The Lower Gulf Coast's Best Beaches

The Lower Gulf Coast's Best Beaches

Barefoot Beach Preserve

Although it's not easy to reach—the drive from Bonita Beach Road along Lely Beach Road to this Collier County treasure takes you through a speed-bump-mined development—it's worth the inconvenience if you're looking for a natural encounter along with your beach play. Past the speed bumps, gopher tortoises crossing the road will slow you down. Beachgoers come for shells, canoeing, and exploring nature off the beach.

Bowman's Beach

Long, wide Bowman's Beach, on Sanibel's northwest end, is the island's most secluded strand. Walk the length of the beach and leave humanity behind, finding some of the area's greatest concentrations of shells along the way. In fact, while most beaches in Sanibel and Captiva are worthy hunting grounds for shell devotees, Bowman's tops them all. This is because Bowman's is the hardest to reach, most spread-out, and least populated of the island's many beaches. You might even score one of the island's most coveted shells, the Junonia. The sunsets at the north end are spectacular.

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

Its placement across the pass from Barefoot Beach and a preserved bay backdrop make Delnor-Wiggins in North Naples popular with both fishermen and nature lovers. Rangers conduct birding and sea turtle programs at different times of year. Beach buffs adore its stretch of sand immune from the high-rise rash to the south. Picnic facilities and an observation tower add to the family fun-ness of the park.

Lovers Key State Park

Among Florida's most-visited parks, this barrier island south of Fort Myers Beach, on Rte. 865, is a natural haven. Birds flock to its estuary, kayakers paddle through, and a gazebo on the beach sees many a wedding. The island got its name, legend has it, before it was accessible by car, when only lovers dared venture.

Lowdermilk Park

Looking for pure fun with your beach day, hold the nature lessons? That's what prettily landscaped Lowdermilk in Naples is all about. Families appreciate the grassy lawn, playground, volleyball nets, picnic facilities, shallow waters, playful waves, and food concession at this beach on Gulf Shore Boulevard at Banyan Boulevard.

Turner Beach

This patch of undulating sand on the southern tip of Captiva is a good spot for catching the setting sun is. Due to the strong currents here it's much better for surfing than swimming.