Fort Myers Beach Visitors Guide 2018-2019

800-741-5694 PO BOX 2471

. Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33932

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Welcome F

or generations, Fort Myers Beach has been a favorite vacation destination for visitors from the U.S., Canada, and around the world. Our visitors return often because they love our beautiful beaches. They also love our lifestyle: laid-back, friendly, and fun! Fort Myers Beach is an island destination that offers a Florida vacation experience that is increasingly hard to find. Our beaches are wide, beautiful, and inviting; but our visitors also love our wide variety of owner-operated accommodations, shops, and restaurants.

What is your pleasure: full resort, rental condo, small hotel, private home, or bed-and-breakfast? All of our accommodations on the island are either on the beach or a short walk away. Would you enjoy a margarita and grouper sandwich from an open-air restaurant on the water or would you prefer a well-prepared steak or fresh local-caught shrimp in an elegant restaurant? FMB has it all!

Unwind and chill, or be as active as you like. Explore our pristine back bay by kayak, home to the largest population of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin in the world. Take in one of the many local sightseeing cruises, and enjoy our spectacular Gulf of Mexico sunsets. See the beach from a parasail, hike through shaded mangrove trails, or bike along our beautiful beach. Fishing? We’ve got that! Fish from our pier or along our back bay, hire a local fishing guide, or take a charter fishing boat. Any way you do it, the fishing is great. Explore a Native American civilization thousands of years old at our historical Mound House museum. Get retail therapy in one of our many boutique shops and galleries. Gather treasures from the sea on our wide, sandy beach. There is something here for everyone. Fort Myers Beach is fun, family and pet-friendly.

Fort Myers Beach is also home to a vibrant and growing arts community. Come visit us in November for our “Paint the Beach” plein-air art festival. During the winter and spring season, we have the Winter Concert Series that showcases top musical talent from around the country. In April, our Fort Myers Beach Film Festival brings new films and filmmakers from all over the world. In the fall, the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest keeps the beach hopping with a celebration of live music performed by talented singersongwriters. Don’t forget to stop in to our working art gallery and watch art come alive.

Our annual island festivals and events keep the beach active throughout the year. The Shrimp Festival in March, Taste of the Beach in May, Fourth of July celebration, American Sand Sculpting Championships in November, and Christmas Boat Parade attract and entertain locals and guests alike.

Getting around is easy. Walk, rent a bike or scooter, or take the trolley. Fort Myers Beach is just seven miles long, so everything you need will be close by. And did we mention the beach? The perfect place to work on your tan! Make sure to stop at our Visitor Center (1054 5th Street, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931), located at the base of the bridge. We have the latest information on events, restaurants, coupons, accommodations, and attractions. We are happy to assist you in finding all kinds of sightseeing tours and attractions. Browse www.fortmyersbeach.org on your tablet or smart phone. Rest assured you will get “visitor information, caught daily and served fresh” ™!

We hope to see you soon!

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Contents 24

60

4 WELCOME 10 FMB FYI

What area defines FMB? Where’s the beach?

What’s there to see on the island’s bayside?

How do I get to FMB? How do I get around the island?

Where can I get visitors information?

What’s the weather like?

What should I pack?

How do I avoid a sunburn?

What other hazards should I avoid?

Any other health tips?

16 LIQUID ASSETS: Get out on the Water

Bevy of Beaches Catchy Fishing Boat Your Way

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FORT MYERS BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VISITORS GUIDE

46

16

24 VACAY YOUR WAY X 4: Itineraries

3 Days the Family Way 3 Days the Romantic Way Weddings à la FMB 3 Days Nature’s Way Turtle Time 3 Days the Cultural Way The Mound House Bay Oaks Campus

42 NIGHTLIFE: Party Hearty FMB Style

Toasty with Jams Pure FMB

46 SAND mania & OTHER FESTIVITIES

Sandsculpting Championship Event-Full FMB

42

56 PINK GOLD: Treasure from the Sea

Shrimping 101 Celebrating Shrimp Shrimping 201: Buying & Preparing

60 SHOP & DINE: Go Forth & Spend Bully for the Boulevard Good-Times Times Square Easin’ down Estero

64 THE FMB LIFE: Becoming an Islander

Your Island Home Paperwork Government Utilities & Services Taking Care of Business Civic & Community Phones

68 MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY 78-79 FORT MYERS BEACH MAP

A Vacation you will want to come back to Again and Again

Over 29 years specializing in exceptional service and guest satisfaction

2001 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239 463-5887 (800) 806-4586 www.tripowervacationrentals.com fortmyersbeach.org

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Fort Myers Beach

2018 Visitor’s Guide Official publication of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce 1054 5th Street, Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33931 Phone: (239) 454-7500 Fax: (239) 454-7910 E-mail: info@fmbchamber.com Web Site: www.fortmyersbeach.org

Published by

1945 Ortiz Avenue Fort Myers, FL 33905 Phone: (239) 337-0999 Toll-Free: (800) 736-4519 www.vectorandink.com Publisher: Tom Gussel District Manager: Dan Baggot Sales: Silver Wilenski Production Manager: Alejandra Bustamante Editor & Writer: Chelle Koster Walton Layout & Design: Alejandra Bustamante Cover: Tiffany Hilliard Additional photography and vector images provided by freepik.com All effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein; however, neither the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce and its members nor Southwest Florida Brochure Distributing, Publishing & Mailing shall be held liable for any errors or omissions. Copyright 2018Š Southwest Florida Brochure Distributing, Publishing & Mailing. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, including electronic or Internet reproductions, without the express written consent from the publisher.

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B FM YI F T

ante lejandra Bustam Photo Credit: A

he one and only FMB–our shorthand for Fort Myers Beach–stands out from the crowd of Florida islands. It claims a vivacious yet laid-back personality all its own, separate and distinct from the mainland and its neighboring barrier islands, yet without a hint of pretense. To get you acquainted with Fort Myers Beach, we answer here some of the questions we hear most often.

What area defines FMB?

The Greater Fort Myers Beach area spreads across two major islands, some smaller islands to the south, and onto the mainland in the north. The intersection of Summerlin Road and San Carlos Boulevard marks the northeastern gateway to town. From the mainland, San Carlos Boulevard crosses San Carlos Island, home to the famed shrimping fleet of Fort Myers Beach (see page 56). Upon crossing the Sky Bridge over Matanzas Pass, you will spot Fisherman’s Wharf to the south. San Carlos Boulevard flows into Estero Boulevard as it arrives on Estero Island, Fort Myers Beach’s main land mass. The intersection is known as Times Square–typically bustling, but otherwise unrelated to New York’s version.

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16475 San Carlos Blvd

fortmyersbeach.org | 11

Where’s the

beach?

There’s no trick to finding sand on FMB. Colorful and beachy, Estero Boulevard runs 7 miles the length of the island, parallel and close to its continuous powdery white sands along the Gulf of Mexico. Two dozen or so accesses along the boulevard are open to the public for getting to the

beach. Look for the elevated signs that mark the accesses. Some have parking lots, others accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.

In addition, four main parks welcome visitors: Bowditch Point Park at the island’s north end, Lynn

Hall Memorial Park and Crescent Beach Family Park at Times Square, and Newton Park to the south. At the southernmost end of Estero Boulevard, the road crosses Big Carlos Pass onto Black Island and Lovers Key. Lovers Key State Park provides a couple of more public access points.

Instagram Alert: Position yourself just so at Lynn Hall Memorial Park to get a selfie of you with the Fort Myers Beach Pier in the background. #beachtime #nopierpressure

Photo Credit: Don Hutchinson

What’s there to see on the island’s bay side?

Estero Bay, Florida’s first designated aquatic preserve, encompasses 11,000 submerged acres and borders Estero Island on its leeward eastern shore.

Its maze of mangrove islands holds bird rookeries and an important Calusa tribe archaeological site.

Known for its vital dolphin populations, Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve also supports the nesting of many bird species, including several state listed species such as the wood stork, black skimmer, roseate spoonbill, reddish egret, little blue Photo Credit: Petrie heron, andJane tricolored heron.

12 | fortmyersbeach.org

At the island’s north end, Matanzas Pass enters the bay and Matanzas Harbor, home to the FMB Mooring Field–a spread of anchorage balls available for public boat mooring on a first-come basis year-round.

How do I get to FMB? Conveniently, Fort Myers Beach lies a half hour from interstate access and Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers (239768-1000, www.flylcpa.com). From the airport, take I-75 to exit 128. Take a left, and follow Daniels Parkway west to Summerlin Road (Route 869) and turn left. Summerlin intersects with San Carlos Boulevard (Route

865), the main arterial access to Fort Myers Beach. Turn left (west) onto it to get to San Carlos Island, Estero Island, and the beach.

If you are arriving from the south by vehicle, you can take the scenic “backdoor route” from Bonita Springs along Bonita Beach Road (west) to Hickory Boulevard (turn north). Continue across New Pass to Lovers Key, then Big Carlos Pass to Estero Island and Fort Myers Beach.

Note that traffic along this route can move slowly at peak rush hour times, especially during the winter-spring season. continued on page 14

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How do I get around the ?

island

To avoid backed-up traffic on the islands during the winter-spring season, step out of your car and use LeeTran public transportation. The Beach Tram runs for free seasonally from Bowditch Point Park to Bay Street, with stops at Times Square and Old San Carlos Road. The Beach Trolley makes stops all the way down the island from Bowditch Point Park to Lovers Key State Park.

For daytrippers traveling to FMB from the mainland, LeeTran’s Beach Park & Ride program picks up at its new station at 11101 Summerlin Square Dr., where parking is free.

It drops off at Bowditch Point Park, where passengers can pick up the tram or trolley to continue down island. Island visitors and residents can ride the Park & Ride trolley to

F UN FACT:

the mainland station to connect with transportation to the airport and Edison Mall.

For fee and schedule information, visit www.FortMyersBeach.org/ trolleyinfo.

Where can I get visitors

information?

The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center lies near Times Square at 1054 Fifth St. It is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Feel free to stop and take advantage of the trained professionals who can refer you to reputable businesses and services. A wealth of brochures, maps, coupons, and publications are also available free of charge.

For further information about your vacation destination, call 239-4547500; or visit us on the Web at www.

FortMyersBeach.org.

What’s the weather like?

Fort Myers Beach is a 12/365 destination, where sunny skies and warm temperatures mean never having to come in from playing outside. Okay, the occasional rain storm happens, more prevalently in summer, but the “S” word (as in “snow”) is strictly forbidden from the local native vocabulary.

In the winter months, December through February, high daily temperatures average around 76 degrees. The lows average around a refreshing 55 degrees and the temperature of the Gulf reads between 66 and 71 degrees average.

Photo Credit: Don Hutchinson

Download the LeeTran app from www.leegov.com/leetran for realtime bus and trolley (not tram) tracking and to find the nearest stop for the beach trolley.

F UN FACT: PhotoCredit: Credit: Don Hutchinson Photo Alejandra Bustamante 14 | fortmyersbeach.org

In May 1921, cars first crossed the wooden lift bridge to Fort Myers Beach at 50 cents a car. The take for Day 1: $53.

Summer temps reach into the mid90s, tempered by sea breezes and evening showers. March, April, October, and November are the most even-temperature months with the cool of spring or fall in the air and typically lower humidity.

What should I pack?

Dress is extremely casual in Fort Myers Beach, so pack accordingly.

Restaurants have no dress codes other than shoes and shirt–if that.

Your wardrobe most importantly will include a swimsuit (for obvious reasons), a good sun hat (to protect you from the sun’s intense rays), and flip flops (for when you have to wear shoes). Off the beach, you’ll want light clothing–shorts, lightweight trousers, T-shirts, collared shirts for golfing, sundresses, and a jacket, sweater, or other wrap for cool mornings and evenings. If you plan on boating in winter, bring an extra layer.

For beach time, don’t forget the sunscreen and your favorite toys– snorkel and mask, skim and body boards, stand-up paddleboards, kites, Frisbees, air mattresses, and other floatables. Don’t worry if you can’t pack all that: A bevy of beach shops keeps it all in stock to buy or rent.

Use zinc ointment for your nose and other sensitive and highly exposed areas, and don’t forget lip protection.

The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Don’t be fooled by occasional clouds and haze. They intensify rather than soften the sun’s searing effect. Being in and around the water also increases the burning potential of the sun’s rays.

Cool minor burns with an aloe vera product. If immediate blistering occurs, see a doctor.

What other hazards should I avoid?

Thunderstorms and lightning are common summer occurrences during the late afternoon in Florida.

They are lovely to watch–from inside.

At the first rumbles of thunder, seek shelter. Never stay in the water during a thunderstorm.

A car in Florida summer is an oven.

It is unlawful to leave small children and pets locked in cars in Florida, because the heat can be fatal within a short time. Never leave a child or pet in a car alone, even with the windows cracked, even if you’re making a quick convenience store stop.

Any other health tips?

Staying hydrated is crucial in subtropical climes. If you plan on biking, playing tennis, or participating in other outdoor activities, drink at least 12 ounces of water before you step out the door.

Carry a bottle of water with you at all times, even if you’re only walking or sunning on the beach. After coming in from the elements, drink beyond satiation, and continue to do so throughout the day. A pina colada may taste refreshing, but alcohol actually accelerates dehydration.

Juice and sports drinks are okay, but water is best.

Two clinics in Fort Myers Beach provide family treatment and urgent care: Estero Island Medical Care North, 1661 Estero Blvd., Suite 1, 239-765-0007, and Estero Island Medical Care, 7205 Estero Blvd., at Santini Marina Plaza, Suite 733, 239-463-5741. The website for both is www.esteroislandmedical.com.

HealthPark Medical Center in Fort Myers (9981 S. HealthPark Dr., 239-343-5000, www. leehealth.org), a full-service hospital, lies about 15 minutes from Fort Myers Beach on the mainland. Its emergency room stays open 24 hours. On the same campus, Golisano’s Children Hospital of Southwest Florida (239-343-5437) opened in April 2017.

How do I avoid a sunburn?

Take caution: This is the sunniest part of the Sunshine State. Begin your days in the sun with a high sun-protection-factor (SPF) lotion or ultraviolet-protection-factor (UPF) clothing. For children and fair skin, use no less than waterproof 30 SPF sunscreen. Reapply sunscreen after swimming and throughout the day. Hats and sunglasses provide additional protection for the face.

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Liquid Assets Get out on the Water

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Sun + Sand + Water:

W

e have perfected the formula for the most enviable vacations imaginable. Okay, truth is, Nature herself came up with the equation. We are only making sure the ingredients stay pure and combine to make yours an irresistible recipe that gets handed down from generation to generation.

Playing near, on, and in the water is the very definition of Fort Myers Beach. Whether you worship them from the beach or plunge headlong into water sports, the waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Estero Bay, and island canals beckon with endless opportunities.

fortmyersbeach.org | 17

F UN FACT:

Bowditch Point Park got its name from famed mathematician Nathaniel Bowditch, an 18th-century American often considered the father of celestial navigation.

te Bustaman : Alejandra it d re C o Phot

Bevy of Beaches You’ve been longing for months to dig your toes into the sand and scratch that undeniable itch that only a beach can reach. FMB boasts bountiful beaches of many styles and flavors—whether you’re looking for action, family togetherness, fun in the sun, a nature encounter, or a quiet lovers’ getaway.

For the energetic, playful beach type, Lynn Hall Memorial Park pulsates with the proper upbeat. Located in the heart of Fort Myers Beach, next to the 600-foot fishing pier at Times Square, this kid-friendly park exudes vitality. Here, everyone in the family can fulfill their respective hearts’ desires among a playground, water sports of every description, nearby shopping and dining, and, of course, fishing from the fabled pier. Lynn

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Hall Memorial Park is a sweet spot for swimming the gentle waves and hanging out into the late afternoon, grabbing a bite for dinner, and mellowing into the sunset.

