The best part about our Fort Myers vacation rentals and the Fort Myers area is there’s always something to do. Fort Myers, Florida is near the famous Sanibel and Captiva barrier islands, the laidback Bonita Springs, and Naples, a popular shopping and dining destination.
One of Fort Myers’ main attractions is downtown Fort Myers, also known as the River District.
Things to Do in Downtown Fort Myers
Downtown Fort Myers is full of historic buildings and each one of them is a work of art. They’re colorful and the Spanish influence adds a charming and whimsical feel. Downtown is full of art galleries, shops, eclectic boutiques, great restaurants and a live theater. Royal Shell offers a variety of Fort Myers vacation rentals near the River District.
No matter what time of year you vacation in Fort Myers, you can catch Art Walk, Mystery Walk, or Music Walk, three popular events loved by locals and tourists alike.
There are always other events going on as well. Downtown Fort Myers is known for its eclectic festivals such as Taco Fest and Smoke on the Water (a barbeque-themed festival).
Art Walk
This popular downtown event is free and falls on the first Friday of the month. The event lasts from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and features meet the artists receptions, art demonstrations and new exhibitions. Make sure you visit the galleries, and see the exhibitions and performances.
Mystery Walk
Held on the second Friday of every month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Mystery Walk is a great event for families because it’s geared toward a variety of age groups. Another cool feature is that Mystery Walk’s theme is constantly changing. In the past, they’ve had circus, cowboy and electronic dance music themes. Free to play, start with registration at First and Hendry streets, in front of Iberia Bank, where you’ll receive your scorecard and first clue.
Music Walk
If you’re a fan of live music and you want to see downtown Fort Myers open up and come alive, head to the River District every third Friday of the month. Local and regional musicians crowd the streets, and almost every type of genre is represented from jazz and blues to rock ’n’ roll. Music walk is free and lasts from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Fort Myers Sports Teams
If you are a baseball or hockey fan, Fort Myers is home to the Florida Everblades minor league hockey team and the Fort Myers Miracle minor league baseball team. Additionally, the City of Palms is the official Spring Training home of the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins. Spring training usually kicks off in the middle of February and continues until just before Opening Day of the regular baseball season during the first week of April.
Fenway South
JetBlue Park hosts the Boston Red Sox for Spring Training games each year. The stadium was even modeled after Fenway Park in Boston. It includes the Green Monster, old-time manual scoreboard and a smaller version of Yawkey Way.
Sometimes called Fenway South, JetBlue Park also incorporates elements from Florida. Seashells were incorporated into the park’s brick foundation and the roof’s architecture was designed to mimic cypress trees off in the distance. Environmentally-sustainable features are assimilated throughout the park as well.
Minnesota Twins Hammond Stadium
You can find Hammond Stadium within the CenturyLink Sports Complex. There are also five additional fields within the complex along with the Twins Player Development Academy.
When you visit Hammond Stadium, you’ll feel like you are at Louisville’s Churchill Downs, as it was designed with the famous racetrack in mind. The park also features a large fountain and waterfall directly outside the main gates.
The Minnesota Twins have trained at the CenturyLink Sports Complex since 1991. The ballpark is also where the Fort Myers Miracle play. They are a Class A-Advanced Florida State League team. The Complex hosts the Gulf Coast League Twins as well.
Florida Everblades
The home of the Florida Everblades, Hertz Arena, is not far from Florida Gulf Coast University. The minor league team is affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Everblades were formed in 1998 and so far, they’ve only missed the playoffs once.
Visit Hertz Arena and go ice skating, play in an arcade or catch a good old-fashioned hockey game. It’s a guaranteed fun night out for everybody.
