This post is the sixth in a series of travel guides for vacation destinations throughout the Sunshine State. For great places to spend your future vacations, browse our Florida timeshare resales and Florida timeshare rentals and save as much as 70% off retail costs!

Nestled along the stark white shores of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Fort Myers is the gateway to the Southwest Florida region. Within a close proximity to the Ten Thousand Islands and just a day trip away from the Everglades, the city’s central location provides travelers with an urban hub to explore and see the beauty of Florida’s west coast first-hand.

To highlight the magnificent travel destination, we’ve put together this handy travel guide to help you get familiar with all the sights and sounds of Fort Myers!

Fort Myers Vacation Tips

The name “Fort Myers” is synonymous with two distinct areas—the city of Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach. Some use the term interchangeably to describe the general area, but there’s a big difference between the two. The city of Fort Myers is home to urban and cultural attractions like the Lee County Manatee Park and Murphy-Burroughs House. Fort Myers Beach, however, provides access to those picturesque white sand shores and other natural attractions like Estero Bay Preserve State Park.

Fort Myers is a busy vacation destination with people visiting year-round. Thanks to plentiful sunshine and calm ocean waters with a lower threat of hurricanes compared to its East Coast counterparts, the area has become a haven for tourists seeking an easy and convenient beach destination. The area also receives plenty of traffic from the neighboring destination of Sanibel Island, serving as the commercial hub for people staying on the island. Peak seasons run from November through April, with the lower-traffic and rainier season falling in the summer months. For a comfortable stay with relatively little traffic and maximum access to area attractions, plan a trip for the shoulder seasons of May-June and September-October.

Things to Do in Fort Myers

The Cape Coral-Fort Myers area is home to a plethora of attractions spread throughout the urban areas as well as the quieter beachside communities. The area is a large draw for golfers, with the 250-plus days of sunshine creating easy-going days on the fairways. Fishing and watersports enthusiasts will also love the area, with plenty of deep sea fishing tours and endless opportunities to windsurf and jetski available all year-round. Those looking for a retreat outdoors won’t be disappointed either, with Everglade-like areas and parks playing host to a variety of wildlife and incredible sights.

• Edison and Ford Winter Estates
• Estero Bay Preserve State Park
• Fort Myers Beach
• Lee County Manatee Park
• Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
• Imaginarium Hands-on Museum and Aquarium
• Pelican Preserve Golf Club
• Team Arcure Fishing Charters
• Lakes Regional Park

Fort Myers Resorts

In order to have the best possible Fort Myers vacation, you have to have the best possible accommodations. This is where timeshare resorts come in—the last thing you and your family or friends want is to be cooped up in a basic hotel room with little to no amenities. Luckily, because the Fort Myers area is so popular, numerous high-quality vacation ownership resorts have appeared to give guests and owners an impeccable vacation experience. At these luxury properties, you’ll find ample amenities like lavish swimming pools, convenient resort-wide WiFi, and spacious villa-style living areas where you can really stretch out and take in all Fort Myers has to offer.

• Mariner’s Boathouse & Beach Resort
• Marina Village at Snug Harbor
• Tropical Sands Resort
• DiamondHead Beach Resort & Spa
• Caribbean Beach Club
• Seawatch-on-the-Beach Resort

Best Restaurants in Fort Myers

You’ll find a variety of places to dine in Fort Myers, each establishment providing a unique experience with decadent cuisine. Because of the Gulf’s reputation for being incredibly rich in sea life, many delicious saltwater catches are featured front-and-center on area menus. However, it isn’t uncommon to find other cuisine, such as authentic Cuban fare, around the city. Be sure to stop in at these local establishments to please your palette:

• Mel’s Diner
• Oasis Restaurant
• Pinchers
• El Gaucho Inca Restaurant
• Ford’s Garage
• Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar

See More of the Sunshine State With Our Travel Guides

Stay tuned for more useful Florida travel guide posts in the future to help you plan your trips to the Sunshine State. In the meantime, check out our posts on other quintessential Florida hotspots, like Orlando, Destin, Miami Beach, St. Augustine, and Key West.