The town’s newest, Crescent Beach Family Park lies adjacent to Lynn Hall. It adds to the beach landscape more volleyball nets, picnic tables, and a 400-foot stretch of powder sand. This is a walk-to beach, as parking is restricted to two handicapped spaces.

When the day calls for less bustle on the beach and more natural and nautical nuances, you can kick back and relax while checking out the scenery at the northern tip of Estero Island. Situated right on Matanzas Pass, Bowditch Point Park encompasses 17 acres worth of activities from Gulf to bay. A boardwalk takes you from its changing rooms and a food concession, past decking and picnic

areas to the beach’s touted white sugar sands and a nature walk.

Shrimp trawlers, tour boats, graceful sailboats, and vessels of all varieties parade past to keep you entertained as you let the sun warm your skin, heart, and soul.

Midway down the island, Newton Beach pays homage to the late James Newton, a highly valued resident and Fort Myers Beach developer. The grounds and its historic Seven Seas Cottage once welcomed influential guests such as Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Today the property offers the public environmental education signage, bocce ball courts, picnic tables, yoga classes, guided beach walks, and handicapped beach access.

If you’re looking for a beach where you can leave traffic behind, pack a picnic and drive south off Estero Island across Big Carlos Pass to neighboring Lovers Key State Park,

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which actually occupies four isles including also Long Key, Black Island, and Inner Key. Acclaimed as one of Florida’s top ten beaches by the Travel Channel and one of Florida’s most popular state parks, Lovers Key provides visitors seclusion, charm, birds galore, and a setting that is as natural as natural gets. Against a tropical hardwood hammock backdrop, the long stretch of sands and soothing waters enforce relaxation.

Between Lovers Key and Times Square, designated public accesses line Estero Boulevard, marking beaches where lack of facilities (including parking in many cases) usually means a quiet scene.

F UN F AC T

:

Lovers Key earned its n ame in the e island was o arly 1900s w nly accessib hen the le by boat. C ventured to ouples seekin the beach ou g seclusion tpost back in times the pa the day. In m rk boasts a se odern a si where an est de wedding imated 200 gazebo, co uples marr y each year.

Photo Credit: Jane

Petrie

F UN FACT:

: Don Photo Credit

Hutchinson

20 | fortmyersbeach.org

The entire 7-mile strip of beach along Estero Island has been dubbed “the world’s safest beach,” because it lacks steep dropoffs and rough bottom terrain. Rather, this familyfriendly beachfront allows waders a gradually sloping entry into the warm and typically calm Gulf of Mexico.

Catchy Fishing Devoted fishermen concur: No place beats the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier as the quintessential platform for casting a line. For the best results, go in the early morning hours, when the sheepshead and persnickety snook are most likely to nibble. This is the place to get the scoop on what’s biting and where from the salty islanders who congregate. Nearby, the Matanzas Bridge Fishing Pier stretches into the bay beneath the Sky Bridge at the east end of Old San Carlos Boulevard and yields good catches and views of a different waterfront.

If you find yourself dreaming of getting out into the infinite blue to test your angling prowess, check out the various charter captains you can hire and party boats you can board from marinas throughout Fort Myers Beach. You will head some 3 miles offshore on a party boat, where you are likely to hook good eats to bring home—most often snapper or mackerel. Equipment is usually provided on these excursions.

If you book your own private charter, you are assured a more personal and intense experience. Your knowledgeable deep-water charter captain can give you all the pointers you will need to cast for grouper, amberjack, cobia, tuna, or shark.

Other charters take you to the backwaters, including fish-fertile Estero Bay, for flats and mangrove fishing. Within the maze of mangrove-clotted islands, you are likely to hook a mangrove snapper, redfish, sea trout, or perhaps even that trophy tarpon. On most party and charter boats, you are covered under the boat’s fishing license, meaning you will not have to purchase one for yourself.

Many of the marinas also rent boats, for those who wish to chart their own adventure and perhaps build in a little goof-off time and relaxation.

For absolute fishing serenity, head out in a kayak or canoe, and fish on your own schedule in places powerboats cannot reach. Local outfitters rent kayaks specially designed and equipped for backwater fishing.

F UN FACT:

Home to a state archaeological park, Mound Key rises to heights of more than 30 feet above sea level, thanks to its eponymous ancient Calusa structure. It is accessible only by boat.

Instagram Alert: Alligator sightings are rare in the Fort Myers Beach area. Take the Black Island Trail to the freshwater pond at Lovers Key State Park, where you can often find some. #lateralligator @loverskeyfolks Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

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Boat Your Way

Over the years, Fort Myers Beach has earned and touted its reputation as the destination of choice for boaters along the Southwest Florida coast. While the totally barefoot and carefree attitude of other seaside towns may have become gentrified in modern times, FMB still feels like the real thing when it comes to nautical island lifestyles. A number of marinas provide ample boat dockage, rentals, and charters. Choices abound, from in-tune-with-nature kayaking or sailing romance to fast boats.

If you’re ready to get out on the water in a quiet and serene manner, paddleboats, kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards are available for rent. Eco-friendly and close to the water, they are the best way to explore the oft-forgotten backwater bay of Estero Island, where you are almost assured a wow! encounter with marine life—from manatees and dolphins to pelicans and bald eagles.

The 190-mile Great Calusa Blueway trail plots GPS points for adventurous paddlers who want to experience the magic of Estero Bay and beyond. The canoe and kayak trail explores the backwaters from Bonita Springs into Estero Bay and northward to Sanibel Island and up the Caloosahatchee River. It was inspired by the original inhabitants and paddlers of Southwest Florida— the Calusa tribesmen.

The trail takes paddlers to such otherwise missed venues as Hurricane Bay, Hell Peckney Bay, and Mound Key, reputed to have been the manmade capital of the Calusa empire. Birders can spot hawks, herons, egrets, ospreys, roseate spoonbills, ibis, and myriad other life-list species along the way. To check out a map detailing the trail and its key destinations, visit www. calusablueway.com.

Other water sports such as windsurfing and kiteboarding afford adventure of the extreme kind. You can rent anything from a zippy

Waverunner or V-hull fishing boat to a shallow-draft pontoon. Parasailing is a sky-high, thrill-seeking way to score a breathtaking overview of Estero Island and its back-bay maze of mangroves.

For those more interested in going along for the ride, charters range from sunset sails to fast-ferry day cruises to Key West. Various trips also take you out to remote island beaches or in search of dolphins, which love to play in a boat’s wake.

From parasailing and windsurfing to Hobie Cats, Sunfish, and 30-foot Morgans: If you yearn to ride the wind, Fort Myers Beach can hook you up. Rent a two-person boat to play in the offshore wind and waves, or sign on for a sailing yacht sunset cruise or a two- to five-day instructional course.

Whatever mode you choose for getting into or out on the water, the rewards are bound to be the highlight of your visit to this sea-obsessed destination.

F UN FACT:

Matanzas Harbor Municipal Mooring Field rents 70 anchorage balls on a firstcome basis year-round for vessels up to 48 feet in length.

Boaters can dinghy to the harbor’s dock and easily walk to local restaurants, clubs, shops, laundry facilities, restrooms, and showers. Visit www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov for more information.

Photo Credit: Don Hutchinson 22 | fortmyersbeach.org

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fortmyersbeach.org | 23

VACAY your way X4

D

ream your fantasy FMB vacation. Do you envision quality family time? Stealing away with that special someone for a romantic getaway? Maybe you are the nature-lover type and can’t wait to explore island waters and sands. Or perhaps you crave cultural inspiration. You can satisfy all four dream vacations in one getaway. Here are suggestions for how to spend time matched to your lifestyle and vacay visions in Fort Myers Beach.

Mix and match to fit your whims.

24 | fortmyersbeach.org

3

DAYS THE FAMILY WAY

BEACH BUDDY TOURS

DAY ONE:

Start your family vacation off with some good beach reads from the Fort Myers Beach Public Library (239-7658162, www.fmb.lib.fl.us). Visit the Toddler’s Room and Kid’s Place for age-appropriate books with a side of fun–supersized stuffed toys, a dry-erase table, a caterpillar tunnel, games, and sandcastle arches. On the same floor, the kids can ogle collections of international dolls and seashells.

Then grab your beach and fishing gear, and set up your day at Lynn Hall Memorial Park (239-7656794, www.leegov.com/parks).

Here, the little ones can frolic on the playground; older kids can cast off the 600-foot fishing pier (the bait shop even rents equipment); and adrenaline junkies can book a parasail ride. Nosh among the pizza and ice cream shops and sidewalk cafes for lunch al fresco.

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In the afternoon, feed the children’s fascination for sea creatures with a boat tour into Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve, where dolphin sightings are practically guaranteed.

Phot oC red it: An

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DAY TWO:

For a dose of history, visit the Mound House (see page 38) to walk the trails, visit the indoor historical exhibits, and peek into the middle of an authentic, ancient Calusa shell mound. Next, learn about local marine life from Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Center’s (239-765-8101, www. ostegobay.org) aquariums and interactive exhibits. Ask when feeding time will happen (usually around 11 a.m.), and stick around to see the hungry reclusive creatures come out of hiding.

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F UN FACT: Bay Oaks park

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Then, feed yourselves with a seafood lunch at one of the nearby restaurants on Fisherman’s Wharf. Follow it with a half-day deep-sea fishing excursion or rent your own boat for ultimate adventure. In the evening, tee up at one of the local mini-golf courses.

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Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

DAY THREE:

The beach beckons once again. Spend the morning shelling, sunning, and enjoying the playground at Lovers Key State Park (239-463-4588, www. floridastateparks.org/park/LoversKey). Call ahead or check the website for information about special bike tours, beach walks, butterfly or sea turtle talks, and fishing clinics. Ask about its Junior Ranger Program.

Grab lunch and ice cream at the park’s concession stand, then cool down on the slide and in the Kiddie Pool at Fort Myers Beach Pool on the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus (see page 39). Afterward, play disk golf on the adjacent 18-hole course.

Photo Credit: Alejandra Bustamante

LET US BE YOUR CATCH OF THE DAY

F UN FACT:

The Fort Myers Beach Public Library has a registered geocache hidden within. Look for clues at Hiding in the Stacks (GC5BAJX) on the Geocaching. com site, and use a GPS device to locate the cache.

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fortmyersbeach.org | 27

3

DAYS THE romantic WAY

DAY ONE:

Devote the rest of the day to splurging: Indulge in a couples massage at one of the island’s spas, take a sunset stroll, and toast your love with a candlelit dinner overlooking the beach and its postsunset afterglow. Top it all off with barefoot, moonlit dancing on the beach to the boom-swish percussion of breakers.

Transcend the land-bound with a tandem parasail adventure, and score a bird’s-eye view of the island. Do lunch in a funky, colorful Florida fish house, where the shrimp and fish are offthe-boat fresh. Walk off lunch with a leisurely stroll along the quiet wilderness trails of the island’s last maritime oak hammock in Matanzas Pass Preserve (239-229-1610, www. leegov.com/parks). Find space for just the two of you to relax and reflect on a bench away from it all.

After siesta, don your sailor cap for a sunset cruise into the Gulf. Back on shore, check out one of several restaurants with open-air dining— rooftop, beachfront, or street-side— and live entertainment. Keep the party rolling and go out on the town– check local newspapers for karaoke, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, and even swing dance listings. Or head to a movie and dinner all in the same venue at Beach Theater (239-765-9000, www. fmbtheater.com)—a unique Fort Myers Beach offering.

F UN FACT:Local lore

has it that aviator Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne are responsible for sparing from development the land known today as Matanzas Pass Preserve. The media-hounded couple enjoyed the privacy the wooded plot afforded them when they visited the island in the 1930s and so asked their local developer friend, Jim Newton, to keep it natural.

Ph oto Cr ed

mante usta ra B nd eja Al it:

Today’s your day to make like the local love bugs and spend your time in complete togetherness. Stop at a market for the makings of a picnic brunch and head south of Estero Island to the ultimate romantic beach hideaway–Lovers Key State Park (239-463-4588, www. floridastateparks.org/park/LoversKey). Here the natural surroundings and off-the-flipflop-path seclusion make going to the beach feel like you have discovered your own private love nest.

DAY TWO:

F UN FACT: Lovers Key

State Park hosts an annual Valentine’s Day “Love at Lovers Key” vow-renewal event at its wedding gazebo each year on Feb. 14. Attendance is limited, so reserve early. See page 53 for details.

Photo Credit: Alejandra Bustamante

28 | fortmyersbeach.org

F UN FACT:

Love bug? It may sound like a Disney film from the ‘60s, but these are real insects (Plecia nearctica).

They visit each spring and fall to remind us: All you need is love.

The bugs spend the entire, if short, span of their lives in midair wedlock–mating for up to 12 hours of their 86-hour lifespan (without Viagra).

Photo Credit: Susan Bonfigli

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Instagram Alert:

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Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

DAY THREE:

Awake slowly and relax fully into the romance of FMB’s no-rush zone.

Make it a simple, carefree islander day—do it all at a snail’s pace on foot.

Remember, flipflops and a swimming suit are all you really need. Head to one of the local coffee shops to pick up freshly baked pastries and latte, then stroll down the beach, take some cool-off dips, rent a Hobie Cat for some alone-time at sea, and wind up at Times Square for a leisurely lunch at a sidewalk café within eyeshot of the Gulf.

Follow that up with a restoring bout of lounging, lulled by the sea’s song and breezes. As the sun sinks, revel in the celebration at the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier (239-765-6794, www.leegov.com/parks). Indulge in frosty drinks and tons of shrimp.

Happily exhausted from the sun and day’s activities, queue up a romantic movie and slip between the sheets.

30 | fortmyersbeach.org

F UN FACT: Southwest Florida’s beloved manatees are often caught

“kissing” in local waters. Scientists believe that this touching of snouts may be a form of communication between the lovable marine mammals.

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

Weddings Ă la FMB W

hether planning a betrothal to the love-of-your-life or celebrating an anniversary renewal, the beach is always the first choice for Fort Myers Beach marriage events. Veil-white sands, sea music, and the goodluck charm of singing birds and smiling dolphins set the scene for a day you and your guests will remember and cherish.

Wedding planners and resort staff on Fort Myers Beach can make the rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony, reception, and honeymoon a seamless series of happy events. They know the ins-and-outs of permitting, local musicians, and the perfect island touches to make your wedding photos pop. How about a seashell-lined bridal path? A steel-drum soloist? A personalized sand sculpture?

Sunset backdrop? When it comes to FMB beach weddings, magic happens on a regular basis.

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

Photo Credit: Joey Kelly

fortmyersbeach.org | 31

3

DAYS THE nature’s WAY

DAY ONE:

F UN FACT:

Estero Bay became Florida’s first designated aquatic preserve in 1966. It has also earned the title of Outstanding Florida Waters because of its exceptional ecological significance.

To dip into the local environmental scene and enjoy the natural pleasures of Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve, spend a day following waypoints along the Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail (calusablueway.com). You will earn a whole new perspective and appreciation of this water-riddled destination. If you’re lucky, you will get a dolphin escort through Estero Bay. A number of outfitters offer canoe and kayak rentals for your adventure.

The Blueway trail map plots marina restaurants, where you can take a break and indulge in dockside lunch with a view of masts and hulls.

In the afternoon, feel indigenous and in harmony with the original inhabitants of the area–the Calusa tribe that once plied local waters in dugout canoes and gave their name to our paddling trail. Walk the trails, visit the historic home, and enjoy the gardens and sights at Mound House (see page 38), one of the Calusa Blueway’s launch spots on Estero Bay.

