What to do at Bowditch Point Park near Fort Myers, Florida 

Close to Fort Myers, Florida, you’ll find Bowditch Point Park, a small park on the sandy shore of San Carlos Bay, just across from Sanibel Island. You can stroll through the lush tropical vegetation there, sit by the water’s edge, or picnic in the shade of the broad tree crowns. We came to Bowditch Point from Naples on a trip to Florida beaches to check out the laid-back beach vacation options firsthand, not like the crowded beaches of Clearwater and Siesta Beach.

Bowditch Point Park between Maples and Fort Myers is the only undeveloped area on Estero Island that, like Lavers Key Park on the neighboring island, was left undeveloped for posterity. Its territory was landscaped and opened for visitors in 1994. And it caught our attention because it is home to the gopher tortoises.

There’s a beautiful butterfly garden, trails with benches located in places with the best views of Sanibel Island, the Gulf of Mexico and San Carlos Bay, Bunch Beach, Punta Rassa. And there is also an upland amphitheater observation deck, which is the best place to watch beautiful sunsets.

There was practically no one at Bowditch Point Park this morning. We strolled all alone through its grounds, walked to the beach, and returned along a beautiful path among the palm trees to a picturesque picnic meadow. We loved the quiet and peaceful setting, the beautiful views of Estero Bay and the clean, fine sand that was nice to walk on barefoot.

Basic Information

Bowditch Point Park was named after the mathematician and scientist Nathanael Bowditch, who made many useful discoveries in astronomical navigation in the 18th and 19th centuries.

• Address: 50 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931 (point on map)
• Open daily from 7 a.m. to sundown
• Cost to visit: admission free, car parking $2 per hour
• Official website: leegov.com

Fun fact: Bowditch Point Park is on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.

• Bowditch Park has picnic tables, barbecue areas, and showers and restrooms.
• A small parking lot for cars is about 400 meters from the beach.
• In addition to beach recreation, there is also room for walking.
• Because of the proximity of the fairway, you can watch boats and ships passing near the beach.
• Birdwatching is another interesting activity in this park.

What surprised us the most is how such a tiny area accommodates so many different faces of Florida: there are mangrove forests, a clean beach with palm trees, tropical greenery, and birds and turtles! Highly recommended if you are visiting Fort Myers.