Our Water World
Explore these local parks with access to Southwest Florida’s waters
Water makes Southwest Florida special. Water quality and our quality of life are inextricably linked. As proof, consider the harsh economic and health impacts from blooms of blue-green algae and red tide. Water is for fun, too. Our area is blessed with so many city, county, state and national beaches and parks, plus community pools and lakes, that a complete list is impractical. Each one is different and special.
So, here is a handy starter guide that highlights the top parks and their water accessibility. Find one that piques your interest to visit—or revisit—and enjoy.
BONITA SPRINGS
Lovers Key has something for everyone, as proven by its ranking as the second most visited site in the vaunted Florida state parks network. Its two miles of unspoiled beach are decorated by driftwood and can be accessed via motorized tram or walking. Rental canoes and kayaks can be launched into waters frequented by manatees. The sea cows commonly come so close to paddlers they may fear being tipped over. Motorboat launches are on the bay side of the park, and fishing is allowed from the beach or in backwaters from rustic docks and bridges.
A mini butterfly garden is nestled among wooded hiking/biking trails, and a popular dog beach, operated by Lee County, is a neighbor to the south.
Other water parks in Bonita Springs include Barefoot Beach (though technically in Collier County), Riverside Park, Bonita Beach Park and Little Hickory Island Beach Park.
ESTERO
Koreshan State Park, on the site of a late 19th-century cult’s homestead, features fishing, kayaking, canoeing and camping on the Estero River. Adventurous paddlers can head west into Estero Bay to another natural attraction, Mound Key Archaeological State Park, where Lee County in 2019 purchased the last remaining developable lot amid the refuge of the Calusa Indians.
Before or after the fun on the water, visitors can explore original and restored Koreshan lodgings, a meeting hall still used for community concerts, a machine shop, bakery, kitchen and more. Koreshans, by the way, believed they lived inside rather than on top of the earth, among other things.
Also nearby is Estero Bay Preserve State Park, which offers rustic hiking, and canoe and kayak launching.
FORT MYERS
While Fort Myers has many beautiful and high-profile water-related parks, such as Bowditch Point Park, Lynn Hall Memorial Beach Park and Crescent Beach Family Park on Fort Myers Beach, one venue stands out for its up-close-and-personal views of manatees.
Attracted by waters warmed by an electricity plant across State Road 80, east of Interstate 75, manatees converge during cool months at aptly named Manatee Park on the Orange River. They are within easy view of boardwalk spectators—and within actual reach of canoeists and kayakers, who can rent watercraft at the park.
Our area is blessed with many city, county, state and national beaches and parks, plus community pools and lakes.
Fishing is available from land or water, and manatee education abounds via helpful signs, a visitors center and amphitheater. A butterfly garden is a nice bonus.
While in the area, don’t miss Caloosahatchee Regional Park, Lakes Park (with its own miniature railroad ride) and Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. The view of the Caloosahatchee River is superb from Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers, and tour boats operate from the nearby city docks.
SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS
Visitors should plan to spend a full day—or several days—in this area that redefines living and playing “on the water.” The $6 toll is a bargain, and the water activities start before you even get to Sanibel. Causeway Islands Park spans the two spoil islands the causeway crosses on the way to Sanibel from the mainland. The 10-acre Lee County park is a gem for swimming, boating, picnicking and fishing.
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a mustsee, and official concessionaire Tarpon Bay Explorers is where
you can rent fishing gear, bikes and paddlecraft, and book expertly guided experiences by land or water. Birding and nature photography opportunities are world-class in the 6,400-acre oasis laced with plenty of nature trails.
There’s more. Sanibel offers a bounty of public-access beaches at Tarpon Bay Road, Blind Pass, Bowman’s Beach, Gulfside and Lighthouse Beach parks, with Captiva hosting Turner and Alison Hagerup beach parks.
CAPE CORAL
With more than 400 miles of canals, and claiming to be the city with the most navigable waterways in the world, Cape Coral is a natural host to water parks, including Sun Splash Family Waterpark and the Yacht Club Community Park.
Sun Splash features no less than 14 acres of multicolored water slides and pools. Tube rides carry daring titles such as Terror Tube and Power Surge; highspeed slides are known as Cape Fear, Zoom Flume and Thunder Bump.
Things are a bit calmer for little ones at Pirate’s Cove, an interactive water playground.
Sun Splash starts to reopen in March following a winter hiatus, building toward the busy hot summer months.
The Yacht Club opened in 1962, built by Cape Coral developers as a community amenity for fishing, boating, parties, anniversaries, business meetings and weddings, with a beach, picnic tables, shuffleboard, heated pools for adults and kiddies, swimming lessons, water aerobics, boat ramps, ballroom, full-service marina, tennis and handball courts, and a senior center.
The addition of a tiki bar and updates to the public fishing pier are among the few changes since it opened. The Yacht Club Community Park truly is, as developers hoped it would be, the recreational heartbeat of the community.