When to go
If you don't mind paying premium rates, visit during the months of January through April, which is the peak season in Fort Myers (much like the rest of Florida). Be prepared for long waits at popular restaurants and crowded beaches. Ideally, May through December is the perfect time to visit if you can stand the Florida heat. Hotels are much cheaper and the snowbirds are gone for the summer.
Getting there
Fort Myers is serviced by Southwest International Airport, but if you're arriving by car you'll likely come one of two ways -- south on I-75 from Tampa or north from Ft. Lauderdale and Miami. A taxi ride from the airport to Fort Myers beach is about $40; tack on another $10 if you're headed to Sanibel Island and another $10 if your final destination is Captiva Island.
Getting around
A rental car is usually the way to go when visiting Fort Myers. The Lee Tran public buses run in Fort Myers for $1 per ride or $3 per day. During the off season, the Fort Myers Beach Trolley runs from Summerlin Square to Bonita Springs at 25 cents per ride.
You can rely on your leg power over on Sanibel and Captiva islands. Rental bikes are plentiful, and the paved paths are efficient and scenic for tourists.
Need more help? Visit the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau.
Nature Parks
Not only is Fort Myers blessed with white-sand beaches and warm Gulf waters, but it's also known for its abundance of eye-popping nature parks and recreation opportunities.
Probably the most renowned is Lakes Regional Park, where families converge on 279 acres to swim, fish, run, ride bikes, kayak and canoe. There are numerous picnic pavilions, too. Lakes Regional Park lures children with its miniature villages connected by a railroad that passes over hills and around lakes, and even through a 109-foot tunnel.
Another frequented park is Lovers Key State Park, which spreads out over 712 acres and encompasses Lovers Key, Black Island and Inner and Long Key. Here, the wildlife is a hit, and visitors flock to J.N. Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. The refuge offers a 5-mile trail for guests to either walk, bike or drive as they take in more than 200 species of endangered birds. If wildlife isn't your cup of tea, Lovers Key State Park also offers swimming, fishing, boating and a plethora of picnic spots.
Also in Fort Myers is the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, more an educational center than a park. Set on 105 acres, Calusa Nature Center is home to a museum, aviary and several nature trails, in addition to the planetarium.
Economic Structure
Hotels in Fort Myers have catered to countless business travelers as the city is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country. Fort Myers' economic bread and butter is tourism, first and foremost, trailed by the construction and retirement industries.
If you're thinking of relocating to Fort Myers, it's a good idea to know the area's major employers. Top contenders include Lee Memorial Health System, Publix Super Markets, Lee County School District and Wal-Mart.
Lee County has the second-lowest unemployment rate among all 67 counties in Florida. Popular manufactured products include lumber, newspapers, umbrellas, frozen food and concrete.
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