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Big "M" Casino Boat: 450 Harbor Court Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (239) 765-7529
Aboard Southwest Florida's ONLY luxurious 186' gaming yacht you can enjoy Blackjack, Roulette, Let-It-Ride, 3 Card Poker & the Newest and Loosest Slots including Wheel of Fortune, Video Poker & MORE! Superb All You Can Eat Buffet on all cruises, plus, Bingo on all 10:15am Cruises or Fantastic Live Entertainment on all 6pm Cruises you'll find it all right here; You Can Bet On It! The Big "M" Casino sails year round departing from Moss Marine.
VISIT: www.bigmcasino.com

Seminole Indian Casino of Immokalee: 506 S. 1st St., Immokalee. (800) 218-0007.
Video gaming gambling machines, low-stake poker and bingo. There's a restaurant, bar and nightly entertainment. Free shuttle buses leave from a number of locations in Lee County. Call for information.
VISIT: www.theseminolecasino.com

The Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track: 10601 Bonita Beach Rd., Bonita Springs. Exit 18 off I-75. Phone: (239) 992-2411.
Live greyhound racing, plus simulcasting of horse, greyhound and harness racing from tracks around the country on TVs. Admission is $2 for the grandstand, where there are benches, chairs, picnic tables and a snack bar; $3 for the clubhouse, with a restaurant and box seats. The track opens daily at 11:30 a.m. and closes about 4 p.m. It reopens at 6:30 p.m. and the last race starts at about 10:30 p.m.
VISIT: www.naplesfortmyersdogs.com

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Attractions
Thomas A. Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates. Two of the area's most popular attractions are the homes of these next-door neighbors at 2350 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers. The turn-of-the-century homes on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River are open daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Daily tours are a combination of both estates and last 90 minutes. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Sunday hours are noon to 5:30 p.m. Two in-depth tours -- historical and horticultural -- also are offered at additional cost.

Everglades Wonder Gardens features a large collection of Florida Wildlife in a beautiful jungle-like tropical setting. You can see cougars, hawks, deer, will boar, otters, flamingos and many other native animals. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Christmas. The last tour leaves at 4:15 p.m. Located at 27180 Old U.S. 41 in downtown Bonita Springs. Phone 992-2591.

Ostego Bay Marine Foundation on San Carlos Island at Fort Myers Beach. Features marine exhibits such as a touch tank and aquarium. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Located at 718 Fisherman's Wharf. Phone 765-8101.

If you're really into shelling, you'll want to visit the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers. This big complex has thousands of rare and exotic shells, corals, a video arcade, African lounge, restaurants, pick-a-pearl aquarium, bumper boats, sponges and fossils. Free guided tours. The South Florida Railroad Museum is here also. 2787 North Tamiami Trail. Phone 995-2141.

Six-Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a 2,000-acre wetland ecosystem and home to a diversity of plants and animals, some of which are endangered. Features a mile-long boardwalk through the swamp, where one can see alligators, turtles and birds. Located on Six-Mile Parkway at Penzance Road north of Daniels Parkway. Phone: 338-3300.

J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a 5,000-acre sanctuary for native and migratory birds on Sanibel Island, is a favorite attraction for both residents and visitors. Features a five-mile drive through unspoiled mangrove swamp and island uplands, foot trails and a canoe trail. The Visitor Center just off Sanibel-Captiva Road offers literature and exhibits. Excellent opportunity to see alligators up close -- but don't feed them.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, owned and operated by the National Audubon Society, teems with native and migratory birds and other wildlife along two miles of nature trails through the largest virgin bald cypress forest in the United States. Located southeast of Bonita Springs, 15 miles east of I-75, Exit 17. Phone: 657-3771.

The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is a complex of buildings housing many facilities connected by wooded walks and decks. Exhibits deal with wildlife, fossils and native habitats. The Audubon Aviary is home to many injured birds. The planetarium offers star shows, among other interesting events. Located in Fort Myers at 3450 Ortiz Ave. near I-75 Exit 22. Phone: 275-3435.

The Bailey Matthews Shell Museum is the only museum in the United States solely devoted to seashells. It features educational displays on local shells and shells of the world. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Located at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road on Sanibel Island. Phone: 395-2233.

