The Calusa Blueway Couldn’t Be Better

May 12, 2008

By Liz Fleming

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You may never be a serious birder and long-distance canoeing may be a bit beyond you, but never fear.  You too can get in touch with your Wild Kingdom tendencies on the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail.

One of Western Florida's hidden treasures, the Great Calusa Blueway is not only one of the state's best areas for birding, but is also one of the few areas that still feels uninhabited - at least by humans.  Things that fly, crawl and swim, on the other hand, you'll find in stunning abundance.

Fish, oysters, crabs and shrimp thrive in the calm waters, so do  playful Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and you'll also find plenty of the slow-moving gentle giants of the south, the West Indian Manatee. If you're so inclined you can even slip into the water for a quick swim with them.  Friendly and harmless, manatees ask nothing from a human swimming companion but the occasional massage of their mossy hides.  

Just a few hours drive from the Mickey Mouse mania of Orlando, is an all-natural bird and animal adventure for amateurs.  Just rent a kayak from one of the friendly vendors at the small beaches, take a quick paddle over to the shore and float.  The birds will arrive in no time. The sheltered waterway is filled with snowy white ibis and elegant, long-legged herons delicately parsing the marsh grasses with their slender beaks, looking for their favorite sushi.  Above the fragrant mangroves that line the shore, pelicans cruise lazily through the air, competing with roseate spoonbills, bald eagles and osprey for the banquet below.    

Look carefully at the shore and you might just see a gopher-tortoise stick his miniature dinosaur-head out of a sandy burrow to see what's up.  Stare hard into the treetops and the bandit-mask of a happy raccoon might stare back at you.  Chances are, he too will be enjoying a freshly-caught supper of fish.

Charted first by the Calusa Indians more than 2,000 years ago, and now the project of Lee County Parks and Recreation, the Great Calusa Blueway is both funded and protected by tourist dollars.  That in itself is a great ecological comfort if you've just made a major investment in Mickey earlier in your trip and are feeling a tad over-commercialized!

The Blueways twin regions are exquisite, and in combination, encompass two distinct areas on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico - the Estero Bay region, and Pine Island Sound and Matlacha Pass.  Together, they provide a view of Florida's natural assets that's quite unique.
Perhaps what's most inviting about this kayaking and canoeing area is the ease with which any wannabe-naturalist, of any ability, can manage to get around.  Even those who've never held a paddle can manage the calm, mostly shallow waters, safe from rocks and free of white water.  This is canoeing for cowards!

Another advantage of the Blueway is the great selection of parks and beaches that provide perfect spots for picnicking, swimming,  and even overnight camping, so be sure to toss your tent and sleeping bags into the car when you pack for the big ride down I 95.

The Blueway is a part of the great sunshine state that few tourists have yet to discover, and it's as lovely during the months of May and June as it is during the winter months.  

Looking for an escape from Mickey Mania?  Listen hard.  The Blueway could be calling your name.