USS Mohawk centerpiece of exciting dive destination, iNature Trail at wildlife refuge, Art of the Olympians celebrates golf return to the Olympic Games, new attractions, annual  festivals and more!

LEE COUNTY, FL - Ready, set, mark your calendars and plan a vacation! There is a lot of news to report as the upcoming months are filled with festivals and events. And The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in southwest Florida continues to provide new experiences for first time and returning guests to Florida's unspoiled island sanctuary. For more information on planning a vacation, visit www.fortmyerssanibel.com.

USS Mohawk provides exciting diving destination
The World War II warship USS Mohawk CGC was deployed to its final resting place 90 feet under water, roughly 28 nautical miles off of Sanibel Island on Florida's southwest coast on July 2.  Creating the first Veterans Memorial Reef dedicated to all U.S.veterans, the official name of the reef is the USS Mohawk CGC Veterans Memorial Reef. The 165-foot World War II Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk is the last remaining ship of the Battle of the Atlantic, having launched 14 attacks against submarine contacts between 1942 and 1945. One of her most famous deeds was being the last ship to radio Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower that the weather was clearing for the D-Day invasion.
 

The Mohawk, or "Mighty Mo," in full fighting trim, offers an exceptional diving experience, with the ship's replica guns, huge smokestack, crow's nest, bridge, deckhouse and massive propeller. Trained and equipped divers descend the smokestack into the Mohawk's enormous engine room to the giant engine's inner parts and reduction gear. The sinking of the Mohawk is expected to create one of Florida's premier diving destinations.

 INature Trail is first of its kind at J. N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge
 If you have a smart phone that downloads apps, you're ready to hit the J.N. "Ding"  Darling National Wildlife Refuge's latest innovation. Designed to appeal to techies to get  them outside, the Refuge iNature Trail along Wildlife Drive has two components, one for  kids and one for adults. This is the first such interactive trail in the 550-plus national  wildlife refuge system.  www.fws.gov/dingdarling.

Art of the Olympians celebrates the return of golf to the Olympics
With the 2012 Olympics in London over, officials of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are planning for the return of golf to the games. After more than a century, golf will return to the Olympics and the Art of the Olympians Museum and Gallery will celebrate this historic occasion with the College of Life Foundation Premiere Olympian Golf Classic Dec. 2-4, 2012. To be played at The Colony Golf & Country Club in Bonita Springs, the tournament will feature Olympians, professional golfers and athletes paired with amateurs in a fundraiser for Art of the Olympians Foundation Inc., the downtown Fort Myers-based museum and gallery. With more than 200 countries participating in the games, the impact of Olympic golf will be felt all over the world, affording many countries that have never had the opportunity a chance to grow the sport. Golf was last played in the 1900 and 1904 games.

The Art of the Olympians Museum and Gallery at the Al Oerter Center for Excellence is a non-profit organization home to unique exhibitions of Olympian art, Olympic memorabilia and educational activities. 239-275-5758 or www.artoftheolympians.org.

Historic District connecting to Caloosahatchee River
The Fort Myers Riverfront Development Plan is underway that will add a new dimension to the waterfront of the Downtown Fort Myers River District by reconnecting the historic district to the Caloosahatchee River. The $150 million plan includes: the water basin feature; a 200-room convention hotel; 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurant uses; two parking decks; a four-acre addition to the existing 10-acre Centennial Park that will also include a riverfront amphitheater; expansion of the existing public yacht basin; and an 80,000-square-foot addition to the current Harborside Event Center. www.myriverdistrict.com/waterfront.

Hotel renovations
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs is undergoing a multimillion-dollar makeover of its 454 rooms and suites. www.coconutpoint.hyatt.com.

Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers is updating 247 guest rooms, its spa, the main lobby and other public areas. www.sanibelmarriott.com.

New airline service for southwest Florida
Low-fare Spirit Airlines will double the number of cities it serves from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers by adding service to Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Minneapolis-St. Paul starting Nov. 8, 2012. Daily nonstop service will continue through April 24, 2014. www.spirit.com.
 
WestJet airlines will inaugurate Saturday flights between Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) on Dec. 22, 2012. The seasonal service will count as RSW's first nonstop route to Canada's capital. www.westjet.com.