The Fort Myers Historical Museum, housed in the restored historic railroad depot in Fort Myers, displays a fine collection of items from Southwest Florida's history. Open daily. Located at 2300 Peck St. Phone: 332-5955.

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Fort Myers Beach Beaches

Lynn Hall Memorial Park, the main public beach, is the central attraction at Fort Myers Beach. It features a newly improved playground for kids, fishing pier, picnic huts, benches, a new information kiosk and loads of shops and restaurants at the Time Square pedestrian mall area, which has lights, palm trees and outdoor tables.

Bowditch Point Park, just up the road at the north end of Fort Myers Beach, is an unspoiled, uncrowded, wide sandy beach with lots of native vegetation. The peaceful 17-acre park fronts both the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Amenities include restrooms, showers, changing rooms, picnic tables, grills, hiking paths, benches, bike racks, a handicap-accessible boardwalk to the beach and a beautiful courtyard pavilion. Admission is free.

Beach Access Points Along Estero Boulevard. In many places along Estero Boulevard, the main road running the length of Fort Myers Beach, you'll see white fabric signs denoting beach access points. 

These are great places to go and just enjoy some peace and quiet, since the beach is much less crowded in these areas. They're often isolated, so bring a cooler. Some are just a short walk from cafes. Shelling is better along these areas than at the main beach.

Along The Island Chain. 
For even quieter and less populated beach going, you can take Estero Boulevard south to the Big Carlos Pass Bridge, the beginning of an island chain that extends far to the south. Along this island chain, which many consider the scenic jewel of Southwest Florida, you'll find the  Lover's Key State Recreation Area, with acres of land to explore through nature trails. Fishing is allowed under the boardwalks and at the northern end of the park, which borders Big Carlos Pass. The Gulf of Mexico beach is pristine and the water is clear. Picnic tables are available.

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Sanibel Beaches

Causeway Beaches. Great for swimming, fishing, windsurfing and picnicking. Pull your vehicle right to the waters edge. There is no fee when you park on the causeway beach. Located along both sides of the road. Restrooms are available.

Lighthouse Beach & Fishing Pier. This is the site of our historic functioning lighthouse. Located on the eastern tip of Sanibel, wrapping around to the bay side. This is where the t-dock-fishing pier is and a boardwalk nature trail winding through native wetlands. Turn left on Periwinkle Way from the Causeway Road.

Gulfside City Park. Picnic tables and shady pines welcome you, located mid-island on Algiers Lane off Casa Ybel Rd. Mid Island.

Tarpon Bay Beach. Easy parking for recreational vehicles, and a short hike from the parking lot to the beach. Located at the south end of Tarpon Bay Rd. at West Gulf Drive. Mid Island

Bowmans Beach. Pristine and quiet, you won't find any hotels here. Park and walk over a bridge to secluded white beach. There is an outdoor shower located at this beach. This is the only beach with barbecue grills. Located off Sanibel-Captiva Rd., turn left on Bowmans Beach Rd. Up Island.

Captiva Beaches

Turner Beach (Blind Pass). Located on both the Sanibel and Captiva side of the Blind Pass Bridge, this beach is popular with shellers and fishermen. Signs warn against swimming because of the swift currents. Located on Sanibel-Captiva Rd. at Blind Pass Bridge.

Captive Beach. A great place to watch the sunset. There are no restroom facilities here and parking is very limited. Located at the end of Captiva Dr. Parking is free.

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Watersports
Water is a big part of what a Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, or Captiva vacation is all about and there are a number of boat rental businesses handy to provide you a means of getting out on it.

There are a number of marinas with charters and boat rentals available, including offshore fishing for the big ones!

Also, in a number of locations along the beach at Fort Myers Beach you'll find vendors renting jet skis waverunners, dolphin tours, and parasailing.

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Daytripping
Babcock Wilderness Adventures offers a glimpse of the real, old Florida. Billed as Florida's #1 Eco Tour, the Crescent B Ranch, a working range owned by the Babcock family, sprawls across 90,000 acres in Charlotte County. On the 90-minute tour, you'll travel in shaded comfort through a Florida cypress swamp aboard a swamp buggy as guides make the woods come alive.

