Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Fort Myers Beach

"If you’re looking for a smaller beach, Sanibel Lighthouse Beach is an excellent option. There are bird sanctuaries, modern children’s playgrounds, and RV parking for road trippers looking to get out and do something new. The beach itself is clean, with shaded areas and restrooms, covered cabanas, and picnic areas to enjoy."

"This 32-acre park houses a lighthouse that dates to 1884 and some of the best Sanibel Island beaches. Lighthouse Beach Park offers plenty of space to spread out and walk and look for shells in Sanibel Island. Other activities include picnicking, pier fishing, sailing and windsurfing."

"A beautiful beach with stunning white sands, Gulfside City Park offers both grassy and sandy areas for visitors to spend some time and listen to the waves. This beach, despite being located on a highly popular touristic island, never gets too crowded, so it's a nice spot to visit if you're looking for a little peace and quiet. Restrooms and showers can be found here, and there are also picnic areas and even grills open for public use, so it's a super spot to visit on a sunny weekend or special occasion."

"This 27-acre mid-island Park located on Algiers Lane off of Casa Ybel Road goes by two names, Gulfside City Park and also Algiers Beach after the road it’s on. It’s a quiet, pet-friendly beach park with plenty of space for kids to run around and pets to play, but it’s also one of our favorite beaches on Sanibel for sunbathing because of its private feel. Algiers Beach is perfect for dog-lovers!"

"Gulfside City Park Beach – known as Algiers Beach to locals – offers a prime spot for picnics under shade trees. Access the beach from boardwalks, and explore the nature trail to see native plants and wildlife. Families also enjoy shelling, dolphin-watching and grilling their favorite foods for lunch or an early dinner."

"Located right near the Sanibel Lighthouse and spread across six lush acres on the island’s east end, this large condo-style resort with a private beach and two heated pools is one of the best hotels on Sanibel Island. Choose from one-, two- or three-bedroom condos, all of which have full kitchens and screened-in first or second-story patios for relaxing outside sans mosquitoes. There’s a marina if you happen to have your own boat in tow."

"The Sanibel Moorings Botanical Gardens are home to six acres of beautiful grounds with hundreds of flowers and tropical plants. Visitors have two options when it comes to seeing the gardens. You can take a 90-minute walking tour with a knowledgeable guide or enjoy a self-guided tour and take as long as you want to walk through."

"Whether you’re a guest or not, head over to the Sanibel Moorings Resort to check out their open-to-the-public six-acres of tropical botanical gardens, which are located near the Sanibel Lighthouse. The gardens include a hibiscus collection and a butterfly garden."

"J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is the premier destination in the area for seeing nature and wildlife. The visitor center, open to the public free of charge, is a great spot to learn about the ecosystems and animals, as well as the history of the refuge's founder, Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling. Informative displays, large picture windows, and the latest wildlife spotting information will get you right up to speed on everything nature related on Sanibel."

"Sanibel Island may be small, but it’s home to the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the country, which takes up an astounding 50 percent of the island."

"We love renting bikes and seeing cities through riding around so when we found out there was a bike path to Sanibel Lighthouse and Beach we knew that would be the way for us to get there. We drove over to Sanibel Island and rented bikes from Billy’s Rental. Billy’s rents a wide range of bikes including those with baby seats, single-speed, trailer attachments for kids and even the weehoo that we rented and used to have Jordyn ride with me. It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen."

"You can’t make a trip to Sanibel Island without visiting the Sanibel Fishing Pier and the Sanibel Lighthouse. At the fishing pier, you’ll get great shots of local fishermen reeling in their catches. While you’re there do some local fishing yourself and get tips from the locals."

"Spanning 50 acres and operated by Lee County, Bowman's Beach is popular for its remote location on the west end of Sanibel away from hotels and other activities. Shells are frequently found on the white sandy beaches at the park, and ambitious visitors can traverse several miles of sand in one day. Barbecue grills and picnic tables are available at Bowman's Beach, and fishing is permitted from the shore with a proper license from the state."

