We are traveling to the west coast of Florida for the first time this February. We will be spending just a week, and have decided to spend three days in the Sarasota and the other four in the Fort Myers area. We plan on maybe shopping in Fort Myers(as well as seeing the Ford and Edison estates) taking a day and driving down to Naples and the Everglades, and some beach time, probably in Sanibel. Which area, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach or Sanibel, would be the best to stay in? I am leaning toward Sanibel, because it sounds really nice, a place where we could probably find enough to do even if we decided not to do some of these other things. But we are more active people than laidback (we are more of the type to walk the beach, than to put up a chair and lounge around in the sun)and tend to like to be somewhat busy, so I am not sure that Fort Myers might not be a better choice. Doesn't Sanibel pretty much die down in the evenings? How about Fort Myers or Fort Myers Beach? I am not necessarily talking about bars and that kind of nightlife, just something to do in the evenings. Any opinions or suggestions?

I'm not sure what kind of shopping you are talking about, but the real shopping area (other than very high end which is primarily in Naples) is centered around South Ft. Myers and Estero -- the huge outlet shops, Coconut Point, also with its many restaurants, and the Town Center near the airport.

What about Bonita Beach or Vanderbilt in North Naples? Somewhat between Naples and Ft. Myers and very convenient to all that shopping, restaurants, etc.

While I love Sanibel, I still think of it as a place to lounge on the beach and not do a lot. It's a real pain (and expense) going back and forth off the island through all the seasonal traffic.

Shopping-wise, we tend to prefer antique malls or flea markets, though we might find some interest in the outlet mall. I had thought of Sanibel, because I had thought that it would give us a chance to lay back some, the thought of walking the beach or riding a bicycle aound the island sounds very appealing. Yet we would be close enough to the other stuff, if we choose to do any of it (the things that I mentioned are more of just choices than things that I necessarily have to do.

Sanibel is wonderful, but if you're looking for "action" you won't find it. There are wonderful restaurants to go to. I think of Sanibel as paradise. Can't wait to go in a few weeks. My evenings are spent in the hot tub overlooking the gulf. If you want laid back laziness with very nice people this is the place for you. Did you know that there are no traffic lights on Sanibel! They don't need them. You can take Fort Myers anytime but paradise is only here once a year for me!

"Did you know that there are no traffic lights on Sanibel! They don't need them."

That may be true, but don't be mislead into thinking it's because there's so little traffic. The real reason is that there is primarily just one major road the entire length of the island and in high season it is bumper to bumper traffic -- but since it all goes in only the two directions, there is no need for traffic lights, and more importantly something that local residents want to avoid -- like many other modern "conveniences" or "annoyances".