Cape Coral:

Across the Calosoahatchee River from Fort Myers is the much younger and much larger city of Cape Coral-a haven for boaters. Access to the water is easy in Cape Coral, which lies just up the river from the Gulf of Mexico Those who don’t have their own boats can rent one or, even better, charter a boat that’s piloted by a captain experienced in the shallow, sometimes tricky Southwest Florida waters.
Conceived in the 1950’s as a Mecca for retirees, Cape Coral has come of age as a diverse community of all ages, interests and nationalities. It is Florida’s second largest city land wise, yet many are drawn by the small town feeling it retains. A stroll though Cape Coral’s shops or a stop in one of its restaurants will bring to ear a variety of Spanish and German voices mingled with English and other languages. Visitors and seasonal residents are drawn from around the world to Cape Coral’s friendly and homey environment as well as to its renowned waterfront.

Fort Myers Beach:

Located on Estero Island, often called the world's safest beach, Fort Myers Beach has a wide shoreline that gently slopes into the Gulf. There are no steep drop-offs making it an ideal spot for family vacations. At the north end of the beach, a casual beach village with shops and restaurants is clustered along a tree-lined pedestrian walkway. The south end of the beach provides a wide selection of beach front resorts in addition to Lovers Key State Park. In between, there are parks, recreation areas and marinas where you will find fishing and boating charters that include daytime sightseeing, evening dining and dancing as well as offshore gambling. You'll also find every imaginable water sport available including jet skiing, parasailing, wind surfing, sailing, water skiing and more.

However, activities aren't confined to just the Gulf side of the island. The Matanzas Pass Wilderness Preserve overlooking Estero Bay features more than 40 acres of live oak hammock and 4,000 feet of mangrove shoreline with an abundance of wildlife to enjoy from an elevated boardwalk.