• Home
  • North America
    • Mexico
    • United States
      • Alabama
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • Ohio
      • Rhode Island
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Wyoming
  • Europe
    • Italy
    • Scotland
    • Spain
  • Central America
    • Belize
    • Costa Rica
    • Nicaragua
  • South America
    • Panama
  • Caribbean
    • Dominican Republic
  • Asia
    • China
    • South Korea
  • Pacific Islands
    • Philippines
  • Travel Farther Smarter
  • Submissions
  • About Us
  • We invite you …
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Page
  • Submissions
  • About Us
  • We invite you …
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Page
facebook twitter youtube reddit tumblr
You Me and the Dock
  • Home
  • North America
    • Mexico
    • United States
      • Alabama
      • Arizona
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Florida
      • Hawaii
      • Idaho
      • Maine
      • Massachusetts
      • Nevada
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • Ohio
      • Rhode Island
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Wyoming
  • Europe
    • Italy
    • Scotland
    • Spain
  • Central America
    • Belize
    • Costa Rica
    • Nicaragua
  • South America
    • Panama
  • Caribbean
    • Dominican Republic
  • Asia
    • China
    • South Korea
  • Pacific Islands
    • Philippines
  • Travel Farther Smarter
Home  >  Come Travel with Us • Florida • North America • United States  >  Florida’s Lovers Key State Park
Come Travel with UsFloridaNorth AmericaUnited States

Florida’s Lovers Key State Park

Tony Scopel Posted onNovember 19, 2014April 20, 2017 Comments are off 3707 Views

lovers key state parkOne of SW Florida’s most beautiful nature provided attractions is just south of Ft Myers Beach and Estero Island. Lovers Key State Park is made up of four barrier reefs. The four landmarks are Lovers Key, Inner & Long Keys and Black Island.  lovers key state park In the early 1900’s the island and its surrounding keys were only accessible by boat. It was said that mostly lovers went over to the romantic island for its serene and quiet setting. The reefs were slated for development  in the late 1960’s and 70’s. After some financial melee with the developer, the State of Florida stepped in and acquired the now surrounding  preserve in 1996.




lovers key state park Ranger StationThe park’s entrance, which is located on Black Island has a minimal entry fee that starts at $2 a person on foot or bike, $4 for a car & 1 person and $8 for up to 8 people in a vehicle ($2 extra per-person). Once inside the park there is a central area with a gift shop that offers rentals on kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddle boards, peddle boats and bicycles. They also make available park information and maps.

lovers key state park Trolley main stopThe central area is a starting point with either a self guided tour or a prearranged tour for larger groups. This is where you can also hitch a ride on the tram that takes you to the beach. Another great way to see the park is by renting or bringing you own bikes. We preferred to start our trip on foot. From this point we crossed over a bridge onto Inner Key.

LKSPB 1 of many walkway bridgesLKSPB inner waterway between keys 1We selected the trail that leads to the beach. The paths are well groomed and easy to maneuver. There are lots of stops along the way to view the greenery, wildlife and waterways that intertwine between the keys.

There are plenty of photo opportunities along the way. The park is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Everywhere you look presents a picturesque view of nature at its finest moments.

LKSPB Birds 2LKSPB Blue Herring 4The bird photo above left (on tree branch) is an American Oyster Catcher (not officially verified) and to its right a Blue Heron. As we traveled further down the trail, we approached the bridge that took us onto Lovers Key and one of the many beach locations in the park. Here is where you can spend a day suntanning, bird watching, relaxing and/or enjoy the warm Gulf waters.




LKSPB Beach & cloudsFrom this point you can walk for miles in either direction. We selected the southern route that takes us towards the channel that separates Lovers Key from Bonita Beach. The wildlife is always present and watching your every move. I will try to post as many pictures as this page will allow.

LKSPB Shoreline 2LKSPB Shell bed 3The uprooted sea-washed timber with the Mangroves and various trees close behind, gives a wondering look at natures selection of life and death. There are beds of seashells that cover the sugar white sand that blankets the beach’s shore.

LKSPB Common sandpiper 1There are lots of Common Sandpipers (pictured left) that run along the shoreline looking for food. They scurry by as if you weren’t even there.

Egret White Ibis 1The beautiful bird to the right is a White Ibis and is one of the many species of the Egret family that roam the park.

LKSPB Horseshoe CrabAs we made our way down the beach, I happened to look down and find a Horseshoe crab. The Gulf waters are filled with these amazing aquatic creatures that mate just above the shoreline.

LKSPB Osprey Pic 1Florida’s Osprey is one of the most gorgeous aerial creatures that I have witnessed. They usually nest in tops of dead trees or on overhead structures. I have also witnessed them nesting on highway signs that stretch across Florida’s roadways.

LKSPB Osprey Pic 4Take note that in the picture below it shows the Osprey turning his head 180 degrees to its backside. Looking even closer, you can see that it has the afternoon’s feast clinched tightly in its razor sharp claws.

LKSPB Osprey Pic 5The Osprey pictured below is the mate of the other Osprey and is proudly perched on a nearby limb. Need I explain any further how magnificent these birds are.

We made our way  to the channel that divides Lovers Key from Bonita’s public beach. LKSPB Farthest S endLKSPB New Pass BridgeThe current is very strong between these to points. Anglers love this area for its abundance of fish.

LKSPB Gazobo on the beachAfter reaching the end of Lovers Key, we headed back to the beach’s trolley stop. This part of the key has a snack bar, restrooms, gazebo and vendor rentals for chairs and umbrellas.

LKSPB path to pierJust to the south of the trolley stop is a walk-only path that leads to a pier. It tunnels you through a dense tropical forest of mangroves. The covered gazebo at the end of the pier provides some great views LKSPB Pier close upof the waterways that separate Lovers Key and Inner & Long Keys.

LKSPB Smaller keys inside the waterwayThere are specific places throughout the park that allows you to listen and view its habitation. Another great way to explore this beautiful right of passage is by kayak. You can bring and launch your own kayak or rent one from the gift shop.

We took a walk along the northwest side of Lovers Key that borders the Big Carlos Bay. It offers a little over a mile of shoreline and is filled with lots of marine life. It is not unusual to see dolphins frolicking within yards of you or possibly viewing a manatee slowly lumbering by and snorting just above the waterline. AnotherDSCN1617 exciting part of this tour was spotting a Great Blue Heron. This magnificent bird with its beard like feathers watches over its domain like a farmer over his crops.

IMG_51178909518639It is very easy to spend a full day walking, biking, kayaking and exploring this beautiful sanctuary. It’s very family oriented and most  trails are stroller friendly. At the end of the day, take the time to find a comfy spot facing west and next to the water’s edge. Then relax and watch the sunset over the Gulf Of Mexico in one of SW Florida’s most romantic places.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lido Pic 3Author: Anthony Scopel
Photographer: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Publisher: YMATD

21
SHARES
ShareTweet
Previous Article Ft Myers Beach inner island Bar & Grills
Next Article Freelancer’s Pictorial

Related Posts

  • The Greeley Independence Stampede Demolition Derby

    August 9, 2023
  • virginia city nevada

    Welcome to Virginia City

    July 29, 2023
  • Parrot Key Caribbean Grill’s Car Show

    April 3, 2023

Where We’ve Traveled

Visit Villas De Cisnes
Subscribe to You, Me and the Dock and we'll take you around the world with us.
Loading

Archives

  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • March 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • March 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • January 2020
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
facebook twitter youtube reddit tumblr
Powered by Kemper Kreative, LLC © Copyright 2023. You, Me and the Dock.