American World Traveler Winter 2021-22 Issue

28
What’s New in 2022 in Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches and Neighborhoods
Fort Myers’ islands, beaches and
neighborhoods in Southwest Florida
continues to provide new experiences
for returning guests and first-time visitors.
Whether you’re looking for great year-round
weather or shell-drenched beaches along
the sparkling Gulf of Mexico,
VisitFortMyers.com is your source for the
most up-to-date vacation information.
New for ’22, the Lee County VCB has
unveiled a completely new look and feel,
with new branding, a new website and visitor
guide.
“Our new name – Fort Myers – Islands,
Beaches and Neighborhoods – replaces The
Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel,” said
Francesca Donlan, Communications
Director for the Lee County VCB. “The objective
was to build a strong brand reflective of
our destination today, boosting local pride
and increasing a collective sense of community.”
Both the website – which launched last week
– and the new visitor guide have been completely
revamped to feature the new branding.
Along with the new logo, there’s a new
colour palette that features bright pinks and
yellows, and cool blues and greens,
designed to connect with the nature and
landscape of Lee County.
Upcoming Events
ArtFest Fort Myers returns Feb. 4-6 along the
waterfront featuring art by more than 200
artists, entertainment, delicious food, and
fun children’s art activities. The show was
named among the best in the country by
Sunshine Artists Magazine.
artfestfortmyers.com
The 23rd Annual Southwest Florida Reading
Festival takes place on March 5. Free and a
great event for all ages, this popular annual
outdoor festival gives fans the opportunity to
meet a diverse line-up of bestselling authors,
participate in contests and activities, and discover
the latest in books and technology. In
addition to author appearances and autograph
sessions, there will be food truck vendors,
storytelling programs, arts and crafts,
youth writing contests, and a free book for
every child and teenager. ReadFest.org
Mark your calendars for Island Hopper
2022! Returning for its eighth year, this 10-
day music festival features performances by
some of the country’s greatest singer-songwriters.
The festival takes place in three
areas, with the first weekend kicking off on
Captiva Island, Sept. 16-18, then moving to
downtown Fort Myers, Sept. 19- 22, and
ending with a weekend on Fort Myers Beach,
Sept. 23-25. Most shows are free except for
a few ticketed experiences (headliner shows).
islandhopperfest.com
Accommodation News
The soon-to-open Fairfield Inn & Suites
Bonita Springs and the newly renovated The
Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village
received Convention South Magazine's ‘Top
New or Renovated’ awards for 2022.
New Dining and Brewery Openings
Bonita Springs has two new breweries.
Hopsized Brewing Co.
(hopsizedbrewing.com) opened in the new
Bernwood Trade Center with a focus on
sours and New England IPAs. Ceremony
Brewing (ceremonybrewing.com) celebrated
its grand opening in downtown Bonita
Springs with 18 taps and a bottle shop selling
hard-to-find brews.
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