Black skimmers at San Carlos/Bunche Beach Preserve. Photo by Chelle Koster Walton.
From our friends at Florida Weekly:
2020 has dawned with a clean slate upon which to draw a new healthier you. One direction toward better living waits right outside the door, where fresh air, vitamin sunshine and exercise make communing with nature a step in the right direction.
The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau’s recommends these six places to get your nature fix now that the cool weather beckons.
Koreshan State Historic Site, Estero, 239-992-0311, floridastateparks.org/park/Koreshan
Here you can have your history and enjoy nature too. Start by touring around the open-air recreated historic village once occupied by the mystic Koreshan cult. Two-hour guided tours of the historic settlement start at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Then take to the nature trails and rent a canoe for a paddle down the pristine and lovely Estero River.
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, Fort Myers, 239-275-3435, calusanature.org
Hit the two trails (a third is currently closed) at this 105-acre urban green space to see birds, lizards and a cypress dome swamp. The trails also take you to the center’s Butterfly and Raptor aviaries. The latter new facility is home to injured hawks, owls, vultures and a bald eagle.
Intracoastal Waterway
Getting outdoors does not have to mean a long hike or strenuous workout. It can be as enjoyable as a sail or power boat ride through the protected waters between our gorgeous barrier islands and the mainland coastline. You can rent boats at any number of marinas throughout the county. Even easier, board a tour or charter boat and let the captain do all the work. Along the way you can look for dolphins, manatees, pelicans, ospreys and shorebirds.
Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve, Cape Coral, 239-549-4606, capecoral.net
This urban preserve runs parallel to the Mid-Point Bridge and invites exploration of 365 acres of wetlands along a 1.25-mile nature trail that takes you away from the bustle of traffic. A kayak trail runs into Alligator and Deerfly creeks; rentals are available through May. Keep an eye out for snakes, raccoons, eagles and herons. Near the parking lot, visit the Veterans Memorial Area, which encompasses several monuments to honor those who have served our country through the armed services.
San Carlos/Bunche Beach Preserve, South Fort Myers, 239-229-1610, leegov.com/parks/beaches/bunche
One of Lee County’s most naturally intact beaches, it is more about the wildlife than the sunbathing. Go at low tide for the best show of birds feeding off the sandflats. Kayaking and paddleboard rentals get you out on the water and close to sea life.
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, 239-472-1100, fws.gov/refuge/jn_ding_darling
Hike, bike, paddle or take a cruise. “Ding” Darling gets you out in nature any way you would like. This week, its winter programs schedule kicks in. The programs are free, but Wildlife Drive and beach parking fees occasionally apply. Weekly tours include birding, biking, beach walking, nature photography and hiking Indigo Trail.
To learn about other attractions that lure you outdoors to appreciate nature in the wonderful world of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, visit fortmyers-sanibel.com.
