How to Have Family Fun in Fort Myers, Florida

Pack your beach bag and head for the sun to beautiful Fort Myers, Florida, known as the "City of Palms." This gorgeous scenic getaway will captivate you with its beautiful beaches, oceanfront resorts and historic, postcard-perfect urban landscape.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Casual clothes
• Bathing suit
• Sunscreen
• Comfortable walking shoes

1. Drive along McGregor Boulevard, the main residential street and site of inventor Thomas Edison's winter estate. Fort Myers, an inland city located where the Caloosahatchee River spills into the Gulf of Mexico, got its nickname, "City of Palms" from the hundreds of towering royal palms that inventor Thomas Edison planted along the boulevard. There are now more than 2,000 royal palms on the boulevard.
2. Don't miss the activities and beach front action centered around the water. Relax on the white sand beaches. Go fishing and boating. The gentle surf makes it a favorite for families. While there are many beaches to visit in the area, the most popular is Fort Myers beach, located on Estero Island. If you're an adventurer, the beach offers jet-ski and paddle boat rentals as well as parasailing.Explore the array of colorful island shops and restaurants lining the Fort Myers Beach boardwalk, where there's always something for the kids to do.
3. Visit the homes of Fort Myers' famous past residents. Thomas Edison's winter home, a 14-acre estate that includes a laboratory, botanical gardens and a museum, is awesome. You can also stop right next door at Henry Ford's Winter residence, the more modest seasonal home of Edison's fellow inventor, automaker and longtime friend.
4. Looking for something different? Visit the Fort Myers Historical Museum, housed inside of a restored train. It has many exhibits on the earliest settlers of the area, including the Calusa Indians and the cattle ranchers who played a valuable part in supplying the Confederacy with food during the Civil War.
5. If your favorite downtime activities are shopping and restaurant-hopping, you're never far from a shop or gallery or a top-notch restaurant. Several outlet malls are located just outside Fort Myers, such as Miromar Outlets in Estero. For an eventing or afternoon of indoor entertainment, visit the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, which offers a variety of shows and Broadway performances.