Welcome to Southwest Florida . . .

It’s great to be in Southwest Florida! Situated on the Gulf of Mexico of Florida’s West Coast, this desirable destination is made up of Collier County and Lee County Florida. It offers great places to visit, both adventurous and relaxing, making the area a perfect playground for vacationers.

Southwest Florida is comprised of dozens of delightful places to visit, each with its own charm and personality.  In Lee County, the principle cities are Fort Myers for in town travelers, the coastal areas of Fort Myers Beach and world-famous Sanibel & Captiva Islands for beach lovers.  Collier County is represented by its principle areas of Naples (which is adjacent to the beach), resort-styled Marco Island and the adventure-filled Everglades.

Southwest Florida is rich in history. Years ago, the Calusa Indian civilization flourished in the region. Before the turn of the century, pioneer settlers braved the lands to build cattle ranches, while others fished, farmed and hunted the wilds from Charlotte Harbor to the Ten Thousand Islands. Beginning in the 1920s, some now famous Northern and Midwestern settlers came to the region to relax on our white sand beaches, fish for tarpon and challenge this new frontier.

Throughout all times, the region has proved to be a beautiful backdrop for a fascinating local history and a foundation for tourism today. Your best source for information about the individual cities and destinations that make up Southwest Florida is the local Chamber of Commerce for the area in which you are interested.

Whether this is your first visit to sunny Southwest Florida or you’re starting to feel like a native, the following places and points of interest will help you get your bearings to “Find the Fun!”
Corkscrew Swamp is one of the many places to visit in Southwest Florida
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a popular nature preserve where visitors can experience real Southwest Florida.
A place to visit is Sanibel Island in Southwest Florida
The Great Calusa Blueway offers Southwest Florida kayakers a great place to visit
Edison Ford Winter Estate tour - one of the many place to visit in Southwest Florida

Above: Sanibel is one of the world's leading shelling destinations, a great place to visit in Southwest Florida.

Far left: The Great Calusa Blueway offers kayakers more than 100 miles of scenic paddling.

Center: Thomas Edison's laboratory if a highlight of the Edison-Ford Winter Estate tour.

 

Photos courtesy of Lee County Visitors & Convention Bureau

Lee County & Collier County in Southwest Florida