F UN FACT:

Floridians often refer to the native gumbo limbo tree as the “tourist tree” because, like some of our sun-worshipping visitors who stay too long at the beach, its bark is red and peel-y.

Photo Credit: Don Hutchinson

om el.c nib Sa rs-

Photo Credit: Lee C ount y VC B/F ort M ye

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

32 | fortmyersbeach.org

DAY two:

Wake early for a beach walk at Newton Beach Park. Join a guided walk on Tuesday mornings or a yoga session on Wednesday mornings. Then head to Matanzas Pass Preserve (239229-1610, www.leegov.com/parks).

Two loop trails—the Calusa and the Mangrove—take visitors on a twisty tour of the 56-acre preserve.

In various parts muddy, shelly, and boardwalk, the trails lead through mangroves, shady oak trees, cabbage palms, and gumbo limbo trees before reaching a secluded overlook at Estero Bay.

bird-watch, kayak, do a paddleboard tour, or go shelling on the beach.

Bring along or buy some fishing gear, and try your luck. Ranger-led programs teach you about fishing, as well as birding and kayaking.

Afterward, pack up a picnic lunch for Lovers Key State Park (239463-4588, www.floridastateparks. org/park/Lovers-Key) off the south end of Estero Island. It holds one of the area’s most remote, most natural beaches, but there’s more to do here than just lie in the sun: bike, hike,

Photo Credit: Andrea Cooper

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DAY three:

Head to Bowditch Point Park (239-7656794, www.leegov.com/parks) at the northern tip of Estero Island for a morning hike along the water’s edge both bay-front and Gulf-front. In the summer look for (but do not disturb) marked loggerhead sea turtle nests in the sand. A nature trail crosses the point of land for more exercise and to explore local flora.

Buy snacks at the concession stand, or bring a picnic for lunching as you watch boats floating in and out of the pass. Keep a lookout for manatees and dolphins as well. For your afterlunch snooze, spread out on the soft white sand under the subtropical sun.

Come nightfall, head to the beach for a stargazing stroll.

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

F UN FACT: The

teddy bears of the marine world, manatees are fleshy, docile, and loveable. The endangered mammals–relatives of the elephant–average 10 feet in length and weigh up to 3,500 pounds as adults.

Voracious vegetarians, they eat 80 to 500 pounds of seagrass, hydrilla, water hyacinth, and water lettuce a day.

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

34 | fortmyersbeach.org

Turtle Time F UN FACT:

Adult loggerhead sea turtles, which are believed to swim thousands of miles from feeding grounds to nesting beaches, grow to a length of about 3 feet and weigh from 200 to 400 pounds. Females return to the same beach where they hatched when it comes time to lay their own nests.

E

ach summer from May 1st to October 31st, mama loggerhead and occasional green sea turtles lumber ashore local beaches to dig nests and lay their eggs. Each turtle lays on average 110 eggs in each nest.

Leathery white eggs, which incubate for about two months before the hatchlings dig their way free and scurry to the Gulf of Mexico.

During their hatching season, which lasts through October, residents and visitors along the beach must keep their lights off or shielded and drapes pulled at night. Otherwise the hatchlings can lose their innate navigational abilities and turn inland, where they could be eaten by birds, crushed by vehicles, or suffer heat exhaustion.

Beachgoers, too, should avoid carrying flashlights or using flash photography at night. To make the hatchlings’ journey from nest to sea obstacle free, fill in holes and level sand structures that your family may have created during your beach visit.

Remove all furniture from the beach at night.

during a morning release of rescued hatchlings that didn’t make it out of the nest.

Turtle Time, Inc. (www.turtletime. org), a not-for-profit organization, has been monitoring sea turtle activity on Fort Myers Beach since 1989. Volunteers patrol daily during nesting season to check out and mark nests and assist the babies who were unable to dig out on their own. They find on average of 60 to 90 nests on the beach each season. If you’re lucky, you may happen onto the beach fortmyersbeach.org | 35

3

DAYS THE cultural WAY

DAY ONE:

Step into to the ultra-modern Fort Myers Beach Public Library (239-765-8162, www. fmb.lib.fl.us), where you will discover so much more than books. Head up to the third-floor Bookmark Café for coffee, a Wi-Fi hookup, pastries, and books for sale. Have a look at the Footprints in Time map and ask for a brochure to begin your next cultural adventure.

Download the free NeoReader app on your smart device and scan the QR codes on the Footprints in Time brochure as you circle the island to visit some of the 24 historic landmarks the brochure plots.

In the evening, soak up some of the local culture with sunset, cocktails, and dinner at the number 5 spot on the map: The Pier & Times Square.

Just like “back in the day,” you can get fresh seafood, pizza, and ice cream all within a few steps of each other.

DAY TWO:

You can’t miss the beach while you’re visiting, and at Newton Beach Park, you can have your beach and history, too.

Seven Seas Cottage was the home of city father, Jim Newton, famed for his friendship with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and other notables of his time. While you’re at it, spend some time on the bocce courts, picnic tables, and fine white-sand beach at the park. May we suggest reading Newton’s book Uncommon Friends for a beach read?

After lunch, stop at the Fort Myers Beach Art Association (239-4633909, www.fortmyersbeachart.com) to admire the latest exhibit and

36 | fortmyersbeach.org

F UN FACT:

Many buildings may have a time clock on the front of their facades.

The Fort Myers Beach library, however, displays a tide clock.

Photo Credit: Melissa Cofta

F UN FACT:

On the first Thursday of each month from December through April, head to the beach at Lovers Key State Park for a free (with paid admission to the park) Songwriters at Sunset concert (www.friendsofloverskey.com).

Arrive three hours before sunset for Beach BBQ, for which there is an extra charge, and stay for the music.

Photo Credit: Don Hutchinson

purchase creative souvenirs of your island visit. Nearby, visit the Mound House (see page 38), the oldest standing home on Fort Myers Beach, for both culture and recreation.

After celebrating sunset on the beach, enjoy dinner and a movie in one at Beach Theater (239-765-9000, www. fmbtheater.com). The theater hosts the Fort Myers Beach Film Festival every April. See page 54 for details.

DAY THREE:

Head to Matanzas Pass Preserve (239229-1610, www.leegov.com/parks) for a morning hike and a visit to the museum at the Historic Cottage & Nature Center that sits at the entrance. If it’s Wednesday or Saturday between 10 a.m. and noon, you can visit the historic exhibits inside, maintained by the Estero Island Historical

Society (239-463-0435, www. esteroislandhistoricsociety.org).

Head over the bridge to San Carlos Island for lunch overlooking the historic shrimp docks, a strong part of local heritage. One restaurant occupies an old seafood house from the 1930s shrimping heyday.

After lunch, learn more about shrimping, fishing, and local maritime culture and flora and fauna with a walk around the working waterfront and its nature boardwalk. Then visit the Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Center (239-765-8101, www.ostegobay.org), which conducts weekly tours of the shrimp docks in season. For a taste of history, dine at the Gulf Shore Restaurant, dating back to the 1920s.

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F UN FACT:

On the first Thursday of each month from December through April, head to the beach at Lovers Key State Park for a free (with paid admission to the park) Songwriters at Sunset concert (www.friendsofloverskey.com).

Arrive three hours before sunset for Beach BBQ, for which there is an extra charge, and stay for the music.

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

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The Mound House: History Above & Below

Instagram Alert: Score some #deephistory@moundhouse.

Snap an underground selfie next to excavations of thousands of years of history.

I

n the making for some 20 years on Estero Bay, The Mound House engages families, nature-lovers, and couples alike in archaeological, historical, and environmental learning.

Its restored 1921 home—the oldest standing structure on Fort Myers Beach—sits atop an even older structure, an ancient Calusa shell mound. The house holds a cultural museum that spans over 2,000 years of history. Enter through the museum store, housed in a recreation of the site’s original structure —the 1906 Tudor Kitchen.

The two-story home, with its original brickwork, circa-1909 living room and upstairs exhibits, is the centerpiece of a don’t-miss attraction that spans 2,000 years of local history.

On the home’s second floor, the 38 | fortmyersbeach.org

Ancient People exhibit’s hands-on elements include recreated Calusa tools that kids can touch, made from seashells. They can then look at the real artifacts that were excavated on property. Beautiful tableaux explore Calusa life and European encounters.

Settlers on the Shells exhibit, with a re-created thatched wall of a Cuban fishing ranch hut as centerpiece, chronicles “people of the mound” who followed the Calusa. Human habitation ended in 1994; the town of Fort Myers Beach purchased the property in 2000. Walk through the French doors to overlook Estero Bay from the wrap porch, read about Calusa canoes, and see a re-created fishing net in the making.

Odd as it may seem, the coolest exhibits, especially for kids, live in the bathroom. Its white tiled walls hold an exhibit named Digging Deeper. Touchscreen photo albums,

Photo Credit: Main Sail Video Productions, Inc.

excavated pieces of pottery under magnifying glass, and oversized puzzles turn kids into young archaeologists.

The 2.77-acre bayside complex has been welcoming visitors for several years with recreational opportunities and one of only two native American shell mound cutaways in Florida.

(The other is in Sarasota.)

The site’s original exhibit, the underground Stories Beneath Our Feet archaeological museum, allows visitors to peek into actual dig explorations. A video interprets the shell mound cutaway, illustrated with LED rope lights to distinguish the various layers of history. A 44-foot mural depicts an artist’s realistic interpretation of the Calusa village that once thrived here.

Native landscaping, a kayak launch, picnic tables, and a boat dock

complete the well-rounded bayfront facilities. A 2,500-square-foot Observation Pier hugs the property’s shoreline with interpretive signage and plenty of room to fish and observe wildlife. Education staff conducts guided boat and kayak tours in season.

Visitors can self-tour the museum and grounds Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. January through April; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the rest of the year.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for students, and $5 for ages 6 to 12.

Docents are on hand to interpret exhibits and offer special programs.

Visit www.moundhouse.org for tour times and other information or call 239-765-0865 for information.

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Founded November of 2011, The Greater Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Arts is a charitable organization. Its mission is to facilitate and fund arts presentations in the greater Fort Myers Beach area, enhancing economic conditions and the quality of life.

The art association has supported Paint the Beach – a Plein Air Festival, Fort Myers Beach Film Festival, Beach Elementary School Art Programs, Beach Art Co-Op, Beach Haus Productions, Cypress Lake High School of the Arts, and much more.

239.463.3600 www.friendsoftheartsfmb.com

Bay Oaks Campus:OneStop Recreation From fitness classes and pickleball to a heated lap pool and kids’ activities, Bay Oaks covers all recreational needs with a wide variety of facilities and programs.

It is located next to the Fort Myers Beach School at 2731 Oak St. The Rec Center (239-765-4222) opens Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The pool’s (239-463-5759) schedule is as follows:

WINTER HOURS

(Sept. 1 through Feb. 28): Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday: CLOSED (March 1 through May 31) Daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov.

SUMMER HOURS

(June 1 through Aug. 31): Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m.

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

fortmyersbeach.org | 39

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41

Party Hearty, FMB Style

Y

ou don’t have to fight for your right to party in Fort Myers Beach. It’s a given in this town known for its clubs, beach bars, and jams.

Whether it’s a rock-n-roll band under the sun at a poolside bar, or late-night dancing in the sand with moonglow glinting off the waves, the party never dies on FMB. Never even flickers.

At practically any given moment of every single day you can find some party action on or off the beach.

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

42 | fortmyersbeach.org

Toasty with Jams Bare feet and bikinis are the preferred style of party attire on sunny FMB, where you can walk the beach and find, every 30 steps or so, a new spot to hear music, kick up some sand on the dance floor, and have a fruity drink and a nibble. Most of the action concentrates around Times Square, but resorts and clubs the length of the beach and along San Carlos Boulevard and Old San Carlos Boulevard offer everything from weekend bashes to tiki hut bars and rooftop revelry.

When it nears sunset, everyone gravitates toward the fishing pier at Times Square, which not only gives you a front-row view of the sun’s dramatic curtain call, but also puts you smack in the center of the nightly buzz. The action grows especially brisk on Friday and Saturday nights.

F UN FACT:

One FMB bar holds “Sunday Church services,” where it has served $1 Bloody Marys since the 1980s.

Enjoy amazing starters, just caught fresh seafood, and rockin’ cocktails!

1154 Estero Blvd. Ft. Myers Beach, FL

(239) 233-8224 • SaltyCrabBarAndGrill.com

fortmyersbeach.org | 43

Take a seat along the row of sidewalk cafes for an afterglow cocktail and pre-party sustenance.

Now you’re ready to head out on the town for some serious carousing.

Pick your party: the after-work locals scene, beachfront and beautiful, or tucked-away and intimate. Or mix it all up as you do the pub crawl around Times Square from beach to bay. No worries about designated drivers or places to park, you can do it all by foot. (At this point, you may want to upgrade from bare feet, but casual is always in style.)

Pure FMB Sunset cruises present other islandy options for celebrating the end of another glorious vacation day.

Cocktails and mingling with fellow vacationers make lively experiences and cherished memories for sealegged types.

If you’re looking for something quieter for your nightly entertainment, Fort Myers Beach boasts a movie theater where you can dine and sip as you watch the latest first-run films.

There’s more to partying FMB-style than its vibrant nightlife, however.

Even by day you can dance your way up and down the beach, stopping to quench your sun-drenched thirst with something chilly and fruit-full.

Top times to experience the fine art of beach boogey is during FMB’s go-nuts festivals. Families, couples, and singles alike discover new and outrageous ways to let loose and live it up throughout the year’s events.

Live music, fireworks, local food, twinkling holiday-decorated boats, hometown parades, and a worldclass sandsculpting competition fill the calendar with entertainment as diverse as it is rousing.

So have a look at the calendar of events on page 50, and start planning your next high-spirited visit to this land of year-round glow and aroundthe-clock festivity. Come exert your right to party no holds barred when you’re doing it FMB-style.

Instagram Alert: Wait for it! Can you catch the #greenflash? Some believe rum helps, but the phenomenon is actually no illusion, rather the result of physics. Rapt attention is required. You must stare fixedly at the sun as the sea swallows it whole. When the blazing disk slips behind the watery horizon–don’t blink now, you’ll miss it–the sun sends up a split-second flare of farewell…if conditions are just right. #notenoughrum

F UN FACT:

The legendary nightlife of Fort Myers Beach got its start in the Roaring Twenties with a casinoclubhouse that is said to have attracted a partyloving, bootleg crowd.

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Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

fortmyersbeach.org | 45

Sand Mania

Photo Credit: Alejandra Bustamante

46 | fortmyersbeach.org

The American Sandsculpting Championship:

Come see what Edison and Ford Discovered!

7 Ways to

Play in the Sand

Dolphins, mermaids, giant pumpkins, and truly regal sandcastles: The intricately detailed sculptures at the American Sandsculpting Championship take “playing in the sand” to the ultimate level.

The 32nd annual event happens Nov. 16-252018, at the Wyndham Garden Hotel. The biggest and one of the longest running sand-sculpting competitions in the U.S., it draws master sculptors from around the world.

Amateurs and families can get in the act, too.

Weeklong, live musicians and other performers entertain.

• Historic Homes • Tropical Gardens • Thomas Edison’s Laboratory • Museum • NEW Spark!Lab • River Cruises

Open Daily 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

2350 McGregor Boulevard • Fort Myers, FL 33901

239.334.7419 EdisonFordWinterEstates.org

fortmyersbeach.org | 47

Here are seven ways to get sand between your toes and under your skin at the Sandsculpting Championship:

3. Learn from the masters.

The Sand Lovers, professional sand sculptors, conduct sculpting demonstrations and lessons most days throughout the event. If you plan on competing in the Amateur Contest on Saturday, you may want to bone up on the tricks-of-the-art on Friday.

