Lovers Key State Park is a place away from time. White sand beaches,
playful dolphins, and an island that used to be accessible only by boat.
While now you can get to the park by car, Lovers Key is still a piece of old
Florida, preserved.
Lovers Key State Park is actually made up of four islands: Black
Island, Lovers Key, Inner Key and Long Key. It covers 712 acres and
includes canals, beaches and tidal lagoons fringed with mangroves.
Let's take a look at the park itself.
Stuck in the Middle With You
Lovers Key State Park is located on an island in the Gulf of Mexico. To the
immediate north is Ft. Meyers Beach, to the south Bonita Beach. Both beach
cities are quite built up these days, although not quite rivaling the condos of
the Florida Southeast coast. This means that Lovers Key is a welcome
refuge from the hustle and bustle of life.
Lovers Key is named because they say lovers used to go to the island when
they wanted seclusion from the rest of the world.
Come on over - relax and enjoy natural Florida!
Be on the Lookout For...
Dolphins and manatees are sometimes spotted in the waters around the island.
Manatees tend to be seen more often in the winter months, when they move into
shallower water for warmth.
Two birds that are worth seeing are bald eagles and roseate spoonbills.
Oh, and you are likely to see ospreys near the waters -- they are fun to watch
fishing for their dinner.
What Is There To Do at Lover's Key State Park?
So what else is there to do at Lovers Key State Park, aside from animal/bird watching?
How about:
Biking/Hiking
Swimming
Shelling
Canoeing/Kayaking/Boating
Fishing
Tours
Picnics
Don't Walk (or Bike) Away!
There are roughly eight miles of trails in the park, although only one 2.8
mile trail is really named.
Black Island Trail: As you might guess, this trail is on Black
Island. It winds along canals and through a maritime hammock.
Hikers and bicyclists are both welcome. Note: there are three loops, of 1 mile, 1.6 miles and then the full length. Not a lot of shade, but there are benches along the way.
In total, there are roughly 8 miles of trails on Black Island. If you
would prefer to ride the trails, bicycles can be rented from the park
concession. Call (239) 314-0110 for information about availability and
rates. Naturally, you are also welcome to bring your own bicycle.
Swim the Gulf
The Gulf of Mexico is one the west side of the island, while Estero Bay is on
the east. Swimming is best in the west, in the warm waters of the Gulf of
Mexico (and besides, that's where the beaches are). The Gulf is usually
pretty calm, which makes for great swimming. While in theory you can swim
in Estero Bay, you'd probably have to take a boat to get to a swimming hole.
Your very best bet is the 2.5 miles of sand beach on the west side of the
island.
A word of caution -- there is absolutely no swimming in the canals.
Trust me, the water is much better in the Gulf. The canal water contains
runoff from residential and/or commercial areas and alligators tend to think the
canals are theirs.
She Sells Sea Shells
Shelling is great in Lovers Key State Park, along the Gulf beaches. And
especially with all the recent storms out in the Gulf of Mexico, there are more
shells than usual. Please remember that the taking of live shells is
prohibited. Hey, we have to leave some for the next generation of shellers!
Ride the Waters
There are plenty of canoeing and kayaking available at Lovers State Park. You
can bring your own or else rent one from the park concession.
If you have a motor boat with you, there is a boat ramp on the Estero Bay
side of the island. Please be aware that the draft is pretty shallow all
over. There is no marina.
Fish On!
Fishing is fine in Lovers Key. The best fishing is in Estero Bay, where
you can find sea trout, snook, redfish, and tarpon. If you have a cast net,
there are some mullet just waiting for you. I don't ever think I've been
to Southwest Florida when I haven't seen loads of mullet jumping.
There are two basic tours offered by the park concession. The most
popular is the sunset eco-tour aboard the Nautilus II. These depart on
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturdays.
The other tour of note is the Sunday morning Dolphin Cruise and Shelling
Excursion. Get up early, it leaves at 8:15 AM.
Reservations are recommended, especially in season (roughly November through
April). Call the park concession at (239) 314-0110.
Picnics (What Did You Bring Me to Eat?)
There are plenty of areas for picnicking in Lovers Key State Park. Tables are
available throughout the park, as are some grills. Bathrooms and water are
available, and there is also a park concession with drinks, food and (my
favorite) ice cream.
However, I do suggest that you bring your own food and drinks. You may
end up picnicking away from the concession and it would be a real pain to carry
the food and drinks all over without spilling them (I hate it when that
happens). If you are just passing through, though, the concession may be
just what you are looking for.
There is a pavilion available for rent. Contact the park concession at (239)
314-0110 for
reservations.
A Notice About Water, Weather and Insects
As always when in natural Florida, be aware of the strong sun, plentiful
insects and possible rainshowers. Make sure to bring sunblock, sunglasses
and at least have some insect repellent available. You may not need the
insect repellant, but better to have it and not need it than to have your day
ruined.
One thing that I keep forgetting is some sort of sunblock for your lips.
Nothing worse than chapped lips at the end of the day (except maybe a bad
sunburn).
Personally, I'd also bring a hat of some sort -- for one, it helps keep the
sun off your face. Two, it helps to keep your scalp from getting
sunburned. I can't count the times I've been burnt along the part in my
hair!
Time and Place
Lovers Key State Park is open year-round from 8 AM to sunset. The entrance
and other fees are as follows:
Entrance Fees - $5.00 per vehicle (up to 8 people in the vehicle)
If there are more than 8 people, then an extra $1 per person over 8 is
required. If you are the only person in the vehicle, then the fee is
reduced to $3.00.
Pedestrian, bicyclist - $1.00 per person.
Motorcyclist - $3.00 for up to 2 riders.
Sunset Eco-tour: $20 for adults, $8 for children. Tuesday,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday only.
Lovers Key State Park's address is 8700 Estero Blvd., Ft. Myers Beach,
Florida 33931 Their phone number is (239) 463-4588.
To get to the park, take exit 116 off I-75 and Lovers Key is 10.5 miles west.
If you are coming north or south along the coast, State Road 865 runs through
the park.
Florida Pieces-Parts
Lovers Key State Park is located in Southwest Florida. The closest cities
are Ft. Meyers and Bonita Beach, and the closest airport is Ft. Meyers.
Lovers Key is named because they say lovers used to go to the island when
they wanted seclusion from the rest of the world. 
Swim the Gulf