South End 2BR/2BA across the street from the beach

2 Bedroom (1 King, 2 twins)/2 Bath (1 shower, 1 tub/shower) Fort Myers Beach condo sits just across the road from the wide, quiet beaches at the southern end of the island. You will enjoy this private end-unit view overlooking permanently preserved land and no through-traffic. Enter through the screened porch at the front with seating for 2. The “eat-in” kitchen is fully outfitted (refrigerator/freezer, stove/oven, microwave, dishwasher) and has seating for 4 at the counter as well as a breakfast area table with seating for 2. The dining room has additional seating for 4 and flows into the family room with a sofa, love seat and chair. The back lanai has been converted to indoor space with impact-resistant sliders and has bar-height seating for 2 as well as a futon. Beautiful new hardwood floors in the living area and new tile in the master bath upgrade this home, along with a new master 6-ft double-sink vanity. Other amenities include an in-unit laundry room with a full-size washer/dryer, covered parking, and a spacious ground-floor storage closet stocked with everything you need for a day at the beach (chairs/umbrellas/cart/coolers). Access to 2 heated pools and tennis/pickleball courts, round out the property. Brand-new Santini Plaza shops and Farmer’s Market, CVS and 7-11 all a few blocks walk away!

Unique Benefits

The view from many condominium buildings is right into another condo. You won't have that here. This building is tucked up against preserved land and your end-unit view is of the mangroves at both the side and the back. So feel free to leave the blinds open day or night, no one will be peering back at you!
Also, you can take the elevator up one floor, but given that the unit is on the floor above the parking level, you have quick access in and out through the stairwell. Also, the unit is spaced away from the elevators, for even more privacy and less noise.

Why Kids Love It

2 pools and pickleball. Tons of shells on the beach.

Area Information

About Estero Island
Fort Myers Beach/Estero Island is a 7-mile long island accessible by the Mantanzas Pass Bridge at the north end and Big Carlos Pass Bridge at the South end of the island. At its widest point, the island is only ¾ of a mile, but mostly only ½ of a mile wide. For this reason, there is only one 2-lane road from the top to the bottom of the island. For a large portion of the island, you can look one way and see the gulf and look the other to see the bay.
The highest density of tourists is at the north end of the island, keep this in mind when you’re planning trips on and off the island by car. The northernmost point of the island is past the bridge (Bowditch Park). From the beach at this point, you can see the Sanibel Causeway and Sanibel Island.
Google maps will direct you to the fastest route onto the island from RSW (Fort Myers Airport): Entry from the north is fewer miles but can be much more traffic, depending on the time of day. Although it’s about 10 miles more to come down I75 and enter the island from the south, this is usually faster.

Attractions Within Walking Distance

Beach access
There are 2 beach access points from our condo:
• Island Pines Way
• Albatross St (nice shaded walk)
Pools and Tennis Courts
• There are 2 pools available for your use. One at Captain’s Bay South and the other at Admiral’s Bay (see “Buildings in Island Pines” above). Both have pool houses with bathrooms and chairs, tables and lounge chairs.
• Tennis courts (also lines drawn out and separate nets available for pickleball) are in front of our building and are first come first serve.
Retail nearby (walkable):
• CVS is a block south and has a decent selection of food (including milk and bread), snacks, beer and wine, beach sundries and souvenirs.
• Another block down and across the street is the 7-11 with gas and food/snacks.
• Santini Plaza (Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays and Thursdays) is one block past CVS. Santini has multiple excellent retail shops for clothing, shoes, gifts, souvenirs as well as a liquor store, coffee shop and ice cream shop. Restaurants are in process, we’re looking forward to these re-opening.

Favorite Places To Eat

Restaurants nearby:
All restaurants are busy in season so make reservations when you can, or call ahead for seating.
• Mid-island (and currently closest until the Santini Plaza restaurants re-open): Behind the FMB Publix are 2 restaurants: Fresh Catch Bistro and Junkanoo Below Deck. Both have a great view of the bay, Junkanoo is on the ground level, seating out outdoors and has a more informal menu and Fresh Catch is on the 2nd floor (indoors) and is a bit more formal (dress and menu.) They’re both pretty good and I would recommend. (free parking)
• Diamond Head Beach resort (a few miles north of Publix) has informal and formal dining as well: Cabanas Beach Bar + Grille and Coste Island Cuisine. (free parking)
• Keep heading north and you’ll hit The Whale, which just re-opened. They’re across the street from the beach and have live entertainment, fresh local seafood and slow-smoked BBQ. (not sure about parking?)
• Lani Kai is the big blue resort that sits on the beach north of the Whale. Grace’s Café Beachside serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. I haven’t tried this one, I used to eat at their roof top restaurant (amazing views) but that hasn’t re-opened yet. (parking available but may have to pay)
• Of course, Margaritaville is iconic and sits at the top of the island, multiple restaurants here. (parking available for a charge)
• At the north entrance to the island are multiple restaurants that sit on the bay. You’ll have to pay to park in one of the FMB lots or on the street. Both Snug Harbor and Nervous Nellies are very good and frequently have live music.
• If you have a car (or are willing to walk across the Mantanzas Pass Bridge) you’ll hit some other great spots--beautiful location on the bay, and there is free parking: Dixie Fish Company (must try the BLTAE—BLT with avocado and a fried egg), Doc Ford’s (must try the Yucatan Shrimp and Macadamia Nut Crusted Grouper). These restaurants have the same owner who also just purchased Bonita Bills (within the same complex on the bay). Haven’t eaten there yet, but I’m sure it will be great. All 3 of these places have live music.

Inside Scoop

Best way to get around is by bicycle (rentals available) or trolley or tramcar.
• Lee County Trolley: Only 75 cents to ride (children 6 and under ride free)! Be sure to have exact far, drivers can’t make change (or use the LeeFare app). This stops right in front of the condo and runs from Lover’s Key State Park (off the South end) to Bowditch Park (at the very northern end of the island). You can use this to get to Publix if you haven’t rented a car.
• A free Tramcar (open air) runs from the FMB Public Library (3 miles north of the condo) to Bowditch Part at the very north end of the island. This is more for the folks who are staying in the resorts at the top of the island, but you could drive up to the library, park your car and take this into town (Times Square) to do some shopping.