Ft. Myers Layover

Jan 22

Ft. Myers has been an interesting town. Having the boat docked right downtown at the Municipal Yacht Basin is providing a first hand chance to do lots of exploring.

"As You Wish" secure in her Ft. Myers slip for Jan.

Nicely restored downtown  main street (1st Street) is a collection of 2-3 story restored  buildings from the 20's-30's.   Downtown was forgotten for years and then finally rediscovered and  repurposed as the "Downtown River District"  with  shops and restaurants for all the seasonal visitors.   Unfortunately, most of the remaining historical properties are gone - abandoned, demolished, turned into condo properties.   At one time an entire line of majestic homes lined the riverfront on "Millionaires Row".   Now just The Burrough's house remains in that area as a museum showcasing  a bygone error.   I shouldn't say it's the only remaining house - on the other side of town, in what was considered the country back in the day,  are the Edison and Ford Winter estates.  Now also museums.

The Burrough's House

Art Deco Edison Theatre - repurposed as a lawyers office

Overall, lot's to do here for snowbirds like us.

Downtown streets are often closed off for locally sponsored festivities.  Since we've been here it's been blocked off for the following:
- New years eve ball drop and fireworks
- "Rise" Womens Conference block party and  DJ
- Ft Myers Seafood and Music Festival
- Music on Main 3rd Fri each month -  Jan .featured numerous Country/Western Bands
- Bacon Jam Festival
- Celtic Festival
- Classic Car Show (mostly muscle cars from the 60's and 70's)
- Art Walk

Uncommon Friends statue - Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harry Firestone

Downtown - nice venue for a car show

Only Porsche at the show, but a nice one - 356 Speedster

Culturally we've:
- Walked the Edison/Ford Estates for the  Christmas lights display
- Toured the historic Burrough's house
- Attended an Improv Show at the Fl. Laboratory Theatre
- Visited the Sanibel Island Lighthouse

Improv Show

Martha with Mina Edison in the gardens

The Sanibel Lighthouse - probably one of the least picturesque in America

The nature lovers in us:
- Visited The  Florida Native Butterfly Society Conservatory and watched a butterfly emerge from it's coccon and saw others released into the greenhouse for display.
- Toured  the Ding Darling Nature Refuge
- Watched Manatees swimming in the FPL spillway at Manatee Park
- Hiked the 6 Mile Cypress Slough
- Went shell hunting on the Sanibel Island Beach - heralded as the best shelling beach in America

Zebra Longwings - the Florida state butterfly

Cypress Trees in the slough

Manatees hunkering down in the warm water

Crocodile Dundy got nothing on me!

For fun we've also
- Visited several  local microbreweries - Millenium Brewery. Ft Myers Brewery  and Coastal Dayz
- Watched the sunset  from the rooftop bar at the Firestone Restaurant
- Dined at the marina's monthly  cookout with other boaters
- Eaten way too many donuts from Bennetts's bakery - including made to order beneigh's (only available Sat and Sun from 8-11 but oh so yummy)
- Found a pretty darn good NY style pizza place on a side street - even sells by the slice!!
- Attended numerous Looper docktail get togethers

Docktails!!

Sunset on the Firestone rooftop bar

Sunset

A different beautiful sunset every day!!