Sometimes, the best kept secrets are right under our noses. I have lived in Florida for more than 20 years and have explored this state from top to bottom from Pensacola to Dry Tortugas and everywhere in between. Yet, every day I am learning something new about the Sunshine State. I’m guessing there are thousands of lesser known gems and secrets waiting to be experienced. Knowing who to ask and how to find these treasures is the challenge.
A new guidebook, called 100 Things to do in Fort Myers & Sanibel Before You Die, reveals some of Lee County’s secrets and must-see activities. It was written by Nancy Hamilton who spent more than two decades sharing the destination with the world in her role with the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel Visitor & Convention Bureau which is Lee County’s tourism office. Prior to her nearly 25 years with Lee County, she worked for the Chamber of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers and the Naples Daily News.
“I really wanted to give back to the tourism community that gave me a career for all those years,” Nancy said when asked why she wrote the book, “It was the people and places I got to know that were just outstanding and I wanted to share the information I had about this.”
Did you know a Christian ministry formed an organization to fight world hunger in North Fort Myers? It’s called the Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO Global Farm) and the public can tour and see some of the agricultural solutions being taught in more than 180 countries.
Or, established in 1898, the Red Coconut RV Park is one of the few remaining oceanfront campgrounds in the state? Mina Edison, wife of Thomas Edison, held ladies’ teas in the property’s pavilion.
And a utopian communal society called the Koreshan Unity Settlement was established in the mid-1890s in Estero? The last Koreshan member passed away in 1982 and part of that settlement can be viewed at Koreshan State Park.
The 142-page guidebook shares more of these gems and is an excellent resource for daytrips and getaways to Lee County. The guide is divided into sections the sections of food and drink, music and entertainment, sports and recreation, culture and history, and shopping and fashion. Tips, fun facts and recommended itineraries are included, too.
100 Things to do in Fort Myers & Sanibel Before You Die was released by Reedy Press in January and due to demand, it is already being reprinted. The guidebook retails for $16 and is available at local and online retailers. For a personalized copy, contact the author directly, 100thingsfortmyerssanibel@gmail.com. For book updates, search for “100 Things Fort Myers Sanibel” on Facebook.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to support this blog, my traveling habit, and my special-needs dog.
Thanks for sharing.