Fort Myers, USA

A city seemingly filled with more natural wildlife than with automobiles, Fort Myers has a wide range of attractions ranging from the city staples, like museums and cultural centers, to wildlife preserves, and undisturbed habitats accessible through placid lakes and quiet, steady streams. Fort Myers is a city one inhabited by Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, and is now a mix of frenzy and serenity, and surprisingly, both seem to coexist together quite seamlessly. A visit to Fort Myers in South Florida might even have you extending your visit longer than first thought!

When to go

Temperatures fluctuate during the year, yet the air never seems to get chilly. The region in which Fort Myers is located is a tropic one, so there is a good chance youll get your fair share of rainfall. Dont be discouraged though, because spending time canoeing down the Estero River or taking a conjoined tour of the homes of Edison and Ford (next-door to each other), youll find yourself forgetting about any of the worries that may occupy your mind before you arrive here. This is no party city, like a few of the other Floridian locations, so whether youre lying lazily on a beautiful beach or taking a day to do some sight seeing, youre guaranteed an easy time.

Getting there and around

Southwest Florida International Airport is where you will be arriving. Youll be pleased to know that the airport services many domestic and international flights, although from some international locations, you will probably have to stop over at a more frequented flight zone like Miami.

While there, youll be served with all the knowledge you need on accommodations and more from the information booths, and free phone service to various hotels. There are many car rental agencies on-site, and you may want to take this option if your desire is to branch out to the city limits. Vans and taxis are also available to take you to your destination quickly, and prices are not very steep, but not very cheap either.

Getting around the Fort Myers by public transit couldnt be easier, because there are only two systems that travel throughout the city. LeeTran runs buses throughout Fort Myers, and there are Beach trolleys for coastal transport.

Attractions

We suggest starting your sight-seeing quest at the Edison and Ford Estates. These homes were once vacationing sanctuaries for Thomas Edison and Henry Ford and their families as well. When Edison died, his wife gave the estate to the city of Fort Myers, and Fords estate was given in a similar fashion. Both are surrounded by lush tropical gardens (Edisons more so simply because he was an avid amateur botanist). The only way to get inside the properties is to take a tour, and you cannot choose which home to visit, but no worry, they are both interesting sites inside and out.

Edisons home is almost like a museum, except it has a regular home feel to it. There are actors portraying both the Edisons and the Fords in both estates. The tour also allows you to take a ride in a replica electric boat that Edison invented.

You can spend a day or two, or even more at the Koreshan State Historic Site canoeing and kayaking down the Estero River. It is designated as an official canoe trail and goes quite a while, and at spots along the way you can camp out or have a picnic. Youll see plenty of birds and manatees along the route.