This story appears in the
January 2001 issue of
Entrepreneur.
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Florida's West Coast is often called the "forgotten
coast," but Fort Myers isn't as quiet as you might expect.
The community is becoming more than a mecca for winter visitors,
attracting technology, manufacturing and other non-tourism
businesses. Nearby Southwest Florida International Airport plans to
build a new $356 million terminal within the next four years to
accommodate a surge in business and leisure travel to the
region.
What to do: Check out J.N.
"Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a nearly
7,000-acre wildlife refuge on Sanibel Island. It's home to 291
species of birds, more than 50 types of reptiles and at least 32
different mammals. Edison-Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers has an
extensive botanical garden, a laboratory and a museum.
Where to stay: The Sanibel
Inn, which features a meeting center and a beautiful sandy beach.
Go to www.sanibelinn.com or
call (800) 237-1491.
For more information, contact the Lee County Convention and
Visitors Bureau at (888) 231-6933 or online at www.leeislandcoast.com.
Christopher Elliott is a writer in Annapolis, Maryland.
Contact him at www.elliott.org.
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Christopher Elliott
Christopher Elliott is an Orlando, Fla., writer and independent producer who specializes in technology, travel and mobile computing. His work has appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines and online. You can find out more about him on his...
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