Where to Play, Eat, and Stay in Fort Myers, Florida

Things to do in Fort Myers

Boat tour with Captain Brian on the Water

There’s no better way to acquaint yourself with the barrier islands of Fort Myers than with Captain Brian Holaway at the helm of his comfortable boat on an eco-tour. Captain Brian’s knowledge of the area’s flora, geography, history, and marine life is remarkable. A boat tour will easily entertain you for a few hours as you glide across the water, chasing dolphins and manatees.

During my tour, we were lucky to spot several dolphins that put on a grand show for us. Captain Brian also explained the devastation from Hurricane Ian and how the islands and areas are recovering, some becoming better than before. We also scheduled a visit to the exclusive Cabbage Key, which you’ll learn more about below.

Captain Brian on the Water at McCarthy’s Marina: 11401 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, FL 33924

Cayo Costa State Park

Another thing we did on our guided boat tour with Captain Brian was to visit Cayo Costa State Park, which has nine miles of unspoiled beaches that are accessible by boat only. This remote barrier island is brimming with shells. We learned how to identify various shells and spent more than an hour or so finding ones that were special to us. We found several, including Florida spiny jewel box, pen shells, lightning whelks, kitten’s paw, conch, sand dollars, and Atlantic giant cockles.

Visitors can also swim from this location, the clearest water in Southwest Florida, but I recommend wearing water shoes. The water was surprisingly warm in December. We also saw several dolphins in the area; sea turtles are regular visitors, as well.

Cayo Costa State Park: Captiva, FL 33924

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a great way to explore the amazing amphibians and reptiles of the area. This 7,600-acre park, maintained by the National Wildlife Refuge System, was devastated during Hurricane Ian. But, as nature works, the migratory birds are coming back to their cozy home only months after the storm.

We drove through the park, which will cost you $10 per car, and enjoyed sightings of hundreds of roseate spoonbills, one of the most sought-after quests in this park, and other beautiful shorebirds. There are 245 bird species known to visit Ding Darling.

Visitors can also go hiking to see river otters, gators, and mangrove forests. Remember to stop by the Visitor and Education Center for educational and hands-on exhibits, as well as to get your National Park Passport book stamped. The park is closed on Fridays.

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge: 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, FL 33957

Lovers Key State Park

Florida had an unusual drop in temperature during my trip, so we passed on jet skiing in favor of visiting the beautiful and famous Lovers Key State Park. Known as one of Florida’s most beloved parks, it features beach access and serene nature hike paths — over 712 acres.

One fun thing to do at Lovers Key State Park is to take a guided kayak tour to learn about the area’s ecotourism and spot manatees. Standup paddle boarding is another big draw. Off the water, rent bikes to enjoy the scenery, or enjoy a beach day of sunbathing, shelling, or reading a good book.

This park, again destroyed by Hurricane Ian, is opening intermittently, but the beach is accessible, and the concessionaire offers equipment rentals and a small gift shop with sundries. Take advantage of the Discovery Center, which is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 AM to 1 PM. Another pearl of visiting Lovers Key State Park is the fact that there’s transportation available to take guests to and from the beach.

Lovers Key State Park: 8700 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

Nautical Tiki Tours

Nothing screams great Florida beach adventure more than a tiki bar boat cruise or sunset sail. Enjoy a gorgeous Florida sunset on the shores of Estero Bay as you spend time on this authentic catamaran-style floating tropical pleasure craft. The tiki vessel has a great bar area for spending time with friends and family, plays fun and festive music, and allows you to BYOB.

Choose between six- and 18-passenger boats, which have onboard restrooms, and cruise lengths ranging from 90 minutes to six hours. Boats are docked at Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant. Parking is available nearby on Old San Carlos Blvd.

Nautical Tiki Tours: 645 Old San Carlos Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

Where to eat in and nearby Fort Myers

Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant

My favorite restaurant during my Fort Myers stay was Snug Harbor, a charming waterfront restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating and a stellar spot for Florida’s Gulf Coast sunsets. Choose from the excellent coastal cuisine menu, daily specials, and fresh-off-the-boat lunch and dinner selections. I even saw a few people eating what they had caught that day — Snug Harbor is happy to cook up your bounty from a fishing excursion.

If you’re a fan of oysters, the oysters Rockefeller is terrific. However, the Bay Bread (with garlic butter, bleu cheese, mozzarella, and tomatoes) is a raved-about starter. I enjoyed the shrimp and grits, a daily special bursting with succulent shrimp.

Snug Harbor is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM.

Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant: 645 old San Carlos Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

Rum Runners

Rum Runners is a popular hangout on Cape Coral. The menu features fresh seafood, juicy steaks, and sushi. It sits in a lovely spot with indoor and outdoor seating and live music seven days a week; the restaurant has free parking and boat docking.

I thoroughly enjoyed the mahi, wahoo, and smoked white fish dip, a Florida staple. Chilled seafood bowls were popular among my travel companions, but I went for a highly recommended dish of Maine lobster ravioli in a cheddar and Parmesan béchamel cheese sauce.

Rum Runners: 5848 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral, FL 33914

Cabbage Key

Cabbage Key is an island that’s only accessible by boat and is known for having a quaint little inn, gopher tortoises, and a restaurant with thousands of one-dollar bills taped to the ceiling. The restaurant has an excellent menu with dishes such as fresh-caught Gulf shrimp and stone crabs, as well as its signature item: frozen key lime pie.

I had hot Gulf Shrimp in the shell and an order of Cabbage Key’s famous black beans and rice, a secret recipe. My food was tasty, but the cheeseburgers and grilled mahi-mahi sandwiches were the most ordered. Cabbage Key is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner 365 days a year. It draws a crowd daily. Dine in the front room, main room, bar, or formal dining room.

