road trip

Shrimping, History and Spring Training  in Fort Myers

By Ann Schmidt | February 16, 2022

In Fort Myers, the commercial shrimping fleet, the largest in the Gulf of Mexico, brings in millions of dollars to the economy. Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center hosts three-hour Working Waterfront tours on Wednesday mornings. First, volunteer guides explain the process: how pink shrimp are harvested at night by workers dragging hand-sewn shrimp nets, with escape hatches for turtles and fish, across the sandy gulf bottom. Then it’s a trip to the docks on Shrimp Boat Lane, starting in a tiny marine-oak hammock boardwalk nestled next to docked trawlers, and continuing to the Trico Seafood Market and dock where they receive shrimp that’s been flash frozen onboard the boats.

After a word of caution about the salty language visitors might hear, the guide takes us around the docks and to the ship store and net shed. Everyone is ready to savor these sweet crustaceans. At the dock, you can buy 5 and 20-lb bags of frozen shrimp, and order shrimp for lunch. The ShrimpHer food truck sells fresh, chilled shrimp, shrimp tacos with spicy homemade slaw and shrimp sammies. Across from the Marine Science Center, the Dixie Fish Company sells cold beer, smoked fish dip and peel-and-eat shrimp.

Photo 1: Bags of shrimp for sale at the docks.

Photo 2: Shrimp taco from ShrimpHer food truck in Fort Myers Beach.

Historic Homes, Garden, Laboratory

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates are a 10-minute drive from Fort Myers Beach – just head north to McGregor Blvd., which runs along the Caloosahatchee River, straight to the River District. Edison bought the property in 1865 and wintered there for over 60 years. The grounds include the largest banyan in the continental U.S.; a champion Alexander palm; plenty of mango trees; fig trees used in synthetic rubber experiments; and bamboo for lightbulb filaments. Wander around the homes and check out Edison’s laboratory. Don’t miss the vintage Fords in the Ford Estate garage. In nearby downtown Fort Myers, brick-paved streets are lined with restaurants, bars and boutiques to explore. It’s hard to imagine that cattle were once driven on these streets on their way from North Florida to Sanibel Island to be shipped to Cuba, their final destination. A free trolley that loops around the River District lets you explore the city. On Thursdays, visit the River District Farmers Market across from the old county courthouse.

The land surrounding Fort Myers was once used for agriculture, but like much of Florida, farms are being pushed out to make way for development. Still, there are some farms and farm stands, and some have added farm-to-table restaurants and event space. Rosy Tomorrows Heritage Farm in North Fort Myers, which raises heritage grass-fed Longhorn cows, Red Wattle pigs and Black Australorp chickens, is open for dinner and Sunday brunch. Just west of I-75, Buckingham Farms, formerly a hog farm and an orange grove, is now an 85-acre farm and restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Looking for a comprehensive farm experience? Visit the ECHO Global Farm, home to one of the largest collections of tropical food plants in the U.S., to find out about crops, techniques and animals from around the world.

Save room on your trip for America’s favorite pastime – baseball. Every year, the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins return here for spring training. End your day at Fort Myers Brewing Co. – there are 25 beers on tap daily, and food from a choice of local food trucks on Thursdays.