When we’re in college, we're always looking for fun, enjoyable, and, most importantly, FREE things to do around Fort Myers. And if it’s not free, it better be cheap! We're always looking for the best specials out there whether it’s happy hour or food truck nights, any specials are much appreciated.
There are so many different things to do in Fort Myers, but the city is popular for its beach scene. The beach is always a great idea because it's free! Fort Myers is all about water activities, so you will find beaches and fun excursions in this list.
You'll also find the best bars that won’t leave you broke and some unique things to do that are out of the ordinary. Below is your ultimate guide to Fort Myers as a college student. Enjoy!
Art Walk and Music Walk in The Downtown River District
On the first Friday of each month, you can enjoy a long strip of art galleries, museums, and quaint shops as well as bars and restaurants. From 6-10 p.m., these businesses present guests with their best products while performers and bands prepare to entertain you with their live music starting at 7 p.m.
Genres vary all the way from rock and roll to jazz and more. You'll be offered wine across some of the shops and can find other drinks in many of the booths on the sidewalk in front of the restaurants.
This is a great way to get connected with your community and see what’s out there. The Art and Music Walk is perfect for a date or an evening out with friends when you don’t feel like going too hard on a Friday.
ArtFest Fort Myers, which happens the first weekend of every year’s February, is Southwest Florida’s premier art festival. This is another idea for a romantic date or something more chill to do on the weekend.
Even though this year’s ArtFest passed, you can keep this event in mind for next year! If you’re an avid art lover and collector, this event is must for you. Parking and admission are completely free, too.
There's art ranging from all different price points, and you'll find everything from print makers to wearable art and beautiful jewelry. 2020’s ArtFest will be on the Waterfront in Historic Downtown Fort Myers.
The Sunset Celebration is on the first Wednesday of every month at Cape Coral’s Yacht Club Community Park, where more than 40 local arts and crafts vendors get together to show their work.
There's also live music, yummy food trucks, and beautiful sunset views over the water. The Caloosahatchee River stretches over the Gulf of Mexico, making this a sight to see. The best part is that this event is free!
Sanibel Island Lighthouse and Fishing Pier
The Sanibel Island Lighthouse is a great place to hit up if you’re looking for an adventure. While you can't go inside the lighthouse, the surrounding area is a great place to fish, bird watch, hunt for sea shells, observe some dolphins, or just catch a tan.
The beautiful lighthouse has a long history, dating all the way back to 1884 when it was built. This historic landmark is located on the East end of the Sanibel Island. You only have to spend a few bucks on parking, but be sure to arrive early as the place fills up quickly.
Are you tired of going out to the same old places every weekend? Located in Bonita Springs, this escape room is an out-of-the-box activity for you and your friends! Try your best to escape a locked room in 60 minutes or less using your brain power and teamwork skills. You'll have to find hidden objects, figure out clues, and solve some puzzles if you want to make it out!
In groups of two to six, you can choose between four different escape room themes: The Inheritance, Mirror Mirror, Edison vs. Tesla, Abandoned House, and The Reporter. In Abandoned House, you and your team have 60 minutes to escape out of an abandoned house where an investigator vanished after following a lead on a murder case. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?
If you’re a college student who lives in Fort Myers, you HAVE to visit City Tavern in the Downtown Fort Myers River District. It was voted “Friendliest Staff,” “Best Happy Hour,” and “Best Girls Night Out.” And for good reason as they have happy hour every single day from 4-8 p.m. serving $3 domestic bottles and drafts, $3 well drinks, and $4 house wines.
The place is a true college environment with live local musicians on their stage every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., and there's never a cover charge!
You can also find amazing food here as they've teamed up with celebrity chef Brian Duffy to serve some amazing creations like their Pretzels and Beer Cheese or their Triple Cheese Bacon Mac and Cheese. If you’re tired of exploring and want a good place to have a good time, this is the spot.
Located in Lighthouse Island Resort Inn & Suites,Tiki Bar and Grill is the local spot if you’re in Fort Myers and is acclaimed for their affordable prices and fun, relaxed atmosphere. What else could you ask for as a college student?
Tiki Bar and Grill is always lively with an all-day happy hour every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.! They also have live music on the weekends with karaoke events happening on select nights. There's also an actual outdoor patio that is pet-friendly!
The grill has great menu items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner including their Macho Money Burger and their foot-long Homewrecker Hotdog. A fun fact about the bar is that it hosted news crews during Hurricane Wilma in 2005 and has grown in popularity since then.
Cayo Costa State Park is a nine-mile strip of beautiful untouched beaches that protect the Charlotte Harbor Estuary. Only accessible through boat or kayak, this untouched shoreline is perfect for picnicking, paddling, hiking, swimming, snorkeling, shelling, fishing, birdwatching, and exploring.
There are also several walking and biking trails on the island. If you really want to step up your adventure game, you can even camp here as there are campsites and cabins available.
Since the state park is only accessible by boat, there's a ferry service that runs to the island from several mainland locations. They also have a concession and restaurant, a historic site, restrooms, and shower sites.
Cayo Costa State Park is a great escape if you’re looking to do something different with a group of friends. Plan in advance so you can prepare how you’re going to get there and, if you’re going all the way there, you might as well stay overnight!
Fort Myers’ local brewery scene has grown over the last years. One of their most popular spots, Fort Myers Brewing Company, was established five years ago and is a perfect spot for college students.
They don’t only just offer great beer- they have an entire calendar full of events like food truck rallies, where every Thursday night at 4 p.m. five food trucks serve their signature dishes alongside live music, trivia, festivals, and more!
All types of food are featured including Taco Tummy, Pilar’s Empanadas, Mobstah Lobstah, and The Sizzle Truck. Their Sunday Fundays are definitely fun as they have live music at 2 p.m. every Sunday, corn hole in the parking lot, and beermosas on tap all day.
Every Wednesday, they have Burger Night at 5 p.m. where The Nosh Truck serves different gourmet burger variations with fries and a pint of beer for $10! This place is definitely a must on your list of college adventures.
Related content: Best Breweries in Fort Myers
With so many different activities to choose from in Fort Myers, we've narrowed some of the things you should tackle first. There are so many fun bars, adventures, and festivals in Fort Myters, so start writing them down on your calendar. You won’t want to miss a single second of the action here!
Find more things to do in Fort Myers by registering on 239area, your free guide to the Fort Myers area.
Cover photo courtesy of Unsplash
