Fort Myers Lover’s Key Beach Welcome Center Reopens Today

It's been nearly 11 months since Hurricane Ian destroyed so much of Southwest Florida's coastline. However, new signs of recovery happen every week. Here is the latest. Fort Myers Lover's Key Beach Welcome Center reopens today. Lover's Key State Park sits at the south end of Fort Myers Beach before Bonita Beach. It is an award winning spot, known for it's white sandy beaches, nature walks, mangrove forests and more.

Visitors can once again enjoy the Exhibit Hall and enjoy the luxury of electricity and air conditioning today. Docents are returning to help answer questions and educate visitors on the history of the island. However, the bathroom facilities are still not up and running. Instead, there are portable toilet trailers behind the center near the Kayak ramp.

The park stretches two miles along the Gulf of Mexico. Trams are up and running to transport visitors to the beach and other spots. Paddle boards, umbrellas, beach chairs and such are available to rent again.

The beach officially opened the end of June for limited use while clean up and repairs continue. It has been a slow process but there is progress. The Lover's Key Welcome Center reopens at the popular Lee County beach today as restoration continues. Congratulations.

List Of Best Secret Beaches In America Includes Two In Southwest Florida

When it comes to escaping the monotony of daily life, few things rival the tranquil allure of a pristine beach. Living here in Southwest Florida, we have so many amazing beaches from Fort Myers, Sanibel, Captiva, Naples and Bonita Springs. You can't beat the soothing sounds the of waves, the feeling of the warm sun on your skin, and the salt in the air. If someone asked the best beach to go to, I'm sure popular tourist destinations first come to mind, but the real gems are the beaches are a little more hidden away.

While busy beaches will offer more when it comes to tiki bars, restaurants and surf shops, some prefer a little more quiet. With these secret beaches, parking may be limited. It may be more of a trek out to the beach. Or even a little more of a drive to get there. If you're looking for tranquility, it's so worth it.

Family Destinations Guide just released its list of the Top 100 Best Secret Beaches in the U.S. and two Southwest Florida beaches made an appearance. Coming in at #6 is Lover's Key State Park on Fort Myers Beach. Landing in the #56 spot, Cayo Costa, which is only accessible by boat. While both beaches are amazing, the only bad part right now, is that both are still closed following Hurricane Ian. No word yet on when either will reopen, but hopefully it won't be too much longer.

Shell Key is a 1,800-acre preserve in Tierra Verde only accessible by boat. The water looks absolutely beautiful and clear, perfect for a clear kayak tour.

Dry Tortugas National Park is about 70 miles west of Key West and only accessible by boat or seaplane. The park is known as the home of Fort Jefferson. You'll also find beautiful blue waters, coral reefs and an abundance of marine life.

Boneyard Beach is a hidden beach inside Big Talbot Island State Park in Jacksonville. If you're a fan of driftwood, you'll find plenty along 3 miles of shoreline.

Located in the panhandle, Navarre Beach is known as Florida's most relaxing place. Offering a calm setting, uncrowded shores, soft sands and emerald waves.

Crescent Beach is just south of St. Augustine. The beach gets its name from the natural shape on the coastline. The community is small with not much commercial development and there's minimal vehicle access.

The only way to get to Caladesi Island is by boat and they do offer a ferry out to the island. It's a perfect alternative to the busy nearby Clearwater Beach.

Camp Helen State Park is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and by Lake Powell. It's the largest coastal dune lake in the state of Florida. The park is only open during the day, but perfect for swimming, shelling, hiking and fishing.