The first thing you notice in Southwest Florida is the open vistas. Wide open spaces where you feel like horizon never ends. Water is everywhere. For paddlers, it’s the ultimate paradise where they can venture out exploring its tidal wetlands, tidal inlets, bays, islands and white beaches. It’s a place where paddler’s can lose themselves in the beauty of undisturbed natural environment. Paddlers have the opportunity to see Dolphins, Egrets, Otters, Anhinga, Ibis, Osprey,  Alligators,  Roseate, Spoonbills and all kinds of sea life paddling the trails.

The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel in Lee County, Florida offer paddlers numerous locations to venture out and explore including:

*Lovers Key-Make a romantic day trip out of a casual paddle to this gazebo crowned island ringed by soft beaches and smooth water.

*Matlacha Island- An intricate layout of tidal inlets and indented coastline.  And proximity to pretty Pine Island, make this a paddler’s paradise.

*Bunche Beach- A 719 acre tidal wetland area that sits at the entrance to San Carlos Bay. Chock -A -block with estuarine vistas and wildlife.

*Mound Key- An ancient Calusa ritual site in the past, a lovely park today, only accessible by an easy paddle from Estero Island.

*Caloosahatchee Regional Park- Push off down the Caloosahatchee River, where you access, via water, most of the rest of Lee County.

Another great escape for paddlers that runs through Lee County is the Great Calusa Blueway. The Great Calusa Blueway has 190 miles of kayaking  and paddling routes that pass through Lee County. The tranquil water of the Great Calusa Blueway offers vistas that can only be seen in a boat or kayak.

Information on access trails throughout Lee County can be found at www.calusablueway.com.GAEA eco-friendly guides for the Great Calusa Blueway can be found at www.gaeguides.com .

Your eco-friendly adventure is waiting for you in Lee County, Florida. You don’t even need a kayak with so many outfitters in the area; you can always rent one for the day or go with a guide. All you really need is a sense of adventure.

For more information go to Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau:

THE BEACHES OF FORT MYERS & SANIBEL

2201 Second Street, Suite 600

Fort Myers, FL 33901

Telephone: 239-338-3500   U.S. & Canada: 800-237-6444

www.fortmyers-sanibel.com