Since I moved to the west coast of Florida in 2021, I have heard about the beauty of the white sand beaches filled with amazing shells on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. A weekend getaway has been on my radar since I moved to Florida. It is a only a 90 minute drive from my house in Lakewood Ranch to the beautiful beaches of Sanibel and Captiva Islands.
However, before I had a chance to arrange a trip, Hurricane Ian visited the islands and nearby Fort Myers, leaving devastating destruction in its path.
The bridge on Sanibel causeway collapsed and three sections were washed away by the storm surge. Residents and business owners couldn’t get back on the islands for over a month. Since returning, many businesses have been shut down as they clean-up and rebuild.
It’s been 20 months and the area is open and ready for business, even in the off-season.
I packed my bags and arranged for an overnight in Fort Myers. My sister and her daughters joined me as we all love an adventure! Excited to look for shells on the world famous beaches, I even ordered snorkeling and shelling equipment in hopes of finding a
We could not check into our hotel until 4:00, so we decided to explore Fort Myers area first.
Fort Myers is named for a confederate soldier named Abraham Myers and was a fort used in the Seminole wars and in the American civil war. The Battle of Fort Myers was fought on February 20, 1865,during the last months of the American Civil War. This small engagement is known as the “southernmost land battle of the Civil War.”
In 1885, inventor Thomas Edison was touring the area and purchased 13 acres of waterfront property. His beautiful estate and his next door neighbor Henry Ford’s home are open to the public to visit for a fee. We stopped in the parking lot across the street to check out the enormous Banyan tree. A gift shop and nursery are also located in this spot so a fun place to see.
