Places to traverse

A 4 day tour of Florida
from our Southeastern issue,
Spring 2012.

	Lighthouse Beach on Sanibel Island includes its iconic focal point, a lighthouse built in 1884.

Fort Myers and Sanibel Island stand as exotic southwest Florida places to traverse.

White sand beaches with subtropical wildlife and lush foliage can be found here along with the heritage and homes of famed Americans named Edison and Ford.

Day One

Stop in at Edison & Ford Winter Estates, the Fort Myers winter homes for inventor Thomas Edison and automobile industrialist Henry Ford.

Take a 90-minute guided tour of Edison’s 14-acre riverfront estate, laboratory and experimental gardens. The three-acre winter home of Ford, nicknamed Mangoes, features a display of Ford vehicles dating to 1914. Consider the possibility of a river cruise in a replica of Edison’s electric launch, The Reliance.

After lunch, Babcock Wilderness Adventures can take your group on a 90-minute swamp buggy eco-tour with a trained naturalist through Telegraph Cypress Swamp. Look for cougars, alligators, snakes and birds along with natural fauna. 

Before dinner, stop in at the 50,000-square-foot Shell Factory and Nature Park, one of the largest collections of shells, fossils, corals, jewelry, pearls and resort wear anywhere. 

Both attractions are located just north of Fort Myers.

Day Two

Florida is known for citrus fruit, so squeeze in a little time south of Fort Myers to visit Sun Harvest Citrus, whose roots date to 1940 in Vero Beach along the Indian River. The Fort Myers retail store and packinghouse opened in 1990, when founder Robert Edsall Sr.’s granddaughter, Sandy McKenzie, decided to offer the Edsall Groves’ Indian River citrus to the public.

Visit Art of the Olympians Museum and Gallery on the waterfront in historic Fort Myers’ River District. The Art of the Olympians Al Oerter Center for Excellence is a popular destination for art lovers, sports enthusiasts and people of all ages. 

Oerter, a four-time Olympic gold medalist discus thrower, envisioned an arena that would be home to physical, educational and artistic excellence. The museum and gallery feature the art of celebrated U.S. Olympians such as ice skater Peggy Fleming, javelin thrower Ronald Bradstock and sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner.

Next, check out the diverse wildlife along the Caloosahatchee River, including waterfowl, manatees and dolphins, along with various lush plants. J.C. Cruises offers a daytime cruise with narration aboard its triple-decker paddle-wheeler.

Then, stay downtown with Ft. Myers’ River District, known for its restaurants with outside cafe seating, specialty shops and art galleries.

Day Three

After breakfast, head to Sanibel Island for a 90-minute tram tour of J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, located on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of Mexico. 

The refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is world famous for its spectacular migratory bird populations and offers kayaking.

Next on your visit to Sanibel, head to Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum and its display of shells from around the world with a focus on southwest Florida. 

In the afternoon, stroll the shell-laden beaches of Sanibel Island at Lighthouse Beach. The lighthouse, built in 1884, makes a nice backdrop for group photos.

Have dinner at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. Celebrating its 18th season in Fort Myers, its facility includes a 448-seat dinner theatre, the 98-seat black-box theater The Off Broadway Palm Theatre, the 120-seat dining room Cafe Cabaret and The Art Cafe, a 30-seat space off the main lobby.

Day Four

Get away to Key West for the day aboard Key West Express, departing from Fort Myers Beach. Climb aboard the high-speed ferry before spending the day touring the Florida Keys and returning to Fort Myers Beach.

Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau
(800) 237-6444
(239) 338-3500
http://fortmyers-sanibel.com

Offer your Florida itineraries to the editor.
Mail: 2465 112th Ave.
Holland, MI 49424
Fax: (616) 393-0085
Phone: 1-800-767-3489 between 8am - 5pm, EST.