Sarasota

Sarasota, the center of the Theater and Arts District, offers a world of experiences, including the stylish and distinct Main Street. Main Street has long been the setting for art festivals, restaurants, and the ever-popular Saturday morning Farmers Market. Just off Main, discover Palm Avenue’s fine art galleries, the famous antique and retro collectible shops of Pineapple Avenue, and the picturesque Sarasota Bayfront. Catch an independent film in the 1920s styling of Burns Court, or watch artists at work in the galleries of Towles Court. Naturalists will love nearby Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, adorned in tropical plants from bamboo to colorful bromeliads to exotic orchids.

Venice

Venice is a cozy, seaside town that has taken great strides to preserve its architectural heritage. Once you've shopped downtown for something new, discover older treasures in the antique district, walk along Venetian Waterway Park, or wet a line from one of the last full-length piers on Florida's west coast. Venice beaches are scoured by world travelers "stooping and scooping" with "Florida snow shovels" for shiny black fossilized teeth of prehistoric sharks. The best spot for specimens is Caspersen Beach, a naturalist's dream of an unspoiled, windswept beach where a nature trail leads through saltwater marshes and tidal flats.

North Port

North Port can have you dipping into the 87-degree therapeutic waters of The Springs to soak away aches and pains of all kinds. Heated from deep within the earth, this two-and-a-half-acre lake cycles nine million gallons of mineral-rich water a day. Paddle amongst the wildlife and natural beauty of the Myakkahatchee River canoe path. Take to the woods and off-road cycle through lush palms and palmettos. The City of North Port offers residences quite neighborhoods, lots of outdoor recreations and great schools.

Englewood

Quiet, unpretentious, and off the beaten path, Englewood offers a warm, old Florida feel. The famous waters of Lemon Bay lure boaters and those who'd rather be fishing. Lemon Bay is spawning and feeding grounds to a large variety of fish and bird species, so don’t forget to bring your camera because thousands of photographers come here each year to capture Florida wildlife at its best. Drift in close to pelican rookeries, and maybe with the right lens, capture a chick as it emerges from its egg.

Port Charlotte & Punta Gorda

Separated by Charlotte Harbor, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda both offer quite single family living in a hometown atmosphere. The famous Fishermen's Village located in Punta Gorda attracts visitors for its unique shopping and dinning. One of the key ingredients of the county's success is its rich history and the uniqueness of its various communities.

Cape Coral

Once a remote and mostly sandy peninsula, dotted with scrub, Cape Coral is today one of Southwest Florida’s fastest growing cities. Cape Coral offers great waterfront living with over 400 miles of canals that now wind through 114 miles of city. Fort Myers is now an easy commute from most areas of Cape Coral and businesses are beginning to realize the potential that the Cape offers as one of the fastest growing areas in Florida.

Sanibel

Sanibel Island is a unique tropical island getaway on Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast. Visitors and residence alike enjoy an atmosphere that is a little quieter, a little less hurried and a lot less like the rest of the world. Sanibel Island offers exotic tropical wildlife, pristine white sand beaches and hundreds of uninhabited islands.

Fort Myers

Established in 1886, Fort Myers is the historical and governmental hub of Lee County. Nestled along the scenic shoreline of the Caloosahatchee River, the city has become an interesting blend of young and old. Having the youngest population in Lee County, with a median age of 32, the City of Fort Myers is also home to the historic winter residences of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The historic downtown waterfront has been extensively renovated with new restaurants, nightclubs, apartments, and artistic venues providing energy and growth.

Throughout the year, Southwest Florida residents and visitors enjoy cultural events overlooking the river at Centennial Park and the Fort Myers Yacht Basin.

Fort Myers Beach

Located on Estero Island, and often referred to as the world's safest beach, Fort Myers Beach has a wide shoreline that gently slopes into the Gulf of Mexico. An absence of steep drop-offs makes it an ideal spot for family vacations. At the north end of the beach, a casual beach village with shops and restaurants clusters along a tree-lined pedestrian walkway. There are parks, recreation areas and marinas where you will find fishing and boating charters that include daytime sightseeing, evening dining and dancing as well as offshore gambling. You'll also find every imaginable water sport available, including jet skiing, parasailing, wind surfing, sailing, water skiing and more. Fort Myers Beach enjoys a reputation for friendly folks, a wide, palm-shaded beach, and great family vacations.

Bonita Springs

Bonita is a beautiful, natural area just north of Naples which has witnessed a recent explosion in development and growth. Delightful homes and cottages line the beach and new golf course communities dominate interior lands. Enjoy great fishing and boating on the backwaters or walk the miles of pristine beaches both here and on surrounding barrier islands.

Naples

Naples is best known for its white sandy beaches, upscale cosmopolitan downtown and an abundants of championship golf courses. Only steps away from island seclusion or the untamed tropical wilderness of The Everglades, visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities.

Marco Island

Marco Island is the largest and northernmost point of the picturesque Ten Thousand Islands. Marco Island is graced with miles of white-sand beaches, luxurious real estate, beautiful year-round weather, sumptuous restaurants, fine shopping, dining, lively entertainment, attractions and plenty of recreational activities from boating and fishing, to golf and tennis, and more. All set amid the stunning subtropical beauty that is unique to Southwest Florida's Gulf coast.

From family vacations to a romantic rendezvous for two, Marco Island, Florida is an unforgettable paradise where memories are made. It is surrounded by a unique ecosystem and home to exceptional wildlife and vegetation. There are a number of parks and preserves within short distance from the island.

Just slightly north of the island on Shell Island Road off State Road 951 is the 9,400 acre Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. In the mangroves you will find mullet, snapper, oysters, crabs, snook, pelicans, osprey, bald eagles, deer, bobcats, snakes and tortoises. Tours can be arranged at the reserve's Briggs Nature Center which also rents canoes.