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Fort Myers |
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Fort Myers
Welcome to Florida’s Gulf Coast, where vacation days ease on by at the pace of the lazy Caloosahatchee River. Visit historic homes, paddle among mangrove trees, or partake in any of number of water sports (sunbathing counts!) on the beaches of Fort Myers or nearby Sanibel and Captiva Islands.
Activities and Attractions:
The landscape of Fort Myers is dominated by two genteel old mansions, one built by Henry Ford, and the other by his friend Thomas Edison. You can tour Mangoes, the Ford family bungalow, which is furnished exactly as it was in the 1920s. This will prepare you for Seminole Lodge, Edison’s family getaway. This home is fully furnished, and staffed by actors dressed as the Edison family. You can see the inventor’s beautiful landscaping, ride his boat (electric, naturally) up the Caloosahatchee, and gaze on light bulbs that have been burning for over 80 years.
When you’ve had enough of that, and strolled the tree-lined streets of the City of Palms, head for the beach. Or rent a canoe and paddle along the Estero River, where bird sightings are guaranteed and an encounter with a gentle manatee is always possible. You’ll also pass a haunting shell midden, a 2,000-year-old relic of the indigenous Calusa people.
Fort Myers isn’t the last word in outdoor fun on the Gulf Coast. Be sure to visit Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Sanibel offers beaches, boutique shopping, and art galleries. Captiva is the place for water sports, as it’s the only place around that allows motorized sporting equipment. You can also bike a five-mile-long nature trail through the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which takes up half of Sanibel Island.
Insider Tip:
Over 200 kinds of shells are found on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva. The months of February through April are considered prime for collecting.
-Exclusively for Perfect Escapes by Nicole Clausing |
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