Was a good place to fish at after dusk and you have baitfish around and in the summer you'd have…read moresnook and tarpon at night . However after Hurricane Ian this Pier has been boarded off from being accessed. No mention of what the status is with it coming back or anything my fear is they likely won't be and that's because some restaurants were effected by the Hurricane Ian as well and being sold to have something else built also they're focusing more on stuff to catering tourists than anglers. I'm sure there is debris in the water by the Pier as well so that's possibly another reason.

Underneath the tall Matanzas Bridge, you'll find this concrete fishing pier that extends about…read morehalfway out into the pier. Only about six feet wide, there's enough room for people on both sides if the fishermen and fisherwomen alternate and when I was here, they were doing that. There is one on the "mainland" side and another on the Fort Myers Beach side. I was on the mainland side today where I found a small free parking lot. The pier is not handicapped accessible as there are a few tall steps to get up to it. A few folks were catching but most were not. But it looked like a friendly spot and in the high afternoon, the pier is shaded from the sun. [Review 13360 overall, 678 of 2020.]

I love old houses and this yellow beauty is an architectural gem. The Murphy-Burroughs House is a…read moreGeorgian Revival style mansion built in 1901 for John T. Murphy, a cattle rancher from Montana. It is located in the River District of Fort Myers on two acres of land on the Caloosahatchee River. The house was built on First Avenue, the first house on what would become known as Millionaires Row. Materials to build the house were brought in by train and then carried the rest of the way to Fort Myers by barge. After construction was completed it drew other wealthy people to build their homes on the street. It is the only one of Millionaire Row's mansion that is still standing in its original position. Murphy was very involved in local civic and business affairs during his time in Fort Myers. He was a major shareholder of a bank and helped built a seawall that protected the downtown area. He passed away in 1914 and the house was sold to a businessman from New Jersey. In 1919 Nelson Burroughs purchased the house so his family could escape the frigid Chicago winters. Nelson made his fortune in land investments and banking. While in the home the family hosted lavish parties attended by famous winter Fort Myers residents Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone. In 1922 Burroughs transferred ownership of the house to his daughters, Mona & Jettie. Mona bequeathed the property to The City of Fort Myers prior to her death in 1978. After her husband died in 1983 it was no longer used as a residence. On August 1, 1984, the house was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Today you can tour the home that has been lovingly restored with a grand staircase, beautiful fireplaces, and antique furnishings. Features of the house include a veranda wrapping around three sides, a large dancing porch on the east side, bay and stained glass windows, a widow's walk on the roof, and decorative woodwork. The house is a popular wedding venue. Every December, the Fort Myers Community Women's Club decorates the historic mansion for the holidays. The Uncommon Friends Foundation manages the house as well as the Burroughs family records.

What a beautiful place to throw a party, host an event or have a wedding…read more The sunset here is absolutely magnificent and there are trees and flowers everywhere.

The beach is lovely-- clean white sand and all the ocean you could want. There are so many things…read moreto do-- paddle board, boat, kayak, jet ski, swim, lay around, shell hunt (esp. at Lover's Key), bird watch... The beach is cleaned constantly and combed daily so there is virtually no trash. At low tide, you can find all kinds of critters on the beach-- we threw back many a starfish, brittle start, and sea cucumber. Please do not dig up live sand dollars or bother the live crabs! Many interesting artifacts to be found at any time-- horseshoe crab corpses, sea pork, seaweeds, etc. Many birds-- different types of sandpipers and gulls, egrets, pelicans-- some are playful or unafraid of close contact with humans. Loved the beach! Hated the island. The traffic is god awful south of San Carlos and north there is nothing but bars and curio stands. Old people or young people everywhere, not much for the middle-aged. The food offerings are terrible-- only pizza, burgers, ice cream-- certainly nothing veg-friendly or healthy to be found. In town, Ft. Myers is not much better. Probably will not go back, but if I do, I will be sure to stock up on some healthy food in Tampa or Naples to stock my fridge so I can enjoy beach time instead of having to drive off the island every night for something decent to eat.

a fascinating stop that preserves the historic site of the Koreshan Unity -- a utopian religious…read morecommunity founded in the late 19th century by Cyrus Teed. The park has a $5 per car entrance fee and plenty of parking. There are two main areas: One side leads to a picnic area and campsites -- perfect for relaxing or spending the night. The other takes you to the historical settlement, where multiple preserved buildings are open for exploration. You can take a self-guided tour using a $1 handout map from the visitor center or simply read the detailed informational signs posted around the site. Walking through the grounds feels like stepping into a ghost town, complete with original structures and remnants of a once-thriving community. Despite the eerie history, the park is peaceful, quiet, and well-shaded, making it a nice place to wander, learn, and take a break from the Florida heat. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