4. Free your inner 1. Observe the masters. artist Master sand sculptors from around the globe work on a group exhibit project during the first days of the events. They then split up to work on their own sculptures, competing in singles and doubles divisions.

Spectators can watch as sculptors bring a thousand tons of sand and 300 gallons of water to life as gleaming works of art.

Amateur competition begins on Saturday. Prizes are awarded on the beach stage in six different categories: children ages 8 and younger, children 9 to 12, families or groups of up to six members, businesses, solo ages 13 to 17, and solo adults.

5. Stroll the ‘Sand Vendor Village.’

More than 50 vendors from across the country sell food, beverages, arts and crafts, and specialty merchandise.

6. Get in the picture.

Custom-designed sculptures + your family = fantastic Christmas cards and social media posts. Don’t forget your camera!

Instagram Alert:

How about this for a post that’s sure to be well-liked: your caricature carved in sand? #sandsculpted

They come to Fort Myers Beach for some of the best sculpting sand in the world. The sand granules here are square, making them adhere better than round grains. That means the artists can build to greater heights.

They carve sculptures up to 10, 15, even 20 feet high. The sculptors also praise Fort Myers Beach sand for its fine, sugary texture, which allows finer detail.

2. Get caught up in the Quick Sand.

For short attention spans, the daily Quick Sand speed competitions pit two masters against one another in 10-minute sculpt-offs. The audience chooses the subject matter and the winner. The sculptors work on rotating platforms so that onlookers get the best possible view of the creation in process.

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Photo Credit: Alejandra Bustamante

7. Play in the giant sandbox.

Children ages 4 and younger can attend the festival for free. A kids zone keeps the little ones busy with castle-building, water slides, a climbing wall, a bungee jump, and bounce houses.

Lee County’s Newest

Waterfront Restaurant & Fish House!

Here’s the Sand Scoop:

Waterfront • Live Music • Great Views

When: Nov. 16-25, 2018; open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Wyndham Garden

Hotel, 6890 Estero Blvd.

Admission: $7 for ages 5

“For the sun-kissed & sun-desirous alike, a vacation on a plate.”

and older; free for ages 4 and younger. Family discounts are also available.

Information: 239-454-7500, fmbsandsculpting.com

Live Music on the Dock!

Join

us on our

2

o u t d o o r pat i o s !

It’s all about

Food, Family & Fun!

Photo Credit: Alejandra Bustamante

The Best Happy Hour On The Beach! fortmyersbeach.org | 49

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Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/Fort Myers-Sanibel.com

he celebrating does not end with sand-sculpting on the beach. You can find festivities around the calendar. Make note of these opportunities to party along with the locals. Events throughout 2018-2019 bring folks together to rejoice in culture, nature, music and food, glorious seafood. For more information, visit www.FortMyersBeach.org, or call 239-454-7500.

50 | fortmyersbeach.org

Note:

Event dates are subject to change.

Please call ahead or check the event’s website for updates.

June 30, 2018

Kids’ Fourth of July Fishing Tournament

More than 150 kids ages 3 to 15 participate in this long-running event the weekend before the Fourth. Kids and their families can fish from shore from 9 a.m. to noon. (Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.) There’s free lunch and prizes for everyone. 239-7658101

July 4, 2018

Fort Myers Beach Independence Day Parade & Fireworks

Festivities kick off with a 10 a.m. parade on Estero Boulevard. (The Matanzas Pass Bridge closes to traffic from approximately 9:30 a.m. until noon, but traffic is able to leave the island during that time.) As the sun begins to set, head to Times Square and the Fort Myers Beach Pier for the region’s most spectacular firework displays. Music and festivities begin early around Times Square; the pyrotechnics launch at dusk. Find your spot anywhere along the beach for an eyeful of sparkly.

Sept. 28-30, 2018

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest

As part of a two-week multi-venue event, Fort Myers Beach hosts three days of music by nationwide songwriters at a number of local bars and clubs. www.islandhopperfest. com

Catering ServiCeS from 50 to 5000!

Call our Catering manager (239) 209-0940

For Take Out Call (239) 454-0454 15880 San Carlos Blvd.

(In front of the Super Target)

Find a Location & View Our Menu at

www.ribcity.com

fortmyersbeach.org | 51

Nov. 1-3, 2018 Paint the Beach

This nineth annual painting competition will attract some 60 fine artists to paint canvases all over Fort Myers Beach for three days, and the public is invited to watch and attend the awards ceremony Saturday night.

All artwork will be on display and available for sale in a flash sale from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Saturday night at the Fort Myers Beach Art Association & Gallery. 239-463-3909, www. paintthebeach.com Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

will be filled with guided adventures that include kayak tours, bike tours (bike and helmets provided at no charge), fishing, and nature walks.

Meet some live animals and discover native species. There will also be children’s activities and food. 239463-4588, www.floridastateparks.org/ park/Lovers-Key

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

Dec. 1, 2018

Christmas Boat Parade

More than 30 boats decked out in festive holiday array parade through Matanzas Harbor and past a number of waterside eating and drinking establishments starting from Salty Sam’s Marina at 6 p.m. The 30th annual lighted floating parade proceeds beneath the Sky Bridge and through the first two canals of Siesta Bay in a purely Fort Myers Beach tradition. Enter to win a trophy for the best decoration in three categories: powerboat under 26 feet, 52 | fortmyersbeach.org

powerboat over 26 feet, and sailboat.

Watch the festive procession from the canal hammerheads in Siesta Bay, Nervous Nellie’s, Matanzas on the Bay, Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Café, Dixie Fish Co., Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, or Parrot Key Caribbean Grill.

Dec. 1, 2018

Great Outdoor Adventure Day

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., experience all the recreational opportunities Lovers Key State Park has to offer. The day

Instagram Alert: Have your video devices ready to record snippets of the eight-minute shrimp-devouring competition at March’s Shrimp Festival #stuffedshrimp

Dec. 9, 2018 Santa on the Sand

Bring your children, grandchildren, and friends for an afternoon of games and prizes on the beach with Santa at Lovers Key State Park. Children ages 8 and younger who donate an unwrapped toy to be put under the tree can visit with Santa and receive a small gift. Lunch is provided for the children and snacks for adults. 708359-0466, www.friendsofloverskey. com

F UN FACT:

Some 20,000 people attend the annual Shrimp Festival every year, consuming more than 48,000 (or 1,200-plus pounds of) boiled shrimp prepared by the local Lions Club.

Dec. 31, 2018

Fort Myers Beach Birthday Party & New Year’s Eve Celebration

Watch the ball drop at Times Square– without shivering. The town’s 23rd annual birthday party takes place from 1 to 3:30 p.m. with free live music and cupcakes. More live music kicks in at 7 p.m. to start the New Year’s celebration, which culminates with fireworks from the pier and the ball drop at midnight. 239-765-0202, www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov

Feb. 14, 2019

Love at Lovers Key – A Special Valentine’s Day Event

Couples are invited to the ninth annual vow renewal ceremonies at the wedding gazebo on the beach at Lovers Key State Park. Donation is $100 per couple, which includes a meal, champagne toast, wedding cake, gifts, and door prizes. 708-3590466, www.friendsofloverskey.com

Photo Credit: Alejandra Bustamante

FORT MYERS BEACH

(239) 466-9797

17710 San Carlos Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33931 fortmyersbeach.org | 53

March 9-10, 2019 Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival and Parade

Two days of festivities celebrate the tasty shrimp harvest of Fort Myers Beach at this 61st annual event.

A parade down Estero Boulevard follows a 5K race on Saturday morning, culminating with the crowning of the Shrimp Queen.

Seafood vendors and the Lions Club’s shrimp boil concession set up at Lynn Hall Memorial Park both days. On Sunday, sponsored shrimp lovers compete in a shrimpeating contest. 239-454-0043, www. fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com

April 24-28, 2019 Fort Myers Beach Film Festival

independent films and be a part of events that include a Grand Opening Party, Film on the Beach, educational workshops with the filmmakers, and an awards ceremony. janeen@ fmbfilmfest.com, www.fmbfilmfest. com

May 5, 2019 Taste of the Beach

The 24th annual Taste of the Beach dishes up seafood and other Beach specialties from nearly 20 restaurants, along with live music and children’s activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The action and tantalizing aromas center around Old San Carlos Boulevard off Estero Boulevard. Admission is $5 for adults, free for kids ages 12 and younger. 239-454-7500, www. tasteoffmb.com.com

May TBA, 2019

“Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Invitational This eighth annual “catch, release, and care” tournament is based at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on Fisherman’s Wharf. Anglers vie for 100-percent purse cash awards for the most tarpon caught. 239-472-1100 ext. 4, www. dingdarlingtarpontourney.org

The 13th annual five-day festival will provide moviegoers the opportunity to see quality

F UN FACT:The local prize catch–

the tarpon, a.k.a. “Silver King”–can reach lengths of up to 8 feet and weigh as much as 280 pounds.

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

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FORT MYERS

Princess

SUNSET BOAT TOURS

Dolphin Tours & Sunset Cruises

Sit back, relax and enjoy our scenic Dolphin Tour as we sail through Matanzas Pass into Gulf of Mexico looking for Dolphin, Manatees, Seabirds, Turtles and more.

Or take a delightful evening cruise, indulge yourself with a spectacular Southwest Florida Sunset.

Online Special!

View cruise schedule & book tickets online: www.FortMyersPrincess.net

$3 off

239.765.8500

Sailing from Snug Harbor Marina (Next to Nervous Nellies) 645 Old San Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers Myers Beach FortMyersPrincess2018 FMB.indd 1

Up to 5 guests Not valid with other discounts or on specialty cruises

Code: FMBC18 Exp. 6/30/19

5/29/18 9:25 AM

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

fortmyersbeach.org | 55

K N PI D: L O G Sea Treasure from the

T

he discovery of wild pink shrimp in 1949 changed the course of history for Fort Myers Beach back in the 1950s.

Today, the harbor at San Carlos Island nets more than $100 million a year for the local economy, second only to tourism.

During a good winter, when shrimpers from distant ports dock at San Carlos Island, the port fills with 40-some trawlers, making it the nation’s busiest port for offloading pink shrimp.

The discovery of “pink gold” in the nearby Dry Tortugas south of the Florida Keys first brought the shrimping industry to Fort Myers Beach, where the shrimpers set up a land base. Harvesting of the coveted pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum) quickly rose as a top source for area income with as many as 300 boats operating out of the area during shrimping’s heyday.

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F UN FACT: The Fort Myers Beach shrimping fleet is the largest commercial fishing fleet in the Gulf of Mexico.

F UN FACT:

Photo Credit: Lee County VCB/FortMyers-Sanibel.com

Pink shrimp were latecomers to the shrimping industry scene because they burrow during the day.

Shrimpers accidentally discovered the nocturnal mother lode one night when their winches failed, causing them to continue dragging their nets into the dark of night.

Deep Sea FiShing capt. tony’s fishing adventures 1/2 Day, Full Day, Night Trips & Private Charters for Grouper, Snapper, Sharks & More

Great Family Fun 1

∕2 Day 9:30am-3:30pm

Call & Reserve Your Spot

Today!

239-415-0515

CaptTony's_HH_FMBChamber_00000.indd 1

Night

• Air Conditioned Cabin FishiNg trips • Full Galley 6pm-1am • Coolers Allowed • Private Charters Available For Small or Large Groups

18400 San Carlos Blvd. Ft. myers Beach, Fl loCated at Gateway marina

www.capttonys.com

4/8/15 12:38| PM fortmyersbeach.org 57

The tour includes a 90-minute guided visit at the Science Center and continues with stops at the commercial fishing docks, Erickson & Jensen Supply House, Trico Shrimp loading dock, and a net shop. Participants see how the boats are unloaded, trawl doors are built, shrimp nets are hand-sewn, seafood is processed, and other important aspects of the unique industry.

Instagram Alert: The hulking shrimp

Celebrating Shrimp

trawlers in harbor make a haunting image when filtered black-and-white or sepia. #pinkgolddiggers

Photo Credit: Jessica Salomond

In 1951, the shrimpers held their first Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet ceremony, a full-moon tradition that continues. “By 1953, 17.32 million pounds of shrimp were being caught and brought into the island port.

That is enough shrimp to give every resident in 24 towns the size of Miami, a pound of shrimp,” wrote local historian Rolfe F. Schell in 1980.

Shrimping 101

Shrimpers ranged as far as Campeche in Mexico in the early days. The boats required heavy provisioning for their strenuous trips of weeks’ duration, during which time they would shrimp by night, sleep by day. Services required by the boats and their crews impacted the local economy tremendously, doubling the size of Fort Myers Beach. In later years, productive shrimp grounds were discovered much closer to home, near Sanibel Island.

The Science Center itself occupies a 1970s shrimp packinghouse.

Where mammoth freezers once held the tasty shellfish for nationwide trans-shipment, aquariums and other exhibits today introduce local marine life. One display details the processing of wild shrimp from boat to box with samples of sea turtlefriendly netting, the telltale white rubber boots that have become the unofficial uniform of shrimpers, and a model of a shrimp trawler.

Today, most of the shrimpers cull their harvests from the Dry Tortugas near Key West in winter. For the summer, they migrate to Texas to fish for brown shrimp, but yearround you can see the salty profiles of trawlers against the bay backdrop of San Carlos Island.

The Ostego Bay Foundation takes visitors each Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. (except during summer) on a three-hour Working Waterfront Tour of the Science Center and the San Carlos Island Working Waterfront Trail. Advance reservations are required; call 239-765-8101.

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To learn more about FMB’s deep and vital shrimping heritage, visit Ostego Bay Foundation’s Marine Science Center, where displays and weekly seasonal tours give you behind-thescenes insights into the industry and area ecosystems.

Another fun way to get a taste of the local shrimping heritage comes the second full weekend in March during the annual Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival. The local Lions Club boils up more than 1,000 pounds of pink shrimp for the weekend’s consumption. Activities include a parade down Estero Boulevard, the long-standing tradition of crowning the year’s shrimp queen, and dozens of seafood and other food concessions on the beach at Lynn Hall Memorial Park.

If you miss the festival, don’t worry.

You can find fresh, sweet pink shrimp on menus at certain restaurants throughout town. To be sure a restaurant is serving local product, ask for wild pink shrimp.

F UN FACT:

In Fort Myers Beach, they call the fishermen’s white rubber boots “San Carlos bedroom slippers.”

Shrimp 201: Buying & Preparing Look for the “Wild-Caught Shrimp” label to be sure you’re buying local.

Otherwise you could be buying farmed shrimp, probably from Asia and possibly treated with preservatives and antibiotics. Local shrimpers flash-freeze the shrimp onboard during long trips at sea, but freezing preserves rather than compromises the flavor of the shrimp.

7205 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

Packers grade shrimp size-wise, according to how many shrimp come in a pound. This varies from seller to seller but generally goes something like this: fewer than 21 shrimp/ pound = jumbo; 21-25 shrimp/ pound = large; 26-50 shrimp/pound = medium; more than 50 shrimp/ pound = small. “Boat grade” indicates an assortment of sizes, usually on the small side.

239-463-4644 GOOD FRIENDS. GOOD FOOD. GOOD FUN. DRINK SPECIALS ALL DAY!

Seafood markets on San Carlos Island can pack your flash-frozen shrimp for travel. Airport security allows you to carry on packed shrimp.

MENU AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE AT: CASTAWAYSFMB.COM

To make sure you don’t overcook boiled shrimp—a worse transgression than undercooking—drop shrimp into boiling water, cover, and immediately remove from heat. Let the shrimp sit for 2 to 4 minutes, depending upon their size, until they lose their translucency. Drain and eat or refrigerate immediately. They are tasty hot or chilled.

