Florida is one of the most famous of the states of America. Even on the other side of the world, people instantly recognize the Sunshine State due to its famous attractions like the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios theme parks. Florida is seen as a place to have fun, with a laid-back, friendly vibe found all around the state. And it’s not just the man-made attractions that make Florida such a wonderful place to visit; the state is also home to some of the prettiest landscapes and most breathtaking beaches in all of North America. Not only that, but due to its southerly location, Florida also benefits from exceptionally warm and sunny weather.
More ideas: Best Weekend Getaways, Best Day Trips
There are plenty of beautiful beach cities to be found all around Florida, but Fort Myers is definitely one of the best. Located on the Gulf Coast, south of Tampa and north of Naples, Fort Myers is one of Florida's fastest-growing and prettiest cities. It's a big hit with both Florida natives and tourists from all around the world, being home to the famous winter estates of two of America's greatest ever inventors: Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. Sitting on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, Fort Myers is also located right by some of the Sunshine State's best-rated beaches, including the world-famous Sanibel Island.
Fort Myers Beach Guide
If you’re planning a Florida beach vacation, Fort Myers is a great place to start. A long list of world class beaches can be found right nearby, with some being within walking distance of the downtown streets of the city itself. The beaches around Fort Myers offer a wide range of activities from shelling and sunbathing to swimming, fishing, surfing, and water sports. Read on to learn all about the locations of the best beaches, as well as the sorts of amenities and activities you can expect to enjoy at each location.
Lighthouse Beach Park
Lighthouse Beach Park is situated on Sanibel Island, which is just a short drive away from Fort Myers and actually features multiple beaches to be explored and enjoyed. Access to this island can be gained via the long, slim causeway, which is actually lined on either side with beaches of its own, but it's worth continuing on a little further to Lighthouse Beach Park. Named due to the presence of a beautiful old lighthouse, this beach is one of the best shelling locations not just in Florida, but in the entire world. On any given day, you'll see little groups of beachcombers strolling along with their eyes on the sand in search of their next precious treasure, and you can join in on the fun too.
Bowditch Point Park
Bowditch Point Park is located at the northern end of Fort Myers Beach, so you can easily access this beach from anywhere in the city and won't even need to use the car or public transport to get here if you're staying in Fort Myers. The views from this beach are simply breathtaking and it's a lovely spot to sit and watch the sun go down in the evenings, but can also be beautiful in the daylight as lots of boats go past and the odd dolphin can be spotted splashing around off the shore. This is a nice spot for beachcombing too, with plenty of silky smooth driftwood washing up on this part of Fort Myers Beach. The local area offers some nice scenic trails and wildlife spotting sites too, and there are some simple amenities at this beach like restrooms and equipment rentals.
Tarpon Bay Beach
Another Sanibel Island beach, Tarpon Bay Beach is easily accessible from Fort Myers and is one of the best beaches in the local area. Despite having such a strong repuation, it never seems to get too crowdy at Tarpon Bay Beach, so the atmosphere is always quite calm and tranquil here, offering just the right sort of vibe for romantic strolls or family picnics. The waters are very calm at this beach and the sands are exceptionally soft and sugary. It's a good spot for swimming and sunbathing. And of course, as with most other Sanibel Island beaches, it's a super spot to do some shelling too, with lots of shiny ocean gems washing up on these shores each day.
Lovers Key State Park
If you're looking for one of the best family beaches in Fort Myers, Lovers Key State Park needs to be at the top of your list. Conveniently located right by the city of Fort Myers, Lovers Key is comprised of four little barrier islands. The area earned its name due to the fact that it used to be very difficult to access and was a nice, private, intimate spot for lovers to steal away into the night, but it's much more of a family-friendly place nowadays with boardwalks and trams taking visitors over with ease and lots of play areas and good sandy spots for kids to have fun. Of course, it can still be a great place to go with that special someone in your life and there are lots of quiet, scenic trails to check out and secluded spot to discover.
