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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2024
CONTACTS: Ray Sarracino, Jackie Parker, Miriam Dotson 239-338-3500
What’s New from Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches
and Neighborhoods
Sea turtle nesting season, tarpon tournaments, Fort Myers Film Festival, Calusa Blueway Challenge
LEE COUNTY, Florida (U.S.A.) – There are endless adventures this month at our parks, art galleries, shops and golf courses. For vacation planning to our islands, beaches and neighborhoods, check out the new 2024 Visitor Guide for everything to assist in making vacation memories. tinyurl.com/VisitorGuide2024
Happening this month
Sea turtle nesting season
May, we witness the beginning of sea turtle nesting season, which runs through Oct. 31. And like our visitors, who return year after year to enjoy our beautiful beaches, the loggerheads return to the same beach time after time to deposit their eggs. Our destination is known for its wildlife. That’s why sea turtle nesting season is so special to those of us who live here as well as to the visitors who travel from all over the world to experience it. This ritual is one of nature’s miracles.
A few facts:
Sea turtles are among the world’s oldest creatures. The seven species that can be found today have been on the earth for about 110 million years.
Most common to our area is the loggerhead sea turtle, which lives to be 40-60 years old. They are big – they weigh 250-400 lbs.
Tips to protect our wildlife
Shield your lighting so that it is not visible from the beach. Sea turtles go toward the light instead of heading for the water.
When enjoying our beaches, take a bag and remove any litter that you may find on your walk. Balloons, plastic bags, foam and other non-degradable pollutants can cause the deaths of sea turtles if mistaken for food.
Enjoy your fun at the beach but be sure to fill any holes when you leave.
Observe a nesting sea turtle from a distance. Don’t shine lights on or around her or she may abandon her effort to nest. Forgo taking photos or using smartphones and stay far away where she cannot see you as she crawls back to the water.
Turtle resources
For more information about sea turtle nesting season and how you can help, contact the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) sccf.org/what-we-do/protect-wildlife/sea-turtle-program or Turtle Time, Inc. at turtletime.org
The 14th annual Fort Myers Film Festival
The Fort Myers Film Festival will be held at venues, including the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, IMAG, Babcock Ranch, BIG ARTS, Alliance for the Arts, Broadway Palm Theater May 22-26, 2024. Details and tickets: fortmyersfilmfestival.com
Plan ahead
Island Hopper named among 10Best
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest was named #4 in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice awards. 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-music-festival-2024
It’s not too early to mark your calendar and begin planning for the 10th annual Island Hopper that takes place in less than five months. From Sept. 20-29 the event brings together more than 100 of BMI’s best singer/songwriters from Nashville and across the country. Live performances will be held on Captiva Island, Cape Coral, downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach. Past Island Hoppers have included singer/songwriters Chris Janson, Kristian Bush of Sugarland, Maren Morris and Midland. Visit islandhopperfest.com and download the app for upcoming announcements.
Accommodations news
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs ranked as the 17th top pool hotel in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Hotel” awards. The awards are based on an evaluation of rankings from awards, hotel class, and guest ratings. travel.usnews.com/hotels/pools-florida-r59
South Seas, Captiva Island
Visit southseas.com for reservations. Resort amenities that are open include Sunset Beach, Yacht Harbour Marina, trolley service and Bayview pool complex with more scheduled for spring and fall openings.
Fins Up! Beach Club opens at Margaritaville Beach Resort at Fort Myers Beach
Resort guests and day pass holders enjoy the amenities of this action-packed aquatic playground situated on the Gulf of Mexico and Matanzas Bay.
margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-beach-resort-fort-myers-beach
Sanibel Moorings Resort, Sanibel Island
The Sanibel Island resort has reopened half of its one- two- and three-bedroom condo suites on the Gulf of Mexico. Each unit includes a living room, dining area, full kitchen and a large, private screened lanai. sanibelmoorings.com
DoubleTree by Hilton Fort Myers at Bell Tower shops in Fort Myers
The 224-room hotel opened with major renovations to the hotel’s lobby, 6,196 square feet of meeting space. Shoeless Joe’s Sports Cafe and deck are being completed. The hotel features refreshed guest rooms, fitness center and heated outdoor tropical pool. hilton.com/en/hotels/fmybtdt-doubletree-fort-myers-at-bell-tower-shops
Attractions news
Steve and Doris Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School has returned to sailing instruction at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach. Celebrating its 60th anniversary year, Offshore Sailing School instructors will teach basic sailing lessons, 3-day Learn to Sail certification courses, as well as its popular Fast Track® to Catamaran Cruising 7-day course, combining learning to sail aboard a Colgate 26 sailboat and training aboard a big yacht, such as a Leopard 40 catamaran.
