Like most vacationers that head to south Florida, we have normally stayed on the Fort Lauderdale/Miami side of the state and headed south from there to the keys. This will be our first time to explore the opposite side of the Everglades. From Fort Myers to the south, there are numerous islands and beach towns for us to explore. This map will give you an idea of the general area.
Our first island to visit was Pine Island. At about 17 miles long, we drove the entire length and stopped on each end. Most of the island has a rural landscape where the speed of life takes a back seat to independence, peace and quiet. We passed by acres and acres of land owned by palm tree growers and other farmers.
I saw an endless number of ospreys flying above the car during the entire length of the island. With a large portion of land designated for nature preserves, it didn’t surprise me. Once we got to the south end, we stopped for some delicious BBQ pork nachos. Luckily it was warm enough to sit outside and enjoy the sunshine.
At the opposite end, another cute restaurant stood in a sandy area with several public docks nearby. There is a ferry that takes people over to a smaller, remote island to the west. I am very tempted to drive back one day and hop on the boat and check it out.
We spent one day at Fort Myers Beach. I was surprised at the number of people in their swimsuits after the cold front passed through. The beach was not crowded at all. We walked four miles and admired the homes and condo buildings while saying hello to all the doggies that we passed.
After several days of driving past the signs to the Edison and Ford Estates, we decided to take a tour of the properties. We opted for the audio tour so we could look around at our own pace and avoid any crowds.
Henry Ford first visited Thomas Edison’s winter estate and bought the house next door several years later. They both built caretaker cottages for the family that would keep up the property all year long. The Fords only came down from Michigan for a couple of weeks each February.
Edison’s estate included an attached guest house, dock, and pool. Back in the day, the garden was absolutely beautiful as well. Both properties sit right on the Caloosahatchee River, which leads out to the Gulf of Mexico.
I was amazed to learn about all of the research and inventions that Thomas Edison created. Across the street from his home, we toured a lab where he studied plants. He employed 80 people that helped grow and examine the rubber content of all kinds of plant species.
The town is called the City of Palms because of Edison’s contributions to the beautification of the roads and parks. Driving down McGregor Boulevard felt like going back in time. So tropical!
Just to the east of downtown is a very popular park. Lately it is even more popular due to the cold front last week. Since the water temperature dropped by ten degrees, the manatees are coming up the river to stay warm.
People are flocking here to see over 100 manatees. A power plant discharges warm water into the canal which keeps the water temperature above 70, even on the coldest days of winter.
Just a short walk from the parking lot is a walking path by the canal. Wrought iron fencing keeps everyone away from the water and “don’t feed the manatees” signs are posted all around.
We have never seen so many manatees in one place. Their cute noses would stick up and several made loud breathing sounds. I was sad to see barnacles on many of these gentle giants and one had a jagged tail that had been injured in the past.
To get a closer look, kayaks and canoes can be rented. I would love to do that on a warmer day, but we had already paid for parking and didn’t have time. We really enjoyed this park and wished we had packed our lunch. It’s totally worth the $2 parking fee.
We have plans to see more of the area and I will take lots of pictures! 2018 has started out great so far!