| The city of Fort Myers on the sunny southwest | | | | and Ford Winter Estates are the biggest tourist |
| coast of Florida, is an easily accessed tourist | | | | attraction in the city. In fact it is the 9th most |
| destination serviced by the Southwest Florida | | | | popular national historic site in the United States. |
| International Airport. More than 7.5 million people | | | | Explore the 15,000 square-foot museum which |
| pass through its gates each year, coming from all | | | | showcases Edison and Ford memorabilia, the 14 |
| over the world. Fort Myers is the county seat of | | | | acre tropical garden and take a guided tour |
| Lee County and is linked to Fort Lauderdale and | | | | through the homes and laboratory as well. |
| Miami by Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 41. | | | | Entrepreneurial opportunities, stable infrastructure, |
| Tourists and locals alike find it easy to explore the | | | | a growing labor force, and wonderful climate |
| city and surrounding areas by using Amtrak, | | | | make Fort Myers one of the fastest growing |
| Greyhound, and a unique bus transportation | | | | areas in the United States. Tourism, which results |
| system called the Lee Tran, which is especially | | | | in new construction and retirement and |
| convenient for everyone and especially disabled | | | | investment dollars, as well as a healthy |
| persons. It consists of 17 constant routes with a | | | | manufacturing sector, contribute much to the |
| "Park and Ride" option and with round trips to all | | | | economy. |
| the local beaches. Also within striking distance are | | | | Businesses thrive by networking, working on |
| the cities of North Fort Myers, Page Park, Pine | | | | committees, and communicating with community |
| Manor, East Dunbar, Tice and Cape Coral. | | | | leaders, all backed up by The Greater Fort Myers |
| The explorer Ponce de Leon may have been the | | | | Chamber of Commence. Lee County's |
| first white man to visit the Fort Myers area, | | | | unemployment rate ranks second lowest among |
| when he is thought to have visted the Lee | | | | Florida's 67 counties. |
| County islands in the 1500s. After Florida became | | | | The companies who employ the most people in |
| a U.S. Territory in 1821, it remained very wild and | | | | Lee County include Lee County School District, |
| even by 1876 there were no more than ten | | | | Lee Memorial Health System, Publix Super |
| families making a living by farming. Fort Myers, | | | | Markets, Wal-Mart Corporation, Lee County |
| named in honor of Colonel Abraham C. Myers, | | | | Administration, Southwest Florida Regional Medical |
| was built on the shores of the Caloosahatchee | | | | Center, City of Cape Coral, WCI Communities and |
| River and served as the centre of operations | | | | Bonita Bay Group. |
| during the Seminole Indian Wars. | | | | Products that top the list of manufactured goods |
| In 1885 Thomas Edison passed through Fort | | | | include newspapers, lumber, umbrellas, aviation |
| Myers, and was so impressed by the area that | | | | components, frozen food snacks, building supplies, |
| he returned to build his laboratory and home on | | | | prefabricated storage buildings and |
| the river bank. Edison became the city's most | | | | gazebos,electrical coils and concrete. There are 29 |
| famous citizen, fostering growth and development. | | | | industrial parks and facilities including over 700 |
| He planted the royal palm trees that line what is | | | | corporate buildings in Lee County. |
| now McGregor Boulevard, giving rise to the name | | | | Come to Fort Myers and enjoy entertainment at |
| "City of Palms". | | | | its finest. There are musical and theatrical |
| Fort Myers is a city rich with museums, historical | | | | performances, parades, fairs and sporting events. |
| landmarks, and yearly celebrations. Visitors will find | | | | For over 90 years the historic Arcade Theater |
| it easy to find a place to stay, with luxury | | | | has presented productions for the residents and |
| resorts, budget-friendly inns, and hotels with | | | | tourists of Fort Myers. It began as a vaudeville |
| internet service that cater specifically to the | | | | house in 1908 whose early patrons included |
| business traveler. | | | | celebrities Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Now in |
| Be sure to visit the Southwest Florida Museum of | | | | its seventh season, the Florida Repertory |
| History which opened in 1982, having been | | | | Theater, calls the Arcade Theater home. It is one |
| transformed from the old railroad passenger | | | | of the few regional theaters in Southwest Florida. |
| depot and surroundings lands on Peck and Monroe | | | | A visitor to Fort Myers has a choice of two great |
| Streets. In addition, tourists can enjoy a | | | | venues for Broadway and Off-Broadway |
| Downtown Walking Tour exploring the historic | | | | productions. One is the Broadway Palm Dinner |
| buildings of Fort Myers. | | | | Theater which entertains 150,000 guests each |
| Families will enjoy the Imaginarium which features | | | | year, staging Off-Broadway productions complete |
| a hurricane simulator and many exciting hands-on | | | | with two banquet facilities. Then there is the |
| and interactive exhibits for children of all ages. For | | | | Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at Edison |
| the very littlest folks there is an early-childhood | | | | College which hosts Broadway performances and |
| area. | | | | is also home to the Southwest Florida Symphony |
| With over 250,000 visitors each year, the Edison | | | | Orchestra. |