Next stop: Ft. Myers, Florida

After the last snowstorm I decided to put a warm weather getaway on my calendar to convince myself that I could survive the rest of winter. With so many exciting possibilities to consider, I let my loyalty to JetBlue – and an existing credit from a previously cancelled trip – guide my selection process.

I applied my mandatory criteria of non-stop flight and somewhere I’ve never been; and added considerations such as close enough to enjoy with only a few days away from home and work and, most definitely, warm weather.

From Boston, JetBlue flies directly to Nassau in the Bahamas, Cancun, the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Aruba, and Montego Bay in Jamaica. I could feel the sun on my face, the sand between my toes, and the condensation on an ice-cold glass of rum punch! But, alas, time and budget reeled me back to my snow-covered reality.

So, what about Florida? I eliminated Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Orlando (been there before), leaving Jacksonville, Sarasota and Ft. Myers. Jacksonville seemed too far north and since I never heard anyone say, “You’ve got to check out Sarasota!” I crossed that off the list too. Ft. Myers it is!

If you follow the Boston Red Sox, you know about Ft. Myers. The local sports media count down the days until the equipment truck leaves Fenway Park for this well-known site for Spring Training. Though I wouldn’t be that interested in catching a pre-season game, I was compelled to do some research about the area.

Here are some of the attractions I discovered:

McGregor Boulevard – Lined on both sides with soaring Royal Palm trees, this street extends for miles from Downtown Fort Myers to Sanibel. This historic area features stunning, well-preserved luxury estate homes, offering a glimpse into old Fort Myers.

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates – Dubbed “Seminole lodge” by the Edisons, served as a winter retreat and work place for the prolific inventor until his death in 1931. Edison’s good friend Henry Ford followed close behind and purchased the neighboring property in 1915. “The Mangoes” was the winter getaway for the Fords. Edison and Ford spent many winters working, talking and even relaxing together in tropical southwest Florida.

Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum – With over 30 exhibits are devoted to shells in art and history, shell habitats, rare specimens, fossil shells, and common southwest Florida shells, it is considered the most comprehensive museum in the Western Hemisphere devoted solely to shells.

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge – This 6,400-acre wildlife refuge, named for Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and pioneer environmentalist Jay Norwood Darling, features bird watching spots, footpaths, and canoe and hiking trails.

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve – Visitors journey through this 2,200-acre wetland ecosystem on a mile-long boardwalk trail, where southwest Florida’s diverse plant and wildlife are found, including a few considered to be endangered.

Or, should I just bring my flip flops and visit the beaches?

Let me know your suggestions for my Ft. Myers adventure!

Maria Guerra is the Senior Vice President of Mom Central Consulting, “mom” to her dog, Farley, and proud aunt of Alex and Thomas. She is sick of the snow!

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