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 Bowditch Point Regional Park
Hell Peckney Bay
Koreshan State Historic Site A nationally recognized historical site, the Koreshan Park was a utopian community settled in the late 1800s. Located in nearby Estero, the Koreshan State Historic Site offers a true "old Florida" experience for heritage and eco-travelers. In 1869, a New York born doctor named Cyrus Teed claimed he had a "divine illumination." In his vision, Teed believed that all spiritual life was unfolded to him by a divine deity. Preaching his new religion, Teed moved his group of followers to Florida where they built a utopian settlement on the banks of the Estero River. The Estero River flows through the park into Estero Bay, and on its banks, the remains of this unusual pioneer settlement are being preserved. Many of the settlement buildings and portions of the grounds have been restored to their appearance during the early years of this century. A nature trail wanders along the Estero River and through pine flatwoods and scrub oak communities. Canoe rentals, fishing and boating are available in the park, with a boat ramp located near the picnic area. A 60-site campground features well-buffered sites. Ranger-guided tours and interpretive programs are available upon request, according to seasonal demand. Status: Open 8 a.m. - sunset. Handicapped Facilities. Tour Time is two hours. Directions: I-75 exit 19; 2.5 miles west on Corkscrew Rd.; cross US 41, on right Lovers Key State Park The barrier islands known as Lovers Key, Inner Key, Long Key and Black Island make up the 712 acre park. Canoe, through a a series of lagoons and quiet tidal pools within the park's interior. Kayak the near-shore waters along the beautiful Gulf Beach, or ride the gently-flowing currents through Big Carlos Pass. Fish for trout, snook, and redfish along the Estero Bay shoreline. Hike rustic trails along the spine of the barrier island, where you'll see gopher tortoise, osprey, marsh rabbits and raccoons. Breathtaking Gulf sunsets are sure to make your visit one you'll never forget. The park also offers 2½ miles of beautiful, white-sand Gulf of Mexico beach. Picnic tables, bicycle racks, a beach pavilion, outdoor showers, public telephones and environmentally friendly restroom facilities are available. Status: Open 8 a.m. - sunset. Handicapped Facilities. Tour Time is up to full day. Direction: On C.R. 865 between Ft. Myers Beach and Bonita Beach in Lee County. Mantanzas Pass Preserve
Mound Key
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Located on the northern tip of Estero Island, this 17-acre park offers
everything to make your day at the beach complete. A boardwalk leads to the
picnic areas and beach. Stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the bay, the
park's amenities include: a bathhouse and changing rooms, a "village deck"
for group gatherings and a covered waiting area for trolley service.
While on your bayside walk, you will pass the mangrove-lined beach, many
wading birds, and bayside vegetation such as the beautiful sea oxeye daisy.
The walk will lead you around the point to the wide beach and its native
vegetation includes sea oats, railroad vine and beach grasses. As the blue-green
waters of the Gulf of Mexico greet you, look down at the waterline to see
the burrowing coquinas and look up at the skyline to watch pelicans flying
and diving. Between the bay and the Gulf lies the upland pine forest. 
Located just off the trail in the shallowest upper reaches of the Estero Bay
Aquatic Preserve and accessed via Matanzas Channel , Hell Peckney Bay's
protected waters are made up numerous small, inner-connected bays and tidal
creeks. Sightings of our area's diverse marine wildlife, including wading
birds, osprey and southern bald eagle, fish and rays, Atlantic bottlenose
dolphin, and an occasional manatee are all but guaranteed. Hell Peckney Bay
offers canoe and kayakers the opportunity to explore some of the most
pristine marine habitat in Southwest Florida. Hell Peckney Bay is extremely shallow. It's average water depth is usually
only about one or two feet. In this ultra sensitive marine environment, red
and black mangroves abound, providing critical resting and roosting habitat
for birds. Vast beds of turtle, shoal and manatee grasses and the marine
life they shelter are visible beneath the surface in the shallow waters.
An unspoiled sabal palm and live oak hammock will greet you as you enter the
56-acre Matanzas Pass Wilderness Preserve. It's a great place to stop and
relax along the trail. Slow your pace to fully enjoy this pristine, barrier
island forest with its abundant wildlife and diverse, native, plant species.
After crossing two bridges on the entry trail, you will find a boardwalk
that winds through the mangrove swamp. At the end of the boardwalk, a
pavilion overlooking the water provides a spectacular view of the Estero Bay
Aquatic Preserve. Jumping fish, wading birds, even the shy manatee can be
seen from the overlook. The wonder of nature is everywhere in the
wilderness preserve. Look closely...many creatures leave only their
footprints!
Status: Open sunup to sundown 365 days a year. Parking is free.
Location: Bay Road, Fort Myers Beach, Florida, 33931
The Indian shell mounds at the Mound Key State Archeological Site in Estero
Bay rise more than 30 feet and are the highest point for miles around. The
mangrove-shrouded island paints a picture of the Calusa Indians who lived
there, their Cacique (kin), and their town of Calos, which suddenly
vanished. The first Indian inhabitants arrived on Mound Key about A.D.100.
At that time, the flat mangrove and oyster-bar island barely rose above the
nearby waters. Fish and shellfish provided a plentiful source of food in the
shallows around the island, and as the centuries of fishing and shellfish
collecting rolled by, discarded shells, bone, and pottery piled up. Mound
Key's residents reworked the accumulating shell middens, raising platform
mounds, ceremonial mounds and ridges, carving out canals and large, open
watercourts. As time went on, the island grew larger and higher. Here lies
a tale of a complex Calusa society that dominated southern Florida for
centuries and their hostility toward Spanish explorers. Guided tours are
available .
Status: Seasonal tours. Tour Time is three hours