I have heard about the Koreshan State Park and the cult with the same name from my previous visits…read moreto the Bonita Springs area. But after reading the novel "The Magic Kingdom" written by Russell Banks recently (I do recommend) based on the history of the Koreshan cult, I wanted to visit the park during my next trip. And we did. The park is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. They have tours and demonstrations on the property. You can browse on your own of you want. We opted for a guided tour that starts at 10 am for $10/person, you can book online ahead of time or just pay and join on the spot. It was well worth it, our guide gave us a lot of interesting information (although she didn't know about the books), about Dr. Cyrus Teed, the guru of the Koreshan who started the religious cult in New York, moved it to Chicago, then to Estero Bay in Florida where they helped develop the area. Lots of fascinating stories about their settlement, religion concepts, work in the area, business, the role of women within the cult. We lingered afterword to browse some more, lots of memorabilia on display and we were lucky to witness some demonstrations. You need at least 2-3 hours to see everything. You can bring lunch, there are picnic tables. A lot of places and houses in this big park. Wear comfy shoes, bring a hat. You will also see cool plants and animals in the wild (cool lizards, small iguanas). It's worth checking out if you're looking for an activity that opens a big window into the history of the area!

I've never actually toured this place (or if I did I was a child). Mom and I popped by because she…read morewas looking for a special historical book (which they had). Just from the main building and helpful docent?? / worker?? I could've spent more time if we didn't have to be elsewhere. But from just my brief visit, I was impressed and would love to return when time permits.

Interesting cottages from 1898, school house tea room packing house, tea room, caretakers cottage,…read moreGeneral store, old post office ,and Bailey's model T garage. Admission was $10

2100th Review The…read moreCircus Bridge is no ordinary bridge although one wouldn't know it's historic significance by merely looking at it or even driving over it, it's played a huge part in the celebration each and every year in Venice for more than three decades as the animals from Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey were unloaded from the circus train each winter and marched across this bridge, the crowds that gathered to watch cheered celebrating the end of a long season entertaining the masses with countless performances. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey wintered at the circus arena near the Venice airport which was finally demolished after years of attempts to preserve it in some way; the building's skeleton had remained in place long after the circus left the site behind in the early 1990s. But in its heyday, in the 1960s, '70s and '80s, the arena welcomed thousands of spectators as well as top circus performers, who rehearsed their new shows here. For residents and visitors, the arrival of the circus train was a memorable highlight of each winter season. On January 14, 2017, it was announced that the circus will be closed forever in May 2017 after 146 years of bringing smiles to millions and will lay off more than 462 employees between March and May 2017. Declining attendance combined with high operating costs and loss of the elephants are among the reasons for closing. On May 7, 2017, its "Circus Extreme" tour will be shown for the last time in Providence, Rhode Island. The circus's last performance will be its "Out of This World" tour at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on May 21, 2017 and that my friend will be the end to maybe the grandest entertainment icon ever, but this bridge will remain and continue to be ghostly reminder of the past for those that witnessed it's grandeur at the end of each circus season that's until it too will become obsolete and replaced with a concrete span named after some politician who's grand kids will only read about "The Greatest Show on Earth" but never witness it's magic...

Great place to take a walk and browse some boutiques, coffee shops, & restaurants…read more This visit was way too hot to do that, but we have done it plenty of times and enjoyed it. You can park on the street or in parking garages for free. It's really pretty seeing different sculptures, flowers, trees, And even some fancy cars.

There is plenty of free street parking & lots in the back. Shops, restaurants, cafes, a playhouse,…read moreart galleries, boutiques, yacht sales & real estate offices selling multi million dollar estates. The hotel on 5th covers both sides of the street. Each shop has unique items,there aren't chains here. The flowers, sculptures & fountains decorate 5th beautifully.

Visiting friends and made this stop to pay tribute. This is an incredible free historical…read moreremembrance and is worth the time to visit while in Cape Coral. The facts and events are provided in the signage and various items at the site.

