Activities & Attractions
The spirit of the community is
really expressed during the Island's Shrimp Festival, usually held in February
or March (controlled by the cycle of the moon). This colorful event has grown
into a week-long festival. The blessing of the fleet and prayer for protection
is the main reason for the event, however, a beautiful parade preceded by a 5K
Run progresses down Estero Boulevard. Miss Shrimp Festival is crowned afterward.
A tasty shrimp dinner is served by the local Lions Club and tours of shrimp
boats are offered.
If championship golf is your
game, there are more than fifty wonderful courses in Lee County, most within
driving distance. With this much competition, green fees and cart rentals are
moderate. A challenging 18-hole executive course is located right on the
island.If you prefer tennis, there are several places on the island--Bay Beach
Racquet Club and Bay Oaks to name two.
The national
championship volleyball tournaments are held on our
island every year.
Jet skis, wave runners, parasailing and other water
vehicles are available for rent at several beachfront locations. The island is
just seven miles long and a mere half-mile wide at the widest point. The star
attraction is the beach itself known as the safest beach in the world, with no
undertow and glistening white sand that slopes gently into the blue-green waters
of the Gulf. You and your family can swim in comfort or stroll along the entire
length of the island by its sparkling shores.
The annual Sandsculpting
Fun-in-the-Sun is a four-day event, held in November each year, complete with
masters' competition to amateur competition. This festival draws well over
75,000 people to our island.
True tales have fishermen casting
their eyes and rods toward the Gulf of Mexico.
Most fishermen go out on party boats where
captains take their passengers twenty to fifty miles off shore, where the water
is deep and reefs attract a variety of fish that change with the seasons.
Amberjack is found in the winter, while grouper and snapper are caught
all
year and tarpon, March through May.
A number of marinas rent boats,
if you prefer to stay closer to shore or the back bay mangrove islands. Visitors
and residents hurry daily to the docks to enjoy and buy the local
catches-of-the-day. Ft. Myers Beach is not only a fisherman's paradise, but a
seafood lover's paradise as well.