Nonstop MetJet service between Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and Green Bay's Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) in Wisconsin will begin Oct. 10, 2012, and run through April 2013. The weekly flight will operate on Wednesdays as a public charter, marking the first nonstop flights between the two destinations www.metjet.net.

New Attractions
The 60-foot paddleboat Indian Princess arrived recently in Fort Myers Beach to transport passengers through the back bays of Estero Island and up the Caloosahatchee River. The double-deck vessel, an authentic replica of an American steamship, seats 85 on its lower deck. Unless reserved for a private charter, the Indian Princess will offer daily cruises from 2 to 4 p.m. and at sunset. 239-765-8919 or www.indianprincessfortmyers.com.

Tarpon Bay Explorers recreation concession at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island has begun offering stand-up paddleboarding rentals and daily tours in the refuge's Tarpon Bay. 239-470-1877 or www.tarponbayexplorers.com.
 
At Lee County's 16 sites on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, new brown and white signs with the image of a swallow-tailed kite, now point the way for birding enthusiasts. The trail is part of a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission that spans a 2,000-mile trail to promote bird and wildlife viewing and conservation. www.floridabirdingtrail.com.

Southwest Florida Yachts in North Fort Myers has added a 37-foot, twin-engine fiberglass trawler to its charter fleet. Avocet, a Great Harbour N-37, features two cabins, a state-of-the-art galley, and a shallow-draft zest for exploring local inland waterways. www.swfyachts.com.

Zoomers, an 18-acre amusement park in Fort Myers, has opened with a roller coaster, bumper boats, mini golf, go-cart track and a video game arcade. 239-481-9666 or www.zoomersamusementpark.com.

Dining
Angelina's Ristorante in Bonita Springs received the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, the magazine's second-highest honor bestowed upon only 878 restaurants nationwide. Local winners of the magazine's Award of Excellence include Bayfront Bistro and Shoals on Fort Myers Beach, Blue Water Bistro and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Estero, Chops City Grill in Bonita Springs, Keylime Bistro on Captiva Island, Sunshine Grille on Captiva Island and in Fort Myers, and the Pink Elephant and The Temptation Restaurant in Boca Grande. www.winespectator.com.

Arts
Heather Henson, daughter of Muppets master, the late Jim Henson, will bring her troupe of puppeteers, musicians, and kite-flyers to perform and interact two days during the 25th Annual "Ding" Darling Days, Oct. 14-20, 2012, at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. The troupe fashions life-sized endangered species and other wildlife puppets out of recycled materials for their improv performances. www.dingdarlingdays.com.

True Tours offer visitors a chance to learn more about the downtown Fort Myers area's history, architecture, public art, revitalization and even haunted history with its walking tours. The 75-minute history walking tour takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and combines stories of local history and antidotes of the founding fathers. 239-945-0405 or www.truetours.net.

Art Walk, the River District, Downtown Fort Myers, takes place the first Friday of each month 6-10 p.m. An opportunity for art buyers and art enthusiasts to meet artists at their galleries during show openings, the events ends with an after party. www.fortmyersartwalk.com.

The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Downtown Fort Myers received a $650,000 State of Florida Cultural Facilities Grant for the historic building that has been transformed into an art center. The funds will go towards construction and restoration of the upper floors which will be used for art classes and music lessons, as well as additional meeting and gallery space. The stately building and its surrounding site are part of the local heritage. The site on which the building now stands was a Native American (Calusa) settlement hundreds of years ago. In the mid-1800s, it became the officers' quarters of the original fort of Fort Myers. 239-333-1933 or www.sbdac.com.

Park news
Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers is getting  a new look as it undergoes a $2.4 million project that will improve the quality of water that flows into Estero Bay and will extend a wetlands area at the north end of the park. Soon to be completed, the park will have more foraging habitat for wading birds and cleaner water for all wildlife. More than 700,000 visitors each year relax, exercise and explore Lakes Park with several miles of paved and unpaved trails, boardwalks, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, picnicking, bird watching and a fragrance garden. 239-533-7575 or www.leeparks.org.

Lovers Key State Park on Fort Myers Beach and Gasparilla State Park in Boca Grande have been named among the top 10 visited state parks in Florida by the Florida State Department of Environmental Protection. Nearly $2.5 million has been spent at Gasparilla for beach renourishment and restrooms, while nearly $3.4 million was spent for park development, bridges, multiuse trails, tram, bayside park and beach renourishment at Lovers Key. www.floridastateparks.org.

