A Honeymoon Guide to Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods

Fort Myers Florida Honeymoon Guide – Bridal Musings 12

What’s at the top of the wish list for newlyweds planning a honeymoon? Requests include scenic beaches, outdoor adventures, and excellent cuisine and nightlife. Not every honeymoon location is going to check all the boxes, but today’s vacation destination offers all that and more.

We bring you Fort Myers and surrounding areas, a collection of pristine islands, white-sand beaches, and vibrant neighborhoods in Southwest Florida. It’s a region overflowing with natural beauty and resources, making it one of our top picks for planning your honeymoon. And because this region is made up of several different communities, this honeymoon destination is ideal for any type of couple.

The islands, beaches and neighborhoods of Fort Myers offer the perfect activities and amenities that suit your dream vacation. Our Fort Myers honeymoon guide is divided into the type of travel you and your partner enjoy. Calling all spa and wellness seekers, wilderness exploring couples, or lovers of cuisine and culture. Find your quintessential vacation mood. Our expert suggestions will lead you to the destinations we know you’ll love the most in and around Fort Myers from Gasparilla Island to Boca Grande.

Port Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum

Palm Beach Lately – Gasparilla Inn and Club

Gasparilla Inn & Club photographed by Palm Beach Lately

Use our tips as a guideline to start planning your idyllic honeymoon in the greater Fort Myers area. But, trust that whichever islands, beaches, or neighborhoods you visit, you’ll find exactly what you desire. We’ll provide the inspiration, but Fort Myers and surrounding areas will offer you refuge, adventure, and romance.

You can finally quit asking, “How do I choose my honeymoon destination?” and start asking, “When do we go?”

Couple on Captiva Island

Why You Should Visit the Fort Myers Area

The islands, beaches and neighborhoods of Fort Myers are bursting with natural resources and unique geography. Located on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida, the white-sand beaches and unobstructed sunsets draw visitors year-round.

Vacationers visit the islands and surrounding neighborhoods to relax, but also to explore. Island activities are centered around the beaches, including shell collecting and boating excursions. The surrounding neighborhoods offer all the best in accommodations and nightlife, from secluded hotel & spa retreats to the bustling downtown in Fort Myers.

Warm weather year-round means any time of year is going to bring you the vacation of your dreams. For US travelers, it’s also a great way to take advantage of a no-passport-required island getaway. Take the guesswork out of honeymoon planning, with the basics: secluded beaches, picturesque sunsets, unique local cuisine, and plenty of rejuvenating activities you can share together. Everything else is up to you.

North Captiva Island photographed by Seth Willingham

Sanibel Island Lighthouse photographed by Brian Tietz

Serenity & Wellness

Say hello to a tranquil getaway. Sanibel Day Spa on Sanibel Island offers the most revitalizing experiences. Restore balance to the mind, body, and spirit with packages for massage, aromatherapy, body scrubs, and island-inspired facials.

You can also visit The Shangri-La Springs Day Spa in Bonita Springs, less than an hour south of Fort Myers. The location is known for a strong, grounding energy, where you can enjoy organic spa treatments, and explore the lush botanical gardens with natural spring waters.

For the couple looking for some low-key tranquil adventuring, Sanibel Island also has 25 miles of paved bike trails that span a wildlife refuge and lighthouse. Visit J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge where you might encounter migratory birds and other wildlife in this mangrove ecosystem.

Fort Myers Florida Honeymoon Guide – Bridal Musings 5

Fort Myers - Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods

Wildlife & Nature Excursions

Wildlife is in abundance around the Fort Myers area. A trip with the Adventures in Paradise on a boat cruise or tour will take you on a journey with marine life. Recommendations include a Morning Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise, or their Sea Life Encounter option, both with outstanding explorations of sea life.

For adventurous on-land activities, take a trip to Caloosahatchee Regional Park. Among the pine and oak trees, you can enjoy hiking and biking, with over 700 acres to explore together. You’ll find over 20 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails. Take in the natural beauty and learn about the history of the area from information boards mounted along many trails.

The region also offers countless paddleboard, kayak, and canoe rentals with guided tours. Enter the Great Calusa Blueway for a closer look at birds and sea creatures in their natural habitats. This paddling trail allows you to meander through nearly 200 miles of water trails, making it a serene expedition.

