I use to dorm at FGCU a long time ago, well kind of. I used to crash a lot in the dorms. Being a college student isn’t easy, so there were a lot of late-night study sessions that sometimes went on until 3 a.m.

I live in Lehigh Acres, which is 20-30 minutes away, so driving back home to get maybe a couple hours of sleep just to drive back for an 8 a.m. class didn’t make sense to me.

Luckily for me, I had some pretty cool friends that let me crash on their couches. There were times where I would spend up to three days on campus.

But I have to admit, spending 3 consecutive days at FGCU is a little boring. The school itself is really nice, but everything closes early and skating around campus can get repetitive.

I can imagine some students feel the same way. However, Fort Myers isn’t that boring, especially Downtown Fort Myers.

Downtown is a bit of drive from campus, but it is a pretty cool place to visit and blow off some steam.

Here some cool places to visit that are located in downtown

I have spent a lot of time here. In a nutshell, it is a restaurant with two bars. The top floor is the Sky Bar. Most of the time that is where I go. The staff is nice and there is always something going on. The past few times I have gone there was always a DJ and a big crowd. As a journalist, it is always fun to interact with people who are a few drinks in. There are always drink specials on the weekends too. If you are of age and want a cool place to drink and have a good time with friends, The Firestone is cool place to visit.

In Fort Myers, the bars usually close around 2 a.m. When last call fades and closing time hits, hunger strikes. Luckily for the people in the downtown area, Downtown House of Pizza is open until 3 a.m., except on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. If I am in the mood for pizza after a long night of debauchery, I usually get the White Pizza. I find the taste of mozzarella enhanced after 3 beers and a few shots. If you aren’t into that, I am pretty sure there is flavor that’s right for you. Downtown House of Pizza also has really good salads and cannolis.

I have only been here once, but the BLT is lit as f***!

What I really mean is that it is a very delicious sandwich. I just walked in here once with a buddy of mine to get coffee, and we ended up having a late lunch there. I had the Butterscotch Latte, and it was honestly one of the best coffee drinks I have ever had. However, the prices are not college student friendly. There is a reason I have not been back there recently, but it sure left a good impression on me.

One thing I am really loving about Fort Myers lately is that local coffee shops are slowly sprouting in the area. The Java House is one of them. It opened over the summer, and the coffee is not bad at all. I usually get Starbucks Iced Coffee because there is one conveniently located in Florida Gulf Coast University, but when I want something different this is one of the places I go. It is definitely a coffee shop worth visiting.

Remember when I said that Fort Myers is slowly gaining more local coffee shops? If there has to be a premier coffee shop, I have to give it to the Green Cup Organic Café. What makes it different is that it is a health-conscience coffee shop. The typical flavored syrups that one finds at a Starbucks or McDonalds do not exist here. I once ordered a chocolate latte, and the barista informed that it is really a mixture of cacao and agave syrup. I didn’t care. It was still a decent cup of coffee. I can’t express how good the coffee is. All I can say is that the Green Cup Café is worth the visit.

Downtown Fort Myers is a great place to go if FGCU becomes a little too much to handle. There are always events going on like Art Walk and Music Walk. There are other great bars and restaurants too. So grab a few friends, pack yourselves in a car and just drive. It is always better to experience new things with friends.