Fort Myers Definitely Helped Florida Earn its Nickname "The Sunshine State" 

The city of Fort Myers has had a reputation since 1886 when it was first incorporated. It became the first nationally-known winter resort in 1898 with the building of the Royal Palm Hotel. Fort Myers also features a variety of universities for higher education such as Edison University, Hodges University and Florida Gulf Coast University, among others. Many visit the area while also visiting family members enrolled in the first-class universities.      

One great site you don't want to miss in Fort Myers is the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium, settled on 105 unspoiled acres of land. Calusa incorporates up-close and personal animal exhibits, along with guided hikes through its numerous nature trails, making it a regular go-to destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Strolling through the Museum within Calusa, visitors can learn about the natural history of the area. There is also an Audubon Aviary which houses injured birds permanently. Various amphibians and reptiles can be found within, too.      

There is really no end to the nightlife scene in Fort Myers; it seems to go on until early light and the options and scenes are diverse. The atmospheres of the night scene are plenty - from sophisticated and classy to all out wild in nature. The night scene is most explosive in the downtown district where people of all ages gather for lively events and live music almost every weekend.      

Dining in the Fort Myers area is always a good experience with over 2,000 restaurants to choose from. Small, family-owned restaurants and big chains both can be found in the big city. Some of the more classy venues are host to three course meals with all the trimmings, sizzled, saut°ed and seasoned to perfection. Fast food places can easily be located too, for those days that you just don't feel like spending much time or money on a meal. The options in dining are truly limitless and finding anything from ethnic foods to specialty deserts is an easy task.      

Of course, there are the Fort Myer beaches too, where the water is always warm and the air is always clean and the sun almost always shines. Fort Myers definitely helped Florida earn its nickname “The Sunshine State”. Any form of water sport can be found on the city's beaches and there are numerous piers to walk on or fish from. The city also throws annual bonfires on the main beach. Stacks of wooden pallets are brought in and piled high into a huge hole in the sand, then set ablaze. The flame from the fire sometimes gets as high as 200 feet. It's an event you can't miss.      

If you are looking to spend a day shopping, Fort Myers is definitely a place where you can go from high-end designer stores to bargain hunting at a family-owned flea market in no time. One of the flea markets has over 900 shops and restaurants in it's 400,000-square-foot warehouse. In Fort Myers the shopping is unmatched in the world of boutique shops, stores full of knick-knacks, shopping malls and outlet stores.      

There are literally 100,000 things to do in Fort Myers and anyone's sense of adventure, relaxation or fun can be fulfilled. Whether you stay in a motel, holiday home or beachside luxury resort, the time spent in Fort Myers may be the best time you've spent in years. All you have to do is hit the streets in Fort Myers to find your new favourite place.