Seawatch On-the-Beach Resort

Seawatch On-the-Beach Resort is in Fort Myers and I like this area. I have stayed on Sanibel and Captiva islands recently and journeyed over to Fort Myers just because of the interesting things to do. This means I can not wait to go back down for a visit.

My last flight to the area was so nice and painless of an experience that instead of driving, I am flying down to the area. I was able to get a small seat on a flight for the trip down. Just hoping when I show up they do not try to charge me double since it is not business class. We shall see.

Video by Jennifer Ruiz

Day One Travel and Arrival at Seawatch On-the-Beach Resort

Well, the person at the counter did not mention my size or double charging for seats. I think most do it now after Southwest started that mess, but I am human and prefer not to pay extra if I do not have to.

Being 6 foot 4 inches and a few too many pounds has as many drawbacks as advantages these days. Maybe after Covid people are just shocked, I made it though, so they are taking it easy. I hope they get rid of masks soon on flights you are in a tube with circulating air, not sure it helps and they are not comfortable for me.

A 2 hour flight later and we are here. The direct flight was nice and the safety aisle seat gave me enough legroom to survive it. I used to fly enough to know the typed of planes by heart. Now I have to stop and read the emergency card to see the plane model number.

Once I had my rental car, I was on my way to the resort. This resort offers both 1 and 2 bedroom options for accommodations. Both are very large and comfortable. My 1 bedroom villa was over 1,000 square feet, which is huge by any measure or standard. Each room here also has a screened balcony which during a few times of the year is a blessing to deal with bugs for you. Marshy areas are something bugs love. A breeze will take care of them, but on a still day you are happy to have the screens on the balcony for certain.

Villa Amenities

Then the resort itself offers all of these options.

Resort Amenities

The resort is impressive in part because of the very wide beach here. I do not recall a wider beach in all the resorts I have been to in recent years. It seems like a block from the resort to the ocean all on sand. This means you have plenty of space here to relax, and let the kids build sand castles, and the like without worrying about bothering a soul.

Sure, everyone gathers by the water’s edge, but there is plenty of extra space as needed. This is a great beach location for a beach cart. If you are driving down, you may want to bring a small one. It just makes walking the wide beach area much easier. You could also bring a backpack or two just to carry water, books, beach towels and other goodies.

After checking in, I went to Charley’s Boathouse Grill for dinner. It is close to the resort. Once you pull out of the resort, it is to the left a few blocks. The food was good and while not priced for most families, a couple would likely find the pricing and meal reasonable.

Day Two Edison and Ford Winter Estates

Two of America’s great early minds had winter estates in Fort Myers and they are now museums. If you are a history fan like me, or a parent or grandparent who wants to entertain as well as inform your kids, this is a great stop for a few hours to half a day.

Tickets are affordable for adults at $25 and less for children based on their age. You can visit the historic homes, including a caretaker property, then see the Edison workshop as well on your trip here.

You will also find gardens here and the museum itself. The gardens cover 20 acres and have some trees planted by Ford, Edison, and Firestone, the founder of the tire empire.

The museum covers 15,000 square feet and provides an amazing look at the minds of great men in a time before modern technology. It has a feeling of allowing you to glimpse behind the curtain at a great time in American history.

Day Three on the beach

It is foolish to come to a resort like this and not spend a full day with your feet in the sand or in the water on the beach. Even in an area like Fort Myers, where there is a ton to do, you just can’t and should not skip the beach.

Just remember this far south to use sunscreen and be smart with how much time you are in direct sunlight. Southern Florida can give you a sunburn to remember if you are not wise. The water today was very nice and warm. It was May and already it was almost 80 degrees in the gulf here. At say 78 degrees, you feel cold when you first get in much like a cool pool, but the sun is warm, and the air is warm as well. So, once you cool down enough, your head back to your beach towel, then spend the day on a rinse and repeat cycle.

I went back in for a late lunch or early dinner. I chose Parrot Key Caribbean Grill for the meal and was happy I had. I had a blackened snapper that was cooked perfectly. Sometimes you eat blackened fish and it tastes like the cook is covering something up. Here it offered just added pop and flavor to a high quality snapper fish that was perfectly prepared.

I ended the night back at the resort. Not wanting to go, ready to spend another day or two on the beach here.

If you want an amazing beach location with a wider beach than you have ever seen, this is the spot, just book through TZort to get the best price.