Lovers Key State Park
After spending such a delightful day at the beach I decided to cross over to the Gulf side the following day. Arriving midday I toured a few beaches and then settled in for the evening. The next day I spent at Lovers Key State Park, a breathtakingly beautiful set of four barrier islands that boasts award-winning beaches and fantastic animal sightings (think dolphins, manatees, and bald eagles). The beaches sounded nice but the reason I decided to go was that I was in the mood for a little hiking. Although relatively short, the Black Island Trail was a perfect antidote, a scenic loop trail down the island passing through hammock groves and along the lagoon.
After spending the morning wandering through the brush I ventured out to the spectacular beach, which stretches two and a half miles. Littered with millions of shells, the white sand here is a perfect complement to the pale blue water. By description it may sound like many of the other beaches in South Florida, but this one is exceptional.