FORT MYERS BEACH VACATION RENTALS, FLORIDA

One of the not-to-be-missed attractions in Fort Myers Beach, especially for nature lovers, the Lovers Key State Park, offers vacationers the perfect setting to enjoy a quiet interlude with nature. Once the favored picnic spot for romantics, Lovers Key is now part of the four barrier islands that make up this Lovers Key State Park. The lush natural surroundings of the islands along with their surrounding waters provide a home to numerous exotic as well as native birds, wildlife, and marine.

You can observe birds such as Bald eagles, hawks, warblers, ospreys, reddish egrets, and roseate spoonbills; wildlife such as marsh rabbits, gray squirrels, and raccoons; and marine life such as bottle-nosed dolphins and the endangered West Indian manatee. Apart from enjoying bird watching and wildlife viewing, visitors to the Lovers Key State Park can enjoy a wide range of recreational activities including hiking, biking, angling, boating, canoeing, kayaking, picnics, and even ranger-guided tours. You can also enjoy shelling, but collecting live shells and artifacts from the state park is forbidden by Florida law. Also, if you are visiting during the peak season, which incidentally coincides with the bird nesting period, you are requested to respect and maintain a distance from the designated bird-nesting areas.

The park remains open from 8.00 AM till sundown throughout the year. The admission fee is $ 5 per vehicle seating up to 8 people; $ 3 for a single occupancy vehicle; and $ 1 per person. As the state park can be accessed by foot, car, or boat, you can easily enjoy a visit to this secluded paradise while vacationing at a Fort Myers Beach vacation rental.

Another major attraction is the Lynn Hall Memorial Park and Pier which is located near the Times Square and at the foot of the Fort Myers Beach Sky Bridge. A popular attraction for families and anglers, the Lynn Hall Memorial Park features a beach with facilities such as showers, restrooms, covered picnic tables, a playground, and a natural kiosk which educates visitors on the various land formations of Florida and the state’s flora and fauna.

A must visit in the Lynn Hall Memorial Park is the 560 foot pier which stretches into the Gulf of Mexico and offers amazing fishing. Also known as the Pelican Pier, due to the numerous Pelicans that entertain visitors diving in and out of the water hunting for fish, the Pier features a bait shop midway down the pier and a shelter at the end. The bait shop also offers and rod and reel rentals, so if you have forgotten to bring your own equipment, you can easily hire it from here and enjoy a great day, fishing.

A must visit for any nature lover, the Matanzas Pass Wilderness Preserve, offers vacationers the chance to enjoy a rendezvous with nature and its creations. Located on Bay Road, just one mile south of the Matanzas Pass Bridge, this preserve is spread over around 57 acres of unspoiled land and features abundant mangroves and oak trees in addition to other native plants.

Right at the entrance, a sabal palm and a live oak hammock greet you and beckon you to delve deeper into this pristine forest which is no less than a paradise on earth for nature lovers. As you delve deeper into the preserve, you find yourself surrounded by mangrove canopies and oak hammocks and sightings of wildlife from the boardwalk is common. One of the not-to-be-missed features of this preserve is the pavilion at the end of the boardwalk from where an awe-inspiring view of the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve awaits you.

Bowditch Point Recreational Park is the place to head if you are seeking to enjoy a quiet, romantic interlude on a secluded stretch of beach. The unspoiled stretch of white sandy beach has been the venue for countless romantic souls enjoying the spectacular sunset and the picturesque surroundings. Spanning over 17 acres, the Bowditch Point Recreational Park is actually a dual facility which includes a 7 acre developed park nestled between the beach and the bay.

Another feature of the Bowditch Point Recreational Park is the 10 acres natural preserve where nature lovers can enjoy a walk through three distinct habitats. Estuarine, beach, and upland habitats all provide a sanctuary for numerous wildlife species including raccoons, pelicans, gopher tortoise, Florida box turtle, and the burrowing coquinas. With a location at the northern tip of Fort Myers Beach and facilities such as restrooms, deck for large parties, and a picnic area, the Bowditch Point Recreational Park has earned a permanent place in the itinerary of many vacationers staying in Fort Myers Beach vacation condos.

The first aquatic preserve in Florida, the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve is an oft-visited attraction on Fort Myers Beach. Located between the Matanzas Pass Sky Bridge and Bonita Beach, this picturesque preserve provides a sanctuary for countless wildlife species, plants, as well as birds. Miles of winding trails and waterways provide vacationers the chance to enjoy activities such as hiking, biking, boating, and canoeing in addition to bird watching and wildlife viewing.

Here, you can canoe through a canopy of mangroves and hike through live-oak lined trails; observe wildlife such as gopher tortoises, leatherback turtles, Atlantic loggerhead, Atlantic alligators, Florida manatee, and the Florida Black Bear; watch a wide range of birds including the roseate spoonbill, little blue heron, tricolored heron, reddish egret, American Oystercatcher, sandwich tern, and black-whiskered vireo. In short, The Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve is nothing short of a paradise on earth for nature lovers and animal lovers in Florida.