Located on Estero Island fronting the Gulf of Mexico, Ft. Myers Beach is a top beach destination. Lounge away the days soaking up the sea, sand, and sun along a picturesque stretch of shoreline on your Ft. Myers Beach vacation. For those who prefer a livelier getaway, tropical cocktails, shopping, dining, and water activities also abound. When planning your beach vacation, be sure to add these top 5 Fort Myers tourist attractions and hot spots to your itinerary to include all the best of Ft. Myers Beach!
Times Square
Located near Fort Myers Beach and the Ft. Myers Fishing Pier, Times Square is the place to go when hunger strikes or when you want to do some convenient shopping. This outdoor mall is just steps from the beach and is landscaped with palms, so you never lose that tropical vibe. Browse shops that offer an assortment of beachwear and gift items, such as West Coast Surf Shop, where you can pick up any beach items forgotten at home or something to add to the wardrobe. Live music can often be heard drifting from the restaurants located at Times Square, and street performers add to the lively ambiance. Grab a mojito and fresh local seafood dish from Pete’s Time Out, or head to Pierside Grill for their great happy hour deals. Sunset Celebrations at Times Square kick off each weekend on Friday and Saturday nights with live music and a buzzing atmosphere.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille
When it comes to waterfront dining in Ft. Myers Beach, you can’t beat the views or the ambiance of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille. Arrive at Doc Ford’s by car or by boat and prepare for a feast with a view. Snag a seat indoors or on the outdoor deck that’s situated right on the water. More than just a restaurant, Doc Ford’s offers an entire experience, with shrimp boats heading to and from the sea and a nearly continuous flow of live music. Grab lunch or dinner at this well-loved eatery, which serves fresh local seafood. Start your meal with a shrimp or artichoke flatbread to share. For mains, the seafood paella is a favorite, made with scallops, shrimp, mussels, chorizo sausage, peas, saffron rice, and tomatoes. Top it all off with a thick piece of moist carrot cake or a slice of key lime pie. When it comes to beverages, the mojitos at Doc Ford’s are a must-try, so plan to stay long after the last bites of dinner have been eaten to savor the evening over drinks!
Ft. Myers Beach Fishing Pier
A mainstay on the Fort Myers Beach horizon (and of Fort Myers tourism) is the fishing pier, where residents and visitors alike gather. Whether you’re heading there to fish or to simply soak in the views, the Ft. Myers Beach Fishing Pier offers a quintessential waterfront experience. Located conveniently near the popular Times Square shopping and dining center, the pier is a popular spot to catch a magnificent sunset over the ocean after dinner. Stroll to the end of the pier to see what’s being reeled in, keeping an eye out in the deeper waters for dolphins along the way. The Ft. Myers Beach Fishing Pier is a great place to capture postcard perfect photos!
Fort Myers Beach
The name of both the beach and the town, the beachfront in Ft. Myers Beach is unmissable. The expansive white sand stretches the entire length of the Gulf side of Estero Island, providing a generous amount of space for all the beach and water activities you desire. This sizeable beach is perfect for enjoying morning strolls as you search for seashells or evening walks as the sun sets. It’s also quite common for beachgoers to claim their spot in the sand to spend the day lounging and soaking in the views! An abundance of water activities is readily available along Fort Myers Beach, such as jet skiing, swimming, kayaking, banana boat rides, parasailing, and stand up paddle boarding, among others.
Lovers Key State Park
Situated off the southern tip of Estero Island, Lovers Key State Park offers an additional beautiful beachfront to explore. The sugary white sand here is untouched, with two miles of coastline that is void of development. Given its name due to the romantic ambiance of this remote, stunning beach, Lovers Key State Park truly is a special gem. Swimming, sunbathing, shelling, fishing, and kayaking are popular activities to enjoy along the waterfront. Away from the water, enjoy hiking and bicycling on the trails that wind their way through the park. Over five miles of multi-use trails lead explorers through mangroves where you’re likely to spot butterflies, herons, and gopher tortoises, as well as alligators that surround the freshwater pond.
Enjoy Fort Myers Tourism Today!
Whether you’re spending a few days or a few weeks on Estero Island, be sure to add these top 5 Fort Myers tourist attractions and hot spots to the itinerary! Contact us to learn more and to book your next stay today!
