty of boat parking) and dine aside the Marco River. They feature seafood, steaks, chicken, sandwiches and a salad bar. You’ll enjoy Arturo’s Italian Restaurant for an Italian dinner and Marek’s Collier House for fine dining. Check the web site www.marcoislandrestaurants.com for more choices.
Location: Naples is located south of Fort Myers and north of the Everglades. If you head straight east on Alligator Alley (I-75) across the state, you would hit Fort Lauderdale. Naples is serviced by Southwest Florida International Airport, which is north of Naples.
Attractions: In addition to the fine beaches, top attractions include the Caribbean Gardens, the Naples Nature Center, and Everglades Excursions that depart from Naples. You’ll want to take a boat cruise from Naples Bay to view the beautiful Naples homes and see Florida marine life. The Cocohatchee Nature Center offers nature tours by boat. For cultural activities, Naples has a lot to offer. From the Von Liebig Art Center to the Philharmonic Center for the Arts to the Naples Dinner Theatre, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for. Further, Naples is known to have more golf courses per capita than any other city in the world. .
Vacation Rentals On This Beach
Florida Gulf Vacation has a wide variety of Vacation Rentals all along the Florida Gulf Coast- from condos, to cottages, to Beach Houses - we have you covered - no matter the size of your family. See rentals on Fort Myers, Perdido Key, Key West, Indian Shores, Indian Rocks, Madeira Beach, Clearwater, Bradenton, Treasure Island, St Pete Beach and the other Tampa Bay Beaches!
