Ft. Myers Hotel Guide

There's only one Fort Myers and 90 million people are going to find out about it," declared Thomas Edison soon after he discovered this tropical paradise in 1885.

Winding along the wide Caloosahatchee River in southwest Florida, the place called "The City of Palms" is best known as the winter home of inventors and friends Edison and Henry Ford.

Edison, who arrived here when it was a cattle and orange-growing community with 350 residents, was the town's biggest promoter. And, as he predicted, millions have discovered this historic town 15 miles upstream from the Gulf of Mexico.

Majestic royal palms, many planted by Edison, line the city's street, along with an abundance of exotic flowers and tropical fruits. The Ford-Edison Complex, which contains the adjacent winter estates of two of America's leading early 20th-century industrialists, is the city's premier attraction. Edison wintered for decades on his 14-acre riverfront estate, which includes a lab and an extensive botanical garden. In 1916, Ford bought the more modest 16-room bungalow next door.

Edison installed rare outdoor lighting by the estate's large swimming pool and gazebo. His offer to install lighting in the rest of the town was declined because "it would keep the cows awake." Although the city rejected his offer of electric lighting, it now celebrates him with the Edison Festival of Light held each February. In this town that clearly adores the inventor, you will probably pass the Edison Mall, Edison Community College, Edison Park, and the Edison Congregational Church. Another family attraction is the Fort Myers Historical Museum, housed in a former rail depot. Here you will learn about the Calusa and Seminole Indians, Spanish explorers, and early European settlers in the area. A fun place to visit is the Shell Factory in north Fort Myers. This sprawling shop calls itself the world's largest collection of rare seashells, sponges, coral, and fossils.

Fort Myers Beach, stretching along the seven-mile Estero Island, is lined with motels, hotels, restaurants, and shops. With the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Estero Bay never more than three blocks away on the other edge, Fort Myers Beach is chock-full of ocean activities. At the marina on the northern end of this laid-back island, you can catch a boat for a sightseeing cruise, a sunset cruise, or deep-sea fishing.

You can also take a pontoon boat ecotour of Estero Bay. Calusa Coast Outfitters Educational Tours offers riders an opportunity to listen to dolphins with marine hydrophones. Calusa also has walking tours of archeological sites, as well as other tours.

Near Fort Myers Beach are the resort communities of Sanibel Island and Captiva Island. Another great place in the area to visit is Cabbage Key, accessible only by boat. Cruises from Fort Myers and Captiva Island are available to take visitors to the 100-acre key.

Getting to Fort Myers is easy, whether you come by plane or by auto. Southwest Florida International Airport is 10 miles southeast of the city. For those who are driving, Interstate 75 goes right through Fort Myers. Another major route is U.S. 41.

To reach Fort Myers Beach from Fort Myers, head south on U.S. 41 to Summerlin Road. Travel four miles west on Summerlin and turn left onto San Carlos Boulevard, which leads to Estero Boulevard in Fort Myers Beach. Fort Myers Beach, 30 minutes from downtown Fort Myers, is the gateway to Sanibel and Captiva, the two most popular islands on the Gulf Coast. A wide range of accommodations is available to fit any budget or lifestyle.

With more than 20,000 hotels, motels, and resorts to select from, you're sure to find a perfect match in this tropical paradise. Take your pick from exclusive beachfront resorts, romantic inns, riverfront business hotels, family-run cottages, and conveniently located budget motels.

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