Southwestern Florida’s ‘City of Palms’ is well laid out and a favourite destination for retirees and holidaymakers. Fort Myers is mainly about the outdoors, with fine, white sandy beaches, loads of state parks, an abundance of wildlife and outdoor activities, and many historical highlights in and around the city.

The outdoors appeal of Fort Myers can be attributed directly to the weather. As in other parts of Florida, the climate here is good year-round and even Christmas time is a good time to visit. You will also get the chance to see manatees during the winter. Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach are two separate towns and it is the latter that of course has the beaches.

Although most of the attractions are outside the city, highlights within town include a number of interesting museums, such as the Edison Ford Complex and Imaginarium, while the Fort Myers Historical Museum and the Koreshan State Historic Site teach all about the history of the city’s founders.

There are also many attractions for families and kids, such as the Sun Splash Family Water Park, Babcock Wilderness Adventures, and a whole host of activities. The golf, hiking, kayaking and camping in particular are readily available.

Hotel-wise, Fort Myers Beach has the pick of the bunch and the best prices, with popular chain hotels as well as independently run motels and guesthouses. Spring, autumn and winter tend to be peak seasons while summer is hot and humid, causing many people to stay away. Booking Fort Myers hotels online will save you serious cash over traditional methods of hotel booking.

Southwest Florida International Airport provides the fastest access to Fort Myers and is located just outside town. You will generally route through another airport in New York or Miami. Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses also run to Fort Myers for those already in the country, while Interstate 75 comes in from the north and the south.

With its locale on the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Myers enjoys a near tropical climate with year-round warm weather and a fair amount of rain. Summers (June to September) are generally very hot with temperatures regularly averaging more than 30°C and it also rains the most at this time.

Visiting Fort Myers sometime before or after summer is the best bet, when there are fewer tourists, the weather is pleasant, and hotels are cheaper. Wintertime is peak season when temperatures still average around 18°C and highs into the mid-20s (°C) are not uncommon. Fort Myers makes a great escape from the often cold, drab European winters.