What they're saying about us

Public relations is recognized as one of the most effective and important tools in any successful marketing initiative. By capturing attention and touting the diverse attributes of our tourism product to traditional and social media worldwide, the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau’s communications department generates millions of dollars worth of editorial coverage of our destination and tourism partners. In turn, potential visitors are engaged by journalists’ stories, which aids in choosing Lee County for vacations and meetings. Here’s a sample of what they’re saying about us . . .

Chicago Tribune
“If seashells are your thing, you might like the 73^rd Annual Sanibel Shell Fair & Show, to be held March 4-6 on Sanibel Island, Fla., which is known for its shelling beaches. 239-472-2155; http://www.sanibelcommunityhouse.net.”

Florida’s Travel Guide 2010
“Sun Splash Family Waterpark is the place to cool off when summer swelters. It has a dozen wet and dry attractions, including seven thrill waterslides; the Lilypad Walk, where you step from one floating ‘lily pad’ to another; an arcade; a family pool and Tot Spot; and a river-tube ride. In 2008, the park debuted three of its most daring slides to date, including the X-celerator.”

Southern Living
“Owner Brain Podlasek wanted The Island Cow to be ‘a flip-flop-friendly, inexpensive place where Grandpa can take the kids and grandkids.’ Now the brightly-painted island eatery welcomes nearly 1,000 kids (and their families) some days. 2163 Periwinkle Way; www.sanibelislandcow.com  or 239-472-0606.”

www.allwaystraveller.com
“Taking a boat trip is another fine way to appreciate the beauty of this area. Captiva Cruises runs a range of cruises including daily trips to the coastal islands of Cabbage Key and Useppa. All trips bring you into close contact with the area’s dolphin community, who seem to take great delight in performing around and under the boats. www.captivacruises.com.”

The Flint Journal
“From Nov. 5 through Nov. 9, Fort Myers Beach will host the American Sandsculpting Championship Festival. The annual event takes place on the beach between the Holiday Inn and the Outrigger Beach Resort. Visitors are invited to watch artists create whimsical and magical sand art. For more information, call 866-916-7263, or go to www.fortmyersbeach.org.”

Travel Video News
“The nation’s premier canoeing and kayaking destination will sizzle with autumn activity in late October during the fourth annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival along the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Florida. The 10-day festival offers a buffet of speakers and instruction, cultural and eco-festivals, competitive races and tournaments, paddlers’ get-togethers and green activities.”

www.luxurytravel.com
“Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa delights all your senses. It all starts the moment you enter the building. The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, in Bonita Springs, Fla., diffuses the fragrance of mango-and-coconut throughout the lobby. Memories are just waiting to be made here, in this stunning property located on Estero Bay. What does that mean for travelers? It means oceans of activities – and on-site water activities provider at the resort offers everything from eco-tours to sunset and shelling cruises. Or you just might kayak with a guide on Estero Bay. Perhaps you’d like to bird-watch or fly-fish instead. Us, we traversed the bay for a quick 15-minute shuttle to Big Hickory Island Beach on the Gulf of Mexico – an absolutely pristine private beach that’s worth the quick trip. The sand was so powder-like and floury, we swore you could bake bread with it.”

www.TakeOffeh.com
“And finally, follow your heart. What better way to choose a wedding venue than to head for the spot you first kissed, held your first date or that special place which holds meaning for the two of you? Familiar is good. For Florida shelling captain Mike Fuery, that meant exchanging wedding vows on the shell-scattered, windswept beach of Cayo Costa State Park, along the Gulf coast. By Florida standards it’s very remote (access only by small ferry or private boat – cue the dolphins who jump alongside the craft), very private and very romantic. But bring your own champagne and glasses – there are no shops or restaurants on the tiny island.”

www.ArkandTent.com
“People have been coming to beautiful Sanibel for thousands of years: from the Calusa Indians, to European settlers, to the current wave of tourists. For everyone, it seems, is lured by the irresistible combination of sand, sea and tranquility. These days, tourism on Sanibel is encouragingly peppered with buzzwords like ‘conservation’ and ‘sustainability,’ and hunting and poaching have been replaced by nature photography and wildlife observation. Now that is ‘progress!’”

Palm Beach Gardens Lifestyle Magazine
“For Florida visitors and residents who think the state is nothing more than golf courses, theme parks ad Mizner-influenced Mediterranean-style enclaves, Cabbage Key Inn is an enlightening surprise. This is a slice of a long-ago, idyllic Florida that has all but vanished. You can bet your bottom dollar on that.”

www.aberdeennews.com
“This year – for the first time ever – the Russmans spent the week of Christmas outside the Midwest. We were on Sanibel Island in Florida. I won’t lie. It was fabulous. Every day the skies were blue, with the occasional white fluffy cloud floating through. The temperature ranged from the mid-70s to the mid-80s. We swam. We took boat rides. We made sand castles on the beach and picked up amazing seashells. We played Frisbee tag on the shoreline and then ate Christmas dinner outside by the pool. We had a tremendous time with our family. The whole trip was a once-in-a-lifetime gift.”

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