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Fort Myers

Nestled inland along the Caloosahatchee River, and separated from Fort Myers Beach by several miles of urban sprawl, the city of Fort Myers is often defined by what it's not: it's not an upscale, arty beach town like Sarasota or Naples, and it's not as urbanely sophisticated as Tampa or St Petersburg. While it isn't a city to base a trip around, it's worth a trip to browse its brick-lined main street and visit Thomas Edison's winter home and laboratory.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Fort Myers
Florida's snowbirds can be easy to mock, but not this pair. Thomas Edison built his winter home in 1885 and lived in Florida seasonally until his death in…
Lee County Manatee Park
Fort Myers
December through March, manatees flock up the Orange River to this warm-water discharge canal from the nearby power plant. The waterway is now a protected…
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Fort Myers
With more than 3500 acres of wetlands, this park is a great place to experience southwest Florida's flora and fauna. A 1.2-mile boardwalk trail is staffed…
IMAG History and Science Center
Fort Myers
Exciting changes are afoot at this already fascinating science center, which will soon add interactive exhibits and even virtual reality, weaving in…