Gulf Coast

Off Florida's west coast, adjacent to the inland city of Fort Myers, is a sprinkling of coastal islands resting in the tranquil Gulf waters. The islands have been developed as pristine resorts which, together with Fort Myers Beach and the town of Naples further down the coast on the mainland, have made this area an extremely desirable holiday destination.

Southwest Florida is the ideal place to enjoy leisure and pleasure in the great outdoors, as it is one of the warmest areas of the United States. In the height of summer ocean breezes keep things cool while visitors enjoy swimming, sunning, shelling, or playing a round of golf. Nature lovers are drawn here because of the close proximity to the Everglades National Park, the Big Cypress Swamp, and numerous other wetland reserves and wildlife refuges. Then, of course, there are the miles of beautiful beaches, washed by the warm Gulf waters and covered in an array of seashells. Winter is 'in season' in this part of the world, which stays warm while the more northerly states freeze. Little wonder that the Gulf Coast has become a magnet for visitors whom locals term 'snowbirds' migrating from the north to winter here.