Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, the city at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River with around 65,000 inhabitants, is your oasis of relaxation on the Gulf of Mexico. The region around The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel is characterized by fantastic, multi-award-winning sandy beaches, sparkling water and unspoiled nature. Beach walkers and shell collectors will be delighted by the more than 400 different types of shells – including some extraordinary specimens. The fine white powder sand not only fascinates holidaymakers, but also attracts thousands of visitors and “sand sculptors” to the American Sand Sculpting Championship & Beach Festival every year in November.
- Timedictionary: Offers a list of largest cities in Florida.
Unlike on the Atlantic coast, large bays protrude into the country on the Gulf of Mexico; Islands and lagoons split the straight lines of the coast. It is the same in and around Fort Myers: Estero Bay in the south of the city and Gasparilla Sound-Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve are two beautiful estuary bays that also contain the gentle giant manatees, the manatees. Estero Island with Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island are particularly popular. The two islands off the coast are two of the most popular bathing paradises on the Gulf of Mexico due to their miles of beaches and the region’s mild climate. On the opposite side of the Caloosahatchee River you will also find the young city of Cape Coral, which looks like many American cities,
If you spend more time in the area, take a day trip to the neighboring Captiva Island. If you want a bit more quiet, head for Gasparilla Island in the north or Lovers Key State Park south of Fort Myers. With a bit of luck, here you have the beach all to yourself. Breathtaking views, mussels en masse and endless sandy beaches await you on all islands. Also try to watch one of the rare manatees, whose natural habitat is at the estuaries of the Atlantic. If the animals are long in coming, pay a visit to Manatee Park in Fort Myers. But even here you are only guaranteed an encounter with the slightly awkward-looking round-tailed manatees at the right season (from November to March).
- Transporthint: Overview of Florida, including population, history, geography and major industries.
Highlights in Fort Myers & Sanibel Island
- Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Marvel at the impressive properties of gramophone inventor Thomas Edison and Henry Fords, the founder of Ford, which now also function as a museum. The two friends were neighbors in Fort Myers from 1885 and loved it in the tropical island paradise. - Manatee Park
Pay a visit to Manatee Park in Fort Myers. Especially in the period from November to March, when the park’s waters are below 20 ° C, the chance of encountering the endangered animals is particularly high. - Florida Repertory Theater
Watch a performance in the Florida Rep. Many Fort Myers residents strongly believe that the quality of the performances here is as excellent as in the Broadway theaters. - Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
wooden walkways lead you through the 1400 hectare wetland. Here you can see alligators, turtles, snakes, numerous bird species and enjoy the diverse nature in the swampy area. - Lakes Regional Park
For relaxation away from the beach, visit the lovingly designed Lakes Regional Park in the middle of Fort Myers. - Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center
After reaching Sanibel Island across the bridge, you should pay a short visit to the island’s Visitor Center. Here you will be provided with information about the island in a friendly and competent manner. - JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Kayak through the mangroves past alligators and pelicans. Alternatively, you can rent a bike or explore the beautiful area by car. - Sanibel Public Library
The Sanibel Public Library is a wonderful library with a small museum. Here you will find – in addition to books, DVDs and free internet access – an impressive collection of shells and exciting information about Florida and the islands.
Information about Fort Myers
Foundation: 1886
Population: approx.74,000
Area: 126.9 km²
Height: approx. 3 m above sea level
Time zone: Eastern Standard Time
Airport: Tampa International Airport
Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton and Anna Maria Island host numerous events, concerts, festivals and other events every year that you as a visitor shouldn’t miss. For you we have listed the most important and beautiful events in 2018/2019 that will enrich your vacation in Bradenton.
Festivals & events in Bradenton
Holmes Beach Art District Art Walk
Anna Maria Island, every year from mid-January to mid-April, every second Friday of the month: Downtown Holmes Beach on Anna Maria Island turns into a great entertainment mile every second Friday from January to April. Some art galleries host special exhibitions, musicians, bands and painters provide entertainment while the participating shops, boutiques and galleries offer free soft drinks.
Bradenton Boat Show
Bradenton, January 4-6, 2019: Marvel at the impressive yachts and boats at the Bradenton Boat Show at the Bradenton Convention Center. In addition to the many luxury boats, especially the hobby fishermen will get their money’s worth: The experts at the Captain Joe Fishing School give lectures every day in which you can get great fishing tips, and fishing accessories are also sold on the entire site.
