Fort Myers Beach

Fort Myers Beach runs the length of Estero Island, seven miles of soft white sand facing the Gulf with Estero Bay and the back bay behind it. Times Square anchors the north end near Matanzas Pass and the shrimp boat docks; head south and it quiets down toward Lovers Key State Park and the preserves at the island's far end.

It is an easy base for the rest of the coast. Sanibel and Captiva are just across the causeway, Naples is under an hour south, and the region's main airport is a short drive inland. Most of our homes here sit on gulf-access canals with docks, so the boat and the beach are both part of the same day.