Shopping in the Fort Myers Area- Lots of Options, Lots of Fun!
Written: Mar 21 '07 (Updated Aug 28 '07)
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Pros: Lovely outlet areas and fun restaurants all in one location!
Cons: Summer heat can be a bit much for outdoor shopping
The Bottom Line: Fort Myers has wonderful variety for all different kinds of shoppers- high end, bargain hunters, souvenir collectors- whatever you are looking for, you can find here!
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| BeastieGirl's Full Review: Fort Myers |
When we first moved to the Southwest Florida area, I was quite lost among options for shopping. I was used to my bi-weekly trips to Freeport, Maine to go shopping and now I had a whole new world to explore. If you are headed to Southwest Florida for vacation, allow me help you find a few more ways to spend your money while you’re down here!
Bell Tower Shops
One of my favorite places to spend an afternoon is at the Bell Tower Shops, located centrally in Fort Myers. Somewhat of an outdoor shopping mall, the Bell Tower Shops houses many local stores as well as several nationally known chains, like the Gap, Victoria's Secret and Williams-Sonoma. There are also plenty of unique stores, like our favorite, The Cheshire Cat Toy Store with wonderful educational toys and books as well as collectible Madame Alexander dolls and Playmobil figurines. There is also a cool women's clothing store with a surfing motif, Echo Surf and an island themed store where you can get your Tommy Bahama shirt if you want to go out in casual style around here. Saks Fifth Avenue and Bed Bath and Beyond anchor the Bell Tower Shops. Several chain restaurants such as Johnny Rockets and TGIFriday's are located within the shopping area and Mimi's Cafe is just across the parking lot. There are also some other really fun restaurants such as A Taste of New York (our favorite pizza place in Fort Myers), Cru- a good place to be seen in the evening having a glass of wine, and several other good bistro-type restaurants. A twenty theater cinema is also across the parking lot, making the Bell Tower Shops the perfect place to spend the day shopping, have some lunch and then check out a movie (not necessarily in that order). Even if you don't want to do a lot of shopping, the many outdoor fountains make the entire atmosphere of the Bell Tower Shops a pleasant one- perfect for grabbing a bite to eat outdoors and enjoy the Florida weather.
Sanibel Island Tanger Outlets
As you head out towards the lovely Sanibel and Captiva Islands just off of Fort Myers, don't forget to stop along your way at the Tanger Outlets. Housed there are some wonderfully fun stores, including a Coach Factory Store, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, a Samsonite store (in case you need extra luggage). In total, there are 45 stores and they all have public restrooms (we learned this at the Osh Kosh store while my daughter was potty training!). There is also a playground and several coin-operated kiddie rides. There is always plenty of parking here and it is rare that this Tanger Outlet center is very crowded. Even though there are almost 50 stores here, it doesn’t have a big factory outlet center feel to it.
Miramar Outlets
Just a few miles south of Fort Myers, in the neighboring city of Estero, is one of my favorite places to shop- the Miramar Outlets. Another outdoor mall type shopping area, the Miromar Outlets is home to over 120 stores! There is a food court, several sit down restaurants and even a Starbucks! I love the variety of stores here, including Saks Off 5th, a discounted Saks Fifth Avenue department store, Cole Haan, Gymboree, Le Creuset, Banana Republic, J.Crew, QVC Store, Oakley, BCBG Max Azria, Cosmetics Company Store and many others. All the stores are "factory outlet" stores, so the pricing is slightly lower and the availability of products is a little different from the regular stores, but believe me, there is plenty of stuff to buy down here! This is a great place to spend the day if you aren't going to go to the beaches. Although it is all outside, the sidewalks are all covered and there are outdoor fans to help keep things cool. There are some great restaurants perfect for having a beer or glass of wine while your loved one runs around spending your money. A large playground may catch the eye of youngsters to keep a smile on their faces as well.
Coconut Point
Coconut Point is the newest shopping center to hit Southwest Florida. Again, with the outdoor theme, this area is brightly colored and will certainly catch the attention of any shopping fanatic. There are plenty of places to eat, such as Panera Bread, California Pizza Kitchen and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, to name a few. There is a Muvico Cinema, should you feel like taking in a movie, but don't worry, there is plenty of shopping to do as well. West Elm has a huge store at Coconut Point, as well as Z Gallerie, Lucky Brand Jeans, Old Navy, and a retail Coach store as well. Coming soon is a Sephora, and I can't wait!! The shops at Coconut Point are located in Estero, which is just south of Fort Myers, and close to the Miramar Outlets.
Edison Mall
Edison Mall falls near the bottom of my list, as it’s more of a generic mall than anything else, but does provide shopping in a controlled weather environment- it’s all indoors. They've given this mall a face lift in the last year, but I'd much rather spend my time at Miramar or Coconut Point. Located close to downtown Fort Myers, the Edison Mall is easily accessible and offers your standard food court dining options with Ruby Tuesday's thrown in the mix and a classic Hooters pretty much right out in front of the mall.
Random Shopping in the Fort Myers/Southwest Florida region
If you are looking for more “local” souvenirs, Fort Myers Beach offers several unique stores with locally made items and of course, sea shells. There are plenty of good shelling areas around Southwest Florida, but unless you plan on washing them out with bleach before heading back home, you could end up with one stinky suitcase! There are several fun shell stores on Sanibel Island and of course, the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers always offers a unique experience. They have a crude version of a light and music show over their pond and sell a variety of local shells and other oddball items, such as painted hermit crabs, dried fish and your choice of tacky souvenirs. There is a flea market that is open on the weekend for other oddball items, located on Martin Luther King Dr. near downtown Fort Myers. Should you want some nice, handmade items, I would suggest scouring the island of Sanibel for the best quality and selection.
Last Thoughts
If you are unfamiliar with the area, there is a lot to be discovered, and without the proper direction, a lot of it can be missed. If you enjoy shopping, whether you are a bargain hunter, or a collector, there are many items to be found here in Southwest Florida. Just be sure to bring your wallet when you come!
For additional information:
http://www.simon.com/mall/default.aspx?ID=1202
www.shellfactory.com
www.miromar.com/outlets
www.tangeroutlets.com/center/SBL/info
www.thebelltowershops.com
http://www.fortmyers.org/fort-myers-shopping.htm
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
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