Bradenton Riverwalk regatta
Bradenton, annual in early February The Bradenton Riverwalk Regatta is arguably the largest event in Bradenton. With a monkey tooth, the power boats and tuned jet skis race across the picturesque Manatee River under the eyes of thousands of spectators. Around the regatta there are other exciting events on and off the water, such as a stuntman show. There are also some excellent live bands playing.
Beach’N Food Truck Music Festival
Bradenton Beach, annually in April: The Beach’N Food Truck Music Festival takes place once a year in Bradenton Beach. As the name suggests, the festival is all about music and good food. Food trucks are particularly popular in the United States and each one serves up a specialty. There is also local music, art, great activities for children and a car show. Everything at the beautiful Coquina Beach.
Bayfest
Anna Maria Island, annually in October: The 2018 Bayfest takes place for the 18th time on Anna Maria Island. Once a year, Anna Maria Island’s entire Pine Avenue is closed to motor vehicles and turned into an entertainment mile. Live music, art demonstrations, excellent food, shopping, bouncy castles and a separate area for the kids and a car fair with over 100 classic automobiles are waiting for you.
Marco Island, Florida
Discover one of Florida’s last paradises on the Gulf Coast: wonderful sandy beaches, great trips into the fabulous natural world of the Everglades – plus Mediterranean city flair in Naples. Whoever wants to discover the heart of the original Florida lands here. The rhythm is calmer, more leisurely; the tropical backdrop is gentle, the architecture sophisticated and the people are warm hosts.
The southwest of Florida, the Paradise Coast, enchants visitors in a variety of ways: A Mediterranean city center awaits you in the sophisticated beach resort of Naples and in the tropical island paradise of Marco Island with Caribbean flair, you will encounter Mediterranean serenity. In addition, of course, there are the Everglades with their unique natural and animal world, which you want to discover carefully.
The gently sloping, fine sandy beaches and the water, which the warm Gulf Stream always maintains at pleasant temperatures, make the region a bathing paradise for the whole family. Over 90 golf courses of various levels of difficulty, various water sports, airboat tours, trips to the rare manatees that live in the mixed water of the many bays; Dolphins, crocodiles and other wild animals that you encounter in the Everglades guarantee days of fun.
In order for the beauty of the Paradise Coast to be preserved for future generations, environmental awareness is lived here: Around 50% of the regional tax revenue is invested in the maintenance and cleaning of the beaches. There are also numerous projects to protect the unique Everglades. In the cities, people ride bikes or walk – leave your car behind and save yourself the hassle of searching for a parking space. Europeans feel particularly at home in downtown Naples due to the pedestrian zone, which is unusual for the USA: Stroll through the streets of Old Naples and enjoy the Mediterranean atmosphere during a shopping tour.
Highlights in Naples, Marco Island & Everglades
- Naples Pier
At the wonderful Naples Pier, the residents of Naples meet in the evening and marvel at the sunset together – here the sun actually sinks into the sea! - 5th Avenue & 3rd Street
For shopping, feasting and strolling, you should head to the pedestrian zones on 5th Avenue and 3rd Street in Naples: excellent restaurants, great shops and boutiques – rounded off by the sophisticated flair of Naples with numerous historic buildings. - Tin City
Take a stroll through the quaint waterfront of Naples called Tin City. Or take part in one of the spectacular sunset dinner cruises on a yacht. A unique experience! - Dolphin Explorer Tour
On Marco Island, you should definitely take an eco-tour to the dolphins, which abound in the waters of Florida – including mussel searches. Great fun for young and old. - 10,000 Islands
By boat or kayak through the “Ten Thousand Islands” – a patchwork of a thousand small islands southeast of Marco Island. - Ochopee Post Office Take a fun souvenir photo
at the smallest post office in the United States. In the tiny hut, about 50 km east of Fort Myers on the Tamiami Trail, you can also get the popular stamps.
Information about Naples, Marco Island & the Everglades
Time zone: Eastern Standard Time
Airport
Tampa International Airport
Southwest Florida International Airport – Fort Myers
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
If you ask locals, New Smyrna Beach is one of the most beautiful cities on the Atlantic coast of Florida. A quiet, cozy place, beautiful and charming like all of Florida – interesting, authentic and unused as few. A raw diamond in the middle of one of the world’s most popular vacation regions, surrounded by first-class coastal resorts, impressive nature and only a stone’s throw from cities like Orlando or excellent destinations like the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral.
