Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island is a friendly,
lively little beach town that’s a favorite with families, young folks, and with the young-at-heart.
It greets people coming over the sky bridge at the north end of the island with a spectacular view.
The Gulf of Mexico shimmers beyond the islands, the horizon splashed with the reds and yellows of parasails.
Traffic, however, can be daunting along Estero Boulevard, the one main route that runs the length of the island,
so many choose to travel by bicycle, foot, or public trolleys.
Fort Myers Beach Pier
Fort Myers Beach Central is that Time Square, just to the right over the sky bridge,
where shops and restaurants surround a village square at the base of the Fort Myers Beach Pier. The pier, which reaches
about 600 feet into the gulf, is always abuzz with fishermen, loungers, and spectators.
The land’s end of the pier is one of the most popular spots on the island. Known as the
world’s safest beach for its shallow water and lack of undertow, Fort Myers Beach’s shores
and waters are usually bustling. At the pier, sun-worshippers young and old, toddler playing
in the surf or the nearby Lynn Hall Memorial Park playground, and young people strutting,
sunbathing and eyeing each other create a constant flow on the sand.
Cultural and Environmental Learning Center
Overlooking the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve,
the Fort Myers Beach
Cultural and Environmental Learning Center occupies a 3 acre Calusa Indian shell mound
complex of national archaeological significance. The historic building housing the
museum and cultural center is the oldest residential structure on Estero Island.
Known locally as"The Mound House," the building served as the post office for Estero
Island residents and fisherfolk from the surrounding bay, and was once occupied by
members of the Koreshan Unity. Trees visible in 1911 photographs of the site are still
standing today.
Shrimp Festival
Fort Myers Beach is known for several renowned annual events,
including its springtime Shrimp Festival celebrating the island’s historical pink gold
industry, high-powered Offshore Powerboat Races, and sand-sculpting contest draws artists
nationally, which create amazing sculptures on the beach. The Beach also has a fledgling film
festival, which takes place in the winter and spring.