Beaches

With more than 70 miles of beachfront, and many public points of access, there's plenty of room for everyone to indulge in languorous solitude while enjoying some of the area's greatest natural treasures.

Shellers are likely to find the greatest bounty along the Sanibel Island coastline, which is ranked among the best shelling areas in the world. The pickings are especially good early in the day and after a storm.

One thing that's prohibited at all county-controlled beaches is alcohol, although ice-cold beverages are just feet away at waterfront hotels and bars along Fort Myers Beach.

The one thing no beachgoer should be without is sunscreen. Even on seemingly cloudy days, it's possible to get a serious burn whiling the day away in the sand and surf.

BONITA SPRINGS

Barefoot Beach Preserve is located at the south end of Bonita Beach; look for the signs at the intersection of Hickory Boulevard and Bonita Beach Road. Enter through the security gates and continue two miles past private houses. This 342-acre preserve contains a coastal hammock, 8,200 feet of beachfront and low sand dunes. Facilities include changing rooms, showers, restrooms and a snack bar. Also included are nature interpretation stations. Parking in the three lots is free, but is scarce in season and during weekends. (941) 353-0404.

Bonita Public Beach is 10 minutes from I-75 (Exit 18) off Bonita Beach Road at Hickory Boulevard. Facilities include picnic tables, restrooms, watersport rentals and a concession stand. Handicapped access is available. Parking is 75 cents an hour, and the lot fills early on weekends and during season. Ten beach accesses with limited facilities and parking are located north of the main beach. (941) 461-7400.

CAPE CORAL

Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Parkway, is home to Cape Coral's only beach. Located on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, the area features shaded picnic tables, restrooms, outdoor showers, tennis courts, a free public boat ramp, a barbecue area, bait shop, heated public pool and a large beach pavilion that is available for rent. In addition to programs and special events, the Yacht Club also offers coastal navigation classes and marine biology workshops for adults and children. Parking is free. (941) 574-0806.

FORT MYERS BEACH

Bowditch Point Regional Park. Take Matanzas Pass Bridge onto the beach. Turn right at foot of bridge and follow Estero Boulevard to the end. If you like an unspoiled, uncrowded, wide sandy beach with lots of native vegetation, check out Lee County's passive park at the north end of Estero Island. The peaceful 17-acre park fronts both the bay and the Gulf. Amenities include restrooms, showers, changing rooms, picnic tables, grills, hiking paths, benches, bike racks, a handicap-accessible boardwalk to the beach and beautiful courtyard pavilion, which can be rented for weddings and private parties. No concessions. Free admission. Six handicapped parking spots available. A trolley (25-cent fare) runs every 15 minutes. Park free at Main Street Park and Ride lot, just north of Matanzas Pass Bridge. Or park in Times Square area and walk.

Fort Myers Beach is just east of Lynn Hall Park. Plenty of beach bars, places to rent Waverunners, go parasailing, jet boating and Hobie catting. Drinking on beach is allowed in front of bars and hotels that serve alcohol. Volleyball nets available. Cafés abound. Parking is a problem. Free spots go quickly. Park at Lynn Hall and walk, or at a private lot, at meters under the bridge or ride the 25-cent trolley.

Lynn Hall Memorial Park. Turn right at foot of Matanzas Pass Bridge, left off North Estero Boulevard. A family affair, plus lots of teens. There's a huge parking lot-you pay 25 cents for 20 minutes. Get there before 11 a.m. to get a spot. There's a playground for the kids, fishing pier, picnic huts, benches, information kiosk and loads of shops and restaurants at Times Square, a pedestrian mall with lights, trees and outdoor tables. The bathrooms score high, and county staff keep the whole park clean. Water fountains have ice-cold water. There's also change and soda machines and paid lockers. Nice view. Free admission. Parking lot open 24 hours. (941) 461-7400.

Lover's Key State Park. Pristine barrier islands, located between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach, combine for more than 700 acres of estuaries and wetlands and two miles of beachfront. The sole entrance is at Lover's Key; a tram is available to take patrons to the beach. Parking is plentiful. Admission is $1 for pedestrians and bicyclists, $2 for motor vehicles with one person, and $4 for those with two to eight occupants. Special rates for vehicles with more than eight occupants. The park features picnic and wedding pavilions, a concession stand, an expanded parking lot and a 700-foot bridge linking the two barrier islands. Canoe, kayak and bicycle concessions are available. (941) 463-4588.

