Lee County - Fort Myers Area
If you are considering settling on the west coast of Florida, the Lee County – Fort Myers’ area is an excellent choice! This area boasts the highest average annual number of sunny days in the sunshine state! Enjoy the company of other retirees in this very popular retirement area with beautiful beaches, great fishing, abundant wildlife and scores of golf courses! And although Fort Myers is one of the fastest growing cities in America, if you are looking for a fast-paced life with a plethora of diverse cultural opportunities, you may want to look elsewhere because Lee County still offers a more relaxed, slow-paced lifestyle than many other parts of Florida.
Photo Courtesy of: The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel
Photo Courtesy of: Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce
Photo Courtesy of: Photo Courtesy of: Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce
Living in
Fort Myers
Photo Courtesy of: The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel
Fort Myers is known for its nature preserves, historical estates, and golfing. The largest attraction in Fort Myers is the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford estates. In 1916, Henry Ford bought land in downtown Fort Myers, next door to Thomas Edison, his mentor. The estates now serve as a museum and include a 21 acre botanical garden. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve which is a 3,500 acre wetland located just 20 minutes from downtown. It offers a 1.2 mile boardwalk trail and wildlife viewing. And if you are a golfer, you’ll be thrilled to hear that there are a whopping 42 golf courses in Fort Myers and another 47 courses within a 20 minute drive!
Those looking for a more citified experience, will appreciate the recently revitalized Fort Myers River District, located in the heart of the city and boasting 540 acres with restaurants, retail shops, nightlife and entertainment. The city of Fort Myers provides a mixture of suburban and urban lifestyles and a relaxed vibe which must be great for retirees since almost a quarter of the city’s total population is retired.
Living in
Fort Myers Beach
Photo Courtesy of: Must Do Visitor Guides
NOTICE: When Hurricane Ian hit in late September 2022, Fort Myers Beach suffered some of the worst damage. Recovery is ongoing.
Fort Myers Beach is located on the narrow Estero Island which borders Estero Bay Preserve. This popular beach is characterized by fine, soft, sugary white sand, and an expansive, gradually sloping shoreline. Off the coast and within a short drive, you can enjoy and explore the islands of Sanibel and Captiva.
Nature lovers will appreciate Lovers Key State Park with its natural beauty and more than 5 miles of trails. You can also enjoy hiking, paddling, wildlife watching, or saltwater fishing at the 60-acres unspoiled sanctuary of Matanzas Pass Preserve. This area is great for boating and fishing and is home to the award-winning Pink Shell Marina. The Fort Myers Beach Pier is also an excellent spot for fishing as well as taking in the views.
Close by is one of the city’s most iconic area, Times Square. Located at the heart of the downtown, it is the city’s dining and shopping mecca where you can find your choice of live music. Unfortunately, like much of the area, Times Squares was largely destroyed by Hurricane Ian. However, there are plans to have it rebuilt.
Living in
Cape Coral
Photo Courtesy of: The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel
Often referred to as the Venice of Florida, Cape Coral has 400 miles of canals, more than any other city in the world! That’s great news for boaters and fishermen – it’s not hard to find a home where you can boat and fish directly from your backyard! And if you like to boat and golf, well, this may just be the perfect retirement location for you! In addition to the 6 golf courses within Cape Coral, there are a whopping 79 courses within a 20 minute drive.
Cape Coral is a great option for nature lovers too. Enjoy kayaking or strolling through the beautiful 4 Mile Cove Ecological Preserve, where there’s a good chance you’ll run into the city’s official bird – the adorable burrowing owl. This coastal community is rich in nature parks and preserves. Cape Coral’s parks provide opportunities for bird watching, hiking, boating, fishing and lakeside views. Bicycling around the city is also popular because of its 90 miles of interconnected bike routes.
Even though Cape Coral is a coastal town, the one thing it doesn’t have is a beach. The closest beaches are Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach, both of which are about a 30 to 40 minute drive away depending on where exactly you live.
But despite the lack of beach, Cape Coral is extremely popular with retirees. Thirty-five percent of the city’s population is aged 60 and above, and because of this Cape Coral was named a retirement hotspot by Realtor.com.
Living in
Sanibel and Captiva
Photo Courtesy of: Must Do Visitor Guides
If you’re a nature lover, you’ll definitely want to check out Sanibel and Captiva islands! Over half of these islands are dedicated to wildlife refuges and nature preserves, including the popular J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
Sanibel is renowned for its beautiful beaches and great shelling. Here you can find more than 250 types of seashells, which is why shelling is the most popular activity on the island. Sanibel even has a shell museum; the Bailey Matthews National Shell Museum is exclusively dedicated to the study of shells.
Bicycling and golfing are other popular activities on these islands. There are 22 miles of bike paths with no stoplights! And despite the relatively small size of the islands, there are four golf courses.
Sanibel’s local government tries to maintain the island’s quaint appeal. You won’t find any high-rises here; buildings here are limited to 3 stories. But although Sanibel is known for its quiet, laid-back atmosphere, in the winter months you can expect heavy traffic and crowded restaurants. Captiva Island is more laid-back and smaller. The 5 mile long Turner Beach is a great spot for fishing and, of course, shelling. At the north end of Captiva Drive is a small area called Captiva Village. This is the center of local activities on the island where you can find restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, a small grocery store, a chapel and a library.
The 3-mile Sanibel causeway is the only road that links the islands to the mainland. There is a $6 toll when travelling to the island, but most residents will tell you that the tolls are worth the price of living in paradise!
Living in
Bonita Springs
Photo Courtesy of: The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel
Encompassing over 46 square miles, Bonita Springs is situated on both Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. This affluent, growing town offers its residents, 23 golf courses, 3 miles of pristine beaches, nature preserves, seafood markets, upscale shopping, and cultural events, including the renowned annual Bonita Springs National Art Festival, and one of Florida’s most popular food festivals, Taste of Bonita.
If you have a dog, you’ll be glad to hear that Bonita Springs has one of Florida’s few off-leash dog beaches. And its aptly named “Dog Beach“.
If you are thinking about retiring to Bonita Springs, you won’t be alone. It’s clear that the town is a popular retirement spot since about 42% of the population is over 65. This is more than double the percentage of retirees living throughout Florida.
Living in
Estero
Photo Courtesy of: Visit Florida
Located between Fort Myers and Bonita Springs, Estero is another Florida retirement mecca with over 48% of its residents over 65 years old. It was just incorporated in 2014, and is officially known as the Village of Estero. This village offers an abundance of new homes and charming gated communities.
There is no shortage of shopping and restaurants in Estero. The two main shopping areas are the Coconut Point Mall and the Miromar Outlets. If you enjoy history and the outdoors, head over to Mound Key Archaeological State Park, or Koreshan State Historic Site. And of course, if you love golf you’re in luck (this is Florida after all). There are 11 golf courses within the village of Estero and another 89 courses within a 20 minute drive.