Kudos
The Southeast Tourism Society (STS) has named four events on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel to their Top 20 Events List for October - December 2012: The 26th Annual American Sandsculpting Championship, the 7th Annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, the 28th Annual Christmas Luminary Trail and Open House and the 37th Annual Holiday Nights at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. The STS Top 20 Events List recognizes festivals and special events across the Southeast region each month.
 
The Fort Myers Downtown Streetscape has been awarded the International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) Award for "the inviting, healthy environment created in its dense urban core through the Downtown Streetscape project." The accolade was given "In recognition of the extensive landscaping, refurbishment and traffic calming that greatly improved the quality of life for everyone, creating a downtown with a genuinely urban character."

The Fort Myers Downtown Streetscape Project was completed in 2010 after a four-year, 54-block utility replacement and streetscape renovation. The project has previously won five state-wide awards from public works, planning, engineering and redevelopment associations. Since its completion, over 30 new businesses have opened up in downtown and attendance at special events has increased substantially. www.livablecities.org.

Fishing
23rd Caloosa Catch and Release Tournament, Fort Myers Beach
Nov. 2-3, 2012
Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina
239-671-9347
www.caloosacatchandrelease.com
Visit website for all of the details for this weekend event.

2012 Calusa Blueway Fishing Tournament
Nov. 3, 2012
239-533-7518
www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com
Becoming the premier tournament in southwest Florida, the catch-and-release fishing tournament is expected to draw 75 anglers to Lee County waterways as part of the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival. The winner will receive a Hobie Mirage Pro Angler 12 fishing kayak, courtesy of Hobie and Estero River Outfitters. Cash prizes will also be available. Tournament proceeds benefit the Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism. For details, visit www.CalusaBluewayPaddlingFestival.com and click on "activities" and "fishing tournament" to find the registration link, or go directly to www.floridasee.com and click on "programs."

Annual events and festivals
23rd Annual J.N. "Ding" Darling Days, Sanibel Island
Oct. 14-20, 2012
239-472-1100
www.dingdarlingdays.com
"Ding" Darling Days include a week of eco-activities with free refuge tram tours, live wildlife presentations, kids activities, Federal Duck Stamp artist presentation, art day, family day and more. Birding and kayaking tours, environmental speakers, a nature photography contest, and the Junior Duck Stamp Awards will fill the week with environmental activities for all ages. The festival celebrates the birthday of the refuge's namesake, conservationist and Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Jay N. "Ding" Darling. The event kicks off with Family Fun Day on Oct. 14. For detailed schedule, visit website.

27th Annual Oktoberfest, Cape Coral
Oct. 19-21, Oct. 26-28, 2012
German-American Club
239-283-1400
www.gasc-capecoral.com 
Hosted by the German-American Club, this huge celebration includes German culture,
food, music and dancing. Highlights include authentic live entertainment with large musical groups from Germany, along with enough German food and beer to make anyone do the "Chicken Dance."  Call or check website for schedule and ticket information.

7th Annual Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, countywide
Nov. 1-4, 2012
239-533-7275
www.CalusaBluewayPaddlingFestival.com
Named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society, the festival showcases the 190-mile Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail, which helps Stand-up paddle boarders, kayakers and canoeists explore southwest Florida waterfront communities. This signature eco event includes a family fun race, a kayak fishing tournament, paddling clinics and demonstrations, seminars, wildlife activities, archaeological events, guided tours, and more. Find complete details with contact information on the website.

26th Annual American Sandsculpting Championship and Beach Festival,
Fort Myers Beach
Weekends of Nov. 16-25, 2012
239-454-7500
www.sandsculptingfestival.com 
The 2012 American Sandsculpting Championship and Beach Festival continues its tradition as one of the most popular, family-friendly events in Florida, attracting an estimated crowd of 50,000 attendees over the entire 10-day event. With name entertainment, this island-wide festival has been named one of 20 recommended events for November in the southeastern United States by the Southeast Tourism Society. Now in its 26th year, the event owes much of its success to the area's abundant natural resources, particularly the soft, sugar-white sands of Fort Myers Beach, which are considered the best in the world for sand sculpting events. This year's festival will feature 16 of the world's best master sculptors along with Florida State and amateur sculptors. These performing artists will unite on Fort Myers Beach to create their imaginatively stunning works of art.

