Do We Beach House

Lovers Key State Park has released its October program schedule, and it’s a full month of ranger-led outings on the south end of Estero Island — every one of them free with paid park entry. For anyone staying on Fort Myers Beach, it’s one of the easiest ways to get onto the water with someone who actually knows it.

The lineup opens Oct. 3 with a Beach and Estuary Walk, a leisurely mid-beach stroll where rangers point out the shells, crustaceans, and starfish living in the shallows. A beginner-friendly Fishing Clinic follows Oct. 7 in the Community Room at the Welcome and Discovery Center, covering tackle, fresh bait rigs, and Southwest Florida fishing rules. A Shell Walk on Oct. 9 digs into the shells themselves — and the regulations that protect them — while Oct. 16 brings Walk on the Wild Side, a guided hike through the maritime hammock along the Black Island Trail.

Families get their own slot Oct. 17 with the Junior Ranger program, complete with passport stamps. The month closes with a Shorebird Stroll on Oct. 23 and a community Beach Cleanup on Oct. 24; the cleanup is free, with gloves, bags, pickers, and data sheets provided.

Every program requires advance registration and space is limited, so it pays to book as soon as your travel dates are set. Standard park entry fees apply. Program questions go to the park’s line at 239-808-8328.

October is one of the best months to be on the water here — warm Gulf temperatures, thin crowds, and long light. Having a state park this good a few minutes down Estero Boulevard is a quiet advantage of staying on the island.

Source: Beach Talk Radio News — The Lovers Key October Schedule is Out.