Cape coral

The Westin is great and all and if a city stay is your desire then you will like it. If you want to see a little more of the old Florida, of which there is little left, take a drive up to Matlacha Pass. Find a room there. Old school, on the water. Eat at a good local fish house and watch the fishing boats go by, wishing you were on one. Go on out onto the island and down to St. James City and read about old Hernando Desoto getting in trouble with the indians in the bay back in the old days. Some good lunch spots there. Then drive North on the island up to Bookelia. It's a fishing villiage. You can see Tarpon point at Boca Grande from there. On the way up to Bookelia, you will go by a State park with an interesting display about the early indians from before white man. They were mound builders and canal builders and you can climb on still existing mounds they built. It's impressive what they did. No beaches on the island though if that's your wish. But only a half hour or so from Ft Meyers Beach. Here a link to some stuff.

https://www.visitflorida.com/places-to-go/southwest/pine-island/
 
GREAT Info! Thank you. Sorry, should've mentioned earlier that this would be a driving trip.

We get plenty beach and pool time between Dallas and Port Richey so that's not high on the agenda. We're much more interested in walking around and seeing the sites, visiting galleries, have a few cocktails, visit unique shops and restaurants, etc. Basically want to see anything that makes a place unique. We're also keeping a casual eye out for a possible move in a year or two.

The Westin looks cool just to watch the boats come and go?

I love the Westin...

But what you are describing is downtown.
 
Lived in Cape Coral for 28 years. There is really nothing there to see or do. The Westin is a nice spot but it would only be a place to relax for a day or so, then you would want to do other places. Downtown Ft. Myers has a mix of restaurants and shops so that sounds more like what you are after. With a boat there are many more places too see.
 
Based on the exceptional insight from all you guys (girls?) we booked a room at the Luminary Hotel in the Ft Myer River District to spend 3 days. Our place in FL isn't all that far from FM so if we don't hit everything we'll just come back later.

Below is a list of activities on our radar in order of priority. If you have any must-see restaurants, bars or ??? to add let me know.

  • Fort Myers
    • River District
    • Shops, Restaurants, Galleries?
    • Cape Coral
  • Westin Hotel Bar?
  • Pine Island
  • St. James City
    • Bars include Low Key Tiki, Phuzzy’s boat shack, Ragged Ass Salon
  • Matlacha - Historic fishing village
    • Watch fisherman at Matlacha Pass (Bridge?)
    • Artist Gallery - Leoma Lovegrove
    • Day trip from Cape Coral
  • Bookelia
    • Fishing Village
  • Fort Meyers beach
    • Pink Shell Beach - Nice beach
    • Trolleys run along the island
  • Sanibel/Captiva Islands
    • Bubble Room
  • Boca Grande Area
    • Historic downtown
    • Lighthouse
    • Stop on way home. Between ft Myers and Sarasota
 
Last edited:
Based on the exceptional insight from all you guys (girls?) we booked a room at the Luminary Hotel in the Ft Myer River District to spend 3 days. Our place in FL isn't all that far from FM so if we don't hit everything we'll just come back later.

Below is a list of activities on our radar in order of priority. If you have any must-see restaurants, bars or ??? to add let me know.

  • Fort Myers
    • River District
    • Shops, Restaurants, Galleries?
    • Cape Coral
  • Westin Hotel Bar?
  • Pine Island
  • St. James City
    • Bars include Low Key Tiki, Phuzzy’s boat shack, Ragged Ass Salon
  • Matlacha - Historic fishing village
    • Watch fisherman at Matlacha Pass (Bridge?)
    • Artist Gallery - Leoma Lovegrove
    • Day trip from Cape Coral
  • Bookelia
    • Fishing Village
  • Fort Meyers beach
    • Pink Shell Beach - Nice beach
    • Trolleys run along the island
  • Sanibel/Captiva Islands
    • Bubble Room
  • Boca Grande Area
    • Historic downtown
    • Lighthouse
    • Stop on way home. Between ft Myers and Sarasota
I would move the Bubble Room up the priority list. Very unique place with tons of old time decor and charm and a great menu. It's just a really cool place.
 
Well be there May 2st to 23rd
Then Naples

Lots of great suggestions above. In Cape Coral add Slates Cajun and also the Cape Harbor area for more choices. In Captiva, look up the Green Flash. Fort Myers Beach, try Doc Ford's. Hopefully by May, some of the snow birds will have left as restaurants are packed right now!

Enjoy your time down here.

D
 
I would move the Bubble Room up the priority list. Very unique place with tons of old time decor and charm and a great menu. It's just a really cool place.
Watch out for your tie....... It'll be cut in half. Casual is the key.
 
We will be in this block:
View attachment 122948
Looks like you will be right off the Bimini Canal. Direct easy access. Most likely any house in that area will have a decent dock and a lift. I would take my own boat. The rentals I have seen in that area leave a lot to be desired. Endless places to visit in any weather. Great time of year to visit and breakfast at the Boathouse with a Bloody Mary is hard to beat.
 
Looks like you will be right off the Bimini Canal. Direct easy access. Most likely any house in that area will have a decent dock and a lift. I would take my own boat. The rentals I have seen in that area leave a lot to be desired. Endless places to visit in any weather. Great time of year to visit and breakfast at the Boathouse with a Bloody Mary is hard to beat.
I rented a hurricane there once and the guy was showing me how the fresh water worked…. He turned on the cockpit sink and gasoline came out….. I hopped off the boat…. Someone filled the fresh water with gas….. it has to be a shit show down there 24/7
 
I rented a hurricane there once and the guy was showing me how the fresh water worked…. He turned on the cockpit sink and gasoline came out….. I hopped off the boat…. Someone filled the fresh water with gas….. it has to be a shit show down there 24/7
Wait, that's not where the gas goes? Is it dangerous or something? Asking for a friend.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,948
Messages
1,422,825
Members
60,930
Latest member
Ebrown69
Back
Top