Famed for its powdery white sands and pulsing nightlife, Fort Myers Beach occupies Estero Island along the idyllic Florida Gulf Coast. It’s on the doorstep of Lovers Key State Park and Mound Key Archaeological State Park and offers numerous water sports.
Things to do in Fort Myers Beach
Discover the local marine life at the Ostego Bay Marine Science Center and learn about the unique ecology of Florida’s barrier islands. There are interactive exhibits and regular feeding sessions, as well as touch tanks where you can get hands-on interactions with starfish, rays and crabs.
Spend an afternoon perusing the shops at Times Square, which lies adjacent to the pier at the northern end of Fort Myers Beach. Dine at one of the many restaurants or watch lively street performers.
Spend a day kayaking along the tranquil canals of Lovers Key State Park or discover the Spanish fort ruins and Native American sites of Mound Key. It was believed to have been an ancient capital for the Calusa tribe, with pottery and shell middens still visible along its nature trails.
Want to learn more about the region’s ancient inhabitants? Visit the Mound House, which is the oldest structure in Fort Myers Beach and was built on the site of a Calusa shell mound. The underground archaeological exhibit, “Stories Beneath Our Feet”, offers a fascinating glimpse into the layers of shell and earth that were built between 2,000 and 1,200 years ago.
Getting around Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers Beach is around 30 minutes’ drive south of the city of Fort Myers and is easily explored in a car. Buses also travel along the main beachfront boulevard, with many of the sights within easy walking distance of one another.