Visitor's Annual: Beaches

Want to build a sand castle? Choose a beach of smooth, hard-packed sand. Beach volleyball on your mind? We have soft-sand beaches just right for that. Have a beach-loving pup? We have doggie beaches, too.

You can find a beach secluded enough for a picnic for two, or a beach sprinkled end-to-end with colorful umbrellas. You may shop all day in historic naples, then step right onto the beach for the sunset spectacle, or view the colors from one of florida’s most celebrated fishing piers. Shell seekers come from around the world to collect the treasures that wash up our beaches.

Whether you crave seclusion, exotic bird sightings, fishing, family fun or an idyllic spot to set up the painter’s easel, that perfect beach awaits somewhere along the gulfshore. Renowned beach authority stephen "doctor beach" leatherman consistently proclaims our beaches among the finest in north america. Pack your favorite sunscreen, step onto the sands of paradise and judge for yourself.

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. Yearly permits for visitors staying within Naples’ city limits are available for $50 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. Includes restroom facilities. $6 metered parking. (239) 252-4000. Open from sunrise to sundown.

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 $6 per vehicle. Lot fills quickly. (239) 252-4000. Open sunrise to sundown.

NAPLES
Clam Pass Recreational Area is a county park near the Naples Grande Beach Resort on Seagate Drive. Golf carts transport visitors to a beach with a picnic area and concession stand. Chairs, cabanas and watersports equipment available for rent. Restrooms and foot showers available. Parking $8 per vehicle. (239) 252-4000. Shuttles run daily from 8 a.m. to sunset.

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 plus tax. Park rangers conduct nature programs. Admission $3 per car carrying one passenger or $5 per car carrying two to eight passengers. (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. 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 9:30 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) 252-4000.

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) 252-4000. Open sunrise to sundown.

Dolphins, Birds and Sea Turtles
Some beaches are favored by friendly pods of dolphins that cavort surprisingly close to shore, while others border deep channels where the big trophy fish run. We also share our slice of heaven with hundreds of loggerhead turtles, which return each summer to deposit their eggs on the sand. Our beaches attract hundreds of shore birds—ibis, herons, egrets, pelicans and gulls—right around sunrise and sunset. Watch the sandbars for a flock of rare white pelicans, and just about any old tree trunk worth its salt is likely to have a resident osprey nest.

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 Estero Community Park and Recreation Center, 9211 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero, (239) 498-0415. 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. Beach parking passes may be purchased by visiting www.leeparks.org or by calling 533-7440.

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 $6 per
vehicle. (239) 252-4000.

Bonita Beach Park off Bonita Beach Road at 27954 Hickory Blvd. Facilities include picnic tables, grills, playground, sand volleyball court, 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. 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 available. Parking $1 per hour.

Dog Beach where fido may run free. Located at 8600 Estero Blvd. No facilities available for humans, although parking is free. (239) 533-7275

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. Marine biology workshops are offered. Free parking. (239) 574-0806. Pool hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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. Seventeen acres of recreational area and nature preserve. Includes restrooms, showers, picnic tables, concessions, grills, hiking paths, handicapped-accessible beach access and a pavilion available for rent. Parking $1 per hour.
A trolley (50-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. Park at Lynn Hall, in a private lot or at meters under the bridge; or ride the 50-cent trolley. (239) 765-6794.

Lakes Park Beach off Gladiolus Drive. Bathrooms, showers, bike rentals, canoe rentals, freshwater fishing allowed, boats allowed with trolling motor only (call to register). Pavilions for rent, biking and walking trails. Train ride runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (239) 432-2006.

Lovers Key State Park. Barrier islands between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Beach. Parking is plentiful. Admission $1 for pedestrians and bicyclists, $3 for singular occupany vehicles, $5 for motor vehicles carrying up to 8 passengers. The park features pavilions, nature trails, a concession stand and a bridge linking the two barrier islands. Canoe, kayak and bike rentals available. Public boat ramp; suggested donation of $2 to launch. (239) 463-4588. Open
8 a.m. to sunset.

Lynn Hall Memorial Park. Located in the heart of Fort Myers Beach. 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. (239) 765-6794. Open 8 a.m. to 30 minutes after sundown.

Shelling
Sanibel Island is world renowned for its diversity of perfect specimens: whole sun-bleached sand dollars, colorful whelks and shiny olive shells, dainty jewel boxes, delicate paper-figs and dozens more varieties. The deserted sands of Keewaydin (accessible only by boat) are rich with fossil whelks and other sun-bleached shells. Serious shellers also can join an excursion to uninhabited islands such as Cape Romano to the south and Cayo Costa to the north. They are welcome to gather the discarded homes of these beautiful sea creature—but are reminded that it’s against the law to take live specimens.