As Forrest Gump knew, there are endless ways other than boiling to prepare shrimp. Deep-fried, shrimp scampi, stuffed shrimp, and shrimp and grits are just a few local favorites.

Seafood markets and restaurants are happy to share tips and recipes for turning your pink gold into a treasured meal.

:CASTAWAYSFMB

L IV

E M US I C!

YOUR GREEN BAY PACKER PARTY HEADQUARTERS!

CHRISTOPHE KEREBELfortmyersbeach.org |

59

Shop & Dine: W

Go Forth & Spend

hether you need a new tank top to set off you tan, bribes for the dogsitter back home, some just-off-the-hook seafood, or simply a break from the sun, there’s always a good reason to shop on Fort Myers Beach. Most of the reasons have to do with the sunny fashions, beachy gifts, one-of-a-kind souvenirs, and memorable meals you will find.

So, head guiltlessly to the various commercial centers of FMB, which conveniently cluster shops together with take-a-break libation stations, delis, snack bars, fish markets, and sit-down restaurants.

Photo Credit: Alejandra Bustamante

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continued on page 62

fortmyersbeach.org | 61

continued from page 60

Bully for the Boulevard The opportunities begin as you head toward the beach along San Carlos Boulevard, where a couple of shopping centers provide all you need to supply your beach vacation—from snacks and beer to pool “noodles,” a new cover-up, and sunscreen. A string of family-run restaurants along the road satisfies appetites with burgers, pasta, homemade ice cream, ribs, and, of course, seafood.

Wild-caught pink shrimp is the trademark culinary icon in town, and you can buy it raw or cooked up in a

number of ways—simply steamed in the shell, crunchy batter-fried, bathed in garlic butter, or prepared in an endless array of other creative dishes.

Buy your shrimp packaged to travel from retailers around the shrimp docks on San Carlos Island, just off Main Street south of San Carlos Boulevard on the east side of the Matanzas Pass Sky Bridge.

The local commercial fishing industry extends beyond shrimp, however, to grouper, snapper, stone crab, blue crab, mullet, and a number of tasty shell and fin fish served up at restaurants on Fisherman’s Wharf.

Good-Times Times Square The heartbeat of Fort Myers Beach, Times Square and intersecting Old San Carlos Boulevard throb to the rhythm of island music and the footsteps of young to weathered seeking (and finding!) the affordable and splurge-worthy in eats and buys.

Clustered around the beach, Lynn Hall Memorial Park and the Fort Myers Beach Pier, the pedestrian plaza and its side streets are naturally sea-focused. Surfing and beach gear and apparel fill mammoth marts on practically every corner. In between,

F UN FACT:

Here, mullet has nothing to do with that retro hair style. The local, sustainable fish is mild tasting and most often prepared fried, smoked, or blackened.

Photo Credit: Alejandra Bustamante

62 | fortmyersbeach.org

unique boutiques sell fine resort fashions, jewelry, henna tattoos, art, and other gifts with a sense of place.

Sidewalk cafes with merry market umbrellas line the western Gulffacing side of the plaza. Stop for fortification in the form of an ice cream sundae, homemade fudge, rumrunner cocktail, hand-crafted Greek gyro, or basket of shrimp.

Along Old San Carlos, restaurants specializing in pizza, sushi, and fish extend all the way from Gulf front to bay side, where dining with a view is de rigueur.

Easin’ down Estero One of Florida’s liveliest streets, Estero Boulevard runs 7 miles from Times Square to Big Carlos Pass.

At the north end, pedestrians hit tucked-away shops carrying beach towels and skim boards to cigars and nautical antiques. Restaurants run uber-casual to historic and seaside fine.

Sit down to creative global cuisine or simply grab a Coney dog and run.

Dining is never dull on Fort Myers Beach, where choices range from Asian and Mexican to Italian and new American.

As you head south on the boulevard, shopping strips and plazas offer more reasons to spend—both time and your vacation retail budget. At

Santini Marina Plaza Shops, look for fine local art, crystal, name-brand jewelry, kitschy-cute beach décor, and good eats.

Don’t forget to stop at the Fort Myers Beach Art Association for galleryquality and affordable original paintings as potent souvenirs of your visit. Grocery stores and marts delight with fresh-picked oranges and key limes, juicy sweet mangos, Italian specialties, homemade ice cream, and other taste treats. Some of the best restaurants live in the hotels, marinas, and shopping centers, or seaside along the beach.

Poke around and discover FMB’s opportunities to cure what ails you with a little retail therapy. Find cherished souvenirs for everyone on your list—most importantly you. And don’t forget to also reward yourself with a taste of what’s grown and caught locally.

F UN FACT: Florida novelist

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of The Yearling and Cross Creek, once compared the delicate flavor of stone crab to nightingales’ tongues. The taste treat comes guilt-free and sustainable: Yearto-year, crabs regenerate the claws that crabbers harvest. Get them fresh and in season Oct. 15 through May 15.

VACATION RESORTS Anchor Inn

Quaint, Secluded Cottages on the Back Bay

The Periwinkle

Within Walking Distance of Entertainment District

Surf & Us

On the Beach

Wild Wave

A Seaside Treasure Gulf Motel

Direct Beach Access Make Your Vacation One to Remember

1-800-352-0810

Photo Credit: Alejandra Bustamante

www.flvacation.com fortmyersbeach.org | 63

THE FMB LIFE: Becoming an Islander

Photo Credit: Alejandra Bustamante

64 | fortmyersbeach.org

S

o, you have decided there is no way you can leave Fort Myers Beach.

Ever. Again. The island bug has bitten you. Hard. You’ve made up your mind: You will extend your stay—at least for a few more weeks every year, and for a lifetime if you have your way.

That, in fact, is how a great many of our residents came to be FMB islanders. They will be happy to share with you the (coco)nuts and (lightning) bolts of living in Southwest Florida, but here are some facts and information to get you started.

YOUR ISLAND HOME Whether you plan on renting or buying, Fort Myers Beach offers options of all sorts from beachfront condos and bayside homes to properties on the golf course or overlooking a canal. Check www.

FortMyersBeach.org for listings of real estate agents who can help you find your new dream home.

Buyers may be eligible for a Florida Homestead Exemption. Every person who owns and resides on real property in Florida on Jan. 1 and makes the property their permanent residence is eligible to receive a homestead exemption up to $50,000.

Lee County Property Appraiser, 2480 Thompson St., 4th Floor; P.O. Box 1546, Fort Myers, FL 33902, 239-533-6100 or 866-673-2868, www. leepa.org

PAPERWORK

GOVERNMENT

To become a Florida resident will require a change in driver’s licenses, car tags, voter’s registration, and other personal papers. The information below will help you with the transition.

Fort Myers Beach became officially incorporated in 1995. The Fort Myers Beach Town Council consists of five elected Council members and selects from its membership a Mayor and Vice Mayor. Members appoint a Town Manager. For more information, visit www. fortmyersbeachfl.gov.

Lee County Voter Registration, 2480 Thompson St., 3rd Floor; P.O. Box 2545, Fort Myers, FL 33902, 239533-8683, www.lee.vote Lee County Vehicle Registration & Drivers Licenses, 15680 Pine Ridge Rd., Fort Myers FL 33908, 239-5336000, www.dmvflorida.org/lee.shtml

Fishing Licenses Florida residents age 16 and older must obtain a saltwater fishing license to cast from shore or any pier or vessel not covered by its own license. (The Fort Myers Beach pier is licensed.) Freshwater fishing licenses are also required. Visit www. myfwc.com for more information on licenses and other size, bag, and season regulations.

Parking Permits Parking permits are available for Fort Myers Beach residents and business owners. You may purchase them from Town Hall at 2525 Estero Blvd. on Fort Myers Beach for $25. The permit is valid for one year.

The annual permit allows residents to park under the Matanzas Pass Bridge or at any of the town-owned beach access areas. It does not allow free parking at any of the beach parks.

Vehicles with residential parking permits cannot park free in shortterm or metered parking areas; residents are allowed to park in longterm parking areas.

BASE, 2525 Estero Blvd., 239-4635888, www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov

UTILITIES & SERVICES Trash Removal Trash, refuse, yard waste, and recycling may not be put out to the curb more than 24 hours before pickup. Regular household trash—40 pounds or less—gets picked up on Thursdays. Recycling and vegetation pick-up day is Thursday. Vegetation items must be placed in trash cans or bags or bundled with twine. Bags and bundles should be less than 5 feet long and no more than 40 pounds. Request a recycling bin and special pick-up of large items from Advanced Disposal Services.

Advanced Disposal Services, 239334-1224, www.advanceddisposal. com

F UN FACT: San Carlos

Island’s historic Dixie Fish Company building on Fisherman’s Wharf under the Matanzas Pass Sky Bridge was built in the late 1930s.

Local historians fought to preserve the Intracoastal Waterway landmark. It is the only of its kind still standing after more than 70 years of continuous operation.

In 2015, a new waterfront restaurant revived its spirit of seafood industry. fortmyersbeach.org | 65

Emergency Notifications To receive phone, text, or email alerts of hurricanes, boil water notices, and other emergencies, visit www. fortmyersbeachfl.gov and sign up.

The site also has an application form for post-emergency re-entry passes.

Electricity Florida Power & Light (FPL) provides power to the Fort Myers Beach area. New residents can get service to their home started online or by phone.

FPL, 239-334-7754, www.fpl.com

Water

1-888-795-0036

.

WWW.SUNCOMMUNITIES.COM

Get Your Beach On!

You can contact Beach Water 24 hours a day by phone or in person Monday-Friday during normal office hours.

Beach Water, 2525 Estero Blvd., 239463-9914 (after hours 866-578-2705), www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Island Banks BB&T, 6061 Estero Blvd., 239-4637711, www.bbt.com Wells Fargo Bank, 2815 Estero Blvd., 239-765-2210, www.wellsfargo.com

Rates starting at $ 93/night!*

Communication

*based on availability

stay at one of four charming resorts on fort myers beach & surrounding area • Mariner’s Boathouse Beach Resort • Beach Club I • Windward Passage Resort • Bonita Resort & Club

CALL TODAY - 866.469.8222 www.VRIResoRts.com

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Western Union (www.westernunion. com) services are available at local Publix and Walgreens stores. For Federal Express (www.fedex.com) packages, there are drop-off boxes at Walgreens stores.

U.S. Post Office (main), 200 Carolina Ave., 800-275-8777 U.S. Post Office (branch) 17264 San Carlos Blvd. #302, 239-466-8878 U.S. Post Office (branch) Villa Santini Plaza, 7205 Estero Blvd., 239-463-2373

CIVIC & COMMUNITY PHONES American Legion, 239-463-6591, www.post274.org Estero Island Historic Society, 239-463-0435, www. esteroislandhistoricsociety.org Fort Myers Beach Art Association, 239-463-3909, www. fortmyersbeachart.com Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, 239-463-6356, bch.leeschools.net Fort Myers Beach Lions, info@ fmblions.com, www.fmblions.com Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge #362, 239-466-6363, fmb362.com Fort Myers Beach Public Library, 239-765-8162, www.fmb.lib.fl.us Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club, 239-765-1417 Loyal Order of Moose, 239-463-7733, www.mooseintl.org

F UN FACT:

Fort Myers Beach’s first library opened in 1955. The following year it did away with its small membership fee to become Lee County’s first free public library.

GAVIN’S

Propane tanks filled (including R.V.s) Photo Credit: Fort Myers Beach Library

F UN FACT:

Most resorts provide Internet access for their guests. Fort Myers Beach Library (2755 Estero Blvd., 239-765-8162) offers free use of its Internet service.

Your Neighborhood Home Center With World Class Customer Service!

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Fort Myers 239-466-7777 16025 San Carlos Blvd Only at: Fort Myers, FL 33908 Cape Coral 239-945-6223 GAVIN’S 290 Nicholas Pkwy NW Cape Coral, FL 33991

Make Your Own Coupon!!!

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fortmyersbeach.org | 67

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory Accommodations: Bed & Breakfast Manatee Bay Inn 932 Third Street Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6906 Info@manateebayinn.com www.manateebayinn.com Mango Street Inn 126 Mango Street Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 233-8542 www.mangostreetinn.com Accommodations: Condominium Cane Palm Beach Condominium 600 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3222 management@canepalmbeach. com www.canepalmbeach.com Caper Beach Club 2810 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-1423 caper@caperbeach.com www.caperbeach.com Fairview Isles Condominium Assoc.

6655 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-9538 fairviewisles1@aol.com www.fairviewislescondos.com Gulf Breeze Condos 5577 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 699-6114 www.gulfbreezecondos.com Gulfview Manor Resort 6530 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (800) 606-4853 info@gulfviewmanor.com www.gulfviewmanor.com Kona Beach Club 478 Estero Blvd., #21 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (419) 332-2242 www.konabeachclub.net

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Marina Village at Snug Harbor 645 Old San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3949 info@marinavillage.cc www.marinavillage.cc

Dolphin Inn 6555 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6049 info@dolphininn.net www.dolphininn.net

Pointe South Condominiums 5000 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-4009 ptesouth@earthlink.net www.pointesouthcondo.com

Myerside at Sandy Beach 2870 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-0297 myerside@myerside.com www.myerside.com

Sandy Toes Place at Kona Beach Club 480 Estero Blvd., Unit 202 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 920-883-7133 konabeachcondo@gmail.com www.homeaway.com/3945280 Smugglers Cove Condo Assn.

5100 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-4128 sunnfun@smugglerscovecondo. com www.smugglerscovecondo.com Accommodations: Cottages, Villas & Inns Abaco Beach Villas 250 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-2611 abacobeach@aol.com www.fortmyersbeachvillas.com Anchor Inn 285 Virginia Ave. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-2630 jdsurfus@gmail.com www.flvacation.com Carousel Beach Inn 6230 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6131 reservations@carouselbeachinn. com www.carouselbeachinn.com PET FRIENDLY Cottages of Paradise Point 466 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-603-7732 info@cottagesofparadisepoint.com www.cottagesofparadisepoint.com

Hideaway Village 5607 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (877) 274-5767 www.hideawayfmb.com Holiday Court Bayfront Villas and Suites 925 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-2830 holidayvilla925@aol.com www.holiday-court.com Lighthouse Island Resort 1051 Fifth St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-9392 Reservations@ lighthouseislandresort.com www.lighthouseislandresort.com PET FRIENDLY Matanzas Inn Bayside Resort 414 Crescent St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-9258 www.matanzas.com PET FRIENDLY Myerside 145 School St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-765-0297 myerside@myerside.com www.myerside.com PET FRIENDLY Shipwreck Motel 237 Old San Carlos Blvd Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-4691 www.shipwrecktreasures.com Silver Sands Villas 1207 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-2755 Silver-sands@msn.com www.silversands-villas.com PET FRIENDLY

The Sea Gypsy Inn 1698 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239)765-0707 info@theseagypsyinn.com www.theseagypsyinn.com PET FRIENDLY Accommodations: Hotel Candlewood Suites-FM/Sanibel Gateway 9740 Commerce Center Court Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 210-7777 sales@ftmyerscandlewood.com www.ftmyerscandlewood.com Edison Beach House 830 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-1530 info@edisonbeachhouse.com www.edisonbeachhouse.com Hampton Inn & Suites 11281 Summerlin Square Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 437-8888 ftmyersgm@ih-corp.com www.hamptoninn3.hilton.com PET FRIENDLY Pierview Hotel and Suites 1160 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6158 gm@pierviewfmb.com www.pierviewhotelfmb.com Residence Inn, Fort Myers/Sanibel 20371 Summerlin Rd. Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 415-4150 gm.rswrs@jhmhotels.com www.marriott.com PET FRIENDLY Wyndham Garden Hotel of Ft Myers Beach 6890 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-5711 www.wyndham.com Accommodations: Resorts BEST WESTERN PLUS Beach Resort 684 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6000 info@bwbeachresort.com www.bwbeachresort.com