Sanibel Island photographed by Adventures in Paradise

Food & Culture

In need of a perfect date of food and sight-seeing combined? Start your afternoon of exploring at The Mound House, atop an ancient Calusa shell mound. Hop on the trolley that takes you to Times Square at Fort Myers Beach. Some of our top suggestions for dining would be at PierSide Grill and Famous Blowfish Bar, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, and enjoying ice cream along the pier.

For finer dining, make your way downtown to The River District. Enjoy walking these brick-lined streets, surrounded by the largest collection of historic buildings in the area. Selections include vibrant bars, as well as some of the best restaurants for fish and oysters in the area. You can even complete your date with gallery browsing at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. Highlights include their rotating music series and an array of special exhibits and events.

We also highly recommend a day starting at the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village. Choose a guided or self-guided tour, and after exploring these historic buildings, enjoy a lunch at Island Cow or at Casa Ybel Resort and shopping on Periwinkle Way.

Casa Ybel Resort photographed by Hunter Ryan Photo

Neighborhoods & Nightlife

While each neighborhood around Fort Myers is unique in history, culture, and geography, we chose to highlight three locations that are rich in experiences for honeymooners.

Matlacha, located on Pine Island, is a charming bohemian paradise. You’ll be able to visit artful shops filled with color, funky waterfront restaurants, and partake in this local seafood haven.

Downtown Bonita Springs is the perfect place to go shopping and brewery hopping. All within a short distance of each other, take yourself from Riptide Brewing Company to Ceremony Brewing, to Hopsized Brewing for a journey of local samplings.

If you’re looking for a space for the most nightlife, Fort Myers Beach is the place. Catch live music and dancing every night at The Cottage, Nervous Nellie’s, and The Whale, all along the stunning Florida waterfront.

Ceremony Brewing Bonita Springs Fort Myers Honeymoon Guide

Photo via Ceremony Brewing

Beach Activities

Rest assured that there is no shortage of picture-perfect sandy sunsets. With over 50 miles of white-sand beaches, you’ll undoubtedly get to enjoy the seclusion of uncrowded beaches during your stay in Fort Myers and surrounding areas.

For shell collecting, visit Sanibel and Captiva & North Captiva Islands. Guests travel from all over the world to walk these beaches and gather shells due to the islands’ unique geography. Rumor has it that Captiva beach has been known for its romantic sunsets, too.

Bonita Beach offers jet ski rentals and volleyball courts, while Fort Myers Beach includes parasailing, windsurfing, and waterskiing activities as well.

Sunrise, Fort Myers Beach

Romantic Getaway

Let the natural beauty of Florida inspire a deeper connection. Carve time in your trip for an evening out on Captiva Island. This includes dinner at Green Flash, a romantic walk down Andy Rosse lane to catch the sunset, a shared nightcap at Mucky Duck Gulf Front bar, and dessert at Bubble Room Dessert shop.

Equally, Fort Myers Beach is a spectacular place to catch the sunset after dining at any of the waterfront restaurants. A top recommendation includes Charley’s Boat House Grill & Wine Bar, followed by a stroll through Lovers Key State Park. It’s a picturesque stretch of beach, and in fact, makes the list of 10 romantic viewpoints in Fort Myers.

Sign up for the Sunset Cruise with Estero Bay Express on Fort Myers Beach. At sunset where you’ll watch the sun dip below tranquil waters and perhaps spot a dolphin or two.

Lovers Key State Park photographed by Follow Me Away Travel

Evening at Mucky Duck photographed by Brian Tietz

Pierside Grill, Fort Myers Beach

Essential Info

Start planning your honeymoon throughout the stunning islands, beaches, and neighborhoods of Fort Myers. Fort Myers and surrounding areas make an idyllic destination for weddings, travel, and honeymooning, with unmatched natural beauty and activities for any couple to enjoy.

Follow @VisitFortMyers on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for inspiring outdoor travel content and inspiration for your upcoming destination vacation. You can also follow #MyFortMyers to see the best in local recommendations and activities in the Fort Myers area.

This post is made in partnership with Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods.