Fort Myers serves as the gateway to southwest Florida, named in honor of Colonel Abraham Myers. The beautiful town, which is located along the banks of the state's sunshine-filled Gulf Coast, is known for its excellent swimming beaches, fishing opportunities, shopping destinations, and family-friendly attractions.
Visitors can explore the preserved winter estates of American innovators Henry Ford and Thomas Edison as part of guided living history tours throughout the year, including garden and laboratory tours.
Beautiful natural areas like the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge protect the island's sensitive mangrove forest habitats, home to native crocodiles, alligators, and bird species.
Manatee Park offers opportunities to observe Florida manatees in their native habitats via kayak, while the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium offers butterfly house tours, animal demonstrations, and space-related shows. The town is also a spring training site for the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox baseball teams and offers ticketed opportunities to watch practices during March.