Local attractions on & near Estero Island!

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NIGHTLIFE ON ESTERO ISLAND - The area around Times Square is always active, every day in winter and on weekends in the off season. In the very heart of Times Square, at the foot of Lynn Hall Memorial Pier, the Beach Pierside Grill, 1000 Estero Blvd. (tel. 239/765-7800), has live entertainment on its beachside patio. It's not directly on the beach, but locals in the know head for the rooftop bar at the Beached Whale, 1249 Estero Blvd. (tel. 239/463-5505), which supplies free chicken wings during its nightly happy hour. Rock and reggae music are played downstairs for dancing. Away from the crowds in the "middle beach" area, the Junkanoo Beach Bar, under Anthony's on the Gulf, 3040 Estero Blvd. (tel. 239/463-2600), attracts a more affluent crowd for its bohemian-style parties that run from 11:30am to 1:30am daily. Live bands here specialize in reggae and other island music. The menu offers inexpensive subs, sandwiches, burgers, and pizzas, and a concessionaire rents beach cabanas and watersports toys, making it a good place for a lively day at the beach.

On Sunday afternoons, revelers jam the docks for the famous outdoor reggae parties at the Bridge Waterfront Restaurant, 708 Fisherman's Wharf
(tel. 239/765-0050), which is under the Sky Bridge on San Carlos Island.

BOATING RENTALS AND KAYAKING/CANOEING - Powerboats are available from the Mid Island Marina (tel. 239/765-4371), the Fort Myers Beach Marina (tel. 239/463-9552), the Fish Tale Marina (tel. 239/463-3600), and Salty Sam's Marina (tel. 239/463-7333). Dockside Boat Rentals (tel. 239/765-4433) rents them at the Best Western Pink Shell Beach Resort, on Estero Island's northern end. Boat rental costs about $125 for a half-day, $200 for a full day. All prices subject to change without notice.

For canoers and kayakers, the big news is that the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel have rolled out the Great Calusa Blueway (tel] 800/296-0249; www.greatcalusablueway.com), a new 40-mile paddling trail that covers the waters of Lovers Key State Recreation Area; Mound Key State Archaeological Site; Koreshan State Historic Site; Fort Myers Beach; and Sanibel, Captiva, and Pine islands, ending at Cayo Costa. Even cooler, the Blueway utilizes GPS technology, marking key points along the trail to aid navigation in this area.

THE BEACHES AND BEACH PARKS - Our prime attractions for both beachgoers and nature lovers is the gorgeous Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd. (tel. 239/463-4588; www.floridastateparks.org/loverskey/default.asp), on the totally preserved Lovers Key, south of Estero Island. Although the highway runs down the center of the island, access to this unspoiled beach from the parking lot is restricted to footpaths and a tractor-pulled tram through a bird-filled forest of mangroves. The beach itself is known for its multitude of shells. Facilities include a snack shop and bathhouses with outdoor showers. The park is open daily from 8am to sunset. Admission is $4 per vehicle with two to eight occupants, $2 for vehicles with a single occupant, and $1 for pedestrians and bicyclists. No alcohol is allowed, nor are pets permitted on the beach or in the water (you must keep them on a leash elsewhere in the park).

On Estero Island, Lynn Hall Memorial Park features a fishing pier and beach in the middle of Times Square. It has changing rooms, restrooms, and one of the few public parking lots in the area; the meter costs 75¢ per hour, so keep it fed -- there's a $32 fine if your time runs out. At the island's north end, Bowditch Regional Park has picnic tables, cold-water showers, and changing rooms. Parking is only for drivers with disabilities permits, but the park is also the turnaround point for the Beach Connection Trolley.

Several beach locations are hotbeds of parasailing, jet-skiing, sailboating, and other beach activities. Times Square, at the intersection of San Carlos and Estero boulevards; and the Best Western Beach Resort, about 1/4 mile north, are popular spots on Estero's busy north end. Other hot spots are Diamond Head All Suite Beach Resort, just south of Times Square; and the Junkanoo Beach Bar, in the mid-beach area. Down south, activities are centered at the Outrigger Beach Resort.

Public Swimming Pool and Waterslide park at Bay Oaks, is located just off of Bay Rd and School Street. Minimal day or weekly fee. Great fun for the kids!