Restaurant and things to do in Ft Myers

[Laura66]

We are visiting Ft Myers next month and would love any suggestions of things to do and places to eat. We had such a great time 10 years ago but I'm sure things have changed.
Well take a drive to Sanibel as well so any recommendations for beaches and things to do there would be appreciated as well!
Thank you all!

 

[magsmum]

We are visiting Ft Myers next month and would love any suggestions of things to do and places to eat. We had such a great time 10 years ago but I'm sure things have changed.
Well take a drive to Sanibel as well so any recommendations for beaches and things to do there would be appreciated as well!
Thank you all!

We have visited my parents down there- my kids enjoyed Castle mini golf, the Naples zoo and visiting Ford/Edison's winter homes and checking out the Red Sox summer training. We also like Nino's pizzeria and Italian restaurant. My parents enjoy the Prawnbroker and Two Meatballs and a Kitchen, and the Lighthouse for restaurants.

 

[mrsv98]

Don't forget the Shell Factory, tourista at it's finest! lol
Ft Myers Beach
Edison/Ford estates

My Gram lived down there for a long time and we loved visiting her.

 

[Laura66]

We are staying at the Edison Beach House on the Beach. We did see the Edison Ford estate last visit and really joyed it!

 

[soccerdad72]

Since you'll be there in the summer, check out the Fort Myers Miracle -- the minor league baseball team that plays in the Minnesota Twins' spring training home. I second Nino's Pizza -- we always get the mussels marinara.

Down towards Fort Myers Beach, there's a restaurant that doesn't look like much, but has some of the best seafood -- Fishmonger

My MIL is a snowbird in Fort Myers, so we're there once or twice a year visiting -- any questions you might have, let me know.

 

[Laura66]

Since you'll be there in the summer, check out the Fort Myers Miracle -- the minor league baseball team that plays in the Minnesota Twins' spring training home. I second Nino's Pizza -- we always get the mussels marinara.

Down towards Fort Myers Beach, there's a restaurant that doesn't look like much, but has some of the best seafood -- Fishmonger

My MIL is a snowbird in Fort Myers, so we're there once or twice a year visiting -- any questions you might have, let me know.

Thank you! I will!

 

[mom2rtk]

We have been to Sanibel many times. We end up spend a large amount of time at the beach by the lighthouse. The shelling and wildlife spotting there is awesome.

Sanibel Shells by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[Hendoendo22]

On Sanibel try Ding Darling Wildlife Sanctuary. Go in the morning before it gets hot. Lots of wildlife in a totally natural setting. A good restaurant on Sanibel is Doc Ford's. Try the Yucatan Shrimp. All the beach parking on Sanibel is pay parking so make sure you have cash.

 

[cassandrap83]

Iguana Mia for Mexican
El Tropical (Cape Coral) for Cuban
Ford's Garage for burgers

Visit the 6 Mile Cypress Slough preserve & Lakes Park for a nature experience.

And yeah, you gotta go to the Shell Factory. Tourist stop 100%

 

[KNJWDW]

The Heavenly Biscuit for breakfast. It is in Ft. Myers Beach. Very small place, but so worth a visit.

 

[debster812]

If you have kids (or even if you don't) there is a really nice, county run Water Park called Sun n Fun lagoon, located on Livingston in N. Naples. Super reasonably priced to get in, 4 water slides, a lazy river, a diving pool, a couple of lap lanes, and a big 'leisure' pool, plus a little kids play area. You cannot bring food in, but we've always managed to purchase food for DS, DH & I for under $25 for the 3 of us.

If you have younger kids, the water park is also adjacent to a brand new Children's Museum as well. Have never been, as they finished it when DS was 15 and a bit too old.

We also love Barefoot Beach in Bonita Beach, and also Doc's Beach as well. Old Hickory is also a nice spot a little bit further down.

 

[sophiagymgall]

Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but we had a blast at the Lee County Manatee Park! We spent a solid couple of hours there just watching the manatees, talking to the volunteers who worked there and walking around the park. I believe there are organized activities as well. My parents and I weren't exactly the target audience (two retired folks and a grad student ), but we loved it nonetheless!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

My MIL is a snow bird in Fort Myers also.

We like the Light House beach on Sanibel. We also rent bikes and ride there.

A restaurant we have to go to every visit is the Shrimp Shack in Fort Myers.

We saw manatee in the winter but not sure how many you'd see in the summer. They come in for the warmer water.

 

[mom2rtk]

My MIL is a snow bird in Fort Myers also.

We like the Light House beach on Sanibel. We also rent bikes and ride there.

A restaurant we have to go to every visit is the Shrimp Shack in Fort Myers.

We saw manatee in the winter but not sure how many you'd see in the summer. They come in for the warmer water.

We saw manatee on a fishing excursion on Tarpon Bay a few years back in the month of June. We actually had a pod of manatee under our kayak out on Tarpon Bay June 2013. It was really an amazing experience. Scared the CRAP out of one lady in our group when the first one broke the surface of the water.

 

[njmom47]

We took the kids to Ponce de Leon park in Punta Gorda.
The Shell Factory...I could spend hours in there.
And Fleamasters Flea Market. That's another place I love to go when visiting my mom, also a snowbird.
We also did the locks...I'm not sure but they might have been the Franklin locks on the Okeechobee Waterway. There is a small beach and to us, the locks were fascinating!!