If you have ever visited Cape Coral it is likely you have seen this majestic memorial to the United…read moreStates Marine Corps. You can find the Iwo Jima Monument also known as the U. S. Marine Corps War Memorial as soon as you cross the Midpoint Memorial Bridge that connects Fort Myers to Cape Coral. It resides on the southern edge of Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve. Iwo Jima is a small island located 660 miles south of Tokyo. During WWII it was the site of a fierce 36 day battle between the United States and Japan. The monument is a 20-foot statue that depicts five Marines and a Navy hospital corpsman raising the American flag on 560-foot Mount Suribachi, the highest point on Iwo Jima during the American victory over Japan in WWII. The statue is one of three originals that were created by sculptor Felix de Weldon. He was moved to create the sculpture after viewing AP photographer Joe Rosenthal's Pulitizer Prize-winning picture of the actual flag raising that took place on February 19, 1945. After creating the mock up for the sculpture, he shared it with then Vice President Harry Truman. In September 1954 the same statue was installed outside the Arlington National Cemetery on the southern shores of the Potomac River. The Cape Coral monument created in 1964 is one third the size of the one in Arlington Cemetery. The Iwo Jima Monument is made out of concrete pouted over rebar and steel. It depicts Pfc. Rene A. Gagnon, Pfc. Ira Hayes, Pharmacist Mate Second Class John Bradley, Pfc. Harlon Block, Sergeant Mike Strank and Pfc. Franklin Sously. Block, Strank and Sously died within days of the flag raising in combat on the IJM 5 northern end of the island. De Weldon sculpted them using their photographs and measurements. Hayes was was wounded but survived a mortar attack. Also surviving were Gagnon and Bradley. The monument stands in tribute to all Marines who have died in action since 1777. The Cape Coral Monument was commissioned by Gulf American Corporation for the Rose Garden, Cape Coral's first tourist attraction. Julius and Leonard Rosen who owned the Gulf American Corporation were the developers for Cape Coral. The Rose Garden had 40,000 rose bushes, animals, statues, landscaping, and shows to attract people to visit and hopefully buy homes in Cape Coral. The attraction closed in 1970 and the statues including the Iwo Jima Monument were left abandoned. A bank took possession and hired noted local sculptor D.J. Wilkins to restore it. In 1998, the statue was moved to its permanent home in the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve. Wilkins and his team did another extensive restoration on the statue on 2011 after it was damaged by Hurricane Charley in 2004. The monument was re-dedicated on February 25, 2012, the first Saturday following the 67th anniversary of the actual flag raising on February 19, 1945. In front of the monument is historic marker F-836 erected in 2014 by The City of Cape Coral and the Florida Department of State. Today the statue is in like new condition and is a source of pride for the veterans and those who honor them in the community.

The woman known as Tootie McGregor was born in 1843 as Jerusha H. Barber in Cleveland Ohio. She…read moremarried a man named Ambrose McGregor who became the president of Standard Oil. The couple had one son named Bradford who was ill. To improve his health the doctor recommended that the family spend the winters in Florida. They picked Fort Myers because of the excellent tarpon fishing and they purchased the home next to Thomas Edison in 1892. The couple became real estate and business developers in the Fort Myers area, at one point owning more than 30 properties. Ambrose died of cancer at the age of 58 on October 28, 1900. His fortune at the time of his death was 12 billion dollars in today's rates. Bradford died in 1902, two days after marrying his high school sweetheart. With a broken heart and free time on her hands Tootie set about developing Fort Myers. Tootie was heavily involved with the hotels in the area which allowed Fort Myers to become a tourist destination. Tootie is most remembered for her efforts to improve the roads in Lee County. At the time the only road in town was a narrow strip of graded, crushed shell down the middle of First Street. Tootie struck a deal with the county where she would pay to pave 20 miles from Whiskey Creek to Punta Rassa if the county agreed to pave Riverside Drive from Whiskey Creek to downtown Fort Myers. In exchange for 200 to 300 million dollars to build the first road the city council agreed to name the road McGregor Blvd. Tootie died six months later before the road was started but her second husband, Dr. Marshall Terry completed her wishes. Dr. Marshall had been Tooties first love but he was too poor to marry her at the time and she went on to marry Ambrose but the couple reconnected after his death. Tootie and Marshall were married for six years until she died on August 17, 1912. Dr. Marshall decided to donate a fountain to the city in honor of his late wife. McGregor Blvd turned 100 years old in 2015. When completed in 1915 it was the only hard surface road in the city. It was a pebbly macadam road only 50-feet wide, but it allowed building materials to be transported to the south and west areas of towns which allowed Fort Myers to expand and grow. A visit to Fort Myers wouldn't be complete without a drive down this historic road. On McGregor Blvd is Fort Myers most famous landmark, the Ford and Edison Winter Estates. On the corner of Colonial Blvd. and McGregor Blvd. there is a monument celebrating Tootie McGregor's accomplishment. She had the foresight to see that a little town on the Caloosahatchee had the potential to become a major winter resort and tourist destination.

Taking a drive down McGregor Boulevard is an experience you don't want to miss when visiting Ft…read more Myers. This area truly reflects the vibe of the area and demonstrates why Ft. Myers is "The City of Palms". It's part of our standard "tour" for family and friends. Seeing the majestic Royal Palms lining the street definitely brings the "wow" factor.

Bonita Springs has a small downtown area, charming with character. Not a lot of activities to do in…read morethe area, but they have a nice park, a great local library, some store and lots of eateries with many options. The buildings are old, well preserved, cute, giving the area some personality. Pretty laid back, a small arts center, a park where they have festivals, outdoor concerts, more work in progress for future establishments promising to expand the area and bring more activities. Don't expect a nightlife here, more like day time activities, nature oriented (Wonder Gardens are a landmark of downtown), places to enjoy a meal, some ethnic store. I'll be back to explore it some more!

Hey it's in the works and it's beautiful so far! it's small but growing. I can't wait until i…read morevisit again and see what's been done. Praying that they get the vision completed beyond their expectations!