One of the early state parks in Florida, the Estero Bay Preserve State Park is the first aquatic preserve created in the state and is one of the healthiest estuaries in the entire country.

The Estero Bay Preserve State Park is designed to protect a variety of wildlife and native vegetation that can only be found in the area. The preserve is extended over the waterways, inlets, and islands of Estero Bay and the surrounding estuary. Species found in the protected area include among others the gopher tortoise, fiddler crabs, live oaks, slash pines, and the famous bald eagle.

Frequent activities in the park include rowing a canoe or kayak in Estero Bay or the Estero River, hiking, and biking.