Put Southwest Florida on Your Hot List for 2026
Is it only coincidence that National Florida Day (January 25) and National Plan for Vacation Day (January 27) are just two days apart? As you map out your warm-weather getaway plans for the year, we can suggest a hundred different reasons to include Fort Myers’ islands, beaches and neighborhoods — but we’ll keep it to just five for now.
It’s a perfect place to celebrate in 2026.
Whether you’re looking forward to a special anniversary, considering an easy-to-reach destination wedding, or simply want to enjoy much-needed time with your friends and family, 2026 is your year to celebrate. And if you need a reason to go, we’ve got events throughout the year that pack even more festivities into your vacation, from ArtFest's 25th anniversary in February to the popular Island Hopper Songwriter Fest in September. Find more Fort Myers events worth traveling for.
There’s zero-stress planning.
Your trip here doesn’t require a whole lot of planning. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is conveniently located about 20 miles from Fort Myers Beach and 24 miles from Sanibel Island. We’re also only a 2-hour drive from Tampa, 2.5 hours from Fort Lauderdale or Miami, or 3 hours from Orlando. Once you arrive, getting around is just as straightforward: In addition to renting a car, there are also LeeTran public transportation, well-connected bike trails, and ferry services and water taxis.
We have white-sand beaches for miles.
Treat yourself to a vacation that looks like it came from a postcard and feels like you’re on a far-off tropical island, minus the flight time, passports or jet lag. The best beaches in Fort Myers are open and welcoming, including the popular 7-mile stretch of Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island and the seashell-filled shores of Bowman’s Beach Park and Blind Pass Beach Park.
Our waterfront dining is expanding.
New openings and reopened doors promise beautiful waterfront views as you walk, drive or arrive for dockside dining by boat. Marina Cantina Tin Tiki recently opened at Salty Sam’s Marina (in the old Shrimp Dock Bar & Grill space), with an elevated patio offering views of Matanzas Bay and the famous Fort Myers Beach sunset. In Cape Coral, the Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina has opened to welcome food trucks for open-air dining overlooking the Caloosahatchee River.
We’ve had a wave of recognition.
Get here before everyone else! Sanibel Island recently appeared in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers Choice Awards as one of the top islands in the United States, and several of our properties earned their way into the Top Florida Resorts list — The Gasparilla Inn & Club ranked No. 1, and the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs ranked No. 13. Check out all the latest national awards that our hotels, beaches, restaurants and attractions have won, and make sure to experience them during your visit.