30th Annual Taste of the Town, Fort Myers
Nov. 4, 2012
239-277-1197
www.jlfm.org
Sponsored by the Junior League of Fort Myers, this tasty event held in downtown Fort Myers' Centennial Park features samplings from more than 40 local restaurants.  The
popular food and entertainment festival attracts more than 15,000 people and includes live music and more along the Caloosahatchee River.
 

Cape Coral CoCoNut Festival, Cape Coral
Nov.  9-11, 2012
239-573-3121
www.cocofest.com
Sun Splash Family Water Park
400 Santa Barbara Blvd.
The Cape Coral CoCoNut Festival celebrates coconuts, multi-cultural food, boating, fishing and wildlife. The festival will feature a national musical act, gymnastic entertainment, carnival rides, water-ski shows, tropical food, contests, coconut crafts, fireworks, and more. Visit site for schedule.

Taste of the Islands, Sanibel Island
Nov. 11, 2012
239-472-3644
www.crowclinic.org
Taste of the Islands is back for its 31st year to celebrate three Sanibel signatures - community, cuisine and the wildlife organization CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife). Set to the tune of live bands, local restaurants will descend on Sanibel Community Park with their most decadent delicacies from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and duke it out to earn top honors for their dishes from judges and the crowd.

28th Annual Christmas Luminary Trail and Open House, Sanibel/Captiva islands
Dec. 7 and 8, 2012
239-472-1080
www.sanibel-captiva.org 
This popular event draws visitors from all over the world as they join local residents to celebrate the season.  Three miles of luminary candles line Periwinkle Way 5:30 - 9  p.m. on Sanibel Island on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 on Captiva Island. Businesses are decorated for the holidays with 2,000 candles illuminating the island pathways, storefronts and homes. Named a Southeast Tourism Society (STS) Top 20 Events List for October - December 2012.

37th Annual Holiday Nights at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers
Dec.1-30, 2012
www.edisonfordwinterestates.org
239-334-7419
One of the area's most popular highlights of the holiday season!  During this time of year, the homes and gardens of Thomas and Mina Edison and Henry and Clara Ford are decorated and visitors have the option of a self-guided tour or a guided tour with an Estates historian. The traditional event also includes entertainment by school and community groups, culinary demonstrations, book signings, appearances by artists, and the "Children's Tree Trail," a forest of trees decorated by Lee County students. The Edison Ford Museum and Edison Botanic Research Lab will also be open.

New this year: Edison Ford Legacy Shoppe located in the Edison Caretaker's House will feature replica items from the Edison and Ford collection, including a reproduction of the Edison talking doll. The doll is an invention of Thomas Edison and is available for purchase. Named a Southeast Tourism Society (STS) Top 20 Events List for October - December 2012. See website for admission and details.

Captiva Holiday Village, Captiva Island
Nov. 23- Dec. 8, 2012
www.captivaholidayvillage.com
The two-week Captiva Holiday Village launches its 2012 spectacular the Friday after Thanksgiving with fireworks, tree lightings, holiday readings and musical performances. Now in its third year, Captiva Holiday Village is sponsored by hoteliers, merchants, attraction owners and restaurateurs of Captiva Island. 

Each themed weekend will be a fun-filled extravaganza of sight and sound, set against the backdrop of the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors will enjoy decorated golf cart and lighted boat parades to Junkanoo and fire dancers, live music and a Marching Mullet Parade.

75th Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade, Fort Myers
Feb. 16, 2013
Parade starts at 7 p.m. at Edison Stadium and continues to the Fort Myers Downtown River District.
239-334-2999
www.edisonfestival.org
During February, Fort Myers celebrates the birthday of its most illustrious historical resident, Thomas A. Edison, in befitting fashion. Edison, who built a home on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River and spent 46 winters there, invented the light bulb. So it's appropriate that the month of activities culminates with a lighted night parade. Invention competitions, parties, craft shows and a 5K run are all part of the festival.  Celebrating 75 years, the month of February is filled with special events.  Visit website for details.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in southwest Florida includes:  Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Boca Grande & Outer islands, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres. Images are available upon request. 

MEDIA CONTACT
Nancy Hamilton
T +1 239-338-3500
E NHamilton@leegov.com