Whether you love the water and sand in your toes, or you enjoy the drier aspects of being on land, staying active on Fort Myers Beach is as easy as heading outside to the nearest shore or park/preserve.
When you live on the water, leading an active and healthy lifestyle takes on a whole new meaning. You don’t have to head to the nearest fitness center or have a home gym to keep your heart rate up, you can go outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery and even get a chance to see some local wildlife while you engage in healthy living. Take a look at some of the outdoor activities found in Fort Myers Beach for any residents or travelers that want to get out and get moving.
Beach Activities
Waterfront living opens up many doors to fun beach activities that can either be high- or low-energy. On Fort Myers Beach, there are a plethora of things to do beyond taking a walk on the beach (although a walk on the beach at sunset is perfection) and swimming in the ocean. Here are some of the activities you’ll find in the area:
- Waterskiing
- Jet skiing
- Parasailing
- Paragliding
- Flyboarding
- Windsurfing
- Kite surfing
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Stand-up paddle boarding
- Volleyball
- Cornhole
- Washer Toss
You can either bring your own equipment or take advantage of the many groups offering these services along the water.
Fishing Charters and Tours
Take your healthy living lifestyle further out into the water with a fishing charter or tour, or find a great local fishing spot to cast your line. A saltwater fishing license is required to fish from shore, but there is no fee for Florida residents. Non-residents have to purchase their license for about $17. Once you have it, you can enjoy this calming pastime from the docks, beach, or the public fishing pier on Fort Myers Beach that stretches into the Gulf of Mexico from the Lynn Hall Memorial Park.
Offshore Sailing School
Be the Captain of your own ship by learning how to sail with the Offshore Sailing School. Steve and Doris Colgate offer their decades of sailing experience to create the best sailing education for residents and non-residents alike. Their high standard and exceptional reputation as sailing experts are what make Offshore Sailing School one of the best sailing schools in the world. As far as utilizing these experts for active living, your education will begin in the classroom, but will end in either cruising boats chosen for performance and comfort or the Colgate 26, the ultimate trainer designed by Steve Colgate and Jim Taylor for training, performance handling ease, and ergonomic comfort. Once you graduate, you’ll be sailing on your own and taking advantage of the beautiful weather, sparkling waters, and active sailing lifestyle.
Lovers Key State Park
Lovers Key State Park has both wet and dry options for active living. It is a two mile long beach that can be accessed by a boardwalk or a tram. On your walk to the beach or alongside of it, you may be able to spot abundant wildlife, such as West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, roseate spoonbills, marsh rabbits, and bald eagles. The park also has two hiking trails that can be used for hiking or bicycling. The Black Island Trail is 2.5 miles long and the Eagle Trail is 1.1 miles long, but each take you through the maritime hammock and consist mostly of grass and compacted soil. Lovers Key also offers kayak tours and bicycle, canoe, kayak, and paddle board rentals.
Bowditch Point Park
Bowditch Point Park is another local park on Fort Myers Beach that offers plenty of ways to lead an active and healthy Florida lifestyle. It is comprised of 17 acres located at the tip of Estero Island with seven acres dedicated to passive recreational use, while the remaining 10 acres are set as a restoration/preserve area. This dedicated space allows for the park to be designated as a Great Florida Birding Trail site with plovers, black skimmers, reddish egrets, brown pelicans, ospreys, and migrating songbirds as a sampling of the birds you may be able to spot on your hike or walk.
Matanzas Pass Preserve
The Matanzas Pass Preserve is a great place to spend a couple of hours enjoying the guided tours and learning about the history of Fort Myers Beach and the Preserve. It is nearly 60-acres of sanctuary with 1.25 miles of trails winding through the mangroves and oak hammock. The trails are well-marked so you can take a leisurely stroll through nature and find some great photo opportunities. The Matanzas Pass Preserve is also a Great Florida Birding Trail site and includes the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail so you can also paddle in and enjoy the preserve.
These are just some of the wonderful activities in which you can take part when you visit or live in Fort Myers Beach. Contact us for more information on our Florida lifestyle.
