SW Florida advice

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Re: >> I am leery about our potential neighbors in such close/flimsy quarters, but will look into it further if it's still available once I'm ready to "commit;" a 90 cancellation policy just won't cut it yet. I must say the area is beginning to sound too congested for my liking, but it really is hard to find a balance b/t my wants and those of the kids.<<
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I understand. Fwiw, the #400 area of Estero Blvd. (it's actually continuous, with no actual "blocks" on the Gulf side) has only a relatively few resorts on the Gulf side of Estero Blvd, with residences (i.e., no commercial establishments) on the east (non-Gulf) side of Estero Blvd north of Times Square. For that end of Estero Island, it's a relatively quiet little section, yet with reasonable proximity to the "bustle" of Times Square. Your observation about congestion is warranted; there is not much unused open space anywhere on FMB, except within Bowditch State Park at the NW terminus of the Island. The particular geographic location you describe is a pretty good one for FMB --- but I can't speak with any knowledge about the nature of your prospective "cabana" (I can't even actually picture its' location), but I can certainly understand your concerns regarding potential adjoining occupants. I'll be headed to FMB two weeks from today for a few weeks, but that will apparently be too late for you to benefit from any on site examination or opinion regarding your prospective "cabana". Anyway, I hope some of this has helped. Good luck.

P.S. It has just occurred to me --- re: "400 block". The exact street number will tell you whether or not it's a Gulf front location. Even numbered addresses on Estero Blvd. will be on the Gulf side of Estero Blvd, odd numbers are "across the street" (i.e., not on the Gulf side of Estero Blvd).

It is definitely gulf-front, the number is 430, in case you feel like peeking (though someone else will likely have rented it by then since the other side is already gone, but I'm fine w/that since the Edgewater resort is in the same price range and I also found out it d/n have internet access, which is a problem for me).

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Avery YOu have to go to this one restaurant in Captiva called the Mucky Duck and get there at least 2 hours before sun set.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Avery YOu have to go to this one restaurant in Captiva called the Mucky Duck and get there at least 2 hours before sun set.

Are you saying I should go somewhere and WAIT FOR HOURS for a table? Or is it that we should just go for drinks and enjoy since it's so lovely and then enjoy the sunset?....

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Are you saying I should go somewhere and WAIT FOR HOURS for a table? Or is it that we should just go for drinks and enjoy since it's so lovely and then enjoy the sunset?....

The place has the best Sunset on the Island, Out side they even have a swing set along with large tree branchs set up to sit on and of Coarse chairs. Getting a table might be hard if you wait to long as will parking, It is not a high class place and food was good but not a 5 star type 3 star yes , 4 star pushing it. The area around you can walk around to see all the Restaurants even if it is only a few but it is well worth the trip over to go here. It was our Favorite place along with the place we had our Ts4ms get together.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Found a link The Mucky Duck - A Neighborhood Tradition Since 1976

Under fun and games there is a live beach cam

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

The place has the best Sunset on the Island, Out side they even have a swing set along with large tree branchs set up to sit on and of Coarse chairs. Getting a table might be hard if you wait to long as will parking, It is not a high class place and food was good but not a 5 star type 3 star yes , 4 star pushing it. The area around you can walk around to see all the Restaurants even if it is only a few but it is well worth the trip over to go here. It was our Favorite place along with the place we had our Ts4ms get together.

Hmmm, well I guess I'll see where we end up staying, and if it's not too far from Captiva we'll check it out, even if we don't eat there.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Found a link The Mucky Duck - A Neighborhood Tradition Since 1976

Under fun and games there is a live beach cam

Not sure if you saw this

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I don't mean to pick an argument, just to make sure that what you find when you get there is what you have been led to believe.

We just stayed at Bel Air Beach Club, 780 Estero Blvd. It is the fourth property from the Times Square Parking area, roughly a city block and half from the heart of Times Square.

The gulfside of that section of Estero Blvd, north(west) of Times Square is solid resorts or rental properties all the way the four blocks or so to the County Park/Trolley Turnaround at the end. It is not as busy trafficwise because that part of Estero Blvd is not a through street. But, it is not exactly desolate, either, with considerable traffic going to then many resorts and to the park and beach at the end (Bodwitch Point Regional Park).

Some of the resorts along there are quite large. The Pink Shell is the largest resort on FMB. It is at 275 Estero Blvd, so it is on passed wherever you will be.

Theo should should know what's at 430, or have a reasonable guess. He owned at Windward Passage, 418 Estero. It, too, is a resort of considerable size, and passed where you will be.

If this link works, it shows a pelican's eye view, if the pelican was in outer space:

430 estero blvd ft. myers beach fl - Google Maps

That section of beach has a great sunset view, just to the left of Sanibel Island.

[Theo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Theo]

$0.01 worth...

I don't mean to pick an argument, just to make sure that what you find when you get there is what you have been led to believe.

We just stayed at Bel Air Beach Club, 780 Estero Blvd. It is the fourth property from the Times Square Parking area, roughly a city block and half from the heart of Times Square.