The sailing school offers the same courses on Captiva Island at 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa aboard a Colgate 26 and 40’ monohull yacht. Coastal and Offshore Passage Making courses are also offered at these Southwest Florida resort locations. Team building and corporate group sailing and racing events are available at both locations aboard a fleet of Colgate 26 sailboats. offshoresailing.com
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium reopens
The museum has reopened its Living Gallery of Aquariums with a mix of mollusks, corals, fish, and other marine life species that were featured pre-hurricane. And there is also much that is new for visitors to enjoy. The surrounding exhibits have been significantly expanded to dive deeper into the biology and behavior of mollusks, the dynamics of their ecosystems, and challenges and successes of their conservation. Species of marine life on exhibit include two-spot octopus, flamingo tongue, disco clam, giant clam, queen conch and others. Select other species, such as the giant pacific octopus, will be added in the near future. shellmuseum.org
“Ding” Darling” is #3 in USA Today Reader’s Choice
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island came in third in the top 10 in USA Today’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best National Wildlife Refuge. 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-national-wildlife-refuge-2024
Sanibel Island’s popular Macintosh Books has reopened in Heart of the Islands shopping center.
Originally opened in 1960, the new location offers more space for books, stationery and events. macintoshbooks.com
Calusa Blueway Challenge
Take the Calusa Blueway Challenge and celebrate 20 years of the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail by checking in at locations along the trail for a chance to win prizes. Earn points as you paddle and check in at attractions, restaurants, parks and nature spots along the trail. Paddle on your own, experience a guided tour, shop at a local business or grab a bite to eat as you explore the 200-mile marked trail that meanders through the back-bay estuaries, rivers, and shorelines of Fort Myers Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods. Complete a certain number of check-ins on the pass to be entered to win a Body Glove iSUP Performer 11’ or a two-night stay at Tarpon Lodge. Details and sign up: visitfortmyers.com/CalusaBluewayChallenge
Sun Saver Passport: Dine, Play, Shop, Sip
This popular, digital savings pass provides instant access to a variety of deals and experiences from area attractions, restaurants and more across four categories: Dine, Play, Shop and Sip. Sign up is simple and free. Passports are instantly delivered to phones via text and email. And there is an option for users to save the pass on their home screen for one-tap access. Sign up now to start saving. visitfortmyers.com/sun-saver-passport
Cape Coral Quest 2.0: Win prizes and explore
Start exploring with the latest pass to earn discounts and rewards in Cape Coral. Known for its unique shopping opportunities, restaurants, and more than 400 miles of canal waterways, the area is full of vibrant culture. Each participating location has a four-digit code somewhere on the property. Answer 20 riddles to be entered to win the grand prize: a two-night stay at The Westin Cape Coral at Marina Village with daily breakfast. Enter all 30 codes and you’ll earn a 2024 Sunsplash Season Pass! Get your pass, check out details and tips at visitfortmyers.com/cape-coral-quest and start participating on any mobile device.
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) news
Breeze Airways has announced its latest crew base in Fort Myers, marking its third hub out of Florida.
“Breeze’s operations from Fort Myers have proven exceptionally popular,” said Breeze Airways president, Tom Doxey, in a statement. “It’s been one of our fastest growing airports, now reaching 19 destinations in less than two years, thanks in large part to our close partnership with the team at Southwest Florida International.”
In October, Breeze will launch twice-weekly service from Manchester, New Hampshire; Newburgh, New York; Lansing, Michigan; Scranton, Pennsylvania; and Bangor, Maine. The airline offers more than a dozen year-round flights to Southwest Florida International Airport.
New air service at RSW
Frontier Airlines
• San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) weekly, starting June 2
• Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) weekly
JetBlue Airways Worcester (ORH) weekly, seasonal
Spirit Airlines San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) weekly, year-round
Breeze Airways
• Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT) weekly, starting Oct. 2
• Stewart/Newburgh, New York (SWF) weekly, starting Oct. 2
• Lansing, Michigan (LAN) weekly, starting Oct. 3
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Pennsylvania (AVP) weekly, starting Oct. 3
• Bangor, Maine (BGR) weekly, starting Oct. 5
For more information, visit flyrsw.com
Restaurants/entertainment news
There’s a new gastropub in downtown Fort Myers: Voodoo Brewing Co. offers craft beer, burgers, a laidback vibe in an industrial setting and provides dog-friendly outdoor seating. Check details at voodoobrewery.com
Try something pink and sweet at Chica Rosa Creperie Café and Champagne Bar at Gulf Coast Town Center in Fort Myers. Enjoy sweet and savory crepes and more. chicarosacafe.com
On Sanibel Island, the Original Cheeburger Cheeburger, named for the immortal “Saturday Night Live” bit when it first opened in 1986, Cheeburger and its new owners added “The Original” to its name when they purchased the business just prior to Hurricane Ian. The new name recognizes the Sanibel restaurant’s lead in a franchise that spread across the nation after it first opened. Located in Tahitian Gardens, Cheeburger debuts a total facelift and a few new surprises on the menu. cheeburger.com
The owners of Island Cow and Mad Hatter restaurants on Sanibel Island have opened the Magic Bus Ice Cream and Caffeine at 362 Periwinkle Way, in the plaza formerly occupied by Lighthouse Café and Sanibel Ice Cream. Longtime island restaurateurs Brian and Elke Podlasek and Max and Bridget Kolshak teamed up after the Podlasek’s Island Cow restaurant was destroyed by fire and the Kolshak’s Mad Hatter was lost to Hurricane Ian. The Magic Bus features vintage VW-inspired decor with indoor and outdoor seating offering an old-fashioned ice cream shop with 24 flavors, a candy store feel, plus modern coffee beverages, refresher drinks and baked goods. themagicbussanibel.com
Southern Living has named iconic Mucky Duck on Captiva Island one of 18 of the best beach bars in the south. A visitor and local favorite that dates back to the 1970s, the British-inspired pub is known for its sunset views, beach location, food and drinks. southernliving.com/beach-bars
Venturino’s Comedy Club has opened in the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Estero. Check schedule and tickets at venturinoscomedyclub.com
In the news
Grownup Travels spreads the word that the welcome mat is out at our beaches, attractions and hotels. grownuptravels.com/fort-myers-beaches-are-back
Forbes.com featured the area in its 4 Must-Visit Places to Visit to Celebrate Earth Day.
