Beaches

Most of the resorts have fully recovered, offering visitors easy access to world-class beaches. For the second consecutive year, readers of Florida Monthly magazine named Sanibel the state's best spot for shelling.

To really get away from it all, venture out to Cayo Costa, a largely undeveloped island situated between the upscale outposts of Useppa and Gasparilla islands. There's a state park on the north end with walking trails and a beach. Cayo Costa and Useppa islands are accessible only by boat, so take your own or hop aboard a charter. Gasparilla Island, home to tiny Boca Grande, is reachable by car via bridge from Charlotte County.

COLLIER COUNTY

Parking

Parking is free with a City of Naples or Collier County beach-parking permit, which full-time residents and taxpayers may obtain from any community park. Without a permit, beachgoers should use metered parking spaces or pay $4 per vehicle for county beaches. Weekly permits for visitors staying within Naples' city limits are available for $10 at the customer service desk at City Hall, 735 Eighth St. S., across from Cambier Park. (239) 213-1800.

Marco Island

South Marco Beach is located on South Collier Boulevard, with parking available a short walk across the boulevard on Swallow Street. Open from sunrise to sundown and includes restroom facilities; $4 parking fee payable at the master meter. (239) 353-0404.

Tigertail Beach, a county park located at the end of Hernando Drive, has a bathhouse, restrooms, five boardwalks, a picnic area, volleyball court, playground, butterfly garden and concession stand offering beach equipment rentals, food and drinks. Parking $4 per vehicle. Arrive early as the lot fills quickly. (239) 353-0404. Open sunrise to ­­sundown.

Naples

Clam Pass Recreational Area is a county park near the Registry Resort on Seagate Drive. Golf carts transport visitors from the parking lot over a boardwalk through a mangrove forest to a beach with a picnic area and concession stand. A canoe launch is located in the parking lot. Shuttles run daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Chairs, cabanas and watersports equipment may be rented from the concession. Restrooms and foot showers available. Parking $4 per vehicle. (239) 353-0404.

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is nestled at the north end of Naples at the intersection of Route 846 (111th Avenue North) and Gulfshore Drive. Facilities include grills, shaded picnic areas, restrooms with wheelchair access, outdoor showers and changing rooms. Use of the boat ramp is $3. Park rangers conduct nature programs. Beachgoers are cautioned against swimming in areas with swiftly moving currents. Admission $5 for up to eight people per car; extra passengers, individual pedestrians and bikers $1 each. (239) 597-6196. Open 8 a.m. to sunset.

Lowdermilk Park is located along Gulf Shore Boulevard at Banyan Boulevard. The park offers 1,000 feet of beachfront, outdoor showers, gazebos, picnic tables, a playground, volleyball court, concession stand and duck pond. Wheelchair-accessible restrooms. Metered parking 75 cents per hour. (239) 213-3029. Open sunrise to sundown.

Miramar Beach. Public access on Gulf Shore Boulevard North, just south of Harbour Drive, with ample parking and an outdoor shower. A short walk south takes you to the jetty at Doctors Pass, which provides Gulf access from Naples Bay. Popular with fishermen; great location for watching boats, dolphins and birds. (239) 213-3029. Metered parking. Open sunrise to sundown.

Naples Fishing Pier is at 12th Avenue South in the heart of Old Naples. Naples was named best-all-around beach in the Travel Channel's America's Best Beaches 2005. 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 seen frequently. Metered parking is located nearby, with additional parking and access points along Gulf Shore Boulevard. (239) 213-3062. Amenities open 9 a.m. to sunset; pier open 24 hours.

North Gulf Shore Boulevard Beach, located at the end of Seagate Drive, is open sunrise to sundown. Outdoor shower; no other facilities. Metered parking. (239) 353-0404.

Vanderbilt Beach, at the end of Vanderbilt Drive, is a tree- and residence-lined county beach that stretches for miles. Vanderbilt offers parking with easy handicap accessibility to the beach, restrooms and showers. Snacks, beverages and watersports rentals available at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, and Vanderbilt Inn resorts. Parking at Vanderbilt Drive is $4. (239) 353-0404. Open sunrise to sundown.

