Fort Myers Beach

Fort Myers Beach pier.
Congratulations, you have made it to one of TripAdvisor’s top-five trending destinations in the U.S.
What is the big deal about Fort Myers Beach? It all starts with the seven miles of shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico and the beach sand that comes with it spanning from the Big Carlos Pass Bridge to Bowditch Point Park.
Accessing the beach is free and open to the public. Just how you get to the beach is the key. If you are reading this, you are already halfway there. If you have crossed over from the Matanzas Pass Bridge on the north end, the beach access points start on the northern end of Estero Boulevard at Lee County’s Bowditch Point Park, where parking is open to the public though getting there early in season is key.
The town has more than a dozen beach accesses strategically located across town which allow for pedestrian crossings though parking is not available at the beach access points. There are public parking lots as well as private lots downtown. They range from $2 an hour at county lots to $5 an hour at town and county lots and varying prices for private spaces from $10 for the day to $40. Most of the available parking is downtown, where you can pick up a bus to head further south if you are seeking out parking.
Heading south on Estero Boulevard are hotel properties and condominiums until you reach Lynn Hall Memorial Park, a public park operated by Lee County. This is the busiest single destination on Fort Myers Beach. With 115 parking spaces reasonably priced, the park is one of the most sought-after spaces for parking in town. In season, which is November through April, spots will go quick and the lot will typically be filled up before noon.
Places to go while visiting Fort Myers Beach:
• Lynn Hall Memorial Park
Lynn Hall Memorial Park offers the public wide access to the beach, with the town recently having bolstered the sand after a hurricane in 2020. There is an abundant amount of space on the beach to place down a towel and chairs and catch the sun while enjoying watching the waves. There is a volleyball net and showers to wash the sand off after you leave.
• Times Square
Lynn Hall Memorial Park is right next to Times Square, which is the center of tourism for the Town of Fort Myers Beach. The square has benches to sit at and take a breather while enjoying some daily entertainment offered by the merchants of Times Square.
Once you have arrived at Times Square you have a lot of options. You can walk around to find something to eat or drink, or visit the array of shops. There is Italian food, Greek food, seafood and a few watering holes as well. You can find a great view of the ocean while you relax and eat.
• Fort Myers Beach Pier
The square connects to Lee County’s Fort Myers Beach Pier, a long pier which extends out into the Gulf of Mexico.
The pier is a favorite of visitors for its views of the expansive ocean waters. Some anglers will fish off the pier. At the end of the day, as sundown approaches, dozens of people will line up to with the popular sunsets. You can catch views of dolphins and plenty of bird activity from the pier. Osprey and pelicans will breeze right above you, almost close enough to catch.
• Other places to go
One you exit Times Square, there are many more options.
Crossing Estero Boulevard down to Old San Carlos Boulevard are rows of restaurants and shops popular with visitors and locals alike. At the end of Old San Carlos Boulevard are several restaurants sitting along Matanzas Pass, offering diners views of the splendid back bay waters. Not interested in eating? Bayside Park is currently undergoing construction and will eventually allow pedestrians to view the bay while enjoying a rain garden, occasional music from the stage and a veteran’s memorial tribute under shade sails and palm trees.
If you go in the opposite direction down Estero Boulevard, you will hit the town’s main downtown drag where there are hotels and more restaurants – some of which have earned awards locally and nationally.
This year is supposed to be a busy one on the beach with the ongoing construction of the Margaritaville project. A walk down Estero Boulevard will find the Margaritaville construction project in full swing.
The Big Carlos Bridge replacement project is also set to begin in 2022, on the south entrance of the beach. On the north entrance to the island, extensive renovation of San Carlos Boulevard and the Matanzas Pass Bridge are also nearing.
• The Mound House
For those who like history and learning, the Mound House is a town-operated property which preserves an approximately 2,000-year-old Calusa shell mound with the town’s oldest home. The home, which dates back more than a century, has been refurbished in a way to present how the town’s early settlers once lived. The Mound House offers tours and a number of recreational activities, including kayaking. You will also find idyllic vistas of the bay.
