09/2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS: Nancy Hamilton, Lee Rose, Katie Meckley (239) 338-3500

LEE COUNTY, FL – The best in fishing, shelling, bird watching, miniature golf, dog beaches and weekend getaways can be found at The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel according to more than 605,000 readers of Florida Monthly magazine who cast ballots in the magazine’s “2008 Best of Florida Awards.”

The publication’s readers voted in more than 100 categories for the 13th annual poll, announced in the September 2008 issue and also featured on Florida Monthly’s Web site www.floridamagazine.com for the entire year.

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel received the “Best of Florida” top honors in the following divisions: Best Place to Bring Fido – Dog Beach at Lovers Key State Park; Best Nature Center (for the fourth year) – Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary; Best Shelling Location (for the ninth year) – Sanibel Island; Best Place to Watch Birds (for the sixth year) – J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge; and Best Mini Golf (for the third year) – Smuggler’s Cove in Fort Myers. The destination also earned an honorable mention for Best Weekend Getaway – Sanibel and Captiva islands.

“For The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel to be consistently selected in the ‘Best of Florida Awards’ is an honor,” said Suya Davenport, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB). “The popularity of our destination is evident among residents and visitors, and the VCB is very proud of our natural assets and attractions for being chosen by the people who frequent the destination year after year.”

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