"You’ll find it on the west end of Sanibel, nearly on the way to Captiva. This beach has a good-sized parking lot, but you will have to walk a bit to get to the beach. This is also the only Sanibel beach with barbeque grills, so keep this in mind if you’re planning to grill out."

"Bowman’s Beach may be the most beautiful sight in the region. This acclaimed beach is open from dawn to dusk all year round. While it lacks many conveniences, it makes up for it with gorgeous open beaches great for walking and enjoying some water sports."

"If you’ve gotten enough sun and want a shadier place for a walk, this free park offers a glimpse of what this area look like before development. Trails totaling 1.25 miles extend to the bay through hardwood forest and mangrove swamp."

"Not only is it a free attraction, but this untouched 60-acre sanctuary is home to one of the best beach spots in Fort Myers."

"The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is a wildlife rehabilitation facility that cares for over 3,000 orphaned, injured and sick migratory and native wildlife patients per year. Unlike your typical zoos, this veterinary hospital rehabs these creatures and aims to return them to their natural habitat. To make the most of your visit, join their daily presentations, which are led by a pro."

"The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife is a teaching hospital and visitor education center dedicated to saving wildlife through state-of-the-art veterinary..."

"Newton Park on Fort Myers Beach is a perfect beach for history lovers and families with children!. This historical beach run by the city of Fort Myers Beach is the former beachfront home of Jim and Ellie Newton, who were friends and acquaintances back in the day with Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh, and others he called "Uncommon Friends.". There are restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic tables at the Cottage, and easy beach access."

"Crescent Beach Family Park is actually a little sliver of Fort Myers Beach just south of the Fort Myers fishing pier. But this this section of shoreline is distinguished from the remaining seven miles, because it’s typically where many families hang out – as the name of the park implies. It’s one of the public beaches Fort Myers has that are super family-friendly."

"One of the most under-the-radar places to watch the sunset in Ft Myers Beach is Crescent Beach Family Park. This little slice of land is often overlooked for the larger beaches in the area, including Fort Myers Beach and Bowditch Point Park. That said, Crescent Beach Family Park is still worth a visit."

"A beautiful beach with stunning white sands, Gulfside City Park offers both grassy and sandy areas for visitors to spend some time and listen to the waves. This beach, despite being located on a highly popular touristic island, never gets too crowded, so it's a nice spot to visit if you're looking for a little peace and quiet. Restrooms and showers can be found here, and there are also picnic areas and even grills open for public use, so it's a super spot to visit on a sunny weekend or special occasion."

"This 27-acre mid-island Park located on Algiers Lane off of Casa Ybel Road goes by two names, Gulfside City Park and also Algiers Beach after the road it’s on. It’s a quiet, pet-friendly beach park with plenty of space for kids to run around and pets to play, but it’s also one of our favorite beaches on Sanibel for sunbathing because of its private feel. Algiers Beach is perfect for dog-lovers!"

"Gulfside City Park Beach – known as Algiers Beach to locals – offers a prime spot for picnics under shade trees. Access the beach from boardwalks, and explore the nature trail to see native plants and wildlife. Families also enjoy shelling, dolphin-watching and grilling their favorite foods for lunch or an early dinner."

"This is a museum as well a performing arts center in Pelican Bay. The purpose of this museum was to awaken the love for colors and arts. It is basically a visual arts museum which focuses a lot on the works of modern and contemporary artists."

"call Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery at (239) 463-3909. Learn More about Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery Visit Website for Fort Myers Beach Art Association and Gallery"

"Serving classic American breakfasts for more than two decades, Goldies is one of Naples’ breakfast restaurants that’s a family-owned institution. The all-day breakfast speciality here is the breakfast for two combo which includes corned beef hash, eggs Benedict and country fried steak. It’s one of the few places in Naples where you can still get breakfast for less than $5 plus plentiful portions and smiles."

"At Goldie’s Restaurant, the focus is “great food for everyday people.” Guests can enjoy breakfast all day, and specialties include Goldie’s Breakfast combo, corned beef hash and eggs, eggs Benedict, and country fried steak. Diners also have lots of choices for pancakes, French toast and can create their own omelets. Couples can also share the ultimate breakfast, packed full of signature meal favorites."