Lee County

Fort Myers
Located on the banks of the Caloosahatchee Intercoastal Waterway just minutes from the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Myers is the area's oldest city. Called the "City of Palms," it is rich in Old South ambiance and history.

Once the winter retreat of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, their stately homes are now among the area's most popular attractions. Both are located on McGregor Boulevard, a grand thoroughfare lined with over 1,800 majestic royal palm trees.

Fort Myers' riverfront areas offer some of the best dining. Whether you're taking in the ambiance at one of the charming cafes or bistros in the bustling downtown historic district, or enjoying fresh seafood overlooking the Intercoastal Waterway, Fort Myers provides an array of creative and delectable dining experiences. When the sun goes down, the city comes alive with a variety of theater and nightlife opportunities.

Fort Myers also offers plenty of golf, shopping and museums. A complete range of accommodations includes marinas for overnight boaters. All of it is just minutes from the beaches centered in one of Florida's most historic cities — Fort Myers.
 

Cape Coral
Surrounded by water, Cape Coral's natural beauty provides the perfect setting for fishing and boating enthusiasts. The Cape's extensive system of waterways for boating and sightseeing, includes more than 400 miles of saltwater and freshwater canals, lakes, basins and stunning Intracoastal waterfront areas.

Cape Coral also offers some of the best golf in the area. From top rated championship courses to the more relaxed "executive" courses, golfers will find a course to challenge every skill level. For the tennis buff, fine facilities throughout the city provide a range of options for an invigorating day on the court.

Known as an ideal location for family fun, Cape Coral offers a water park, a family sports amusement center, and a children's science center that truly makes learning fun. Visitors enthusiastically explore a diverse collection of local wares, from unique specialty shops to well-known national favorites. They round out the day dining at fabulous area restaurants that specialize in ethnic foods.

Whether you stay at a hotel, motel or private home, you'll find that this growing community maintains a friendly, small-town atmosphere, one which invites visitors to discover a wealth of exhilarating activities and attractions.
 

Fort Myers Beach
Located on Estero Island, and often referred to as the world's safest beach, Fort Myers Beach has a wide shoreline that gently slopes into the Gulf of Mexico. An absence of steep drop-offs makes it an ideal spot for family vacations.

At the north end of the beach, a casual beach village with shops and restaurants clusters along a tree-lined pedestrian walkway. The south end of the beach hosts a wide selection of beach front resorts in addition to Lovers Key State Park. In between, there are parks, recreation areas and marinas where you will find fishing and boating charters that include daytime sightseeing, evening dining and dancing as well as offshore gambling. You'll also find every imaginable water sport available, including jet skiing, parasailing, wind surfing, sailing, water skiing and more.

Activities aren't confined to just the Gulf side of the island. The Matanzas Pass Wilderness Preserve overlooks Estero Bay with more than 40 acres of live oak hammock and 4,000 feet of mangrove shoreline. Visitors enjoy an abundance of wildlife from an elevated boardwalk.

Fort Myers Beach enjoys a reputation for friendly folks, a wide, palm-shaded beach, and great family vacations.
 

Sanibel & Captiva
 

North Fort Myers
Located on the northern shore of the Caloosahatchee Intracoastal Waterway, North Fort Myers offers visitors the perfect blend of town and country. Experience true southern ambiance with ancient moss-draped oaks, gracious horse farms and tropical riverbanks. In addition, the area is home to a delightful array of interesting shops and local restaurants.

Here a variety of activities and attractions can fill your days with fun. Inland nature trails offer a great opportunity for horseback riding, a unique way to explore the landscape and observe area wildlife. If you're ready to hit the water, fishing, boating and charters are available at nearby marinas.

No visit would be complete without a stop at the exciting ever-new Shell Factory, which houses the world's largest collection of shells and coral. Kids will be fascinated by the seaside treasures found there. The area also boasts the southernmost winery in the nation and Caloosahatchee Regional Park, with hiking and camping along the river.

