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The Estero Bay and Gulf of Mexico areas offer great beaches, water sports and wildlife. Bonita Springs, Florida in Lee County is a city with many amenities to commend it for residents and visitors. The resort is served by the Southwest Florida International Airport at nearby South Fort Myers. The weather in the region is sometimes interrupted by hurricanes and Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Wilma visited recently.
Bonita Beach Park is a small beach front area with boardwalks, access for swimming and eight picnic spots, each with a table and grill. There is also a playground and a sand volleyball court. Barefoot Beach Preserve Park is over 300 acres of land with a guided nature walk that goes through sea grape trees and sable palms. The park supports the Gopher Tortoise and the Loggerhead Sea Turtle. Bonita Springs has another beach front park at Little Hickory Island. It is a favorite location for surf fishing and there are white sands, showers and picnic tables.
The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is close by and was specifically created to give protection to the Bald Cypress and Pond Cypress trees, which had suffered from too much commercial logging in the Bonita Springs region. There is a boardwalk that stretches over two miles and a visitor center. It is also a breeding area for endangered wetland birds such as the Wood Stork, Barred Owl, Limpkin and the Swallow-Tailed Kite. The American Alligator and Cottonmouth snake are also resident here.
The Everglades Wonder Gardens has a large collection of wildlife that includes flamingos, bears, panthers and alligators. There is also a natural history museum and a botanical garden. The Lovers Key State Park is over 1,600 acres of land that incorporates different terrain, including beaches and mangroves. There is the opportunity to see Bottlenose Dolphins, Roseate Spoonbills, West Indian Manatees and Bald Eagles. Visitors can walk or bike on the nature trail or go canoeing.
Nightlife is here too with lots of live music venues, nightclubs and restaurants. Places to eat include an English theme pub, an Irish tavern, a sushi bar, Mexican cantina and a German restaurant. There are also restaurants specializing in locally caught seafood, including an oyster bar. Bonita Springs is a pleasant place to live with a variety of flora and fauna and fun. It’s also a good base for seeing other attractions in the Florida area.
Tags: Beach, Boating, Fishing, Florida