Caribbean Beach Club 7600 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6111 caribbeanbeachclub@comcast.net www.caribbeanbeachclub.net

Kahlua Beach Club 4950 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-5751 Kbeachclb@aol.com www.kahluabeachclub.com

DiamondHead Beach Resort 2000 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 844-253-7854 reservations@sunstream.com www.sunstream.com/ diamondhead

Lahaina Inn Resort 5580 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-4414 lahaina@cyberstreet.com www.lahainaresort.com

GullWing Beach Resort 6620 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 844-252-4805 reservations@sunstream.com www.sunstream.com/gullwing

Mariner’s Boathouse & Beach Resort 7630 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-8787 marinerboathouse@aol.com www.marinersboathouseresort.net

Lani Kai Beach Resort 1400 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3111 reservations@thelanikai.com www.lanikaiislandresort.com Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina 275 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6181 info@pinkshell.com www.pinkshell.com Pointe Estero Beach Resort 6640 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 844-247-9140 reservations@sunstream.com www.sunstream.com/pointeestero Sandpiper Gulf Resort 5550 Estero Blvd Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-5721 www.sandpipergulfresort.com The Neptune Resort 2310 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6141 www.neptuneinn.com Tip Top Isles Resort and Marina 17863 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-466-3393 tiptopislesram@yahoo.com www.tiptopisles.com Accommodations: Timeshare Bel Air Beach Club 780 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-7773 belairbeachclub@gmail.com www.bel-airbeachclub.com

Pink Shell Vacation Club 275 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6181 www.pinkshell.com/fort-myersbeach-florida-vacation-club Accommodations: Vacation Rentals and Homes Beach Accommodations, Inc. 1335 Santos Rd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-1998 sunny@beachaccommodations. com www.beachaccommodations.com PET FRIENDLY Beach Retreats FMB, Inc. 235 Mango St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 631-678-6373 beachretreatsfmb@gmail.com www.beachretreatsfmb.com PET FRIENDLY Bird of Paradise 2141 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (941) 626-3753 alicespalaces@mac.com Coldwell Banker Vacations 7205 Estero Blvd; Suite 27 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (800) 237-6285 chantal.bachar@nrtllc.com www.ftmyersbeachvacations.net Distinctive Beach Rentals 2801 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 898-7370 distinctivebeachrentals@gmail. com www.distinctivebeachrentals.com

Island Girl and Warm Sands 30 Gulf Beach Rd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (301) 904-9707 Island Vacations of Sanibel & Captiva 1101 Periwinkle Way, #108 Sanibel, FL 33957 (239) 472-7277 www.sanibelislandvacations.com iTrip Vacations Fort Myers Beach 7910 Summerlin Lakes Dr. Fort Myers, FL 33907 (800) 819-3537 www.itrip.net/ftmyersbeach Kathy Nesbit Vacations 7205 Estero Blvd., #707 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-4253 info@knvinc.com www.knvinc.com Local Island Getaway 1245 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, FL 33957 239-395-9688 www.localislandgetaway.com My Condo In Paradise 5100 Estero Blvd., #4B5 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (505) 990-3562 mycondoinparadise@gmail.com www.mycondoinparadise.com Southern Hospitality Waterfront Vacation Rentals 831 Lagoon Street Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 321-4788 richard@southernhospitalitywater frontvacationrentals.com www.southernhospita litywaterfrontvacationrent als.com Sun Palace Vacation Homes 1750 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (877) 224-2455 rentals@sunpalacevacations.net www.sunpalacevacationhomes. com PET FRIENDLY Todd & Mary’s Beach House 855 Locust St. Perrysburg, OH 43551 (419) 872-1231 todd-mary@perrysburglaw. com PET FRIENDLY Advertising, Marketing and PR Blue Ash Media 8315 State Rte. 722 Arcanun, OH 45304 (800) 832-4291 www.blueashmedia.com

EZtoUse.com 14051 Jetport Loop Fort Myers, FL 33913 (239) 768-2626 www.odiyellowpages.com Florida Advertising Services 3550 Work Dr. A-7 Fort Myers, FL 33916 (239) 939-3530 www.floridaadvertisingservices. com Lightmark Aerial Productions 9151 Butterfly Ct. Fort Myers, FL 33919 (419) 349-0027 www.lightmarkproductions. com Welcome Wagon 5830 Coral Ridge Dr., Suite 240 Coral Springs, FL 33076 239-580-7106 www.WelcomeWagon.com Airboat Rides & Everglades Tours Everglades Adventure 4765 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 405-2060 tours@evergladesadventure.com www.evergladesadventure.com Everglades Day Safari 17105 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 472-1559 gator@ecosafari.com www.ecosafari.com Lake Trafford Airboats & Alligators, Inc. 6001 Lake Trafford Rd. Immokalee, FL 34142 (239) 657-2214 www.laketrafford.com Airport Transportation Apple Airport Transportation 15501 Suite 6 Old McGregor Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 482-1200 info@appletransportation.com www.appletransportation.com Majestic Transportation 15501-5 Old McGregor Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 489-4473 info@majesticairportservice.com www.majesticairportservice.com Amusement and Water Parks Fort Myers Beach Community Pool 2600 Oak Street Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 436-5759 www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/110/ Fort-Myers-Beach-CommunityPool

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Sun Splash Family Waterpark 400 Santa Barbara Blvd.

Cape Coral, FL 33991 (239) 574-0558 X1985 www.sunsplashwaterpark.com

River District Alliance 1400 Jackson St. Fort Myers, FL 33901 855-732-3836 riverdistrictevents@gmail.com

Zoomers 17455 Summerlin Rd. Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 481-9666 www.zoomersamusementpark.com

Southwest Florida Symphony 8290 College Parkway, #103 Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 418-0996 info@swflso.org www.swflso.org

Apparel Connie’s Boateak 64 Nancy Lane Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (419) 367-2242 conniesboateak@yahoo.com Local Color FMB Inc. 1021B Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-9199 localcolorfmb@aol.com www.localcolorfmb.com Palmettos Apparel 7205 Estero Blvd #712 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-1515 palmettosapparel@aol.com www.palmettosapparel.com Sandal Factory 1035 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-1989 www.sandalfactory.com Sea Gypsy Treasures 1698 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-765-0707 info@theseagypsyinn.com www.theseagypsyinn.com Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel 1300 Estero Blvd., #101 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 330-3388 www.tunaskin.net Art & Culture Fort Myers Beach Art Association 3030 Shell Mound Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33932 (239) 463-3909 fmbaapublicity@gmail.com www.fortmyersbeachart.com Mee K Studio 1901-106 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 233-8694 meekstudio4@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ meekstudiofmb

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Awards & Trophy Engraver Crown Trophy of Cape Coral 1333 Lafayette Street Cape Coral, FL 33904 (239) 540-9905 sales@capecoraltrophy.com www.crowntrophy.com/store-123

Assisted Living

Fred’s Award World, Inc. 3512 Palm Beach Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33916 (239) 332-0363 www.fredsawardworld.net

Barrington Terrace 9731 Commerce Center Ct. Fort Myers, FL 33908 239-334-2500 www.bt-ftmyers.com

Trophy Case by the Beach 17195 San Carlos Blvd. #4 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-590-3087 www.4trophycase.com

Pacifica Senior Living, Ft. Myers Memory Care 9461 Healthpark Circle Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 437-5511 mktg.fortmyers@ pacificaseniorliving.com www.pacificaseniorliving.com

Baseball

Attractions & Entertainment Beach Bowl and Pelican’s Arcade 17651 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-482-5830 fmbbeachbowl@msn.com www.beachbowlandpelicans arcade.com Karaoke Kart 1000 Estero Blvd Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 994-1100 brayfromindy@msn.com www.karaoke-kart.com Seminole Casino 506 S First St. Immokalee, FL 34142 (239) 658-1313 www.seminoleimmokaleecasino. com Automotive Automotive Concepts 16340 San Carlos Blvd., Ste. 4 & 5 Fort Myers, FL 33908-3286 (239) 689-4366 wheelsdelray@gmail.com Sixt Rent A Car 13500 Intrepid Lane, 1st Floor Fort Myers , FL 33913 (239) 204-5781 www.sixt.com

Roy Hobbs Baseball 4300-100 Edison Ave. Fort Myers, FL 33916 330-923-3400 www.royhobbs.com Beverage Distributers JJ Taylor Distributing FL, Inc. 2040 Park 82 Dr. Fort Myers, FL 33905 (239) 267-1006 www.jjtaylor.com/florida Suncoast Beverage Sales 2996 Hanson St. Fort Myers, FL 33916 (239) 334-3520 X116 www.suncoastbeverage.com Bike & Scooter Rentals Fun-N-Sun Bike Rentals 9100 Lady Bug Court Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 728-7564 walleye68@comcast.net www.fun-n-sun-rentals.com Team Fat Bike 19170 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 233-8897 joe@teamfatbike.com www.teamfattirebike.com Marina & Boat Rentals Bay Water Exclusive Boat Club and Rentals 5124 Bonita Beach Road Bonita Springs, FL 34134 (239) 495-0455 derrick@bwboatclub.com www.baywaterboatrentals.com

Fish Tale Marina 7225 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3600 ftmarina@aol.com www.thefishtalemarina.com Freedom Boat Club 2500 Main St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 218-0181 www.freedomboatclub.com Moss Marina 450 Harbor Court Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-6677 info@mossmarina.com www.mossmarina.com Salty Sam’s Marina 2500 Main St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-7333 www.saltysamsmarina.com Snook Bight Marina 4765 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 756-4371 www.snookbightmarina.com Boating Services Stokes Marine 15955 Pine Ridge Road Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 489-3625 phil@stokesmarine.com www.stokesmarine.com Business Services 24 Hour Emergency Services 7465 Jacaranda Park Rd., Unit 204R Naples, FL 34109 (239) 777-3516 http://www.dryzoneinc.net Accent Business Products 6261 Arc Way Fort Myers, FL 33906 (239) 939-0077 www.accentbusinessproducts.com A-Economical B&B Income Tax Inc. 810-599-0534 www.aeconomical.shutterfly.com AFA/Enterprise Rentals 19003 San Carlos Blvd.

Ft Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-4900 AFA1977@aol.com Allstate Construction Roofing 28380 Old 41 Rd., Suite 4 Bonita Springs, FL 34135 (239) 317-2000 (866) 766-3669 tricia.c@acroof.net

Automated Shading Inc. 1040 Collier Center Way, Ste. 5 Naples, FL 34110 (239) 594-9595 www.automatedshading.com Business Solution Experts Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (941) 815-7915 adam@businesssolutionexperts. com www.businesssolutionexperts.com Coastline Cottage Home Watch LLC 15031 Punta Rassa Road, Unit 1204 Fort Myers , FL 33908 (239) 771-3125 cchomewatcher@gmail.com Coastal Innkeepers LLC 450 Old San Carlos Blvd., #4 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-0700 cassie@harbourhouseattheinn.com Costco 7171 Cypress Lake Drive Fort Myers, FL (239) 415-6006 www.costco.com FMB Floors & More 1801 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 470-0060 fmbfloors@gmail.com www.fmbfloors.com Home-Tech 6400 Techster Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33966 (800) 800-8356 www.home-tech.com Imperial Home Watch & Services 7530 Estero Blvd., #107 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 826-6806 steven@imperialhws.com www.imperialhws.com Jessica Hernstadt, Attorney at Law Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (305) 495-3333 jfhernstadt@aol.com J. Gucciardo Consulting Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 989-5169 john@jgucciardo.com Joshua Miller Roofing & Contracting 9160 Forum Corporate Pkwy., Ste. 350 Fort Myers, FL 33905 (239) 271-3951 joshuamillerroofing.office@gmail. com www.joshuamillerroofing.com

JPS - Jungwirth Property Services Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (715) 617-0696 jpsfmb@gmail.com Lee Courtney Enterprises 6206 S. Foster Ave. Tampa, FL 33611 (727) 397-7217 Marco Office Supply 220 Industrial Blvd.

Naples, FL 34145 (239) 775-7513 gina@marcoofficesupply.com www.marcoofficesupply.com Patriot Lending Services 14253 Powell Road Spring Hill, FL 34609 (239) 994-8897 kweeg@patriotlending.com www.patriotlending.com Paychex 3860 Colonial Blvd. #200 Fort Myers, FL 33966 (239) 470-7351 www.paychex.com Primerica Financial Services 8191 College Pkwy, Ste. 305 Fort Myers, FL 33919 239-432-9737 www.primerica.com R & W Gibson Promotional Products 9826 Gladiolus Bulb Loop Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 823-1093 gibsongraphics@comcast.net www.rwgibson.com Spalding Carpet Cleaners 27427 Elwood Dr. Bonita Springs, FL 34135 239-463-6668 fmbfl120@aol.com www.spaldingcarpetcleaners.com Sun National Title Co. 6231 Estero Boulevard, #8 Third Floor Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 334-3321 dennis@closewithsun.com www.closewithsun.com Wilkinson Title Agency, Inc. 11595 Kelly Rd., Suite 217 Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 454-1600 www.wilkinsontitleagency.com

Charitable & Not for Profit Organizations 7 Slot Social Club 161 Hibiscus Dr. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (513) 616-4822 mheil@7slotsocialclub.com American Cancer Society 4575 Via Royale, #110 Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 936-1113 www.cancer.org American Legion, Melvin Cowart Post 274 899 Buttonwood Drive Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6591 legionpost274@aol.com www.post274.org AMI Kids Southwest Florida 1190 Main St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-765-9696 southwestfl-bm@amikids.org www.amikids.org Dr. Piper Center for Social Services Inc. 2607 Dr. Ella Piper Way Fort Myers, FL 33916 239-332-5346 www.drpipercenter.org Estero Island Taxpayers Association PO Box 2502 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33932 (239) 529-8785 esteroislandta@gmail.com www.esteroislandta.com Florida Native Butterfly Society Inc. 1815 Fowler Street Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 690-2359 info@thebutterflyestates.com www. floridanativebutterflies.org Fort Myers Beach Elementary PTO 2751 Oak St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6356 www.bch.leeschools.net

Camps

Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Arts 7225 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3600 www.friendsoftheartsfmb.com

Sanibel Sea School 455 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, FL 33957 239-472-8585 info@sanibelseaschool.org www.sanibelseaschool.org

Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club/ Thrift Shop 11050 Summerlin Square Dr. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 850-9293 www.fortmyersbeachkiwanis.org

Fort Myers Beach Lions Foundation PO Box 5019 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 777-3370 www.fmblions.com Friends of Lovers Key Inc. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 777-4855 contact@friendsofloverskey.org www.friendsofloverskey.org Harry Chapin Food Bank 3760 Fowler St. Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 334-7007 www.harrychapinfoodbank.org Kiwanis Club of Fort Myers, Gateway to the Islands 16970-160 San Carlos Blvd #310 Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 218-5768 Make A Wish South Florida 3655 Bonita Beach Rd., #3 Bonita Springs, FL 34134 239-992-9474 www.sfla.wish.org Ronald McDonald House Charities 16100 Roserush Ct. Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 437-0202 www.rmhcswfl.org San Carlos Bay Sail & Power Squadron 16048 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 466-4040 BBehrens302@comcast.net www.scbps.com VFW 10097 17770 Pine Ridge Rd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 466-6400 Vfw10097@embarqmail.com www.vfwwebcom.org Church Beach Baptist Church 130 Connecticut St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-6452 office@beachbaptist.org www.beachbaptist.org Beach United Methodist Church 155 Bay Road Fort Myers Beach, FL 33932 (239) 463-9656 fmbumc@comcast.net www.beachunitedmethodist.org

