Island hop till you drop.
When you strip away the omnipresent Disney and admittedly - pretty - amusing Florida Man stereotypes that plaguethe Sunshine State , you just might see America ’s southeasternmost appendage for what it really is : a subtropical - to - tropic paradise . Here you ’ll ascertain 1,350 naut mi of good-time coastline , an effervescent ecosystem teem with nature not constitute anywhere else in the States , and a melting smoke of ( not all gray - headed ) thalassophiles blissed out on the common salt life .
If you call back of the state of matter as an eastern - oriented wooden leg , Fort Myers is the Achilles tendon of Florida . And its tempting attractions have found our soft spot . Almost directly between Tampa and Everglades National Park , the metropolis is surrounded by islands . From Pine Island to Sanibel Island , Cabbage Key , and Cayo Costa , this southern part of the Gulf Coast shine with teal waters , laid back eating place , and sleepy-eyed beach .
It ’s not exceedingly well known , but if it were , that would be because of its world - family sea battery , its Caribbean - esque beaches , or perhaps even its blossoming beer prospect . Here ’s how to get the most out of a trip to this underrated sliver of the Southeast .
Life is an island highway.|Cody McCormick/Shutterstock
Kayak through mangroves on Pine Island Sound
Florida ’s Southwest sea-coast is home to one of thelargest mangrove swampsin the world . These leggy , aquatic trees make up entire island bespeckle the consistency of water known as the Pine Island Sound . Along the aquatic preserve class Pine Island from the outer islands of Sanibel , Captiva , and Cayo Costa , pockets of life are explorable only by canoe and kayak .
The tour of duty operatorGulf Coast Kayaklaunches from the colorful Ithiel Town of Matlacha and leads visitor along a portion of the famous 190 - mile Great Calusa Blueway paddling track . Under their guide , the boats point into isolated labyrinth of tortuous tree roots . Inside the mangrove tunnel lives an oasis of fauna : oysters , barnacles , wading shuttle , federally threatened American crocodiles ( not to be confound with more common American alligators ) , and , sure , a few thousand brine mosquito that literally nobody postulate for .
The wildlife is most active at morning and dusk , when temperatures are cool and the water is quiet . But beware — these are peak mosquito and no - see - um time . Consider bathing in ( hopefully natural ) microbe repellent before taking to the Sound .
You could just kayak to every island.|Photo courtesy of Visit Fort Myers
Sip craft beer in Fort Myers
Not many make the pilgrimage to Florida just to try its beer . For entrant , the hot , muggy climate is suboptimal for produce hops — but that is n’t to say Southwest Florida brewers have n’t taken on the challenge . Crazy Dingosits on a small farm and source the Cascade hop for its pale ales from its own backyard , claiming to be the southernmost skip agriculturalist in the land ( take that , PNW ) .
Lee County , circumvent Fort Myers , is the centrepiece of theSouthwest Florida Ale Trail , claiming 13 of the route ’s 21 brewery locations . Other ale trail establishment besides Crazy Dingo includeFort Myers Brewing Company , the first microbrewery in the county;Point Ybel Brewing Company , applauded for introducing the region ’s first saturnine ale ; andMillennial Brewing Company , beloved as much for the merriment air as for the beer .
And if brewery are n’t your vibe , choose instead for a hibiscus - topped hurricane cocktail at one of the region ’s dozen - plus tiki bars .
This is just one stop on the ale trail.|Photo courtesy of Visit Fort Myers
The Weirdest, Wildest, Must-Visit Bars in Florida
You’ve heard of Florida Man—now get ready for Florida Bar.
Admire the seashells on Sanibel Island
There ’s possibly nowhere in theworldbetter for a beachcomber than on Sanibel Island after a storm . Something about the island ’s unusual east - west orientation course merge with the side of the seafloor and the soft flow make it a bonafide hoarded wealth trove of seashell . More than 400 varieties have been regain here , accord to Sanibel’sBailey - Matthews National Shell Museum , the only museum in the US " devote solely to shells and the go mollusks that make them . "
The museum itself contains some 500,000 shells and marine museum displays to accompany them , but one must accommodate : spot sundry exoskeletons in the wild is slightly more exciting than seeing them hang on a bulwark .
Here ’s how the locals say to do it : Go to either end of the island — specifically Lighthouse Beach Park , Blind Pass Beach , or Bowman ’s Beach — an hour before or after low lunar time period . Then appear at the surf note and dust line for intact angulate wentletraps , calico scallops , rose petal tellins , dwarf arrow tritons , and more . The barrage fire is best in November through April , particularly after a storm .
While it is legal ( and in some place even bucked up ) to take shells from Florida beaches so long as there ’s nothing populate inside them , principle No . 4 of Leave No Tracesays to " allow what you find . ”
The Best Beaches in Florida
There’s a beach for every kind of bum.
Eat paradise-level burgers on Cabbage Key
One of the most peculiar eatery you ’ll probably ever dine in sits on its own island traverse 100 acres of practically unexploited state . Located just off Pine Island , it ’s approachable only by gravy boat , and it share a name with the island itself . Cabbage Keythe restaurant contains thou of buck bills taped to the walls and ceiling . The permanent markers hanging out of servers ' aprons encourage diners to exit their mark . ( If your dollar bill falls , it gets donate . )
In the " money way , " you could insert into what ’s widely considered to be the originalCheeseburger in Paradise , while wild tortoises cruise walk paths below . The restaurant doubles as an hostelry and is join on the island by seven cottages that , yes , you could lease if you ’re distressed about get stuck on the island .
Bear in mind that staying on Cabbage Key could mean spotted cellular phone service and special care to water economic consumption . relaxation see , claiming a slice of this remote Eden for a dark is well deserving it .
Dare you to count the seashells.|angela auclair/Moment/Getty Images
Escape the crowds on Cayo Costa
Folks flock to Florida ’s Gulf Coast like bird to marshland . Despite its Achilles tendon being fairly of a " shroud stone , " Lee County beach draw some 5 million tourists a twelvemonth .
But on the distant island of Cayo Costa , 2,426 acres of unspoiled State Park terra firma , you wo n’t find beach umbrellas or methamphetamine hydrochloride cream stands or much of anything besides driftwood and a few other families who get by watercraft . This island is accessible only by sauceboat ( or secret plane , if you happen to have one ) . All it moderate is a archaic campground and a duet 12 gather - away mansion .
The vibe is desolate island . The wildlife : sea turtles , manatees , mahimahi , shorebirds , raptorial bird . The weewee : sparkling turquoise .
You could rent your own gravy boat atJensen ’s Marinaon Captiva Island or take a water taxi to Cayo Costa , but then you would n’t get the experience of travel with a local . Brian Holaway , also known asCaptain Brian on the Water , has been add up tourists across the Sound since the ' XC and can place a razz ’s sexas it ’s flying — he ’s that good .
involve him to dangle by Hemp Key while you ’re at it . The seven - acre Critical Wildlife Area is a rookery for double - crest cormorants , risque Hero , frigatebirds , and egret .
( Oh , you like birds ? overhear the roseate spoonbill and other avian action atJ.N. " Ding " Darling National Wildlife Refugeon Sanibel Island . Also , practice its award - winning bathrooms . As Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland says , " you have n’t peed until you ’ve peed at ' Ding ' Darling . " )
This is the money shot.|Photo courtesy of Visit Fort Myers
Some pretty peaceful island hopping on Cayo Costa.|Photo courtesy of Visit Fort Myers