 

[debster812]

Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but we had a blast at the Lee County Manatee Park! We spent a solid couple of hours there just watching the manatees, talking to the volunteers who worked there and walking around the park. I believe there are organized activities as well. My parents and I weren't exactly the target audience (two retired folks and a grad student ), but we loved it nonetheless!

We've been to Manatee Park a bunch of times, but we are always there in February. Another poster is correct, they come up the canal because of the warmer water that is caused by the runoff from the FP&L electrical plant. Once the Gulf gets above 70 or 72 degrees, they don't come up as much, because the gulf is warm enough. That said, the boardwalk is nice, and the park is lovely

 

[7165red]

Check out www.tripadvisor.com and go to FM & FMB forums. At the top of the page you will see all restaurants and reviews as well as things to do. It's a great site. We have been to FMB and have always enjoyed it. There are so many good restaurants I am sure will enjoy.

 

[meliss8599]

Can't speak much for Fort Myers, but my husband's family has been vacationing on Sanibel since you used to have to take a ferry to it and I've been going for the past 15 years.

Out of Sanibel Marina is the "Stars and Stripes" motor launch which is an awesome boat ride which most often gets dolphins to follow the boat jumping out of the water so close to the back of the boat that you can almost reach out and touch them. We do this every year and absolutely love it.

For the best dessert on the planet, pick up the red velvet and orange crunch cake slices from the Bubble Room on Captiva island. I wouldn't recommend eating there as the food is overpriced and not worth it. The desserts are a different ball game entirely and can be carried out.

Another vote for Ding Darling. Definitely go early in the day, right before it closes, or during or right after a rain. This is when the animals are most active because it is not so hot. We've seen otters, raccoons, alligators, horseshoe crabs, pelicans, and various other native or migratory waterfowl. Make note, I believe they're closed on Fridays and, if you are a member of Ducks Unlimited or another conservation organization, you can get in for free.

Bike riding on Sanibel is a lot of fun. We like to ride to Bailey's General Store where they have cute touristy trinkets and a great bakery.

If you're in the mood for breakfast, we really enjoy Overeasy Café. And for the absolute best pizza and pizza crus, Island Pizza is fabulous. We order that in frequently on our annual trips. Cheeburger Cheeburger has fantastic burgers and milkshakes and Sanibel Grill has an out-of-this-world fried grouper sandwich (and this is coming from someone who hates fish!).

Have a great time and if you have any specific questions, please feel free to PM me.

 

[mom2rtk]

Can't speak much for Fort Myers, but my husband's family has been vacationing on Sanibel since you used to have to take a ferry to it and I've been going for the past 15 years.

Out of Sanibel Marina is the "Stars and Stripes" motor launch which is an awesome boat ride which most often gets dolphins to follow the boat jumping out of the water so close to the back of the boat that you can almost reach out and touch them. We do this every year and absolutely love it.

For the best dessert on the planet, pick up the red velvet and orange crunch cake slices from the Bubble Room on Captiva island. I wouldn't recommend eating there as the food is overpriced and not worth it. The desserts are a different ball game entirely and can be carried out.

Another vote for Ding Darling. Definitely go early in the day, right before it closes, or during or right after a rain. This is when the animals are most active because it is not so hot. We've seen otters, raccoons, alligators, horseshoe crabs, pelicans, and various other native or migratory waterfowl. Make note, I believe they're closed on Fridays and, if you are a member of Ducks Unlimited or another conservation organization, you can get in for free.

Bike riding on Sanibel is a lot of fun. We like to ride to Bailey's General Store where they have cute touristy trinkets and a great bakery.

If you're in the mood for breakfast, we really enjoy Overeasy Café. And for the absolute best pizza and pizza crus, Island Pizza is fabulous. We order that in frequently on our annual trips. Cheeburger Cheeburger has fantastic burgers and milkshakes and Sanibel Grill has an out-of-this-world fried grouper sandwich (and this is coming from someone who hates fish!).

Have a great time and if you have any specific questions, please feel free to PM me.

We were so sad that Ding Darling was closed last time we were there. I think they were repaving the road. We love to look for gators but haven't seen any there in many years. Just curious if you see any there when you go. I still remember our 1999 trip when we found one just hanging out on the road. I'll NEVER bike in there for that reason!

We also always do Cheeburger Cheeburger at least once every trip. Our son ate the 1 pound burger once, and we love going back through the old photos in the restaurant trying to find his. And every trip includes at least one stop at Island Pizza.

OP, don't forget to stop at She Sells Seashells. There are 2 locations on the island. I take a photo of the kids in front of their sign every trip.

And don't forget that bastion of fine dining....... Dairy Queen. Hey, don't knock it. It's tradition.

 

[meliss8599]

My husband said that when he was a kid there used to be TONS of gators in Ding Darling. Since there've been a couple of deaths from gator attacks, they've removed the larger gators which then reduces the number of those of breeding age. If we take our time and get out of our car to really look, we find one or two each trip.

Love that you found Island Pizza--yum! DD and DH love playing the quarters machine in there when they go to pick it up.