If visiting by boat, the coordinates are Channel Marker 60, Latitude N 26º 39′ 24.162″ Longitude W 82º 13′ 20.635″. Please note that you’re allowed to bring ADA service animals but no pets in order to protect the island’s wildlife. Be sure to check out the darling little gift and souvenir shop.

Cabbage Key: PO Box 200, Pineland, FL 33945

Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar & Grill

Nauti Mermaid Dockside Bar & Grill offers decadent appetizers and creative cocktails at the Westin Cape Coral Resort. Come for the sunset to raise a glass to a day well spent, and sit at the round bar area to make new friends. When it comes time to eat, feast on the tuna tataki (though the whole list of appetizers sounds heavenly).

The Westin Cape Coral Resort: 5951 silver King Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33914

Marker 92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro

Another gem at the Westin is Marker 92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro, a great place for a filling and tasty breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I enjoyed breakfast there twice, with perfectly made omelets, potatoes, and toast. Marker 92 also has a breakfast buffet for those needing to eat quickly and a grab-and-go area at the entrance where you can pick up pastries, coffee, and tea.

The Westin Cape Coral Resort: 5951 silver King Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33914

Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach

The newly opened Margaritaville Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach is home to award-winning eateries: JWB Grill, License to Chill Bar & Grill, Lah De Dah Beach Bar & Grill, 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill, and the beachside Fins Up Beach Club. I had the pleasure of being there for the soft opening and trying about a dozen dishes from License to Chill. Among my favorites were the Philly cheesesteak, grouper reuben, and crab and artichoke dip, but the standout of them all was the sublime tuna poke bowl.

Margaritaville Fort Myers Beach: 251 Crescent St, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

Gather

Dinner at Gather was within walking distance of our Westin Cape Coral Resort address. This stylish eatery has an American menu with a Mediterranean twist, plus an upscale craft cocktail drink menu. The restaurant makes its own pasta, so a pasta dish for dinner it was.

Gather’s rigatoni was adorned with house hot sausage and a parmesan streusel and cooked in a vodka cream sauce. The flavors blended perfectly, and I loved that it had a nice kick to it. My friends chose the blue crab and agnolotti pasta in a beurre blanc sauce. It looked good, too, but mine was a heartier choice.

Gather has a killer brunch menu, served on Saturdays and Sundays, 11 AM until 3 PM. You may want to save room for the toasted almond creme brûlée — it was divine.

Gather Cape Coral: 5971 Silver King Blvd STE 116, Cape Coral, FL 33914

Where to stay in Fort Myers

Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village

My home away from home in Fort Myers was the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village. Upon entering the private drive to the resort, I felt like I was in a boujee address in Mexico or the Caribbean. The waterfront location at Tarpon Point overlooks the tranquil Gulf of Mexico, San Carlos Bay, and Caloosahatchee River.

My suite had the resort’s best-known feature, the Westin Heavenly Bed; a nice full-sized kitchen and living room; and a huge hallway leading to the marble bathroom. I’m still swooning over how lovely the curtains were. I could have made an entire vacation out of just enjoying the room, resort, and lovely screened-in balcony. There are 308 rooms in total.

Amenities at the Westin Cape Coral Resort include a shopping arcade, stellar restaurants, bicycles, clay tennis courts, a 24-hour fitness studio, three pools (lagoon-style, lap, and resort), and a marina. Fun fact: You can take a water taxi to Fort Myers Beach from the hotel. It also offers a two-hour dolphin sightseeing boat tour complimentary to guests. Book at the front desk.

Westin Cape Coral Resort: 5951 Silver King Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33914

Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach

While in Fort Myers, I scored a soft opening invite to the seven-years-in-the-making Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach, the newest addition to the landscape in over 20 years. This stylish resort will attract a new demographic for Fort Myers Beach and help grow tourism among those unfamiliar with how awesome the Fort Myers area is.

Though I reiterate that Fort Myers Beach is still recovering from Hurricane Ian, the beaches are in tip-top shape. They eagerly await those who want to sink their toes in the sand while embracing the “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere” motto.

Margaritaville has 254 guest rooms, six restaurants, a retail shop, a fantastic outdoor pool area, and a spa, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Sunset Terrace, the elevated outdoor space on level two, has beautiful lounging areas with fire pits, yard games, live entertainment, and daily activities. It’s also home to the resort’s hub, License to Chill Bar & Grill.

This resort is pet-friendly to those under 75 pounds but requires a one-time pet cleaning fee.

Margaritaville Fort Myers Beach: 251 Crescent St, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

How to get to Fort Myers and Cape Coral

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is your gateway to Fort Myers, only a few miles from downtown. If you’re staying in Cape Coral, a shuttle bus or Uber is the best way to travel from the airport. Alternatively, you can drive by car via Interstate 75, which connects Fort Myers to the rest of Florida.

How to get around in Fort Myers

The most efficient way to explore Fort Myers and its neighboring towns and islands is by renting a car from the airport. This will allow you to explore the islands, beaches, and downtown area easily. I rented a car for around $50 per day, and the car rental facility is steps from the airport’s exit door and super easy to navigate. Note that this Hertz airport rental car location (which includes the Dollar and Thrifty brands) rents primarily electric vehicles. If you do not want to drive one, I recommend renting from another company.

Public transportation, such as buses and trolleys running across the beaches, should be your preferred option if traveling solo or on a budget. Numerous bike rental companies also operate in Fort Myers, allowing you to explore the islands at your own pace.