Inside the seashell capital of the world that's a 3-hour plane ride from Toronto

Raise your hand if you need a vacation, but can't quite justify jet-setting to another continent. Here's some good news — a little slice of tropical paradise is just a three-hour plane ride from Toronto, and it's called Fort Myers.

First things first: Let's address the elephant in the room. Transborder traffic to the U.S. fell seven per cent from March 2025 to March 2026, according to screened passenger traffic data from Canada’s eight largest airports.

However, the data also shows 1.2 million passengers making the journey to visit our neighbours down south. I'm not trying to change any minds or tell you what to do, but rather to share what makes Fort Myers a lovely destination for the Canadians who still are interested in vacationing in the U.S.

With that disclaimer out of the way, let's talk sunshine. Located in Southwest Florida near the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Myers has a little bit of everything for everyone. Away from the party scene in Miami and the hustle and bustle of Orlando, Fort Myers invites guests to slow down and get back to themselves. Plus, the quick flight makes it a great option for shorter vacations.

I spent just three nights in Fort Myers, but left both wanting more and feeling like I had been there a full week. Here's what I did and how you can make the most of your Fort Myers getaway, should you choose to check it out.

Upon arrival

Upon arrival, I checked in at the Shalimar Beach Resort on Sanibel Island. The Gulf-front location describes itself as "Old Florida," but the property is anything but.

You might recall that in 2022, the city and surrounding islands were devastated by Hurricane Ian, which the hotel manager explained to me was "the worst hurricane Florida has seen in a hundred years." 

Because its path was projected for Tampa, the people of Fort Myers were underprepared when it suddenly changed course, and losses were catastrophic.

But the people who call Fort Myers home are resilient as ever, and rebuilding began right away. To see the city now, four years after the disaster, you would never know it happened.

As for the locals, they exude a sort of kindness and community to both each other and visitors that can only come from people who have experienced disaster and come out on the other side.

Now, back to Shalimar Beach Resort. Because it was completely rebuilt following the hurricane, it's actually the first "new" vacation property to be built on the island in 40 years.

The beachfront one- and two-bedroom cottages and motel rooms were so cute, and just steps away from the famous shelling beach. Fun fact: Sanibel Island is renowned as the "seashell capital of the world" and is home to more than 250 species of shells.

But I'd learn more about the shells soon — I arrived in the evening, and after a delicious dinner at Doc's Ford (you have to try the Yucatan shrimp), I went straight to bed.

Day one

Island hopping is a breeze when you're staying in the Fort Myers area. My group enjoyed breakfast at RC Otters on Captiva Island before embarking on a Captiva Cruises excursion.

We boarded the ship and enjoyed a view from the top of the deck as a guide told us about the history of the islands and our destination, Cabbage Key. We even saw dolphins! Fun fact: If you cheer loud enough, they'll jump alongside the boat to keep your attention.

An old Florida hideaway, Cabbage Key is a small island home to an inn and restaurant built in 1938. The restaurant is lined with upwards of 100,000 signed dollar bills, and whatever falls off the wall in any given year is donated to local charities.

It's also home to the very burger that inspired Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburgers in Paradise." After enjoying one myself, I can say that I understand Mr. Buffett's discography a bit better. We returned to Shalimar Beach Resort in the afternoon, and I spent hours swimming in the ocean and searching the beach for the best shells.

Dinner that evening was at The Bubble Room, and words can't quite describe that particular dining experience. There, it's Christmas all the time thanks to three floors of eclectic memorabilia, toys, and antiques from the '30s through '50s.

Along with a menu of seafood and "bubble bread," they had the best (and perhaps biggest) cake I've ever eaten.

Day two

Upon checking out of the Shalimar Beach Resort, we enjoyed breakfast at Lighthouse Cafe, a popular restaurant that boldly declares that they serve the world's best breakfast. (Having not tried all the breakfasts in the world, I can neither confirm nor deny this claim, but my seafood omelet was delicious nonetheless).

From there, we went to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, and it was delightful to learn about the shells I had previously spent hours combing through on the beach.

Then, it was off to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates for a tour of the museum and grounds. The Estates are among the most-visited historic homes in the country, and it's easy to see why. I previously knew very little about the famed inventors and enjoyed the glimpse into their work and their historic summer homes.

Finally, we checked into the Pink Shell Beach Resort, and from the moment I laid eyes on the entirely pink hotel, I was in love. If you're travelling with your family, the spacious rooms, beachfront vicinity, and three heated pools make it an ideal destination to stay a while.

As for the dining, a daily breakfast buffet is included for a fee, the poolside bar and grill serves up all the classics, and Rae's Real Italian offers an elevated dinner experience.

Heading home

I would have loved to have spent more time at the Pink Shell Beach Resort, but alas, checkout had arrived — though, not before Ranger Rob took us on a beach tour where he told us all about the various shells, water wildlife, and conservation efforts happening in the area.

After roaming downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach, it was time for one last lunch at Nervous Nellie's (and one last serving of seafood a la lobster mac 'n' cheese) before heading to the airport for a direct flight back to Toronto.

The food was great, the people were kind, and the experience was both relaxing and eventful. I'm grateful to have been invited to Fort Myers, and I truly enjoyed my time there.

If you're looking for a convenient hot holiday right out of Toronto, Fort Myers just might be the place for you.