Best Nature Sanctuaries for the Fort Myers Outdoors Enthusiasts

June 10th, 2022 by

Fort Myers is lucky to be surrounded by so much beautiful landscape, and here at Fort Myers Mitsubishi, we appreciate everything the community does to preserve the area’s natural beauty. You can visit a park or wildlife preserve to enjoy the benefits of nature and see unique animals in their natural habitat. Visiting these locations is also a great way to show your support for wildlife and assist in habitat preservation.

Caloosahatchee Regional Park

The Caloosahatchee Regional Park is a nature reserve on the shore of the Caloosahatchee River. It’s a 768-acre state park that protects wild uplands along the river. There is also an extensive trail system throughout the park that you can explore to find extraordinary views of the river and unique and beautiful vegetation native to Fort Myers.

This park has plenty of amenities to support a full day in the park, including picnic pavilions and tent campsites. You can spend time with your family and enjoy an immersive park experience. You can also participate in mountain biking, horse riding trails, kayaking, and bird watching.

Hickey Creek Mitigation Park

Hickey Creek Mitigation Park is an 862-acre park that offers five miles of hiking trails that take you through various habitats. This park includes different tree species, like palmetto-oak scrub, pine flatwoods, and seasonal wetlands. Each of these trees contributes to a unique landscape that supports various woodlands and wildlife unique to the area and protected by the park.

A mitigation park is a park developed specifically to protect native plant life. Hickey Creek Mitigation Park is intended to protect the gopher tortoise, a species native to the wetlands in Florida. By exploring the amenities of this park, which include bird watching, fishing, hiking, and paddle boating, you can support the sustained ecosystem of these special animals.

J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge houses over 51 types of reptiles and amphibians, 32 mammal species, and 245 species of birds. Located on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel is the largest underdeveloped ecosystem in the country. A presidential executive order created it in 1945 and it’s famous for the migratory bird populations that appear throughout the year.

You can enjoy various outdoor activities to explore the refuge and see as many species as possible. You can bike, hike, and run through the 7,600 acres. There are also launch areas for canoes and kayaks and a four-mile wildlife drive, where you can view larger wildlife like otters, bobcats, and alligators.

Lovers Key State Park

Lovers Key State Park is a beautiful park made up of islands, beaches, and waterways, making for a unique park experience. The biggest attraction of this park is the two-mile uninterrupted stretch of beach. There is plenty of opportunity for water sports and boating activities in this park, including kayaks and paddleboards.

This park used to be accessible only by boat but was donated to the state to preserve its beaches and mangrove forests. A mangrove is a type of tree or shrub that grows in tropical coastal swamps. This park is also a popular beach wedding location, living up to its name.

Lakes Regional Park

Lakes Regional Park is a great place for city dwellers to commune with nature because it is located in the heart of Fort Myers. It sits on a freshwater lake and includes various urban park features, like playgrounds, food concessions, and miniature train rides. This park also provides a place to protect the species of the area within the city, making it an important conservation effort for the animals and vegetation of Fort Myers.

To protect the gardens and ecosystems present, dogs aren’t allowed in the park, but you can still participate in fun activities like bicycling and boat rentals. You can also rent pavilions in the park to host events.

Mound Key Archeological State Park

Mound Key Archeological State Park is famous for its shell mounds that rise more than 30 feet above the bay. A shell mound is the remnants of mollusk shells created by indigenous populations over 2,000 years ago. These mounds are entirely artificial and are close to the highest elevation in the area. The park is housed on a remote island and is an archeological site and a public park.

You can access this park by boat, but you are in for a truly unique natural experience once you are on the island. There are no facilities on the island, but you can enjoy hiking trails and interactive exhibits that explain the history of the Calusa Native Americans who created the mounds and lived in the area. You can also explore the mangrove forests and beaches by boat.

Manatee Park

Fort Myers Manatee Park is a unique park focused on preserving the endangered Florida manatee. These animals are cared for in a non-captive natural environment to promote their restoration and health in Florida. You can attend this park to see the manatees in person and participate in various outdoor activities unique to the park, like native plants and butterfly gardens.

You can also enjoy outdoor sports like kayaking and canoes, with rentals available within the park and launch your boat into the nearby Orange River. The optimum viewing months for the maximum manatee populations are in late December, January, and February when the gulf temperature is low enough that manatees are comfortable.

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

You can enjoy the 3,500-acre wetland ecosystem in the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve because of its boardwalk structure that allows you to overlook more than a mile of plants and wildlife. The area is dedicated to preserving the combined ecosystem of wetland and upland ecosystems that floods in the summer and dries out in the winter to filter rainwater to Estero Bay. Various animals are native to these ecosystems, and you can view alligators, turtles, otters and wading birds year-round from the boardwalk.

If you are looking for an outdoor adventure, Fort Myers has plenty of stunning wildlife and landscape to keep you and your family entertained. Contact us if you have a favorite nature sanctuary we didn’t mention. If you are looking for a vehicle capable of taking your family on any of these or other types of outdoor adventures, you can find an SUV or car that suits your family’s needs at Fort Myers Mitsubishi. We have new and used vehicles available for purchase, and we accept trade-ins.

Posted in Local