English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Fort Myers, FL

If you want to visit a quiet destination in Florida that wears its cowboy culture with pride, consider the city of Arcadia. Filled with bustling antique markets and exciting festivals, this is the type of place that invites visitors to explore and enjoy at a relaxed pace. Similar to other Florida cowboy towns like the breezy Davie, Arcadia's laid-back vibes provide a welcoming atmosphere for your travels.

Arcadia is located in DeSoto County, 112 miles south of Orlando and just 47 miles north of Fort Myers. Much like Florida's family-friendly Dade City, Arcadia is a hotspot for antique shopping. There are numerous stores selling vintage curiosities in Arcadia's charming downtown district, located in close proximity to each other on Main Street. Here, visitors can spend a quiet afternoon browsing shops for nostalgic treasures.

Arcadia's downtown district also hosts monthly antique fairs on the fourth Saturday of every month. The district gets busy when this fair is in full swing, and vendors take to the streets to share their creations. Some shoppers hope to find that elusive item to complete a rare collection, while others simply come to browse and see what they will find. Festivals and rodeos are also common in this city, providing plenty of entertainment for residents and visitors year-round.

Historic buildings and antique shops in Arcadia

You can see some remarkable buildings in Arcadia's historic district, such as the Koch building, originally built in 1926. Formerly known as the Rosin Arcade, this magnificent structure features elaborate architecture and pink walls, making it a must-see on your visit. It once housed a post office and local stores. Today, the building houses antique stores, restaurants, and a variety of other businesses. The DeSoto County Courthouse is another historic building worth a visit just for its architecture. This brick building, built in 1913, features a beautiful Classical Revival motif that still impresses visitors today.

Arcadia's downtown is pleasant and walkable, with shops situated close by one another. Pedestrians can easily browse businesses on foot and stop at cafes for coffee and pastries as needed. This is a wonderful way to discover local eateries, such as Broken Spur Diner — a cozy family-owned Southern-style spot for home-cooked fare, so you don't get hangry while shopping. It boasts a 4.4 rating on Google, with reviewers praising the delicious food, friendly service, and good prices.

West Oak Street is the place to go for antiquing in Arcadia, home to its monthly Antique Fairs. You'll find a variety of vintage treasures in these downtown stores, from retro home decor to rustic cookware. Another place to find antiques is the Biggar and Biggar Antique Mall, which contains a variety of vintage items and collectibles. The mall is located on Oak and Monroe, in the heart of Arcadia's antique district.

Celebrate rodeo festivals and a rich cowboy heritage

There is an exciting competition that takes place during March and October: the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo. Guests can watch cowboys on bucking broncos, roping competitions, and steer wrestling from the comfort of their seats. The March rodeo even starts off with a parade downtown. This beloved event, featuring live music and food, is a wonderful way to spend the day. It also gets people excited about upcoming events while introducing the community to a bit of cowboy heritage. You'll see horseback riders from various organizations, as well as beautiful horse-drawn carriages and local cowboy athletes.

Another fun event in Arcadia is the DeSoto County Watermelon Festival, which takes place each spring. The festival features live music and games, as well as seed-spitting and eating contests. It's the local seasonal festivals like this that make this small city so endearing and can make you feel like part of the community. The Annual Pioneer Day & BBQ is worth attending for its history and small-town charm, with period-accurate demonstrations, musical performances, and delicious food. Between the rodeos and seasonal festivals, it's easy to see how this city has maintained its roots over the decades. If you want to keep the Florida cowboy theme going on your travels, consider glamping with horses at the off-grid River Ranch, 75 miles away.

Jan. 11, 2026Updated Jan. 12, 2026, 12:56 p.m. ET

A popular Southwest Florida meteorologist known for his witty weather memes is out at WINK News.

Matt Devitt announced Jan. 10 that he's no longer employed with the Fort Myers-based television station. People praised Devitt especially his work during Hurricane Ian in 2022, with many saying he kept them calm and informed as it made landfall in Lee County.

"LIFE UPDATE: After 10 years, my time with WINK News has come to an end after being let go from my role as Chief Meteorologist on Thursday," he posted on Facebook and his other social media.

"This decision was not one that I expected or agreed with and was not given the opportunity to say goodbye on-air. It was a complete shock to me, my family and fellow coworkers."

WINK has not yet released a statement and TV station officials were unavailable for comment Jan. 11.

Social media blows up after Devitt firing

Devitt must be a bit overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support.

His Facebook post announcing he was let go at WINK had more than 24,000 comments and 64,000-plus reactions as of noon Jan. 11.

"We should all write to Wink….best damn weatherman in the land?" wrote Darlene Conard.

"The entire viewing audience is livid and shocked! Wink will NEVER be the same," commented Sherry Habelow Ballou.

"Your voice was literally the thing that kept us calm during Hurricane Ian. When we woke up the next morning and Wink was off the air my wife and I literally said 'Omg I hope Matt is okay,' " said Liz Affeldt-Bailey.

"I’m so appalled that this was handled this way. We wish you the best as you’re a fantastic meteorologist who clearly loves his community."

Someone even began a petition to keep him at WINK.

"Matt Devitt's departure from Wink Weather has left a void that is hard to fill," the petition said at change.org. "His expertise and accessible communication style were unmatched — qualities that made him a household name and the go-to person for weather forecasts in our community."

Devitt shared funny weather memes

His popularity extended beyond Southwest Florida, especially for his funny memes about Sunshine State weather.

Devitt's Facebook page had more than 1.2 million followers, and his Instagram and X social media accounts were also highly popular.

