Fort Myers magazine 108604 SWFL brochure - web | Page 56

Begin a lifelong love affair with The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. E very day is the perfect day for love in this romantic sanctuary. Weddings, hon- eymoons or weekends away, all who come to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel find something to have and hold forever. Maybe it’s the way we look at life, the spectacular sun- sets, white sand beaches and warm, Gulf waters. Or maybe there’s just something in the air. Regardless, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sani- bel were made for romance, just as you were made for each other. Find your Place. For those seeking a secluded spot in paradise, literally hundreds of islands dot the sun splashed coastline like tiny jewels –some rustic, uninhabited and accessible only by boat or seaplane, others filled with restaurants, galleries and activities that effortlessly and idyllically blend the best of Old Florida with modern comfort and luxury. Among these islands is the appropriately named Lovers Key, a preferred site for brides dreaming of Photo by Nick Adams a beachside wedding and the party that follows. Named one of Florida’s Top 10 beaches by The Travel Channel and one of the Top 10 romantic beaches by Coastal Living magazine, it’s as far from the crowds as you can get. Hop to other islands for even more alone time. Book a cabin on Cayo Costa and walk on pristine shell-lined beaches. Escape all ties to the mainland and cruise to Cabbage Key or Useppa Island for lunch. Kayak through the heart of Buck Key at sunrise. Hide the day away on Bowman’s Beach, recently named the #1 Secluded Beach by Sherman’s Travel. All of it, each of these incredible experiences exists mere minutes from Southwest Florida International Airport. It's only natural. Beyond the perfect setting for romance, these islands also provide sanctuary to an amazing collection of wildlife. Witness dolphins playing in the wake of your charter boat. Paddle inches from www.fortmyers.org 54 friendly manatee lazily swimming throughout part of the Great Calusa Blueway. Spy over 300 species of birds in the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. Besides the natural beauty of the landscape, your experiences here are the true gifts of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, and the reason Southwest Florida is the place for nature lovers to travel. No matter the occasion, the ways to find romance here are as endless as the horizon. From a simple sunset ceremony on the beach to honeymoons at a luxury resort to a weekend spent on the water, all brides to be should follow their hearts to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. Visit www.fortmyers. org to start planning your vacation today or call 239-332-3624. This article is courtesy of the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau/The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.