Experience Fort Myers & Naples

Between the southern end of Tampa Bay and the northern reaches of the Everglades, the Lower Gulf Coast serves up soft, sandy beaches and pockets of untouched beauty that range from cypress swamps to mangrove-fringed barrier islands. This may have been the last bit of Florida coastline to be settled, but these days it is far from uncivilized. Naples has chichi shops, chic restaurants, and a surplus of golf courses. Up the Coasts, Fort Myers is diligently reshaping itself as an entertainment destination. For a back-to-basics alternative, outdoorsy types can try tranquil Sanibel Island, a must for beachcombers and shell collectors.