Myths about Cape Coral and Ft Myers

Well hey there, I’m going to tell you about 10 myths regarding Cape Coral and the Fort Myers area and we're going to get started right now!

 Hi, I'm Sherry Puchaz, better known as Sunshine Sherry, and I work for REMAX Realty Team right here in Cape Coral. Please consider subscribing to my YouTube Channel that way you'll be notified of every new video I make and all the information that I try to provide about Southwest Florida... let's get going on looking at those myths about Cape Coral and Fort Myers!

Myth #1  The beach is the only thing to do

Fort Myers has a historic downtown, and Sanibel Island has a fascinating cultural heritage worth exploring.

Drive inland a few miles and you can’t miss the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a preserve bursting with birds, gators, and other swamp critters.

There’s tons of history, too — think pirates and Thomas Edison and Henry Ford and vintage lighthouses and archaeological sites dating back thousands of years.

And that’s not even mentioning our nightlife — the live music and cold beer is always flowing, and there’s constantly some type of festival or event going on.

So yes, our beaches definitely hog the spotlight, but there’s a lot more here  to do….if you can bring yourself to skip a beach day.

Myth #2 It’s always scorching here!

Summer air temperatures can be toasty, but because of our proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, there’s typically a sea breeze cooling things off. If you ever do find yourself overheated, splashing around in the Gulf is the best remedy.

And then fall, winter, and spring are all glorious — it’s rare to see a day that doesn’t hit at least 70 degrees. Florida isn’t called the Sunshine State for nothing, either: The sun comes out at some point just about every single day

Myth #3 Somewhere else has more canals

NOPE….Cape Coral has the MOST man-made canals at 400 miles than anywhere in the world! Venice, Italy has 26 miles of canals

Myth #4  It lacks big-city culture.

It lacks big-city misery, not big-city culture.

Here’s what you won’t find in Southwest Florida: Crazy, gridlocked traffic. Smog for days. Body-to-body masses of humanity.

Here’s what you will find: A symphony orchestra. An opera company. Film festivals. Regular Broadway musicals. Big-name rock concerts and intimate live shows. Major League Baseball. Two newspapers and award-winning magazines, and lots and lots of independent art studios and art shows and festivals.

Myth #5 It’s Expensive!!

We do host a lot of high-end guests, so it’s not hard to find luxurious accommodations around here. However, there are also plenty of budget-friendly spots. And if you come in the off-season, even the four-star resorts can be a steal.

Hotel options run the gamut, and competition has never been fiercer. Everyone should be able to find something within their price range — and if you really want to do things on the cheap (and in the natural), several state parks, like Lovers Key and Cayo Costa, have campgrounds (with plenty of sites right on the beach).

Myth #6 Everyone is OLD

This is one of those stereotypes that gets applied to Florida as a whole, but let’s look at the facts:

According to Census Bureau data, nearly three quarters of Lee County’s population is under the age of 65.

And to prove it, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, and other locations along this awesome stretch of coast have thriving millennial populations.

You’ll bump into them at the bars and restaurants on Friday nights, you’ll see them out running on the beach on Saturday mornings or paddleboarding on Sunday afternoons.

And while there are lots of non-retirees living here, we also see plenty of hip young tourists, too. That’s because the area is a hotspot for weddings, bachelorette weekends, and babymoons — we even have our own spring break crowd.

Myth #7: The food scene is only good if you like seafood.

Dining in Southwest Florida has evolved dramatically, with innovative concepts to upstart restaurants.

The Melting Pot in Ft Myers offers heated pots of cheese , chocolate or broth for dipping and cooking…romance package available!

Bubba’s Roadhouse and Saloon offers a rustic atmosphere where you can throw peanut shells on the floor! They have grilled steak, BBQ pulled pork and chicken and ultimate burgers.

Or try Sasse’s, an innovative Italian restaurant where dishes like escargot or braised short ribs with goat cheese polenta grace the menu.

Another favorite is the affordable Mexican fare at El Tarasco where one Thursday night a month a Mariachi Band will serenade you.

It’s definitely not just gumbo around here!!

 Myth #8: The only sport here is golf.

We have world-class golf courses, so it’s easy to see how this myth gets perpetuated.

But locals that live near the beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel tend to be extremely active, so all kinds of sports and adventure take place here.

You can’t throw a tennis ball without hitting a tennis court — they’re seemingly on every corner.

And you’ll notice abundant bike lanes and running trails threading through town, too.

Triathlons are huge — you can find some sort of race every weekend, and there are lots of clubs offering nightly group rides and runs.

And don’t forget watersports! Not surprisingly, Southwest Florida has robust paddleboarding, sailing, kiteboarding, and kayaking communities.

Geocaching is really big here in Cape Coral because of the canals…hop in a kayak with your hand-held GPS device and “treasure hunt” your heart out.  There are many apps you can use to find the caches on the water or on the land.

M#9 The closest airport in Miami or Tampa

The Southwest Florida International Airport or RSW is a terrific option with daily flights all over the country — there are even some direct flights to international destinations. It is a smaller airport, but that actually works in its favor: Security lines are generally short, your bags come quickly, and parking is a breeze. Plus, you can get from the airport to Fort Myers Beach in just over 30 minutes — meaning you’ll have your toes in the sand within an hour of touching down.

The Punta Gorda airport may also be an alternative with low cost flights to more than 45 destinations on Allegiant.

Myths #10 Hurricanes hit us all the time

In 1960, Hurricane Donna was bad-it was the beginning of Cape Coral which only had 40 homes...and 30 homes had roof damage.

In August of 2004, Hurricane Charley hit and was a Category 4 hurricane – hit Cayo Costa, Pine Island and Cape Coral and Punta Gorda and caused $16 Billion in property damage and 1M people were  without power.

In September of 2017, Hurricane Irma – hit Cape Coral Ft Myers and Naples and did some damage….this was the only time I have put on my hurricane shutters since we bought a home here in 2009.

Well, that finishes up our 10 myths that you sometimes will hear from folks about Southwest Florida, Cape Coral and the Fort Myers area...now you know what the actual facts are.

 I hope to hear from you... give me a call, shoot me an email or text..I'd love to chat with you about what your plans are for considering Cape Coral and Fort Myers as your new home base!

Now if you want some more information, I've made some other videos- like "The Cost of Living in Cape Coral" and "The Pros and Cons of Living in Cape Coral."

If you have any questions at all, I'm Sunshine Sherry...I am always here to help and I can't wait to work with you!