Ft Myers Beach Fort Myers Beach is a popular vacation destination in Southwest Florida. It is only 15 minutes from the greater Fort Myers area, on the Gulf of Mexico. Miles of gleaming white sand, broken only by an occasional sheltering palm or stately Australian pine. The beach is famous for swimming, since it has little or no undertow. Population: 14,000; doubles during the winter months. The largest yearly event on this Southwest Florida island is the Shrimp Festival. The Shrimp Festival is held each year in February. The first official Shrimp Festival was held in 1960. Before 1960, the event was part of the Fort Myers based Edison Festival of Light and it was called Beach Day. An election of a Shrimp Queen, shell and flower exhibits, fishing contests, parades and more make up the family event.