New Smyrna Beach – more than just a beach
In New Smyrna Beach you will find a relaxed mix of history, culture, art, nature and more than 20 kilometers of wonderfully white sandy beaches. The beaches of New Smyrna Beach have been named the best in the region several times in recent years. They are clean, safe and of considerable width – perfect for sunbathing, cycling, swimming, fishing or building expansive sand castles. New Smyrna Beach has been an insider tip for surfers for years, and National Geographic Magazine has now ranked it among the “World’s Top 20 Surf Towns”. But New Smyrna Beach is not just summer and sun: Thanks to the Cape Canaveral National Seashore, one of only ten coastal protection areas in the USA, there is a remarkable wildlife diversity in and around New Smyrna Beach.
Art, culture & nature!
The second oldest city in Florida offers you a culturally sophisticated blend of subtle elegance and a bohemian soul that is characteristic of “real” Florida. Especially in recent years, New Smyrna Beach has become a center of attraction for artists and art lovers, thanks to the internationally recognized Atlantic Center for the Arts and numerous small galleries. Other local highlights include the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Florida’s tallest lighthouse, the historic ruins of the Old Fort Park Archeological Site, the many excellent bars and restaurants, and two marine science centers.
Highlights in and around New Smyrna Beach
- Atlantic Center for the Arts
The Atlantic Center for the Arts is an important pillar of New Smyrna Beach’s thriving art scene. In the ACA, aspiring or struggling artists are allowed to carry out their creative activities outside of their culture or place of residence. Here you will also find exhibitions, children’s programs and much more. - Canal Street
Canal Street is the heart of Downtown New Smyrna Beach. Here you will find numerous galleries, boutiques and cafés. - Smyrna Dunes Park
In Smyrna Dunes Park you can walk over more than 3 km of wooden walkways over the dunes of the region. Ideal for walking the dog, watching the impressive wildlife or simply enjoying the beautiful view of the surrounding waters. - Old Fort Park
Not far from Canal Street in Old Fort Park you will probably find the traces of the first Europeans. The ruins in Old Fort Park remind historians of the famous Castillo de San Marco in Augustine. Despite everything, their origin and meaning has not yet been clearly clarified. - Flagler Avenue
Unique picturesque boutiques, exclusive galleries, fine restaurants and fun pubs and bars line up on the picturesque Flager Avenue with its characteristic cobblestone walkways. - Canaveral National Seashore
The Cape Canaveral Seashore is one of only 10 National Seashore in the United States! In addition to impressive wildlife, you will also find the historic sites of Turtle Mound and Eldora House, the remains of a bygone era.
Information about New Smyrna Beach
Foundation: 1768
Population: approx.25,000
Area: 79.7 km²
Height: 2 m above sea level
Time zone: Eastern Standard Time (CET -6 hours)
Airport: Orlando International Airport
Florida Keys
Florida Keys, a series of small, shallow limestone and coral islands that stretch west in a 240 km long arc off the southern tip of Florida, USA. The surrounding sea areas, incl. the mangrove swamps of the Gulf of Florida contain an unusual diversity of fish and birds, and along the largest of the islands, Key Largo, is the largest living coral reef in the United States. The reef is part of the “underwater park ” John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, which together with other protected coastal areas and the Dolphin Research Center are major tourist destinations. The same is true of the southernmost and most densely populated island, the fabled Key West, which since 1912 has been connected to the rest of the islands; first by rail and later by the 1938 Overseas Highway.
Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park, a nature park on the southern tip of Florida, USA; created 1947, 5000 km2. The area, which is one of Florida’s biggest tourist attractions, has the predicate of an international biosphere reserve due to a large number of rare and in some cases endemic animal and plant species.
Along with snake-necked birds, snail kites, flamingos and many heron species that live in the coastal mangroves, the area is especially known for its turtles, alligators and other reptiles.
The park and the adjacent Big Cypress National Preserve form part of a low-lying subtropical swamp and savannah area, The Everglades, which covered almost all of Florida south of Lake Okeechobee before land speculation and associated drainage set in in the 1920s.
Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral, peninsula on Florida’s Atlantic coast approx. 80 km E of Orlando. The area, which temporarily changed its name to Cape Kennedy 1963-73, is the United States’ most important launching point for satellites and space shuttles. Close by is the Kennedy Space Center.
Biscayne Bay
Biscayne Bay, over 700 km2 large bay south of Miami in Florida, USA; The bay is known for its coral reefs, which continue in the Florida Keys archipelago . In 1980, Biscayne Bay National Park was established to protect the vulnerable environment from, among other things. fishing and excessive tourism.