forbes.com/sites/sandramacgregor/2024/03/15/manatees-and-more-4-must-visit-destinations-to-celebrate-earth-day
Reader’s Digest loves our beaches
15 best Florida beaches in the publication included Bowman’s Beach on Sanibel Island, Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island, Turner Beach on Captiva Island and Lovers Key. rd.com/list/best-florida-beaches
Annual festivals and events
12th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament, Sanibel Island
May 10
dingdarlingtarpontourney.com
South Seas Tarpon Tournament, Captiva Island
May 17
southseas.com/tarpon
World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament, Boca Grande
May 22-23
bocagrandechamber.com/worlds-richest-tarpon-tournament
14th annual Fort Myers Film Festival
May 22-26
fortmyersfilmfestival.com
Fringe Fort Myers
May 30-June 2
artinlee.org/experience/fringe
National Seashell Day
June 21
visitfortmyers.com/national-seashell-day
Fort Myers Beach 4th of July parade and fireworks
July 4
fortmyersbeach.org/events
4th of July Red, White & BOOM! in Cape Coral
July 4
capeboom.com
MangoMania
July 13
Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church, Bokeelia,
pineislandchamber.org/chamber-events/mangomania
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest
Sept. 20-29
island-hopperfest.visitfortmyers.com
FITMIX FEST, downtown Fort Myers
Sept. 27-29
fitmixfest.com
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge “Art in the Wild”
Oct. 19
dingartinthewild.com
Cape Coral Oktoberfest
Oct. 18-20 and 25-27
capecoraloktoberfest.com
34th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship
Fort Myers Beach
Nov. 21-24
fortmyersbeach.org/sandsculpting-2024
Sanibel Island Writers Conference
November TBA
fgcu.edu/siwc
Holiday Luminary and kick-off to Sanibel Island 50th anniversary
Dec. 6-7
Sanibel and Captiva islands
13-month celebration of Sanibel’s 50th anniversary.
sanibel-captiva.org/50th-anniversary
40th annual Cape Coral Art Festival and Market Place
January 2025
capecoralartfestival.com
34th Tour De Cape in Cape Coral
January 2025
Rotary Park
tourdecape.net
ArtFest Fort Myers, downtown Fort Myers
Feb. 1-2, 2025
artfestfortmyers.com
87th Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, Fort Myers
February 2025
edisonfestival.org
23rd annual Burrowing Owl Festival, Cape Coral
Wildlife and Environmental Expo
February 2025
Rotary Park
ccfriendsofwildlife.org/burrowing-owl-festival-2
26th annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival, Fort Myers
March 2025
Fort Myers Regional Library, downtown Fort Myers
readfest.org
88th annual Sanibel Shell Festival, Sanibel Island
March 2025
Community House
sanibelcommunityhouse.net/event/87th-annual-sanibel-shell-festival/2024-03-08
Sanibel Shell Show, Fort Myers
March 2025
Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort
sanibelshellclub.com/6306-2
Fort Myers Beach annual Lion’s Club Shrimp Festival
March 8-9, 2025
fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com
Southwest Florida Ag Expo
Feb. 27-March 9, 2025
Lee County Civic Center Complex
swflagexpo.com
ECHO Global Food and Farm Festival, North Fort Myers
March 2025
echonet.org/events/global-food-and-farm-festival
Spring training
Boston Red Sox
February-March 2025
mlb.com/redsox/schedule/2024-02
JetBlue Park, Fort Myers
Minnesota Twins
February -March 2025
mlb.com/twins/schedule/2024-02
Lee Health Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
Concert in the Park, Cape Coral
April 2025
Four Freedoms Park
capeconcerts.com
Florida Lighthouse Day
April 2025
Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum and Gasparilla Island Lighthouse
bocagrandehappenings.org/events/its-florida-lighthouse-day
6th annual Rock the Ages Music Festival
April 2025
Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers
rockthearches.com
10th annual Bonita Springs Film Festival
April 2025
Prado Stadium
bonitaspringsfilmfestival.org
36th annual “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival, Fort Myers
April 2025
Lakes Park
dingdarlingday.com
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods includes: Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Matlacha, Boca Grande & Outer Islands, North Fort Myers, Alva, Buckingham and Lehigh Acres. For more information, go to visitfortmyers.com.
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