About & AroundWelcome to Manatee Bay Inn Island Getaway and Fort Myers Beach

Fort Myers Beach

Welcome to beautiful Fort Myers Beach, Florida—a stunning year-round destination enjoyed by both permanent residents and nearly two million visitors annually. Stretching across two barrier islands and onto the mainland, Fort Myers Beach is conveniently located near Interstate 75 and Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).

This vibrant beach community is known for its clear sunny skies, warm temperatures, and breathtaking coastal views along its charming seven-mile island. Visitors and locals alike enjoy a wide range of activities, including fishing, golfing, parasailing, jet skiing, as well as excellent shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Outdoor recreation truly abounds here, with easy access to the Gulf of Mexico and nearby attractions such as Lynn Hall Memorial Park, Lovers Key State Park, Bowditch Point Park, and the Matanzas Pass Preserve. For those seeking a more relaxed pace, the island is lined with unique local shops, art galleries, and a variety of delicious eateries—many featuring the famous pink Gulf shrimp—along with popular beach bars offering refreshing drinks and live local music.

Fort Myers Beach also hosts several beloved annual events, including the American Sand Sculpting Championship in November, the Shrimp Festival in March, and the Pirate Festival in October, attracting visitors from across Florida and the Northeastern United States. The bay is home to the Big “M” Casino, a luxury yacht offering slots, table games, dining, and nightly entertainment. Guests can also hop aboard the Key West Express for a scenic 3.5-hour journey to Key West.

Enjoy your stay in this lively Southwest Florida paradise—we’re sure you’ll return time and time again!

Lien & Pat

The Founders

While on honeymoon vacation in 1990, Axel and Connie fell in love with this quaint little Island. They kept coming back to Florida every year for some vacation time from their busy Travel Business in Germany and explored the rest of this state. There was no place like Fort Myers Beach for them. In 1993, they decided to move for good from Frankfurt/Germany to Fort Myers Beach/Florida and eventually became founders of the first "B & B" on Fort Myers Beach in 2003. They named it "Manatee Bay Inn" after the graceful aquatic mammals that inhabit the local coastal area. The manatees are visible during the month of May to November in the little "Lagoon" behind the property.

In the summer of 2017, Pat and Lien visited Fort Myers Beach on vacation and quickly fell in love with the sunny charm of Southwest Florida. By early 2018, Axel and Connie retired to enjoy traveling the world, and Pat and Lien proudly became the new innkeepers of Manatee Bay Inn, continuing its tradition of warm hospitality and relaxed island living.