‘Tis the Season of Gratitude
As the festive holiday season ramps up, many of us in the Fort Myers area have had time to pause and reflect. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, our community came together and the whole world rallied around us. Here are just a few of the many memorable moments that have inspired an ocean of gratitude.
Our resilient community came through.
For Rob Whyte of Fort Myers Brewing Company, helping his community was an easy decision. What wasn’t easy was turning his food trailer into a mobile laundry station in just four days. Watch Rob tell the story of how he and other local business owners got it done so they could bring free laundry services to eight neighborhoods and counting.
While our community rebuilds, wildlife is doing the same.
Florida’s wild creatures were born to be resilient. An expert from the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) explains how Southwest Florida’s birds and other wildlife avoid, hunker down or ride with a storm. Recently, the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam captured footage of bald eagles rapidly rebuilding their nests. It’s also been a record-breaking sea turtle season on area beaches with over 2,000 nests and more than 125,000 hatchlings recorded.
Good days are on our horizon.
The sun is shining, and our community is reopening quickly and with intention. The 2022 Fort Myers Tip-Off took place in November as planned, area restaurants are reopening their doors and many neighborhoods are already hosting events. Crucially, the Sanibel Causeway reopened ahead of schedule, and we are constantly updating our list of hotels, parks and local businesses that are ready to welcome visitors once again. Go behind the scenes of the recovery efforts in our Shellcast podcast, featuring conversations with locals who are leading the way.
Our culture is vibrant.
Soak up the seasonal spirit as you stroll along sunny, shop-lined streets and enjoy the sparkle of holiday lights at nightfall. Inland areas of Downtown Fort Myers, Estero and Bonita Springs were less affected by the hurricane, so you can plan an entire getaway full of local discoveries. Marvel over thousands of lights and historic displays every evening at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, relish the return of the monthly Art Walk and Music Walk, or take in a show at the historical Florida Repertory Theatre.
We are forever grateful to our supporters who have been with us for every step of the recovery journey. With resilience and optimism, good days throughout Fort Myers’ islands, beaches, and neighborhoods are being restored.