A frequent visitor to our area waters the Sea Cow, or Manatee, remains one of nature's shyest and gentlest mammals. The species originated 65 million years ago. Now these endangered animals are attracted upriver by warm inland waters and often can be seen in this natural setting. The best way to observe the gentle Manatee is aboard a tropical river tour, or visit the Lee County Manatee Park.
 

Babcock Wilderness Adventures Swamp Buggy Tours takes you on a unique voyage through the beautiful woods and wildlife populated waters of the Cypress Swamp. You'll see alligators, Florida panthers, deer, wild turkey and boars in their natural settings.

This tropical river paradise has activities for everyone to enjoy and it's all just a short hop from our famous Gulf of Mexico beaches.

Lehigh Acres
Comfortably away from the pace of everyday life, Lehigh Acres gives one the quiet of the Florida countryside coupled with family activities, easy access to the area's International Airport and excellent shopping excursions.

Lehigh Acres is the perfect place to enjoy miles of freshwater canals, great fishing, tennis, horseback riding, and 15 miles of hiking and biking trails.

Visit Admiral Lehigh Resort, a vacation resort complex, complete with meeting rooms and 36 holes of challenging golf. Other courses in the area also offer a real-Florida style championship golfing experience.

Besides canals, Lehigh Acres has 16 well-stocked lakes to delight any fisherman. Bass, crappie and catfish are plentiful, and boat-launching ramps are available throughout the area.

Bonita Springs & Estero
Bonita Springs is one of Southwest Florida’s newest and fastest growing cities. Located between Naples and Fort Myers, Bonita Springs offers a lifestyle for just about everyone. From award winning planned golf communities to serene waterfront living, Bonita Springs exudes an urban setting with small-town charm. As Gulf breezes merge with the winds of change, a dynamic business environment is emerging. Commercial parks, office space and retail services are keeping pace with residential growth, always with an eye towards preserving the community’s outstanding quality of life.

South of Fort Myers, Bonita Springs & Estero hold both natural and historic treasures. Exploration of this area reveals Florida as it once was. The remote island beaches here are considered some of the most beautiful in the area.

The white sands and blue waters of Bonita Beach and, the unspoiled Lover's Key State Park to the north, offer a chance to escape and relax to the sound of surf gently rolling in from the Gulf.

Inland water adventures can be just as relaxing. Treat yourself to the serenity of a canoe trip down the Imperial River, the starting point of the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail. Tour the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a place of quiet solace where walkers wind through pinelands, wet prairies and cypress grounds on an elevated boardwalk.

Golfers will love the lush green courses carved from nature, including one of the best public courses in the country. Also, some of the area's trendiest new shops and bistros are located in this charming small town setting at the Promenade. There's a bit of Old and New Florida awaiting you in Bonita Springs and Estero.

Beach, dock and boat fishing follow miles of ambling waterways. Marinas offering boat rentals and fishing charters. In addition, the Naples/Fort Myers Greyhound Track and the 19th-century remains of the utopian Koreshan community, a state historical site attracts visitors year-round.

• Lee County and Southwest Florida sustained tremendous population growth betweem 2000 and 2005 (25% and 22% respectively).
• According to the U.S. Census an average of 20,700 people move to Lee County annually, adding an estimated average of 11,400 people to the labor pool.
• Southwest Florida's 18-24 year old population (those available to enter the workforce) is growing about twice as fast as that of Florida and many times faster than that of the U.S.
• Forecast magazine lists Fort Myers-Cape Coral 15th in its "Booming 25" ranking of the 25 fastest growing metro areas through the year 2005. The magazine uses population projections from Woods & Poole Economics, Inc.
• The U.S. Census ranks Lee County among the 100 Fastest Growing Counties in the nation.
• Demographics Daily (Bizjournals.com) listed Fort Myers-Cape Coral a 5-star community for job growth, population growth and small business growth.