I have a preference when it comes to beach towns: I like them when they act like they’re glad, or at least surprised, to see me. Fort Myers Beach acts like it’s glad to see me. While there is something of an overabundance of ticky-tacky tourist-trap fare, the vibe in Fort Myers Beach is overwhelmingly laid-back and neighborly. It doesn’t hurt that the town of FMB is pretty small and self-contained, but if I lived in a spot that had such large and beautiful beaches, I’d probably be pretty mellow and friendly too.
In keeping with that spirit, the beaches are easily accessible and well marked, and there are two large municipal parking lots on the northern end of the island (1661 Estero Blvd.; 200 San Carlos Blvd.) where you can park for about $1 per hour. Farther south there are numerous well-marked public beach access points with small (but free!) parking lots.