Alligators abound, often coming within a few yards of the buggies. You'll see woodland animals such as panthers, deer and bison up close and natural. There's even a three-horned cow named Lulu.

Later, browse through the Babcocks' Old Country Store, or sample native Cracker cuisine in the food service area, a rustic, natural wood building nestled under tall southern slash pines. Or visit the bunkhouse, for years the cultural center of the Crescent B.

The entrance is on State Road 31 about seven miles north of the Lee County Civic Center in North Fort Myers. Tours are by reservation and every day is different, call for rates. Phone: 1-800-500-5583.

On your way to the Babcock Ranch, you might stop off at the Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Center, just off State Road 31, which has a host of animals, many of which are retired circus performers. Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. Donations are requested. Five miles north of the Lee County Civic Center on S.R. 31 in North Fort Myers. Phone 543-1130.

Wooten's Total Everglades Adventure, on the Tamiami Trail at Ochopee south of Naples, is an animal sanctuary and exhibit offering airboat and swamp buggy tours through the swamp. At Wooten's compound, you can see exhibits of native animals, 'gator wrestling and a lake so populated with alligators you could walk across it on them and stay dry (not suggested). Take I-75 south to Exit 15, then S.R. 951 south to the Tamiami Trail. Turn east and go to Ochopee, which, incidentally, has the smallest post office in the United States. Open daily. Children under 6 free. Tours leave every 30 minutes. Gift, souvenir shop and snack bar.

Everglades National Park and Boat Tours feature a scenic boat ride through the famed ecosystem. Tours include the Ten Thousand Islands, wilderness and shelling trips. Located just south of Everglades City, a short drive from Naples. Phone (800)445-7724.

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Festivals
Southwest Florida is home to more than 30 festivals during the winter season. Here are several we think most interesting:

The Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival celebrates the Beach as home of one of the nation's largest shrimp fleets. The event, sponsored by the Fort Myers Beach Lions Club, includes an early morning "Shrimp Run" for elementary school children and the Queen's Dance that evening.

A 5-K Run  kicks of the main weekend on a Saturday in mid-March, with a parade and the crowning of the festival queen. In the afternoon a shrimp boil lasts until early evening.

The shrimp boil gets underway again in the morning on Sunday at the public park, along with a blessing of the shrimp fleet. In addition to those events, there is an arts and crafts show.

Except for the parade, it all happens at the Lynn Hall Memorial Park at the public beach and pier.

The Edison Festival of Light is one of the area's largest and most celebrated annual events, commemorating the birthday of the area's most famous winter resident, Thomas A. Edison. The festival features three weeks of events in February, culminating with the spectacular Parade of Light  through downtown Fort Myers.

Main events include opening ceremonies; a gala ball, a fashion show, the Edison Festival 5-K Race, and Crafts on the River A complete list of events is available from the Edison Festival of Light Office. Phone: (941) 334-2999.

Labelle Swamp Cabbage Festival: February.  Annual festival celebrating "old Florida," with a parade, food, arts and crafts booths and contests under towering, spreading live oaks in Barron Park at LaBelle. The featured dish, of course, is swamp cabbage, a right tasty concoction of boiled and seasoned heart of the Sabal, or cabbage palm, which also is the state tree. About an hour's drive from the Beach and makes a great day trip. Phone: (941)675-0125.

Everglade's Seafood Festival at Everglades City. About a two-hour drive from the Beach but well worth it. Music, entertainment and an arts and crafts fair. Seafood platters featuring stone crab, for which the area is famous.

German-American Social Club Fests celebrate the German-American heritage with German food and beer February, March and April. Hundreds of folks have attended these rollicking affairs for many years. German-American Social Club, 2101 Pine Island Rd., Cape Coral. 283-1400.

Annual Sanibel Shell Fair: March. Show features shell displays and crafts with prizes awarded. Spectacular displays of shells from local waters and all over the world. Food and entertainment. Sanibel Community Center, Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island. Phone: 472-2155.

Bonita Springs Tomato Seafood Festival: March. Bonita Springs celebrates its history with food and product booths. Local bands, cloggers and square dancers perform throughout the day. Phone: 992-2556 or 992-2943.

