Ft. Myers - A Little Known Jewel of Florida

Just lying on the Ft. Myers beach or going to Lover's Cove is extremely relaxing and refreshing. We are two of the snowbirds that typically go swimming in the ocean in late November when normal people think it is too cold to do so!

I was impressed with the wealth of fun things there was to do in Ft. Myers. We rented a boat and went fishing. My husband caught a small shark, and I caught a stingray, so I was a bit soured on fishing! Fortunately, my father-in-law cut the line free for both of us since we had no intention of keeping either.

We also caught a show at the Barbara B Mann - the traveling troop of Stomp. It was as good as the Broadway performance!

Quick Tips:

If you like gambling, there is always the Big M cruise leaving nightly. It's really nice to stand outside and admire the stars and feel the warm breeze. There is also live entertainment - usually the Hatboys who cover plenty of Frank Sinatra songs. It's good low budget entertainment with lots of twentysomethings and seniors.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around the Fort Myers area is by car. It's not much of a walking city unless you are in the heart of the city. None of the locals seem to recommend the public buses, and it's not practical to walk around anywhere but downtown or the malls.

What delicious food! We went here for my husband's birthday, and I was really impressed with the selection and quality of the food. I had delicious crab cakes, and my hubby had red snapper. The key lime pie was also terrific, and it was the real thing (yellow, not green).

The restaurant has a beautiful man-made lake outside filled with multi-colored carp swimming around. It is very romantic, and we enjoyed milling around it after our meal. Some of the local celebrities (newscasters) were enjoying a meal there, and all were dressed up quite nicely.

We have been here three times - twice for Mother's Day. The waitstaff here are very attentive and always make the mothers feel special by giving them carnations and by paying them particular attention. The ambiance is also lovely. The restaurant is perched above the Caloosahatchee River, and three walls of French windows offer spectacular river and sunset views. Try to book a window table.

This restaurant is great because of its expansive menu. Even the pickiest eaters can find something to love here. The salad bar is terrific, and I always load up so much there that I cannot handle my main course.

Their signature chocolate lava cake is so rich and delicious that we always have to split one between three people. It is heaven for chocoholics!

I was impressed that a community college had a huge theater with terrific acoustics. My friends, who are locals, said that this was the only performing arts venue in the city other than the Broadway Dinner Theater (which is average at best). About 50% of the tickets to each event are held by season ticket holders, so we had to book one month early to get four seats together.

I couldn't believe that the show was sold out, but I was told that the touring groups of Broadway shows always sell out.

By the way, I was really impressed by the creativity of Stomp. It was unusual and quite enthralling. I enjoyed the whole show.

Since there isn't really a four-year college in the area and many honors high school students and young adults take classes at Edison, the college attracts much local funding and has installed state-of-the-art facilities including the auditorium. If you are planning a trip here, try to work in a show at the BBM.

This beach is a bit off the beaten path and doesn't have much actual sand. You have to put your towel down near the mangroves at the end of the beach because the tide is very high here. To give you an idea of how small the beach strip is, if you are lying out on your towel, it is difficult for others to walk by you without stepping into the ocean.The water is a gorgeous, clear blue, and you can see to the bottom even if you are in up to your chin.

There were only two other people on the beach while we were there, which was great. The water temperature was slightly cold, but after about two minutes, it felt terrific. We saw lots of little fish swimming around. I really enjoy Ft. Myers Beach and the little cafes and the jetskis, but if you want to get away from the tourists, this little spot is tops.