Lovers Key Beach(Lovers Key State Park)

Located along the Lee County shoreline, Lovers Key State Park is a large state park with a large and unnamed two-and-a-half mile long beach with white sand. This beach is also known as Lovers Key State Park Beach and Lovers Key Beach. The beach in Lovers Key State Park is situated along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. This beach was rated as the fourth-best beach in Florida by the Travel Channel. As an interesting fact, the area around the beach was named Lovers Key as the beach here was popular among couples due to its remote nature during the early 20th century, when this area was only accessible via boat. 

The beach in Lovers Key State Park does not have lifeguards. However, the beach and the area around it have many amenities including showers, a boat launching facility, a children’s playground, and a concession stand. In addition, a gazebo, a restroom, and a picnic area are also present in the southern portion of this beach. Rental facilities for beach chairs, umbrellas, and watersporting equipment are also present near this beach. The state park also offers accessibility to people with disabilities. Dogs are not allowed on the beach. 

The beach in Lovers Key State Park offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, picnicking, wildlife watching, surfing, fishing, hiking, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, boating, fishing, and paddleboarding. If you are planning to go into the water near Lovers Key State Park, we recommend being careful as the water here is known to have unpredictable rip currents. In addition, the water near this beach is also known to have stingrays, which can inflict a powerful sting if disturbed. Depending on the time of the year, you can see many kinds of animals in the water near this beach including bottlenose dolphins and West Indian manatees. In addition, sea turtles also use the beach as a nesting spot between May and October. If you like birdwatching, you can watch many kinds of birds around Lovers Key State Park including snowy egrets, willets, skimmers, least terns, and roseate spoonbills. Lovers Key State Park is also an amazing fishing spot - you can catch many kinds of fish in the water near this beach including flounders, sea-trout, and tarpons. However, if you are planning to fish in Lovers Key State Park, please make sure that you follow the local fishing regulations. The beach in Lovers Key State Park is also an amazing beachcombing spot as many kinds of interesting objects including shells and shark teeth often wash up on the beach. If you are planning for a beach-themed wedding, the beach in Lovers Key State Park is famous as a wedding spot and the pavilion present near this beach hosts wedding ceremonies. If you are planning to organize a wedding in Lovers Key State Park, you can visit Florida State Park’s website for more information regarding the pavilion booking rules and charges.

Lovers Key State Park consists of a group of islands and it has a vibrant landscape - this park has many habitats including mangroves and coastal hammock forests. The state park has many hiking and biking trails which offer a fun hiking and biking experience. In addition, you can view many kinds of animals here including alligators and nurse rabbits, along with a variety of birds. The water around the state park’s islands also offers a fun kayaking, paddleboarding, and boating experience. The state park’s Welcome and Discovery Center has observation areas and interesting interpretive exhibitions offering information on the local biodiversity.

There are multiple ways to access the beach in Lovers Key State Park - you can reach the northern portion of the beach by driving south along County Road 865. An entrance for Lovers Key State Park is present just south of Big Carlos Pass Bridge. The northern part of the beach in Lovers Key State Park is easily accessible from this entrance. Another state park entrance is located along County Road 865 which has a tram pavilion near it. You can take a tram from this pavilion which will ferry you to the southern part of the beach. You can reach the middle part of the beach in Lovers Key State Park by walking on two bridges present near the beach’s southern part. While parking lots are available near the entrances of Lovers Key State Park, it is important to note that you need to pay a fee for entering the state park premises. We recommend visiting this beach wearing appropriate footwear as it is known to have driftwood.

There are many attractions near Lovers Point State Park. The Everglades Wonder Gardens (also known as the Bonita Wonder Gardens) is a botanical garden that is spread over three acres and is a 20-minute drive away. This park has a variety of exotic flora - you can view many kinds of plants here including orchids, African mahogany trees, and staghorn ferns. This garden is also home to many kinds of wonderful animals including flamingos, parrots, peafowl, cockatoos, lizards, and alligators - most of these animals have been rescued by the local authorities and have been sheltered here. In addition, the garden premises also have a native butterfly garden, a souvenir shop, and an art gallery. The Mound House is a historical site that offers a unique insight into Florida’s Pre-Columbian history. The site has an interesting museum that showcases artifacts and handicrafts belonging to the Native American Calusa people. In addition, this site also has a 2,000 year old shell mound. You can explore this historic site via guided tours. In addition, many fun events are also organized on the site including Native American Calusa tool and weapons demonstrations, educational programs, and arts and craft demonstrations. The site also has lush landscaped gardens and an observation area. In addition, visitors can also participate in guided eco-tours in the nearby Estero Bay and learn more about the local natural history. If you are looking for another attraction near Lovers Key State Park, Matanzas Pass Preserve is a 60-acre preserve that has mangroves, wetlands, and oak hammock forests. You can explore this preserve’s beautiful landscape through the hiking trails present here. In addition, the preserve also has a boardwalk and you can see many kinds of birds and animals here including turtles, snakes, rabbits, hawks, and osprey. The preserve also has a paddle craft landing area, which connects it to a larger 190-mile long paddling trail named the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail that spans across the Lee County coastline. A historic cottage named Fort Myers Beach Historic Cottage is also present at the preserve entrance which has interesting exhibits offering unique information about local history. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Lovers Key State Park. Roadhouse Cafe is an upscale restaurant that is a 25-minute drive away. This restaurant serves amazing steaks, poultry, seafood, and pastas and also hosts jazz music performances. Fresh Catch Bistro offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. In addition, the restaurant also serves amazing seafood along with an excellent variety of gourmet dishes.  Big Hickory Waterfront Grille and Marina offers amazing seafood and is especially known for serving amazing grouper-based dishes. In addition, the restaurant also serves sandwiches, steaks, salads, and soups. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Lovers Key State Park, the modestly priced The Doghouse offers amazing fries, sandwiches, hot dogs, and burgers. In addition, the restaurant is particularly famous for serving amazing Cuban sandwiches.

If you are looking for a hotel near Lovers Key State Park, there are many great nearby options. The 4-Star Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina is a 20-minute drive away and offers many amenities including water sporting equipment rental facilities, a marina, three pools (including a lagoon-style pool with a waterfall), a spa, a fitness center, a children’s camp and a restaurant. The 3-Star Wyndham Garden Fort Myers Beach offers many amenities including a restaurant, a bar, pool, and a fitness center. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Lovers Key State Park, the 2-Star Hideaway Village Motel offers many amenities including a pool, a barbecue area, a gazebo, and a bike rental facility.