The gulfside of that section of Estero Blvd, north(west) of Times Square is solid resorts or rental properties all the way the four blocks or so to the County Park/Trolley Turnaround at the end. It is not as busy trafficwise because that part of Estero Blvd is not a through street. But, it is not exactly desolate, either, with considerable traffic going to then many resorts and to the park and beach at the end (Bodwitch Point Regional Park).

Some of the resorts along there are quite large. The Pink Shell is the largest resort on FMB. It is at 275 Estero Blvd, so it is on passed wherever you will be.

Theo should should know what's at 430, or have a reasonable guess. He owned at Windward Passage, 418 Estero. It, too, is a resort of considerable size, and passed where you will be.

If this link works, it shows a pelican's eye view, if the pelican was in outer space:

430 estero blvd ft. myers beach fl - Google Maps

That section of beach has a great sunset view, just to the left of Sanibel Island.

I don't disagree with any of the above, but I admit that I can't quite envision what is at 430 Estero Blvd. It must be no more than two (three at most), buildings away from Windward Passage, on the same (Gulf) side of Estero Blvd, but I'm nonetheless drawing a blank. #430 would actually be before Windward Passage (and/or Pink Shell), proceeding NW from Times Square. I parted ownership with WPR last year, but it had been several years before that since I actually used WPR myself, so the memory is a bit foggy regarding all of the surrounding buildings. My owned time is all at the other (lagoon plagued) end of FMB. My forays to the north end of FMB are mostly limited to an occasional visit to the Smokin' Oyster and/or the Public Library (not in that order, however).

In any case, it appears that OP is leaning away from FMB entirely, in favor of the Edgewater Beach option, so the mystery of #430 Estero Blvd. seems a moot point. I'll check it out regardless when I'm at FMB in two weeks, my curiousity now piqued.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

My walk from Bel Air to Windward Passage, and to Bowditch Park, was on the beach. Not many addresses over there, for the emergency vehicles, post office and pizza delivery folks.

Most of the buildings were mid-rise condos similar to BABC or WP, with a few of the older single-story frame rentals.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Real Property Information

From the Lee County Real Property records:


Account Tax Year Status
24-46-23-W1-00700.0260 2007 PAID
Original Account Book/Page
24-46-23-W1-00700.0260 2156/3423
Owner
INK EDITH W TR

Physical Address
430 ESTERO BLVD
FORT MYERS BEACH FL 33931

Mailing Address
1625 SILVERWOOD CT
NORTH FORT MYERS FL 33903
USA
Legal Description
ISLAND SHORES UNIT 4 PB 9 PG 37 PT LOT 26 AKA LOT 3 SURFSIDE UNREC

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Maybe this will help:

Fort Myers Vacation Rentals

[hliw Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close hliw]

The Edgwater, etc.

GB -

If you stay at the Edgewater, you will be a nice long walk but lovely walk from the Naples Pier - the beach is wonderful and the pier a great place to end the day, see a sunset, etc.

Just off 3rd Street South (short drive) is a nice little casual place called the Olde Naples Pub - we eat there a lot. It's not fancy, great for kids, outdoor dining, not expensive a just has a nice ambiance. I always enjoy going to the Tommy Bahama restaurant, too. 5th Avenue has a bit of night life (low-key), down toward where 5th and US41 join (it's called 4 corners to the locals).

I know I mentioned it before, but Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary should be a mandatory visit for the whole family. It is a real gem. It is a mile-long loop boardwalk (you end up back at the beginning) that takes you through all types of South FL topography from meadows to hammocks, to swamp. The woodstorks are probably nesting about now, which is pretty neat. You will see alligators at lettuce lake, turtles. The kids can do a sort of "I spy" scavenger hunt for plants and animals (they give out sheets at the check in area) - It is really fantastic.

Enjoy!
HLIW

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

There you go. That's a blast from the past, the old-style Florida beach house.

In discussions over yonder, I have talked about how this is the type of place that is disappearing, being bought for the land, bulldozed, and then midrise condos or taller private residences put up.

There were two of those on the lot next to Bel Air Beach Club.

Across from Bonita Resort and Club in Bonita Beach (same road as Estero Blvd, but called Hickory Blvd, because Bonita Beach is on Hickory Island), there used to be four of them on two small lots. An older couple lived in one of the units and operated it as a Mom and Pop beach rental.

When we checked in at BRAC one year, they said that a gated community had bought it for $6 million. Sure enough, the bulldozers went to work while we were there and by the end of the week most of it was gone. The next year a private beach club was there, all hoyty-toyty, and you couldn't cut across their property any more.

Maybe this will help:

Fort Myers Vacation Rentals

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

There you go. That's a blast from the past, the old-style Florida beach house.


......

I know, it looks just too cute.... if it had wifi I'd have been more inclined to commit, but b/t that and the tough cancellation policy I'm not going to be able to do it at those prices. And Heather is make Edgewater sound more and more enticing