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St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church 5601 Williams Drive Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239.463.5067 SREC@comcast.net www.saintraphaelschurch.org Cleaner & Laundry Molly Maid of Fort Myers 4458 Cleveland Ave. Fort Myers, FL 33901 239-418-0052 www.mollymaid.com Santiva Housekeeping 15670 McGregor Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 481-1313 Computer Repair & Service Analogy Consulting 17264 San Carlos Blvd., Unit 302-132 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-338-8670 info@analogyconsulting.com www.analogyconsulting.com Construction & Remodeling Absolute Best Inc. 7243 Emily Dr. Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 482-2225 www.absolutebest.com Advance Solar 2431 Crystal Drive Fort Myers, FL 33907 (239) 939-7446 www.advancesolar.com All Phase Electric Service of Florida Inc. 2340 Bruner Lane, Suite 100 Fort Myers, FL 33912 (239) 939-7093 www.allphase-electric.com Beach Boys AC 7890 Buccaneer Drive Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 224-4098 john.beachboys@gmail.com CFS Roofing Services 12120 Amedicus Lane Fort Myers, FL 33907 (239) 561-2600 www.cfsroofing.com Chris-Tel Construction 2534-A Edison Ave. Fort Myers, FL 33901 www.christelconstruction.com Haines Air Conditioning 3963 Bonita Beach Rd. Bonita Springs, FL 34133 (239) 992-1551 www.hainesac.com

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KH Construction LLC. 16970 San Carlos Blvd., Ste. 160152 Fort Myers, FL 33908 239-437-1639 khconstruction@comcast.net www.pacecontractor.com/home_ inspections_kh LCM Engineering, Inc. 5294 Summerlin Commons Way #1202 Fort Myers, FL 33907 (239) 590-0263 www.LCM.com Nease Inc. 1601 Jackson St. Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 334-0999 stevenease@comcast.net Page Mechanical Group, Inc. 4611 Cummins St. Fort Myers, FL 33905 239-707-7613 www.pagemech.com Print Shop Ink of FMB 1661 Estero Blvd., #3 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-7744 www.printshopfmb.com Randy’s Island Glass 17691 Summerlin Rd. Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 454-0050 www.randysislandglass.com Reflow Plumbing LLC. 123 Bay Mar Dr. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-839-2347 www.reflowplumbing.com Semmer Electric, Inc. 1130 Main St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-2588 semmerelectric@comcast.net www.semmerelectric.com Service Master Restorations 6451 Arc Way Fort Myers, FL 33966 (239) 732-7771 www.servicemasterrestorations. com Spalding Floodzone Restoration 342 Prather Dr. Fort Myers, FL 33919 239-258-2222 www.waterremovalfortmyers.com Storm Shield 19751 N. Tamiami Trail North Fort Myers, FL 33903 (239) 491-7002 www.stormshieldswfl.com

Sun Homes 17340 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 454-0027 www.suncommunities.com

Cape Charters 414 Crescent St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 549-5629 www.fishcapecharters.com

Titan Restoration Construction 2701 Vista Pkwy., Suite A-7 West Palm Beach, FL 33411 (239) 963-7574 www.titanrebuild.com

Captain Noah’s Fishing Charters 14341 Port Comfort Road Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 565-4747 noah@captainnoah.com www.captainnoah.com

Event Planning & Rentals Beachy Needs 1462 Xavier Ave. Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 440-7105 beachyneedsfla@gmail.com Caloosa Tent & Rental 10879 Metro Pkwy.

Fort Myers, FL 33966 (239) 694-5177 www.caloosatent.com Extraordinary Eventz PO Box 413 Matlacha, FL 33993 (239) 282-9526 www.extraordinaryeventz.com Kona Ice of South Central Ft. Myers 1509 Charmont Place Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 220-9889 ljohnson@kona-ice.com www.kona-ice.com Financial: Banking BB & T – Beach 6061 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-7711 www.bbt.com Iberiabank 7580 Winkler Rd. Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 481-2875 www.iberiabank.com PNC Bank 16740 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33908 239-437-4743 www.pncbank.com Sanibel Captiva Community Bank 15975 McGregor Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 210-7100 www.sancapbank.com

Captain Tony’s Fishing Adventures 18800 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 415-0515 info@capttonys.com www.capttonys.com Fish Southwest FL 8720 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-849-7137 www.fishsouthwestfl.com Paradise Charters 4765 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 247-8288 www.paradisechartersllc.com Funerals and Cremations Gallaher American Family Funeral Home 2701 Cleveland Ave., #100 Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 337-7311 www.GallaherAmericanFamily. com Golf & Country Clubs Crown Colony Golf & Country Club 8851 Crown Colony Blvd.

Ft Myers, FL 33908 (239) 590-9044 www.crowncolonygcc.com Kelly Greens Golf & Country Club 12300 Kelly Greens Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 466-9570 x204 www.kellygreens.com

Fishing

Pink Shell Yacht & Beach Club 275 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-8665 info@pinkshell.com www.pinkshell.com

C2 Inshore Charters 4937 Sorrento Ct. Cape Coral, FL 33904 (706) 263-4392 c2inshore@yahoo.com www.c2inshorecharters.com

Shell Point Golf Club 15000 Shell Point Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33008 (239) 433-9790 www.shellpointgolf.com

Grocery

Ice Cream

Key West Transportation

Gina’s Grocery Delivery Service 239-405-4638 ginasgrocerydelivery@wegoshop. com www.wegoshop.com/location59

Love Boat Ice Cream 16475 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 466-7707 www.loveboaticecream.com

Key West Express 1200 Main St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-5733 www.keywestexpress.net

Hardware & Lumber

Royal Scoop 2307 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 314-5379 Royalscoop@ymail.com www.royalscoop.com

Liquor & Tobacco Store

Gavin’s Ace Hardware 16025 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 466-7777 www.shopatace.com The Goodz Inc. 1741 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-765-8900 www.goodzfmb.com Healthcare Bennett Chiropractic & Wellness Center 7130 Estero Blvd., Suite 1 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-1640 www.beachchiropractor.com Be Resilient, LLC P.O. Box 2983 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33932 (616) 439-1444 kathleen@beresilient.us www.beresilient.us Chance/Teachout Chiropractic & Wellness Center PA 16731 McGregor Blvd., Ste. 111 Fort Myers , FL 33908 (239) 466-5656 chancechirowellness@gmail.com www.afortmyerschiropractor.com Estero Island Medical Care 7205 Estero Blvd., Suite 733 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-5741 Interim Health Care of Charlotte County 3390 Tamiami Trail, Suite 203 Port Charlotte, FL 33952 (941) 787-5636 www.interimhealthcare.com/ charlottecountyfl Smiles With Care 7130-A Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-5433 NBouchard.DDS.MHP@gmail. com www.smileswithcaredentistry.com Winn Hearing Healthcare & Audiology 16120 San Carlos Blvd., #10A Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 270-5911 www.fortmyershearingaid.com

Insurance Brown & Brown of Florida, Inc. 3820 Colonial Blvd., #200 Fort Myers, FL 33966 (239) 278-0278 www.bbinsurance.com Ft. Myers Beach Insurance Brokerage 1661 Estero Blvd., Ste. 16 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 233-8264 www.FMBIB.com State Insurance USA 4450 Camino Real Way Fort Myers, FL 33966 (239) 567-9992 blake@stateinsuranceusa.com www.stateinsuranceusa.com Internet & Telecommunications Code and Dev 9990 Coconut Road Bonita Springs, FL 34135 (772) 679-9814 mike@codeanddev.com www.codeanddev.com

The Cigar Hut 1172 Estero Blvd., Ste 103 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-5550 www.facebook.com/The-Cigar-Hut Miniature Golf Jungle Golf 17710 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 466-9797 junglegolf@me.com www.junglegolfminigolf.com Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf 17450 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 466-5855 fmbinfo@smugglersgolf.com www.smugglersgolf.com Mobile Home & RV Park & Service Gulfwaters RV Resort 11301 Summerlin Sq. Dr. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 437-5888 www.gulfwatersrv.com Indian Creek Park 17340 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 466-6060 www.4indiancreek.com

MSW Interactive Designs, LLC 1636 Cherokee Rd. Lake Ozark, MO 65049 (239) 221-6373 (877) 211-5492 sandy@mswinteractivedesigns.com www.mswinteractivedesigns.com

San Carlos RV Park 18701 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3133 mail@sancarlosrv.com www.sancarlosrv.com

Vector & Ink, Tourism Marketing 211 Pioneer Drive Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 www.vectorandink.com

Siesta Bay RV Resort 19333 Summerlin Rd. Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 466-8988 www.sunrvresorts.com/siesta_bay

Investments Edward Jones & Co. 7205 Estero Blvd., Ste. 726 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-0164 www.edwardjones.com The Mosaic Group at Morgan Stanley 512 Randy Lane Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 598-7660 jennifer.walker@morganstanley.com www.fa.morganstanley.com/ themosaicgroup

Museums Edison & Ford Winter Estates 2350 McGregor Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 334-7419 www.edisonfordwinterestates.org Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center 718 Fisherman’s Wharf Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-8101 info@ostegobay.org www.ostegobay.org

The Mound House 2523 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-0865 www.moundhouse.org Music Times Square Merchant & Event Association 1001 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 872-4221 Newspaper and Magazines Florida Weekly 4300 Ford St Ext #106 Fort Myers, FL 33916 (239) 333-2135 www.floridaweekly.com Observer / Beach Bulletin 19260 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-0400 www.fortmyersbeachtalk.com Island Sand Paper 1661 Estero Blvd., #4A Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239)-463-4461 www.fortmyersbeach.news Must Do Visitor Guides Siesta Publications, Inc. PO Box 2673 Sarasota, FL 34230 (941)-400-5377 www.mustdo.com Sun Bay Paper 17200 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 267-4000 production@sunbaypaper.com www.sunbaypaper.com Sunny Day Guide 800 Seahawk Cir., #106 Virginia Beach, VA 23452 (800) 786-6932 www.sunnydayguide.com Travel Host Southwest Florida 4824 SW 2nd Place Cape Coral, FL 33914 (239) 810-9333 www.travelhost.com Parks & Recreation Bay Oaks Recreation Center 2731 Oak St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-4222 http://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/ Newton Park 4650 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 3931 (239) 765-0865 http://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/

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Pest Control A Better Bugman LLC 7212 Emily Dr. Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 454-2847 www.abetterbugman.com

Ocean Avenues Publishing, Inc. 14841 Lake Olive Dr. Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 470-6277 oceanaves@comcast.net www.fortmyersbeachfloridamap. com

Daryck Muckle, Legacy International Realty 12072 Terraverde Court, #8 Fort Myers, FL 33908 (651) 592-5983 mucklerealty@gmail.com www.mucklerealty.com

McCall Service Inc. 10211 East Columbus Drive Tampa, FL 33619 (813) 689-2183 (800) 342-6948 www.mccallservice.com

River Weekly News 1640 Periwinkle Way, Ste. 2 Sanibel, FL 33957 (239) 395-1213 Press@islandsunnews.com www.islandsunnews.com

Fort Myers Beach Realty 2801-A Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-2661 www.FtMyersBeachRealEstate.com

Termite & Pest Control Inc. 1221 SW 32nd Terrace Cape Coral, FL 33914 (239) 900-7378 termite.pest@yahoo.com www.termitepci.com

Southwest Florida Distributing & Publishing 1945 Ortiz Ave Fort Myers, FL 33905 (2239) 337-0999 www.swflorida.travel

Grandview at Bay Beach - London Bay Homes 4530 Bay Beach Lane Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 307-0211 teresa@grandviewbaybeach.com www.londonbay.com

Welcome Guide Maps 4940 72nd Ave N., Suite 200 Pinellas Park, FL 33781 (727) 521-6277 mail@welcomeguide-map.com www.southwestflorida. welcomeguide-map.com

Island Life Realty 1133 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239 314-LIFE billpilger@gmail.com www.islandlifefmb.com

Pet Care & Veterinarian Animal Clinic at Kelly Crossing 16120 San Carlos Blvd., Ste. 11 Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 985-8500 kelly.clinic@ackc.comcastbiz.net www.ackc.net Pet Supplies Plus 15880 San Carlos Blvd., Suite 190 Fort Myers , FL 33908 (239) 208-3151 gary@psp4004.com www.petsuppliesplus.com Police Lee County Sherriff ’s Office 14750 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy.

Fort Myers, FL 33912 (239) 477-1010 www.sheriffleefl.org Property Management & Vacation Rental Companies 72 Residential 4770 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-4944 www.72residential.com RAL Resort Property Mgmt. Inc. 17810 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 481-9580 www.ralresorts.com Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals 1698 Estero Blvd.

Ft. Myers Beach, FLL 33931 239-765-0707 info@theseagypsyinn.com Publishing & Distributing Beaches and Keys Magazine PO Box 2722 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33932 (239) 841-2095 mb@beachesandkeys.com www.beachesandkeys.com

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Realtors Association Royal Palm Coast Realtor Association 2840 Winker Ave. Fort Myers, FL 33916 (239) 936-3537 www.swflrealtors.com Real Estate Commercial Premier Plus Realty Joe Orlandini Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-537-1333 www.fmbjoe.com http://www.premiereplusrealty. com/agents/603343118/JoeOrlandini/ Real Estate, Residential Alyce Hsueh – Lahaina Real Estate 6035 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (917) 513-1668 alyceh88@gmail.com www.fortmyersbeachalyce.com Carl H. Endress, SellState on the Beach 7128-32 Estero Blvd., Unit C Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 826-1059 carlonfmb@msn.com CENTURY 21 TriPower Realty 2001 Estero Blvd Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3400 Judy@c21tripower.com www.tripowervacationrentals. com

Sandy Lepley, Century 21 Realty 5689 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-233-4331 www.sandylepley.com Scott Meadows, Premiere Plus Realty 9366 Via Piazza Court Fort Myers, FL 33905 (239) 220-1157 scottmeadows3@gmail.com www.todaysflrealestate.com Sell My Time Share Now, LLC 300 Constitution Ave., Box 10 Portsmouth, NH 03801 (603) 516-0200 . (877) 815-4227 zachary.silk@sellmytimesharenow. com www.sellmytimesharenow.com/ fort-myers-beach-timeshares Susan Betts –SellState on the Beach 7128-32 Estero Blvd., Unit C Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 938-5432 susan_betts@yahoo.com www.susanbetts.com Sunstream Realty 6231 Estero Boulevard Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-4111 www.sunstreamrealty.com Swanbeck Realty Group 2450 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 292-6284 tom@teamswanbeck.com www.teamswanbeck.com

The Closers Team of Premier Florida Realty 9726 Commerce Center Court, Unit C Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 848-6454, (239) 218-8787 info@swflclosers.com www.swflclosers.com Restaurant Bayfront Bistro 4761 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3663 info@bayfrontbistro.com www.bayfrontbistro.com Bongo’s Beach Bar & Grill at Pink Shell 275 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-8683 www.pinkshell.com Cabana’s Beach Bar & Grill at Diamondhead 2000 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-7654 https://www.diamondheadfl.com/ dining Caribbean Flair International Grill Fort Myers, FL 33901 (941) 830-5934 rupertpowell5655@gmail.com Castaway’s Bar and Grill 7205 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-4644 www.castawaysfmb.com Charley’s Boathouse Grill 6241 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-4800 Manager@boathousegrill.net www.boathousegrill.net Chloe’s 2000 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-0595 www.sunstream.com Dixie Fish Co. 714 Fisherman’s Wharf Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-233-8837 www.dixiefishfmb.com Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille 708 Fisherman’s Wharf Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-9660 www.docfordsfortmyersbeach.com

Edelweiss Burger 1365 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 233-8305 www.edelweissburger.com Fish-Tale Waterfront Dining 7225 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 747-6500 info@fishtaledining.com www.fishtaledining.com Flippers on the Bay at Lovers Key 8771 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-1040 www.flippersotb.com PET FRIENDLY Fresh Catch Bistro 3040 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6130 junkanoo3040@aol.com www.freshcatchbistro.com Island View Restaurant at Lani Kai 1400 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3111 www.islandviewfmb.com Jack’s Farm to Fork at Pink Shell 275 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-8615 www.pinkshell.com/jacks Junkanoo Restaurant and Beach Bar 3040 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-6139 junkanoo3040@aol.com www.junkanooonthebeach.com La Ola Restaurant 1035 Estero Blvd., Unit #3 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-765-2222 www.facebook.com/ LaOlaSurfsideRestaurant PET FRIENDLY Lighthouse Tiki Bar & Grill 1051 5th Avenue Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-9392 ext. 355 fmbtiki@hotmail.com www.lighthouseislandresort.com Matanzas Restaurant on the Bay 414 Crescent St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3838 www.matanzasonthebay.com MoJoe’s Coffee Bar 1740 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 314-5575 mojoescoffeebar@gmail.com www.MoJoesCoffeeBar.com

Nauti Parrot Dock Bar 19001 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 314-5667 NautiParrot@gmail.com www.nautiparrotdockbar.com Nervous Nellie’s 1131 First St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-8077 www.nervousnellies.net PET FRIENDLY Original Shrimp Dock Bar & Grill 2200 Main Street Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3043 david@saltysams.com www.originalshrimpdock.com Parrot Key Caribbean Grill 2500 Main St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3257 parrotkey2500@gmail.com www.myparrotkey.com/home PET FRIENDLY Perkins Restaurant and Bakery 11410 Summerlin Square Drive Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 466-2800 1139@prkmc.com www.stores.perkinsrestaurants.com Pete’s Time Out 1005 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-5900 www.petestimeout.com PET FRIENDLY Pierside Grill & Famous Blowfish Bar 1000 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-7800 www.piersidegrill.com Pinchers Beach Bar & Grill 6890 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-2909 info@pinchersusa.com www.pinchersusa.com Pinchers Crab Shack of Ft Myers Beach 18100 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 415-8973 info@pinchersusa.com www.pinchersusa.com Plaka Restaurant 1001 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-4707 gcstavros@hotmail.com www.facebook.com/ PlakaGreekRestaurant

Rib City Grill 11561 Majestic Blvd.