LEE COUNTY

Parking

Residents can purchase Lee County parking permit stickers at the Terry Park Administration building, 3410 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers, (239) 461-7400; and Bonita Beach Park, 27954 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs, (239) 949-4615. Without a permit, visiting beachgoers should pay fees or feed parking meters as applicable.

Bonita Springs

Barefoot Beach Preserve is a Collier County park at the south end of Bonita Beach; look for the signs at the intersection of Barefoot Beach Boulevard and Bonita Beach Road. Enter past the security booth and continue two miles past homes. This 342-acre preserve contains a coastal hammock, a one-mile nature trail and 8,200 feet of beachfront. Facilities include changing rooms, showers, restrooms, snack bar and canoe launch. The preserve also offers nature interpretation stations. Parking $4 per vehicle. (239) 353-0404.

Bonita Public Beach is 10 minutes from I-75 (exit 116) off Bonita Beach Road at Hickory Boulevard. Facilities include picnic tables, restrooms, changing rooms, vending machines, watersports rentals and a concession stand. Also available are guided walks on the mile-long nature trail. Parking 75 cents per hour. Arrive early, as the lot fills quickly on weekends and during season. Beach access (with limited facilities and parking) is north of the main beach. (239) 461-7400. Closes at 11 p.m.

Little Hickory Island Beach Park is between Bonita Beach and Lovers Key. Popular beach for fishing. Restrooms, picnic tables and showers are available. Parking 75 cents per hour.

Cape Coral

Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Parkway. Located on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, the area features shaded picnic tables, restrooms, outdoor showers, tennis courts, a free public boat ramp, barbecue area, bait shop, heated public pool and a large beach pavilion available for rent. Coastal navigation classes and marine biology workshops for adults and children are offered. Free parking. (239) 574-0806. Open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Fort Myers Beach

Bowditch Point Regional Park. An unspoiled, uncrowded, wide beach with lots of native vegetation at the north end of Estero Island. Take Matanzas Pass Bridge onto the beach; turn right at foot of bridge and follow Estero Boulevard to the end. Facilities include restrooms, showers, picnic tables, concessions, grills, hiking paths, a handicapped-accessible boardwalk to the beach and a courtyard pavilion available for rent. Parking 75 cents per hour; 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. (239) 461-7400. Open 8 a.m. to 30 minutes after sunset.

Bunche Beach on San Carlos Bay, on John Morris Road off Summerlin Road before the Sanibel Causeway, overlooks Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island. Here 731 acres are nature preserves, making it a popular location with fishermen and paddlers. No facilities; limited parking. (239) 432-2006. Open sunrise to sunset.

Fort Myers Beach is just east of Lynn Hall Park and features plenty of beach bars and cafés. Rent WaveRunners, go parasailing, jet-boat and more; volleyball nets available. Park at Lynn Hall, in a private lot or at meters under the bridge; or ride the convenient 25-cent trolley.

Dog Beach is located on Bonita Beach at 8600 Estero Blvd. This county beach is one of the few places in the state where dogs can romp in the surf without leashes. Free parking; no facilities available. (239) 229-0459.

Lovers Key State Park. Pristine barrier islands between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach combine more than 700 acres of estuaries and wetlands and two miles of beachfront. The entrance is at Lovers Key; a tram is available to take patrons to the beach. Parking is plentiful. Admission $1 for pedestrians and bicyclists; $2 for motor vehicles with one person; and $4 for those with two to eight occupants. The park features pavilions, nature trails, a concession stand and a 700-foot bridge linking the two barrier islands. Canoe, kayak and bike rentals available. (239) 463-4588. Open 8 a.m. to sundown.

Lynn Hall Memorial Park. Turn right at foot of Matanzas Pass Bridge, left off North Estero Boulevard. Amenities include restrooms, a playground, fishing pier, picnic shelters, grills, information kiosk, and shops and restaurants at Times Square pedestrian mall. Restrooms and park are well maintained by county staff. Parking 75 cents per hour; arrive before 11 a.m. for the best chance at a spot. Parking lot open 24 hours. (239) 461-7400. Open 8 a.m. to 30 minutes after sundown.

Sanibel/Captiva Islands

Algiers Beach/Gulfside City Park. Located off Casa Ybel Road on Sanibel Island. Named after a steamboat once pulled ashore and turned into a house, these beaches offer shaded picnic areas, boardwalks and restrooms. Parking $2 per hour.