COASTE | ADVENTURES
explore on foot, Lovers Key offers five miles of trails for hiking, biking or dog walking. Hungry? Yes, there are concession stands, but you can also cook your own with grills, picnic areas, shelters and playgrounds to keep the little ones occupied.
there’s even free wifi on the beach — so our kids embarked on a little geocaching.
Because inquiring minds want to know, we asked — and yes, there’s a story behind the name of the park, too. According to legend, when the beach
“Wealsooffer avarietyof programs: fishing clinics to birding photography to the history of the Calusa Indians,” she notes. “And yes, we’ve incorporated technology into our beach experience set with our own geo- caching game. What better way to get kids out into nature than by way of their smart phones?”
was only accessible by boat, the theory was that lovers would escape there to do what, well, lovers do. Gloria Beauchamp laughs. “Who’s to know? It’s a great story.” However, there’s no denying the fact that Lovers Key State Park is a popular destination for
There are few locations in Southwest Florida where undeveloped, gorgeous sugar sand shoreline stretches (in both directions) as far as you can see.
lovers who want to be married in any number of picturesque, romantic settings — from weddings on the beach to a charming gazebo overlooking the waves. “During season, we probably do 15 to 20 weddings per month, plus special events like birthdays and reunions,” she notes. “We’re quite active.” Under her guidance, Lovers Key State Park has been very active in telling its story via speaking engagements, special events and media outreach.
On a recent beautiful Sunday afternoon, this writer and his family explored firsthand what so enthuses Gloria Beauchamp about her park — and she’s right. First, there are few locations in Southwest Florida where undeveloped, gorgeous sugar sand shoreline stretches (in both directions) as far as you can see. The meandering waterways for kayaks and paddleboards that you pass en route to the beach are clear and calm, offering stunning vistas of mangrove keys and wildlife. And yes,
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