The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel fact sheet

CONTACTS:
Jackie MacKay (407) 814-0014 or (407) 496-1770
Lee Rose (239) 338-3500

Location
Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast between Naples and Sarasota (Lee County, between Collier and Charlotte counties). Included areas are: Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs & Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Boca Grande & Outer Islands, (Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Cayo Costa State Island Preserve), North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres.

Geography
652,000 acres of total land area
590 miles of shoreline
50 miles of white sand beaches
100-plus barrier and coastal islands on the Gulf of Mexico

Average Annual Temperature
74.4 F/23 C average annual temperature

High	84.1 F/29 C
Low	64.7 F/18 C

Average Monthly Temperature

	High	Low
January	74.4F	53.2F
February	75.5F	54.1F
March	80.0F	58.7F
April	84.6F	62.0F
May	88.8F	67.6F
June	90.6F	72.9F
July	91.4F	74.6F
August	91.4F	74.8F
September	90.0F	74.2F
October	86.0F	68.5F
November	80.7F	60.9F
December	76.0F	55.0F

Average Annual Water Temperature
77.5F average annual temperature
70.8F average fall/winter
84.1F average spring/summer
66.0F average winter low
87.0F average summer high

Time Zone
Eastern Time Zone

Population
521,253 residents in Lee County

57,585	in city of Fort Myers
6,335	on Sanibel Island
132,379	in city of Cape Coral
6,945	in town of Fort Myers Beach
41,070	in city of Bonita Springs
276,939	in unincorporated Lee County

Annual Visitors
2 million annual visitors

Airports
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
Southeast of Fort Myers. Serves Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties. Originally opened in 1983, the facility debuted its new Midfield Terminal in 2005. It is the central gateway to southwest Florida for most major domestic carriers and several international charter operations. The facility offers 120 daily non-stop flights on 24 carriers to 35 domestic destinations as well as Dusseldorf, Munich and Frankfurt, Germany and Toronto and Montreal, Canada.

Field Executive Airport
Smaller craft, near downtown Fort Myers

Page Field General Aviation Airport
Smaller craft, near downtown Fort Myers

Major Access Roads
Interstate 75 and U.S. 41 north-south
Alligator Alley and U.S. 41 east-west (east of Naples)

Mileage from Florida Cities

Miami	148 miles (2½ hours drive time)
Orlando	167 miles (3½ hours drive time)
Tampa	134 miles (2½ hours drive time)
Daytona	219 miles (4¼ hours drive time)
Jacksonville	311 miles (6 hours drive time)

Seasons
Peak
January 15 through April. Reservations are essential during peak season.

Off Peak
May through January 14. Rates are generally 30 percent to 60 percent lower during off-peak vacation season, excluding holidays.

Accommodations
More than 39,000 rooms range from inexpensive motels to idyllic cottages to condominiums and full-service resort properties. Camping options in more than 3,500 campsites in 29 RV parks, equipped with electrical and sewer hookups, as well as13 RV parks with spaces for tent camping.

Dining
Restaurants on the The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel run the gamut. From laid-back waterfront cafes to sophisticated and romantic dining rooms, there are a wide variety of culinary choices. Included are well-known favorites such as Roy's, Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's, Chili's, Romano's Macaroni Grill and Beef O'Brady's, to a rapidly-expanding list of home-grown hot spots including The Veranda and Bistro 41, to name a few.

Shopping
Four shopping malls, including the largest in the southeast; a myriad of eclectic boutiques; upscale specialty stores; souvenir shops; and fun flea markets, there is plenty of shopping to be enjoyed throughout the area.

Cultural Arts
Symphony concerts, Broadway shows, dinner theater, museums, art festivals, and galleries are just some of the many cultural encounters available.

Recreation
Whether it's learning to sail, taking off on a shelling charter, or trying your hand at fishing in the "Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World," the recreational opportunities are endless. From the Florida Grapefruit League to professional ice hockey, sports are a big part of life here for both spectator enjoyment and participation.

Golf: 1,549 holes on 95 courses, including 47 public courses and semi-private courses.
Marinas: 31 marinas, half of which offer boat rentals or charters.

Native
Here are just some of the species that are native to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel:

Foliage: Sea grape, sea oats, virgin bald cypress, wild orchid, oak hammocks, mangrove.
Wild life: Florida panther, alligators, herons, egrets, ibis, anhingas, scrub jay and wood storks.
Marine life: Gopher tortoises, loggerhead sea turtles, bottlenose dolphin, tarpon, west Indian manatees.

-30-

Source: U.S. Census Bureau & Lee County Economic Development Office