Lee County Beaches

Algiers Beach Gulf Side City Park Sanibel

Benches Boat Launch Fishing Fishing Pier Grills Handicap Access Parking Parking (Metered) Picnic Area Playground Refreshments Restrooms Sailing Shelling Shelter/Pavilion Showers Swimming Trails/Paths

Barefoot Beach US 41 to Bonita Beach Road then West, to Boca Grande • • • • • •

Bonita Beach Hickory Blvd. and Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs Bowditch Point Regional Park North end of Estero Island •

Bowman’s Beach Bowman Beach Road, Sanibel • • • • •

Cape Coral Yacht Basin Cape Coral Pkwy.. to South on Coronado, Cape Coral Crescent Beach Family Park at the foot of the Matanzas Bridge on Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach Lighthouse Park Beach Eastern Tip of Sanibel from the Causeway

Lover’s Key State Park County Road 865, Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs Lynn Hall Memorial Park North end of Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach

Motel Row Fort Myers Beach

Sanibel Causeway Beaches Sanibel Causeway Sanibel

Tarpon Bay Road Beach Tarpon Bay Road Sanibel

Turner Beach Sanibel-Captiva Road, Captiva

Fort Myers Beach

By NATHAN MAYBERG

nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com

Whether you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to relax Gulf side, go on an outdoor adventure or just find the best happy hour on the beach – you’ve come to the right place.

With seven miles of beach spanning Estero Island and plenty of public access points, there’s room for everyone to find paradise on Fort Myers Beach from the bay to the Gulf of Mexico and in between.

This year is supposed to be a busy one on the beach with the ongoing construction of the Margaritaville project which is expected to last into 2023 and involves work on either side of Estero Boulevard at the former Helmerich Plaza and Pierside Hotel & Suites properties where workers have been busy with demolition and construction work.

PLACES TO GO

Parks, beaches and bustle

Among the town’s most popular tourist spots on the north side of the island there is Lee County’s Bowditch Point Park, a popular and quieter public access point to the beach, and Lynn Hall Memorial Park, which intertwines with the town’s Times Square. There, you will find eateries and shops as well as occasional street performers and live music. On Fridays and Saturdays there are sunset celebrations. The town is planning renovations at Times Square so depending on when you arrive, you may encounter the place in the midst of an overhaul.

More info: www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/102/Beaches

Fort Myers Beach Pier

The perfect place to watch a sunset and view the ocean, Fort Myers Beach Pier is one of the more popular attractions offering an expansive view of the Gulf of Mexico and the beach. This is a great location to catch view of wildlife, including birds and occasionally dolphins. When sunset hits, the pier is among the busiest destinations with island visitors flocking to see the famous sunsets that Southwest Florida has to offer. The pier was recently repaved and is also used by anglers. There is also a small shop on the pier.

Address: 10 Old San Carlos Boulevard

The Mound House

For those who like history and learning new things, the Mound House is a townoperated property which preserves an approximately 2,000-year-old Calusa shell mound with the town’s oldest home. The home, which dates back more than a century, has been refurbished in a way to present how the town’s early settlers once lived. The Mound House offers tours and a number of recreational activities, including kayaking. You will also find idyllic vistas of the bay.

More info: https://moundhouse.org or 239-765-0865

Address: 451 Connecticut Street

Wildlife and nature

On the south end of the island, you will find much of the bird action, including the Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area. Look out for osprey, pelicans, falcons, hawks, spoonbills, gulls, herons, egrets, black skimmers, snowy plovers, terns and more. The birds will often get close, soaring from high above and searching the shallow waters for food.

If you are walking the beach in the spring and summer, you will notice sections of yellow tape in the sand. Those are not policerelated but mark turtle nests. There were 132 nests counted on Fort Myers Beach in 2020, a record. The turtles nest in the dark and hatchlings will typically break free and head for the ocean in the darkness as well. If you happen to cross their path, avoid shining any lights on them. Outdoor lights are prohibited from shining on the beach from April through October in order to avoid disturbing the turtles.

Dolphin tours

Several boat tour companies can bring you out to see these wondrous creatures in their natural habitat in the bay. Learn about the area’s ecology and marine life on a guided boat tour. Some tours will take you to islands that are only accessible by boat. You may even spot threatened manatees. Both ends of the island offer chances to take boat tours and cruises so scout around and check out listings in the Fort Myers Beach Observer for discounted rates. There are sightseeing cruises, family cruises, dolphin tours, fishing charters and boat rental options. There are kayak tours which can take you out to small islands. There is a lot of nature that Fort Myers Beach has to offer.

Fishing

Fishing is a popular tradition at Fort Myers Beach and there is no shortage of spots. Inshore fishing supplies year-round opportunities to catch snook, redfish, snapper, spotted sea trout, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, catfish and other species. Offshore fishing is a great way to find grouper, black fin tuna, and mackerel. There are periodic fishing contests throughout the year, including an annual children’s fishing contest at Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Cafe and Tiki Bar every Fourth of July weekend. Sport-fishing for tarpon has been a longtime favorite among visitors and residents alike and brings anglers from all over the world to Fort Myers Beach. One of the largest tarpon migrations in the world takes place annually off the shores of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. Some tarpon reside here year-round, but the best time to catch them is during their migration season which is April through June.

More info: www.fortmyersbeach.org /play/fishing

Art

If you have an eye for art, the Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery is a must. Local artists are constantly working to produce new oil and acrylic paintings, watercolor and pastel portraits and other art which can be found on the walls of the gallery. Most are also for sale. The gallery is busiest from November through April, with a series of shows. Check out their website and read the Fort Myers Beach Observer for updates. Shucker's also has an art gallery in their dining room.

More info: www.fortmyersbeachart.com or 239-463-3909

Address: 3030 Shell Mound Boulevard • Shucker's art galleria (dining room)

Address: 1250 Estero Boulevard

Outdoors and fitness

For those looking to stay physically active on the beach and do more than swim, there are watercraft and bicycle rentals available. Bicycling is one of the more popular activities. Make sure you ask about the town’s bicycle regulations. There are different rules for regular bicycles and electric bikes. For the daredevils in the family, parasailing is one way to test your fearlessness on the beach.

Other options for staying fit include Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, which has everything from basketball to volleyball, yoga, Pilates, water aerobics and a weight room. There is a cost associated with attending which can be found on the town’s web site.

There are also yoga programs which run on the beach and two fitness centers in town.

Dining

Fort Myers Beach is known for its wide array of restaurants, many of which are full of fresh Gulf seafood. You will find scenic views and can enjoy locally caught grouper and shrimp, as well as long menus of other popular fish. There’s no shortage of latenight spots, many of which host live music. The area is also popular for ice cream, with no less than half a dozen shops. Most offer free tastings so make sure you try your favorite flavor or try a new one. There are at least two shops which offer Italian ices.

More info: www.fortmyersbeach.org/dine