Two Fort Myers-area islands on list of nation's top 100 hidden beaches
The good news: Two Southwest Florida spots made a list of top 100 secret beaches nationwide, with Lovers Key coming in at No. 6.
The bad news: It and Cayo Costa (No. 56) are both still closed seven months after Hurricane Ian.
Both parks "sustained significant impacts from Hurricane Ian, including beach erosion, extensive flooding, downed trees and vegetation, and damage to buildings and structures," Florida Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Brooke Keck wrote in an email, and no reopening date has been set for either.
Online publication FamilyDestinationsGuide.com polled 3,000 families, asking which they would most like to visit this summer to arrive at the list. Hawaii's Awahua Beach took the No. 1 spot, but with nine beaches on the list, Florida occupied the most spots of any state on the top 100.
Here's the list of the Florida favorites, as compiled by the publication:
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No. 2: Shell Key Preserve
Just south of St. Petersburg it's only accessible by boat, which helps to preserve the untouched landscape.
No. 6: Lovers Key State Park
The guide calls this park "stunning and secluded (with) pristine beaches and crystal clear waters," though makes no mention of the fact that the park remains closed after Hurricane Ian damage. "The boat launch along with all amenities on the beach side of the park remain closed," Florida Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Brooke Keck wrote in an email. The publication also reports that it's accessible only by boat, but that's not quite true. "The bridges to the beach that the tram uses are still in place, but there was some minor damage and those repairs are ongoing," wrote Keck. "The two wooden pedestrian bridges that also provided beach access, however, were completely removed by the storm surge and will need to be rebuilt."
And while the beach part of the park is closed. "The bayside (non-beach) portion of Lovers Key reopened earlier this year with limited amenities," Keck said.
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No. 9 Dry Tortugas National Park
This unbridged site is about 70 miles west of Key West. Its seven small keys include 19th-century Fort Jefferson.
No.10 Boneyard Beach
On Florida's east coast, this beach on the southern end of Big Talbot Island State Park "gets its name from the weathered and bleached tree skeletons that line the shore, creating a stunning and eerie landscape," the guide says.
No. 13 Navarre Beach
Near the Gulf Islands National Seashore, this panhandle beach boasts a fishing pier that extends out into the Gulf of Mexico.
No. 17 Crescent Beach
Surrounded by dunes, this secluded spot is just south of St. Augustine on the Atlantic coast.
No. 23 Caladesi Beach
This Gulf island features three miles of white sandy beaches and a state park.
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No. 56 Cayo Costa State Park
This barrier island ‒ mostly state park ‒ is where Hurricane Ian made landfall. When it's open, the park offers nine miles of white sand, rustic cabins and camp sites.
When it will open remains a question. "Cayo Costa remains fully closed to visitors at this time," DEP spokeswoman Keck wrote. "Evaluations are ongoing to determine the scope and timeline for restoring damaged structures and reopening the parks. The department is committed to getting these repairs completed as expeditiously as possible. We are also evaluating opportunities to safely allow access to certain amenities while repairs are ongoing."
No. 64 Camp Helen State Park
This northwest Florida park is on the Gulf and includes historic buildings and scenic trails.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Two Fort Myers-area islands on list of nation's top hidden beaches