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Shooting Ranges
Telegraph Cypress Field Club, located in the pine woods of Charlotte County, is a member gun club but is open to the public. It offers one skeet range, one NSCA 5-stand, two sporting clays courses, a trap range and a rifle/pistol range. 45501 Bermont Rd, Punta Gorda, FL 33982. To get there from Fort Myers: Take I-75 to Exit 29; go east on U.S. 17 to County Road 74 (Bermont Road) then right 19 miles to S.R. 31. Go past 31 three miles to entrance, which is on the right. Phone: (941) 575-0550. Call for reservation.

Port of The Islands Gun Club is attached to the Port of the Island Resort on the Gulf of Mexico. Both are on U.S. 41 south of Naples. The club offers four skeet and three trap fields and a pistol/rifle range. Phone: (239) 642-8999.

Port Arms Indoor Gun Range sells firearms and offers a 25-yard pistol range, NRA certified instructors and gunsmithing services. 3685 Fowler St. in Fort Myers. Phone: 275-4867.

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Bars and Restaurants
There are numerous restaurants and lounges throughout the islands serving a complete range of foods from finger foods to gourmet, Barefoot bars to tie and jacket establishments abound.

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Fleamarkets/Shopping
For general shopping, Lee County has all the standard offerings. You can find about anything you're looking for somewhere in the area. The Edison Mall, at Cleveland Avenue and Colonial in Fort Myers, is the central, big mall, featuring major anchor stores such as Sears, JCPenny, Dillard's, Burdines, The Gap and a slew of others. There's a Wal-Mart SuperStore five miles from the beach. Major supermarkets such as Winn-Dixie, Publix and Albertsons are 10 minutes or less from the beach. And at the Beach itself you'll find the Topps Supermarket along with the newly opened Publix on the street side of Mid Island Marina and enough souvenir and T-shirt shops to go broke in. 

Fleamasters' Giant Flee Market at 4135 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in Fort Myers hosts more than 100 vendor's shops, selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to silk flowers, kitchen utensils and life and casualty insurance. It's open year-round every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone: 334-7001.

Ortiz Flee Market on Ortiz Boulevard east of Fort Myers is an outdoor bazaar emphasizing locally grown produce. There are vendors selling everything from old gramophone records to used jeans, new clothing and western wear. More old, American-made and campy stuff than Fleamasters. Open Friday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Shoppers Village : Located at McGregor Boulevard and College Parkway in Fort Myers, it's more a craft market than a flea market, but there's also sportswear, jewelry, antiques and tools. Open Thursday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Service Organizations
American Legion Post 274 . First and third Monday, 8 p.m. Auxiliary meets second and fourth Monday, 8 p.m. 899 Buttonwood, San Carlos Island. Phone: 463-6591.

Veterans of Foreign Wars . First and third Thursday, 8 p.m. Auxiliary, weekly dinners, music. 16701 Pine Ridge Road. Phone: 466-6400.

Veterans Club of America . Second Monday, 7 p.m. 16701 San Carlos Blvd. Phone: 466-3177.

Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge 362 . Corner Summerlin Road and San Carlos Blvd. Phone: 466-6363.

Fort Myers Beach Shrine Club . Second Thursday, 8 p.m. 850 San Carlos Blvd. Phone: 463-6627.

Kiwanis Club of Fort Myers Beach . P. O. Box 2507, Fort Myers Beach 33932. Meets Fridays at 7 a.m. at Island Pancake House. Phone: 454-8090.

Knights of Columbus . Meets at Church of the Ascension, Fort Myers Beach. Phone: 463-6754.

Lions Club of Fort Myers Beach . Second and fourth Wednesday 6:30 p.m. social; 7:30 p.m. dinner. American Legion Post 274. Phone: 466-4228.

Loyal Order of Moose . Second and fourth Thursday, 8 a.m.; Auxiliary, first and third Wednesday, 8 p.m. 19090 San Carlos Blvd. Phone: 463-7733.

Rotary Club of Fort Myers Beach. P. O. Box 2775, Fort Myers Beach 33932. Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. Phone: 454-6789

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