MARCO ISLAND

South Marco Beach, located on South Collier Boulevard, is open from sunrise to sundown. No facilities. A $3 parking fee is payable at the master meter. (941) 353-0404.

Tigertail Beach, a county park located at the end of Hernando Drive, includes a bathhouse, restrooms and a concession stand offering beach equipment rentals, food and drinks. Parking is $3 per day. Come early as the lot fills quickly. (941) 353-0404.

NAPLES

Clam Pass Recreational Area is a county park near The Registry Resort on Seagate Drive. A shuttle transports visitors from the free parking area over a six-tenths-mile boardwalk to the sandy beach. The shuttle runs daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Chairs, cabanas and watersport items may be rented from a beach concession beginning at 7 a.m. Restrooms and foot showers are available. Clam Pass was named No. 20 in Condé Nast Traveler's 1996 list of top beaches in the country. (941) 353-0404.

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Recreational Area is nestled at the north end of Naples at the intersection of Route 846 and Gulfshore Drive North. Facilities include grills, picnic tables, restrooms with wheelchair access, outdoor showers, changing rooms, five large parking areas and a covered pavilion that is available for rent. Use of the boat ramp is $2. Park rangers conduct general nature programs in the winter and sea turtle programs in the summer. Beachgoers are cautioned against swimming in areas with swiftly moving currents. Admission is $1 for pedestrians and bicyclists, $2 for motor vehicles with one person, and $4 for those with two to eight occupants. Special rates for vehicles with more than eight occupants. (941) 597-6196.

Lowdermilk Park is located along Gulf Shore Boulevard at Banyan Boulevard. Offers 1,000 feet of beachfront, plus outdoor showers, gazebos, picnic tables, a playground, volleyball court, concession stand and a duck pond. The restrooms are wheelchair accessible and there is free use of special beach wheelchairs. (941) 434-4698.

Naples Fishing Pier is at 12th Avenue South in the heart of Old Naples. Florida's largest free fishing pier extends 1,000 feet into the Gulf of Mexico and has showers, restrooms, a bait shop and a snack bar. Dolphins are frequent visitors. Metered parking is located nearby with additional parking and accesses along Gulf Shore Boulevard. (941) 434-4696.

North Gulf Shore Boulevard Beach, located at the end of Seagate Drive, is open from sunrise to sundown. No facilities. There is a $3 parking fee payable at the master meter. (941) 353-0404.

Vanderbilt Beach, at the end of Vanderbilt Drive, is a tree-lined county beach that stretches for miles. Vanderbilt offers ample car parking with easy handicap accessibility to the beach, restrooms and showers. Snacks, beverages and watersport rentals are available at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples and Vanderbilt Inn resorts. Parking at Vanderbilt Drive is $3. (941) 353-0404.

SANIBEL/CAPTIVA ISLANDS

Sanibel Causeway. Visitors must pay a $3 toll to Sanibel and Captiva islands, and many people are happy to go no farther than the two islands that make up the causeway. In addition to tree-lined beaches on both sides of the road and picnic tables and restrooms on the second island, both offer excellent shelling opportunities. The causeway islands are popular for their excellent fishing and windsurfing.

All public parks on Sanibel Island are run by the city and most parking is free for residents who purchase ABC parking stickers; 75 cents an hour otherwise. Restrooms are located at most public accesses, and a mobile concession stand frequents Lighthouse Park. Pets are allowed but must be leashed at all times, and owners must pick up after them. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited from November to May. (941) 472-1080.

Bowman's Beach is located off Sanibel-Captiva Road on Bowman's Beach Road. Noted for its wildlife and seclusion, there is plentiful parking, plus restrooms, changing rooms, showers, drinking fountains, picnic tables, grills and parking for recreational vehicles.

Bunche Beach, on John Morris Road off Summerlin Road before the Sanibel Causeway, has no facilities and overlooks Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island. It is popular with fishermen and paddlers. Parking is limited.