For many college students, Fort Myers, Florida is not deemed a desirable place to live or go to school after the hype of the first-time in college transition dies. When compared to other major universities in larger cities, Fort Myers does not compare. Although Fort Myers might not be the ideal place to party and have a good time, if you step outside your comfort zone, Fort Myers has a few hidden treasures to explore.
Here's a list of five places you might consider exploring the next time you are in Fort Myers:
Downtown Fort Myers/Fort Myers River District
If you are ever in the area or looking for something new to do, consider visiting the Downtown Fort Myers area/Fort Myers River District. Originally established as a Seminole War Post in 1841, downtown Fort Myers is home to an abundance of shops including art, jewelry and vintage shops, dining locations including Blu Sushi, Downtown House of Pizza and various local eateries, and attractions like The Butterfly Estates and the Southwest Florida Museum of History.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
The Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates sits on 20 acres of land. The land is occupied by historical buildings, historic gardens, the Edison Botanic Research lab and the the Edison Ford Museum. The property features the 1929 historic landscape and the museum feature hundreds of inventions, artifacts and special exhibits. The site offer various tours of the property, educational programs for the community and even features a dining site.
Koreshan State Park
Koreshan State Park is one of Florida's Historic State Sites. The site was founded by in Estero in 1894 by Cyrus Reed Reed who brought follows of his new faith, Koreshanity. Upon his death in 1908, the community eventually faded and was given to the state. Currently in the community there are eleven historic structures that were built between the years 182 and 1920. The park is open to the community for fishing, picnicking, boating, hiking and camping. The site also features a boat ramp and canoe rentals. The site is located at the intersection of US 41 and Corkscrew.
Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers Beach sits on a barrier island, is about seven miles long and had famed sugar-sand. Venders offer parasailing, dolphin eco-tours and fishing charters. By way of Fort Myers Beach, the islands of Sanibel and Captiva are in close reach. Other beaches located in the area are Barefoot Beach and Lovers Key State Park.
Shopping
Recently in an article I posted about student discounts, I mentioned three of the popular shopping locations in the area Gulf Coast Town Center, Miromar Outlets and the Coconut Point Mall. Gulf Coast Town Center is located in Fort Myers, Florida and is home to over 90 retail store, two hotels and various service providers. Miromar Outlets is a designer and brand-name outlet mall comprised of over 140 stores. Miromar Outlets is located in Estero, Florida, and is a popular destination for community members, college students and tourist in the area. And, finally the Coconut Point Mall is an outdoor shopping mall located in Estero, Florida, featuring over 140 stores.
These are just a few options available to visitors and residents of the Fort Myers area; however, there are various local attractions available to suite various interest.