Ft Myers, FL 33908 (239) 454-0454 www.ribcity.com Salty Crab Bar & Grill 1154 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 233-8224 saltycrabbarandgrill@ beachsidehospitalitygroup.com www.saltycrabbarandgrill.com Shark Bar & Grill 17979 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 313-6012 sharkbarfmb@gmail.com www.facebook.com/sharkbarfmb Shuckers at the Gulfshore 1250 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-5440 Manager@gulfshoregrill.com Skye’s Mexican & More 7205 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 247-2457 www.skyesfortmyersbeach.com Smokin’ Oyster Brewery 340 Old San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3474 sob4fun@comcast.net www.smokinoyster.com South Beach Grille 7205 Estero Blvd #729 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-7770 southbeachgrille@comcast.net www.southbeachgrillefmb.com Sundeck at the Lani Kai 1400 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3111 reservations@thelanikai.com www.lanikaiislandresort.com Sunset Beach Tropical Grill 1028 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-1028 sunsetbeachgrill@gmail.com www.sunsetbeachtropicalgrill.com The Beached Whale 1249 Estero Blvd Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-5505 www.thebeachedwhale.com The Dog House 1207 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-940-1043 thedoghousefmb@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ thedoghousefmb PET FRIENDLY

The Sandbar & Grille 7205 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-5544 www.facebook.com/ TheSandbarandGrille Truly Scrumptious 7205 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-2200 www.trulyscrumptiousfmb.com Tuckaway Bagel and Wafel Café 1740 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33931 (239) 463-5398 tuckawaycoffeefmb@gmail.com www.tuckawaycoffeefmb.com PET FRIENDLY Yucatan Beach Stand 250 Old San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 333-4386 www.yucatanbeachstand.com PET FRIENDLY Retail Dancin Fool Arts 1446 Dubonnet Ct. Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 482-5840 dancinfoolarts@gmail.com Island Jewel 7205 Estero Blvd., Suite # 730 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-0500 theislandjewel@yahoo.com Miromar Outlets 10801 Corkscrew Rd., Suite 305 Estero, FL 33928 239-948-3766 www.miromaroutlets.com Miss Olivia’s Line 11060 S State Hwy 83 Franktown, CO 80116 (262) 623-0653 missoliviasline@gmail.com www.missoliviaslineglass.com Periwinkle Place 2075 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, FL 33957 (239) 395-1914 www.periwinkleplace.com Salty Dog Gallery & Gifts 1901 Estero Blvd., #103 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-463-9900 saltydoggallery@hotmail.com www.saltydoggallery.com Sanibel Outlets 20350 Summerlin Rd., #4145 Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 454-1974 http://www.sanibeloutlets.com

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Santini Marina Plaza 7205 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3600 ftmarina@aol.com www.fortmyersbeachstorage.com Sun Harvest Citrus 14601 Six Mile Cypress Parkway Fort Myers, FL 33912 800-743-1480 info@SunHarvestCitrus.com www.sunharvestcitrus.com Times Square Tattoo 959 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-9599 mark@deift.net Toe-Tality Treasures 10091 McGregor Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 334-7892 toetalitytreasures@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ ToeTalityTreasures Tropical Jewelry 401 Old San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 224-4085 tropicaljewelryfmb@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ TropicalJewelryFMB Vivie Boutique 4148 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 223-4022 abbey@vivieboutique.com www.vivieboutique.com Walmart #4063 17105 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-340-7074 www.walmart.com Retirement Community Oasis Senior Advisors Ginger Martin 24870 Burnt Pine Drive Bonita Springs, FL 34134 (239) 910-6138 blondie-ging@outlook.com oasissenioradvisors.com Shell Point Retirement Community 15101 Shell Point Boulevard Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 466-1131 info@shellpoint.org www.shellpoint.org Schools Florida Gulf Coast University 10501 FGCU Blvd S. Fort Myers, FL 33965 (239) 590-1037 www.fgcu.edu

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Seafood Market Erickson & Jensen Seafood Packer 1100 Shrimp Boat Lane Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-4050 ericksonandjensen@gmail.com Trico Shrimp Co. 1300 Main St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-8788 Tricogg@aol.com Self-Storage Safe-T-Storage 17501 Pine Ridge Rd. Fort Myers, FL 33908 (239) 466-8181 SafeTstorage@comcast.net www.safetstorage.com Santini Marina Storage 7205 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3600 www.fortmyersbeachstorage.com Sightseeing Cruises All Water Excursions 5001 Coconut Point Road Bonita Springs, FL 34134 (239) 594-0213 www.allwaterexcursions.com Beach Buddy Tours Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 895-8868 capt.john@beachbuddytours.com www.beachbuddytours.com Captain Bubby’s island Tours PO Box 1835 Sanibel, FL 33957 239-245-7383 captainbubbys@gmail.com www.captainbubbys.com Captiva Cruises 11401 Andy Rosse Lane Captiva, FL 33924 (239) 472-5300 Info@Captivacruises.com www.captivacruises.com Estero Bay Express Dolphin Tours 7225 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-3600 ftmarina@aol.com www.esterobayexpress.com Good Time Charters 4765 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 405-2060 Tours@goodtimecharter.com www.goodtimecharter.com

Island Time Dolphin and Shelling Cruises 18400 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 898-6155 www.islandtimecruise.com Manatee Sightseeing Tours 107 Newport Cay Naples, FL 34114 (239) 642-8818 www.see-manatees.com Pontoon Boat Tours 18850 San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 462-8589 pontoonboattours@outlook.com www.pontoonboattours.com Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise 2500 Main Street Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-7272 www.floridapiratecruise.com Sea Dog Eco Tours 414 Crescent St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (231) 335-7278 tours@seadogpaddle.com www.seadogecotours.com Southwest Florida Dolphin & Nature Cruises 12941 Cherrydale Court Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 470-1472 swflcruises@gmail.com www.swflcruises.com Tarpon Bay Explorers 900 Tarpon Bay Rd. Sanibel Island, FL 33957 (239) 472-8900 www.tarponbayexplorers.com Spa, Massage, Salon

Life Vantage Elisabeth Sussman Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-240-1947 pathwaytovitality@gmail.com Hot Head’s on the Beach 7225 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 239-765-1212 hothead793@hotmail.com Larry Witzleben CPT,LMT 6710 Winkler Rd. Ste. 2 Fort Myers, FL 33919 (407) 595-4035 www.larrywitzleben.com Theater and Movies Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre 1380 Colonial Blvd.

Fort Myers, FL 33907 (239) 278-4422 www.broadwaypalm.com FMB Theater 6425 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-3333 www.fmbtheater.com Yesteryear Entertainment 107 McKinley Ave. Lehigh Acres, , FL 33936 (239) 810-4587 jgn56bklyn@yahoo.com www.yesteryearentertainment. weebly.com Tourism Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau 2201 Second St., Suite 600 Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 338-3500 www.fortmyers-sanibel.com Travel Agency

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery & Med Spa of Naples 3699 Airport Pulling Road North Naples, FL 34105 (239) 262-5662 www.drhasen.com

All Aboard Travel 12530 World Plaza Lane, #1 Fort Myers, FL 33907 (239) 274-9999 (800) 741-1770 epapley@allaboardtravel.com www.allaboardtravel.com

Aquagene Spa 275 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-8648 aquagenespa@pinkshell.com www.pinkshell.com

Cruise Planners 3250 Bonita Beach Road #205-406 Bonita Springs, FL 34134 (239) 908-4006 (888) 837-4313 richard.oconnell@cruiseplanners. com www.outtoseacruiseplanners.com

Haven Hair Studio 16120 San Carlos Blvd., #9 Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 437-6001 barbarajp1959@gmail.com www.facebook.com/HAVENHAIR-Studio

Travelscapes by Land and Sea 60 Pedro Ct. Fort Myers, FL 33912 (239) 322-4032 www.travelscapesbylandandsea. nexion.net

Utilities Advanced Disposal 17101 Pine Ridge Rd. SW Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 344-1224 www.advanceddisposal.com/ florida Florida Power & Light Co. 1813 Lee St. Fort Myers, FL 33901 (239) 334-7754 www.fpl.com

Ranalli Parasail 4530 Match Pointe Lane Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 565-5700 ranalliparasail@gmail.com www.ranalliparasail.com Sky High Jet Packs and Flyboards 17590 East St. North Fort Myers, FL 33917 239-699-2487 skyhighjetpacks@gmail.com www.skyhighjetpacks.com

Watersports

Yacht Services

Adventure Water Sports Inc. 1160 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 849-6342 www.adventure-watersports.com

Diversified Yacht Services, Inc. 751 Fisherman’s Wharf Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-8700 www.dysinc.com

Compliments of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce For more information please visit our website:

www.fortmyersbeach.org

All Island Watersports 61 Avenue C Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-1284 labo1998@yahoo.com Crazy Woman Kayaks 7225 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 220-0525 www.crazywomankayaks.com Estero Island Parasail 6890 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 844-FLY-PARA www.esteroislandparasail.com Fort Myers Beach Sea and Sun Rentals 645 Old San Carlos Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 314-5631 www.ftmyersbeachseaandsun.com Holiday Water Sports, Ft Myers Beach 200 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-4386 www.holidaywatersportsfmb.com Kirby’s School of Wake 16991 FL-31 Fort Myers, FL 33905 (573) 694-0640 www.kirbysschoolofwake.com Mid-Island Watersports, Inc. 5550 and 6890 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-0965 www.midislandwatersports.com Paradise Parasail 1160 Estero Blvd.

Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 463-7272 captneilfl@yahoo.com www.paradiseparasail.com

Photo Credit: Brent Jesperson

fortmyersbeach.org | 77

Trolley Stop

Ft. Myers Beach Post Office

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FMB Town FMB Chamber of Commerce FMB Chamber of Commerce

Maintained Beach Accesses Access #

1054 5th Street, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931

239-454-7500

www.fortmyersbeach.org

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Street

11..................Flamingo 12.....................Gulf 13....................Lanark 14..................Aberdeen 15....................Sterling 16....................Dakota 17.................Strandview 18...................Gulfview 19....................Bayview 20....................Coconut 21....................Hercules 22.................Connecticut 23....................Seaview

Access #

Street

24...................Pompano 25.................Gulf Beach 26.....................Chapel 27.....................Mango 28.....................Delmar 30......................Palm 31....................Miramar 32.....................Ave. E 33......................Alva 34.....................Ave. C 35.....................Ave. A 36.....................Canal

Mound House

Fort Myers Beach

Gulf of Mexico fortmyersbeach.org |

79

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Four Four FourWheels Wheels Wheels

THE ONLY THE THE ONLY ONLY YOU’LL NEED TO THE YOU’LL YOU’LL NEED NEED TO TO THE THE

Beach Beach Beach

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on’ton’t leton’t the stress of traffic or cost parking taketake the paradise out out of out your onday let let the the stress stress of traffic of traffic or cost orofcost of parking of parking take the the paradise paradise of your ofday your day on on beautiful FortFort Myers Beach. beautiful beautiful Fort Myers Myers Beach.

Beach.

LeeTran’s newnew Beach ParkPark &Park Ride, on on theon corner of Pine Road and LeeTran’s LeeTran’s new Beach Beach & Ride, & located Ride, located located the the corner corner of Pine ofRidge Pine Ridge Ridge Road Road andand Summerlin Square Drive, provides the the perfect place toplace park letand LeeTran handle the the stress Summerlin Summerlin Square Square Drive, Drive, provides provides the perfect perfect place to park toand park and let LeeTran let LeeTran handle handle the stress stress of beach and parking.

ParkPark for freefor and payand only 75only cents ride, for an all-day of beach of traffic beach traffic traffic and and parking. parking.

Park for free free and pay pay only 75 cents 75acents a ride, a$2.00 ride, $2.00 $2.00 for for an all-day an all-day pass, orpass, $4.00 a 3 for pass, topass, let clean, safe, comfortable trolleys taketake you to you pass, or $4.00 or for $4.00 for aday 3 aday 3 day pass, to LeeTran’s let to LeeTran’s let LeeTran’s clean, clean, safe, safe, comfortable comfortable trolleys trolleys take you to to the the beach!

Already on the beach?

HopHop onHop the trolley to explore all the shopping, dining andandand the beach! beach!

Already Already on the on the beach? beach? on the on the trolley trolley to explore to explore all the all the shopping, shopping, dining dining entertainment FortFort Myers Beach has to offer. entertainment entertainment Fort Myers Myers Beach Beach has has to offer. to offer.

LeeTran Cares, let our expert, friendly drivers do all heavy lifting whether it’s quick LeeTran LeeTran Cares, Cares, let our let our expert, expert, friendly friendly drivers drivers do the all do the all the heavy heavy lifting lifting whether whether it’s quick it’strips quick trips trips or leisurely exploration of the beautiful island!

From Bowditch ParkPark atPark the north end of end the or leisurely or leisurely exploration exploration of the of the beautiful beautiful island! island!

From From Bowditch Bowditch at the at the north north end of the of the island to Lovers KeyKey State Park atPark the south end, LeeTran’s trolleys make itmake easy to enjoy island island to Lovers to Lovers Key State State Park at the at the south south end, end, LeeTran’s LeeTran’s trolleys trolleys make it easy it easy to enjoy toyour enjoy your your roadroad toroad paradise. to paradise. to paradise.

For maps and schedules, visitvisit www.rideleetran.com | 239-LEE-TRAN (533-8726) For maps For maps and and schedules, schedules, visit www.rideleetran.com www.rideleetran.com | 239-LEE-TRAN | 239-LEE-TRAN (533-8726) (533-8726)