Picnic Island Beach(The Picnic Island)

Located near the mainland portion of Lee County, Picnic Island is an artificial island that is three-quarters of an acre in size and this island has multiple unnamed beach areas with white sand.  The beaches in the northern portions of Picnic Island have finer sand as compared to other portions of this island.  Some of the beaches at Picnic Island also have driftwood. 

Picnic Island does not have lifeguards or any other amenities, so please plan accordingly.

Picnic Island offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, swimming, fishing, picnicking, hiking, tent camping, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, surf-skiing, jet-skiing, water-skiing, boating, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and parasailing.

The northern portion of Picnic Island is ideal for swimmers with slightly less experience because the water here is known to be relatively shallower as compared to other parts of the island.  If you are planning to swim, kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or boat near Picnic Island, we recommend being careful because the water here can have dangerous rip currents and strong waves.

If you like camping, Picnic Island is also a popular tent camping site.  If you like birdwatching, you can see many kinds of resident and migratory birds at Picnic Island.  In addition, this island is also a popular fishing site and you can also catch many kinds of fish near Picnic Island.  Picnic Island is also a popular with hikers because it has many kinds of habitats including swamps, marshes, and some woodlands.  

Picnic Island is ideal for visitors looking for a quieter beach experience because this island sees relatively fewer visitors.

Picnic Island does not offer wheelchair access to visitors with disabilities.

Getting to Picnic Island can be difficult because this island is only accessible through a boat, kayak, canoe, or any other watercraft.  Some of the closest boat ramps from where you can launch your watercraft for Picnic Island are the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp (that is located near 15001 Punta Rassa Road) and the Matlacha Boat Ramp (that is located at 4577 Pine Island Road).  It is important to note that boating/kayaking/surf-skiing/ jet-skiing/or canoeing to the island can sometimes be difficult because the water around it can have strong currents and waves.  It is also important to note that the boat ramps near Picnic Island may be currently closed to the public because of the extensive damage caused by Hurricane in coastal Lee County.   

If you like taking pictures with beautiful views, Picnic Island offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the San Carlos Bay and the Lee County shoreline, especially during sunsets.

There are many attractions near Picnic Island in mainland Lee County and the nearby Sanibel Island.  Galt Preserve is a nature preserve that is home to many animals including bald eagles, alligators, and opossums – this preserve has many amenities including observation areas, a pier, and walking trails and it offers many fun activities including hiking, wildlife watching, kayaking, canoeing, and picnicking.  The Sanibel Island Lighthouse was initially built in 1884 and it was one of the first lighthouses of Florida’s southwestern Gulf Coast region – this historic lighthouse is composed of an iron skeleton tower and it offers a unique insight into local history. 

Bowditch Point Park has many kinds of habitats including salt marshes, mangrove swamps, sand dune-fields, and mud-flats.  The park also has many amenities including an amphitheater, boardwalks, picnic areas, hiking trails, charcoal grills, showers, restrooms, and observation areas and it also has a popular beach named Bowditch Point Park Beach.  Bunche Beach Preserve – also officially known as San Carlos Bay – Bunche Beach Preserve – is a preserve that has a beach namedBunche Beach and it offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, wildlife watching, fishing, hiking, paddleboarding, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and surf-skiing.  This preserve also has a forest with native Floridian plants and a wide variety of animals.  If you are looking for another attraction near Picnic Island, J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge is a 6,400-acre wildlife refuge that has many habitats including hardwood hammock forests and marine seagrass beds – you can see many kinds of animals here including alligators, crocodiles, bobcats, many bird species, and otters.  The best time to visit this refuge for wildlife watching is between November and April.     

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Picnic Island.  The Waterfront Restaurant and Marina is a restaurant that offers many amazing dishes including seafood, soups, salads, barbecued pork, sandwiches, and burgers.  The Bubble Room – also known as the Bubble Room Restaurant –has a vintage and vibrant decor and it offers amazing dishes for lunch and dinner including seafood, roast meats, salads, pastas, soups, burgers, and sandwiches.  Bimini Bait Shack is a popular tiki-themed restaurant and bar that is known for serving outstanding dishes including seafood, sandwiches, chicken wings, beef brisket, burgers, and amazing cocktails - this restaurant also offers live music performances.  Phuzzy’s Boat Shack is a restaurant that offers many amazing dishes including seafood, chicken wings, tacos, salads, sandwiches, barbecued ribs, and pastas – this restaurant also offers fun live music performances.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Picnic Island,  Low Key Tiki offers many amazing dishes including tacos, burgers, wraps, fried seafood, salads, and sandwiches.

If you are looking for a hotel near Picnic Island, there are many great nearby options.  The 4-Star Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa is another great upscale hotel that offers many amenities including multiple restaurants, a bar, a spa, multiple pools, a gym, a tennis court, rental facilities for bikes and watercraft, and a hot tub.   Another great upscale resort is the 4-Star South Seas Island Resort that offers many amenities including multiple pools, a spa, shopping stores, a marina, two golf courses, tennis courts, a fitness center, and multiple restaurants.  A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Residence Inn by Marriott Fort Myers Sanibel that offers many amenities including a pool, a laundry, a hot tub, a convenience store, a fitness center, and complimentary breakfast.  Another moderately priced hotel is the 3-Star Sundial Beach Resort & Spa that offers many amenities including a spa, cabanas, multiple restaurants, a market, a kids’ club, tennis courts, multiple pools, a bar, beach volleyball courts, and rental facilities for bikes and watersports equipment.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Picnic Island, the 3-Star La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ft. Myers-Sanibel Gateway offers many amenities including a fitness center, a hot tub, a pool, and complimentary breakfast.