Discover Southwest Florida

Sun-kissed ribbons of white powdery sand shaded by graceful coconut palms. Rainbow-hued beach umbrellas and romantic Seminole-crafted chickee huts. Miles of semi-tropical shoreline dotted with Mediterranean mansions, Old Florida tin-roofed cottages, secluded retreats and glamorous resorts. ...

From the famed barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva to the seaside resort town of Naples and the fishing villages at the tip of the Everglades, our pristine stretch of coastline framing the Gulf of Mexico claims some of the most stunning and celebrated beaches in North America. There are thousands of acres of government-protected beach preserves and uninhabited mangrove-fringed islands strewn with bone-white driftwood sculptures. Some beaches offer both sunrises and sunsets over the horizon; others are noted for friendly pods of dolphins or loggerhead nesting sites.

There are quaint fishing piers and lighthouses, fish houses on stilts and golden sea-oat-blanketed dunes. Whether one craves seclusion, wildlife sightings, fishing, family fun or an idyllic spot to set up the painter’s easel, that perfect beach awaits somewhere along the Gulfshore. Read on.

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; $5 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, boardwalks, picnic area, volleyball court, playground, butterfly garden and concession stand offering beach equipment rentals, food and drinks. Parking $5 per vehicle. Lot fills quickly. (239) 353-0404. Open sunrise to sundown.

NAPLES
Clam Pass Recreational Area is a county park near the Naples Grande Resort on Seagate Drive. Golf carts transport visitors to a beach with a picnic area and concession stand. Shuttles run daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Chairs, cabanas and watersports equipment available for rent. Restrooms and foot showers available. Parking $5 per vehicle. (239) 254-4000.

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is at the intersection of 111th Avenue North and Gulfshore Drive. Facilities include grills, picnic areas, restrooms with wheelchair access and outdoor showers. Use of the boat ramp is $3. Park rangers conduct nature programs. Admission $3 or $5 per car. (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 $1 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. (239) 213-3029. Metered parking. Open sunrise to sundown.

Naples Fishing Pier, at 12th Avenue South in the heart of Old Naples, 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. Metered parking. (239) 353-0404.

Vanderbilt Beach, at the end of Vanderbilt Drive, is a tree- and residence-lined county beach. Vanderbilt offers parking with handicap accessibility to the beach, restrooms and showers. Snacks and watersports rentals available at the Ritz-Carlton, Naples, and Vanderbilt Inn resorts. Metered parking or parking garage available. (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. Gated beach entrances close at sunset; all other beaches close at 11 p.m.

BONITA SPRINGS

Barefoot Beach Preserve. Look for the signs at the intersection of Barefoot Beach Boulevard and Bonita Beach Road. Enter past the security booth and continue two miles. This 342-acre preserve contains a coastal hammock and a one-mile nature trail. Facilities include changing rooms, showers, restrooms, snack bar and canoe launch. The preserve also offers nature interpretation stations. Parking $5 per vehicle. (239) 353-0404.

Bonita Public Beach off Bonita Beach Road at Hickory Boulevard. Facilities include picnic tables, restrooms, changing rooms, watersports rentals and a concession stand. Guided walks available on the mile-long nature trail. Parking $1 per hour. Lots fill quickly. Beach access 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 $1 per hour.

CAPE CORAL

Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Parkway. Located on the Caloosahatchee River, the area features picnic tables, restrooms, outdoor showers, tennis courts, a free boat ramp, barbecue area, bait shop, public pool and a large beach pavilion available for rent. Coastal navigation classes and marine biology workshops are offered. Free parking. (239) 574-0806. Hours are
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. but can be extended for special events.

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. Includes restrooms, showers, picnic tables, concessions, grills, hiking paths, a handicapped-accessible beach access and a pavilion available for rent. Parking $1 per hour. A trolley (25-cent fare) runs every 15 minutes from Main Street Park-and-Ride lot. (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 25-cent trolley.

Lovers Key State Park. Barrier islands between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach. Parking is plentiful. Admission $1 for pedestrians and bicyclists; $3 to $5 for motor vehicles. The park features pavilions, nature trails, a concession stand and a 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, and shops and restaurants at Times Square pedestrian mall. Parking $1 per hour. Lots fill quickly. 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.

Blind Pass Beach is just before Blind Pass Bridge on Sanibel-Captiva Road. No facilities, but there are numerous restaurants nearby. A popular place for watching the sunset, it was listed as one of the country’s most romantic beaches by Condé Nast Traveler.

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

Sanibel Causeway beaches. Visitors pay a toll to Sanibel and Captiva islands. Beaches are located on both sides of the road with picnic tables and restrooms on the second island and offer excellent shelling and fishing. Areas subject to closure due to bridge construction. Parking $2 per hour. (239) 472-1080.

Lighthouse Beach is at the site of a historic, working lighthouse at the southeastern tip of Sanibel. Small fishing pier, restrooms, drinking fountains, hiking paths and parking for recreational vehicles. Parking $2 per hour.

Tarpon Bay Beach, on Tarpon Bay Road on Sanibel, has restrooms and parking for recreational vehicles. Parking $2 per hour.

Turner Beach is at the north end of Blind Pass, which separates Sanibel and Captiva islands. Popular with families and fishermen, although signs caution against swimming due to swift currents. Calmer waters are to the north. Restrooms and outdoor showers available. Parking limited.

SHOPPING

Do you crave a pair of jewel-encrusted sandals? a set of 1,200-plus thread-count bed linens or a gown straight from the runways of Milan? A designer T-shirt at outlet prices? A jaw-dropping bikini, perhaps, or a to-die-for diamond bracelet? Whether you’re in search of the ultimate built-to-order mega-yacht, the perfect hostess gift or your bridal trousseau, our seaside shopping mecca awaits your discovery.
Like a strand of treasured pearls strung along our tropical coastline, the shops of Marco Island, Naples, Fort Myers, and Sanibel and Captiva islands are a shopper’s delight. There are chic boutiques and flea markets; quaint antique rows and sprawling outlet malls; and the pièce de résistance, glamorous Mediterranean-style shopping enclaves defined by arches and statuary, fountains and palm-fringed courtyards. Estero has emerged as an interior design mecca, anchored by the new International Design Center. Here’s a tantalizing preview.