"Serving our Southwest Florida community for the past decade has been an honor and privilege, especially through Hurricanes Irma, Ian, Helene and Milton," Devitt wrote on Facebook.

"I always gave you everything I had with one goal in mind: keeping you safe and informed without the hype. While this chapter ended differently than I hoped, I wish WINK News, along with my previous coworkers and weather team, the best.

"I will still be providing weather updates on this page, it just won’t be on TV anymore. My new Facebook name is being changed to Matt Devitt Weather, which you’ll see shortly. In addition to sending Facebook messages, you are always welcome to email me at MattDevittWX@gmail.com.

"I'm taking a brief pause professionally to reset and be with my family. I’ve missed them and I’m looking forward to every minute. I’ll keep you all updated on what’s next.

"Thank you to everyone who has reached out with support, it has meant more to me than you know."

Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Contact him at dosborn@usatodayco.com and follow him on Instagram @lacrossewriter.

Mastello is in very good hands.

Well, make that six very good hands to be exact.

The Cacciatore brothers took over and relaunched the longtime ristorante and steakhouse off Cypress Lake Drive in Fort Myers in 2023.

And they have done wonders with it ever since.

So much, in fact, it was recently named one of the best steakhouses in Florida by the USA TODAY Network Florida Dining & Entertainment team.

“We make sure everything is top-notch,” Vincenzo Cacciatore said.

That statement applies to everything here, from the meticulously aged steaks and outstanding Italian dishes to the creative cocktails and extensive wine list.

But it wasn’t easy getting to this level.

“It took off slowly,” Vincenzo said. “But we’ve been growing. It’s been great."

Remodeled and renovated

Vincenzo and his brothers Pietro and Giuseppe — who took over Terra Nostra in Iona eight years ago — bought Mastello, a local staple for 20 years, in 2022.

“And then (Hurricane) Ian hit,” Vincenzo said. “We were closed for a full year before we opened in June 2023.”

They took that time to get it up to their standards.

“We gave it some love and care,” he said. “We tore down some walls to open it up. We remodeled to make it a more modern and open concept.”

A sea of white tablecloths with warm, glowing candles sets the tone of the main dining room, while a small and intimate bar beckons from the back of the space. A second dining room to the left of the entry, which quickly fills on busy nights, can be used for private parties and events.

It’s all welcoming, comfortable and filled with an exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable staff.

“It’s fine dining, but the way we do this, it appeals to everyone,” Vincenzo said. “We do get a younger crowd, too.”

Many quickly become regulars.

And for good reason.

One bite is all it takes

It took just one bite into our delightfully flavorful 14-ounce prime New York strip before we were planning our next visit.

Prime, American Wagyu and fine-aged are served here. Three strips are on the menu — an 18-ounce dry-aged bone in prime Kansas City, a 10-ounce American Wagyu and our best-selling prime N.Y. — in addition to an 8-ounce filet mignon (another top seller) and a top sirloin American Wagyu. The large cuts and shareables come next, featuring cowboy cut bone-in ribeye (28 ounces), prime porterhouse for the best of both worlds (34 ounces) and chateaubriand tenderloin (18-20 ounces).

Italian food stands out too

Mastello separates itself from the pack with the other side of the menu — carefully crafted Italian and seafood dishes, from spicy crab spaghetti and rigatoni Bolognese topped with fresh burrata cheese to braised short rib ravioli and risotto di mare, served with a whole lobster tail.

“We do just about everything by hand, all from scratch,” Vincenzo said.

The veal is hand-cut. Tomatoes are crushed and the eggplant parmigiana is carefully layered “like lasagna.”

“The tomahawk braised short rib is braised for hours in red wine,” Vincenzo added. “It’s spectacular.”

Add in a craft cocktail list that has five versions each of espresso martinis and old fashioneds, two Wine Spectator awards in the last two years and a couple of OpenTable Diners’ Choice awards, and you’re just scratching the surface of this culinary wonder.

“When you order something here, you know it’s going to be good,” Vincenzo said.

Mastello Ristorante & Steakhouse, 7890 Summerlin Lakes Drive, Unit 101, Fort Myers; (239) 936-3660; mastello.com and on Facebook

Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com

A cold front has swept through Southwest Florida, bringing unusually chilly temperatures to the region. With the cold snap expected to last through New Year's Eve, county officials and local partners have activated a cold-weather outreach plan to help protect vulnerable residents.

The Salvation Army in Fort Myers has opened its doors to those seeking refuge from the cold. As temperatures drop to near or below 40 degrees, the shelter is providing a warm place to stay for those without stable housing.

"We want to open our doors for anyone that is in need," said Terryn Baah-Acheamfour, Salvation Army Director of Program Services.

Officials noted that while some people have already utilized the shelter, they typically see an influx later in the night. The emergency shelter space will remain open around the clock, operating on a first-come, first-served basis.

Kathy Andersen, a board member of the Cape Coral Bootstrap Homeless Ministry, shared their proactive approach to the cold weather.

"We knew this was going to happen, so last Saturday, we tried to give out as many... T-shirts," said Andersen. "Everything we have is donated... we make sure that it gets out to them."

Baah-Acheamfour expressed the appreciation shown by those who utilize the Salvation Army's services.

"So for those that didn't really know, maybe perhaps what the Salvation Army offered, it was a way for them to come in there like, thank you," said Baah-Acheamfour. "We didn't know we were able to do this. We didn't know all of this was available to us. So it's always a lot of appreciation and gratitude."

The Salvation Army's emergency shelter will continue to provide a warm haven through the cold nights ahead in Fort Myers.