More info: https://moundhouse.org or 239-765-0865
Address: 451 Connecticut Street
• The middle and south
You will know you have approached mid-island when you arrive at the Fort Myers Beach Public Library, a towering building full of books and other educational resources. The library is a must-see and has a lot to offer to children and families seeking to have educational material for a stay in town.
Next door is the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, which is operated by the Town of Fort Myers Beach and offers a wide variety of recreational activities for residents and visitors. The campus offers swimming, a fitness center, volleyball, pickleball and yoga. You can sign up or call in at 239-765-4222 to find a schedule of programs.
Also mid-island is Newton Beach Park at 4650 Estero Boulevard. The town operates a beach access at this park with a limited amount of public parking at a cost of $5 an hour. This centrally located park is ideal for those looking to enjoy and relax at the beach, or even head on a walk to the southern end or northern end.
Heading further south past the town’s residential community will bring you to the busy hotel and condominium corridor anchored by Santini Plaza, the town’s busiest shopping plaza. Here you will find clothing shops, restaurants, bars, ice cream, and a twice-weekly farmer’s market. There are also businesses catering to real estate, interior decorating and there is a marina in the back.
Things to do:
• Recreation/boating
If you are looking for recreational opportunities, Several marinas offer boat rentals, and tours, including dolphin tours. If you want to stay out of the water, bike rentals are popular on the island, especially with the vehicle traffic. It is safest to ride your bike on the sidewalk. For the more adventurous, there is parasailing and jet ski rentals.
Looking to put your boat on the water? There are several marinas in town. Keep an eye out for the town’s manatee speed zones, which are meant to protect the endangered manatees in shallow water.
The Town of Fort Myers Beach also operates its own mooring field for boaters.
• Wildlife and nature
On the south end of the island, you will find much of the bird action, including the Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area. Look out for osprey, pelicans, falcons, hawks, spoonbills, gulls, herons, egrets, black skimmers, snowy plovers, terns and more. The birds will often get close, soaring from high above and searching the shallow waters for food.
If you are walking the beach in the spring and summer, you will notice sections of yellow tape in the sand. Those are not police-related but mark turtle nests. There were 132 nests counted on Fort Myers Beach in 2020, a record. The turtles nest in the dark and hatchlings will typically break free and head for the ocean in the darkness as well. If you happen to cross their path, avoid shining any lights on them. Outdoor lights are prohibited from shining on the beach from April through October in order to avoid disturbing the turtles.
• Fishing
Fishing is a popular sport im Fort Myers Beach and there is no shortage of spots. Inshore fishing supplies year-round opportunities to catch snook, redfish, snapper, spotted sea trout, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, catfish and other species. Offshore fishing is a great way to find grouper, black fin tuna, and mackerel. There are periodic fishing contests throughout the year, including an annual children’s fishing contest at Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Cafe and Tiki Bar every Fourth of July weekend. Sport-fishing for tarpon has been a longtime favorite among visitors and residents alike and brings anglers from all over the world to Fort Myers Beach. One of the largest tarpon migrations in the world takes place annually off the shores of Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel. Some tarpon reside here year-round, but the best time to catch them is during their migration season which is April through June.
More info: www.fortmyersbeach.org/play/fishing
• Art
If you have an eye for art, the Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery is a must. Local artists are constantly working to produce new oil and acrylic paintings, watercolor and pastel portraits and other art which can be found on the walls of the gallery. Most are also for sale. The gallery is busiest from November through April, with a series of shows. Check out their website and read the Fort Myers Beach Observer for updates. Shucker’s also has an art gallery in their dining room.
More info: www.fortmyersbeachart.com or 239-463-3909
Address: 3030 Shell Mound Boulevard
• Shucker’s art galleria (dining room)
Address: 1250 Estero Boulevard
• Dining
Fort Myers Beach is known for its wide array of restaurants, many of which are full of fresh Gulf seafood. You will find scenic views and can enjoy locally caught grouper and shrimp, as well as other popular fish. There’s no shortage of late-night spots, many of which host live music. The area is also popular for ice cream, with no less than half a dozen shops. Most offer free tastings so make sure you try your favorite flavor or try a new one. There are at least two shops which offer Italian ices. If you do your research, you will find some have been crowned with national awards. It is worth shopping around because there is something for everyone from the high-end of the food chain to more casual eating.
More info: www.fortmyersbeach.org/dine