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Discover the Sunshine State: Top 7 Fun Facts About Fort Myers, Florida You Can't-Miss!

illustration of fort-myers-florida
Dive into the fascinating world of Fort Myers, Florida, as we uncover little-known tidbits and irresistible nuggets of information that are bound to leave you marveling at this Sunshine State gem!

1. Time Travel by Canoe

Who said you need a DeLorean to travel back in time? Simply grab a paddle and channel your inner explorer: The Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail, a 190-mile marked canoe and kayak trail in Fort Myers, Florida, invites adventurers to traverse coastal waters and inland tributaries of Lee County, where they might encounter a diverse cast of marine life, shore birds, and crustaceans. So leave your flux capacitor at home, and let Lee County Parks & Recreation's tourism-funded trail be your guide to a Southwest Floridian adventure.
Source => visitfortmyers.com

2. Teddy Bear Paradise

Bears galore have found their paradise, but Goldilocks won't feel left out either: Within the Teddy Bear Museum of Naples in Fort Myers, Florida, a collection of over 5,000 unique teddy bears reside, ranging from antique rarities and limited editions to animated displays, captivating the hearts of children and adults alike during their visits.
Source => 239area.com

3. Genius Winter Wonderland

What do you get when you mix a lightbulb creator, a carmaker, and a Floridian paradise? A winter wonderland for geniuses, of course! : Fort Myers is home to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, spanning over 20 acres of gardens and historical buildings, where visitors can explore the impressive residences of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, gawk at the Edison Botanical Research Laboratory, and even splash around in history at the original swimming pool complex.
Source => edisonfordwinterestates.org

4. Edison's Banyan Marvel

In a treet, far far away, where Thomas Edison and Henry Ford dropped their winter socks: Fort Myers, Florida boasts the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, featuring a colossal banyan tree gifted to Edison by Harvey Firestone in 1925. This astounding specimen's aerial roots span 390 feet in circumference, joining the ranks of the rubber family without the need to be the largest banyan in the continental US.
Source => floridamemory.com

Manatee VIP Lagoons

5. Manatee VIP Lagoons

Did Fort Myers and Fort Pierce misplace their Snuffleupagus invitations to the manatee soirée? Well, they certainly know how to keep these gentle giants warm and cozy in their very own VIP lagoon lounges! Here's the lowdown: during winter, the warm waters from power plant outfalls in both Fort Myers and Fort Pierce attract dozens of manatees, delighting visitors at the Manatee Observation and Education Center and providing a truly memorable experience with these majestic creatures.
Source => floridarambler.com

6. Gridiron Gladiators of Fort Myers

When gridiron warriors and pigskin titans unite on the sun-soaked fields of Fort Myers, there emerges a fearsome force worthy of Roman Caesar's approval: The Southwest Florida Gladiators, a semi-pro football juggernaut with four championships, nine consecutive post-season wins, and the first-ever three-peat in FFA/FFA 2.0 history, boast a Herculean 37.9 ppg offense and a seemingly impenetrable 8.9 ppg defense. Ranked #4 in the Elite American Football League, they're all set to conquer their 2023 adversaries, including the Bay Area Reapers and Miami Spartans, with the ferocity of a lion and the precision of a gladius.
Source => southwestfloridagladiators.org

7. Nature's Playground at Buckingham Trails Preserve

In the land where gopher tortoises and indigo snakes play hide and seek, explorers may traverse on foot or by hoof, all while soaking in the sights nature has on display: The Buckingham Trails Preserve in Fort Myers, covering a sprawling 660 acres, is the picturesque backdrop for both native wildlife and adventurous visitors, with 5 miles of multi-use trails coursing through diverse ecosystems like pine flatwoods, wet prairies, and cypress forests.
Source => leegov.com

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