Lovers Key State Park Beach - Ft. Myers Beach, Florida

Address:Ft. Myers Beach, Florida

It is redundant to say that you will love Lovers Key State Park beaches. But you will! Of course, it is cliché to mention that lovebirds and newlyweds choose Lovers Key State Park beaches for their secluded, honeymoon retreats. But they do! Located in Southern Florida just several miles south of Fort Myers Beach, Lovers Key State Park also attracts a diverse group of nature lovers; eco-tourists and birdwatchers who seek out the wild, unkempt beach look. With miles of undeveloped, unspoiled sands, a cluster of four barrier islands, and more than 712 acres of canals, and mangrove-fringed tidal lagoons, Lovers Key State Park is a sunbathing, fishing, kayaking, wildlife observing extravaganza. Lovers Key State Park beaches are loved by everyone but maybe most beloved to shorebirds, wading birds, and migratory birds that frequent the sands. But as you keep your eyes glued to the mangrove forests for the flutter of wings, don't forget to watch your step; Lovers Key State Park are also some of Florida's best shelling shores—which can hurt bare feet if caught off guard! Whether you are traveling alone or with loved ones, the natural beauty of Lovers Key State Park sunny beaches will both steal your heart and warm it at the same time.

Four for the price of one, Lovers Key State Park is actually comprised of four different mangrove barrier islands (Black Island, Lovers Key, Inner Key and Long Key) all of which are on the Gulf of Mexico. While Lovers Key State Park certainly has its tourist following, you may likely see more animals than people. Out at sea, West Indian manatees and bottlenose dolphins surface for air (spring and summer are the best times to spot them), and frisky snook and mullet occasionally jump out of the water to take a peep at landlife. Because the waters in and around Lovers Key State Park are teeming with birds, fish, and marine life, the best way to get into the thick of things is to hop on a kayak, canoe, or boat. Kayak and canoe rentals are available at Lovers Key State Park and you can tour the inland backwaters. Speedsters will have to cut their motors inside the park, but motorboats can cruise in the Gulf and Bay waters to their hearts' content. As you coast along the shorelines and inner canals keep your eyes peeled for ospreys, bald eagles, roseat spoonbills and herons.

Two-wheeled tourists can rent bicycles at Lovers Key State Park, head to Black Island for more than five miles of biking and hiking alongside woodpeckers, hawks, owls warblers, marsh rabbits, and gray squirrels. If you want to take some of those cute little snook or mullet home for dinner, you can cast from the shore or launch a boat from Lovers Key State Park boat ramp. To learn about the beauty you are gawking at, take one of the guided beach walks, eco-sunset tours, bike tours or kayak excursions, offered by the park.

Make sure you ditch your car behind in the parking lot—access to the beaches at Lovers Key State Park is restricted to footpaths and a tractor-pulled tram. But besides the rough-and-tumble atmosphere, Lovers Key State Park shores are more developed than one might expect. There is a snack shop in case you forget your lunch, a shaded picnic pavilion in case you remembered to bring it, and bathhouses with outdoor showers to freshen up. Lovers Key State Park is located on Estero Boulevard, 10.5 miles west of I-75. For a day on a beach the way nature intended, Lovers Key State Park is a lovely choice.

For years, Lovers Key was accessible only by boat and it was said that only lovers traveled to the island to enjoy its remote and solitary beach. Today, it is one of four barrier islands that make up this state park. A haven for wildlife, the islands and their waters are home to West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, roseate spoonbills, marsh rabbits, and bald eagles. The two mile long beach is accessible by boardwalk or tram and is popular for shelling, swimming, picnicking, and sunbathing. Black Island has over five miles of multiuse trails for hiking and bicycling. Anglers and boaters can launch their vessels from the park's boat ramp. The park's concession offers boat and fishing tours, as well as bicycle, canoe, and kayak rentals.