Do We Beach House

Fort Myers Beach is the kind of place that works best in small doses — which is exactly why it makes a great weekend trip. The island is compact, most of what you want is within ten minutes of wherever you park, and in late summer the crowds thin out, the Gulf water is bath-warm, and the sunsets keep their schedule. Here’s how to spend a long weekend doing it right.

Day 1: Arrive, unpack, and get your feet in the Gulf

Try to land by early afternoon. Check in, drop the bags, and change straight into swimsuits — the first hour on the beach after a drive is non-negotiable. If you’re staying at our house on Fairweather Lane, the sand is about 600 steps away, and the pool and hot tub are right outside the back door, so you can ease in at your own pace.

Late afternoon, head toward Times Square. The pier juts 550 feet into the Gulf, and the bayfront restaurants are doing a brisk business. Grab a seat somewhere on the water, order something cold, and if you happen to hit a Thursday, the live music at Times Square runs year-round.

Pro tip: Summer sunsets run as late as 8:20pm, so don’t rush. Dinner at 7, sunset at 8:15 — the island runs on that schedule.

Day 2: Paddle, explore, and watch the sky from the north end

Morning: Get on the water early, before the heat builds. Estero Bay, on the back side of the island, stays flat and calm — perfect for a first-time kayak or paddleboard paddle. Outfitters along the bay side rent by the hour and can point you toward the mangrove-lined channels where dolphins like to feed.

Midday: This is pool weather. Late summer on Fort Myers Beach is hot, and the smart move is to do the active stuff in the morning, then take a long break by the water — your rental’s pool, ideally — before heading out again.

Late afternoon: Drive to Bowditch Point Park at the island’s north tip. It’s a 17-acre preserve with a wide, natural beach facing straight west. No T-shirt shops, no crowds — just dunes, sea oats, and a front-row view of the sun dropping into the Gulf. Bring a chair and a cooler and stay for the whole show.

Why this works: The Times Square sunset is the classic; Bowditch Point is the local move. Do both across one weekend and you’ve seen the island’s two personalities.

Day 3: A slow morning, then the mainland

The last morning is for coffee on the lanai, a final walk on the sand, and one more dip before checkout. If you have time before heading home, detour to Lovers Key State Park, ten minutes south of the bridge — miles of undeveloped beach, an $8 per-vehicle entry fee, and usually a roseate spoonbill or two working the shallows. It’s a gentle way to stretch the weekend to the last possible minute.

What to know before you go

• Getting here: Fort Myers Beach is roughly 20–25 minutes from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) — down I-75 and over the bridge.
• Parking: Free at most beach accesses early in the day; paid lots fill fast by midday. If you can, ride a bike — the island is flat and it beats hunting for a spot.
• Summer showers: Quick afternoon storms come and go in about twenty minutes. Pack a light rain jacket and don’t cancel plans over a passing cloud.
• Where to stay: A weekend like this works best from a house with a pool and a short walk to the sand. “Do We” Beach House — 4 bedrooms plus a den, private heated pool, hot tub, and pet-friendly — sits about 600 steps from the beach. Book through Coastal Vacation Properties: coastalvacationproperties.net/935107

Save this for your next long weekend — and tag us when you catch a good one.

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