10 Best Sights in The Lower Gulf Coast, Florida

Once called Captiva Beach, this park is acclaimed as one of the nation's most romantic beaches for its fabulous sunsets—the best view on Sanibel and Captiva. Shells stud the white, wide sands. The parking lot is filled with potholes and is small, so arrive early, watch where you're driving, and bring an umbrella if you need shade. The beach can get crowded, especially in the busy winter and spring seasons. Facilities are limited to portable restrooms and a volleyball net, but stores and restaurants are nearby. South Seas Island Resort lines the north end of the beach. Amenities: parking (fee); toilets. Best for: sunsets; swimming; walking.

This one isn't exactly easy to find since it's accessible only by a quiet neighborhood road around the corner from buzzing Bonita Beach Park, but it's well worth the effort if you appreciate natural coastal habitats with fun interpretive programs. Shells here are bountiful as are gopher tortoises that may park in the shade of your car. Stop by the nature center to join a ranger-led walk through the trails and gardens, or take up a paddle and go kayaking. There's no towel-jockeying here along the wide-open space (the preserve as a whole is 342 acres), and refreshments and beach rentals provide ample comfort while you unwind in the pristine sands. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: solitude; walking.

It's an ongoing party on this rowdy stretch of coast, the easiest by far to reach from the inland areas south of Fort Myers. Local favorite hangout Doc's Beach House, open from breakfast until the wee hours of the night, keeps bellies full and libations flowing. Other food and sports vendors camp out here, too, making it nearly impossible to resist an ice cream or a ride on a Jet Ski. Shaded pavilions between the parking lot and dunes are a great way to cool off from the sweltering heat—just don't sit too close to the picnickers barbecuing. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; windsurfing.

There's something for everyone at this beach just west of the Third Street South shopping area, but what gets the most attention is the historical pier, which extends well into the Gulf and offers the best free dolphin-viewing around. Sunsets are a nightly ritual, and dodging anglers' poles is to be expected. The concession stand sells food for humans as well as for fishy friends, and, on the sand below, teenagers hold court at volleyball nets; families picnic on blankets; and a handful of other people swoop up cockles, fighting conchs, and coquinas. To avoid the commotion, head south on Gulf Shore Boulevard, and take your pick of the public access points. The sands here won't have the facilities of the pier—or facilities, period—but the solitude can't be beat. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunsets; swimming.

A quiet day at the beach gets an adventurous start when you board a tram and careen down a ¾-mile boardwalk through shaded mangroves and a network of canals. At the end is a pretty, secluded patch of sand where the calm surf is perfect for swimming. In addition to sunbathing, shelling, and sand-castle building, you can spring for a kayak and meander around the marsh. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: solitude; swimming.

This beach is guarded by the frequently photographed Sanibel Lighthouse, built in 1884, before the island was settled. (Although it's not currently open to the public, there's talk of refurbishing the lighthouse so visitors can climb to the top.) The surrounding park curves around the island's eastern tip, so there's waterfront on both the Gulf and the bay, where a fishing pier draws avid anglers, and shaded nature trails connect the two shores. The park is listed on the Great Florida Birding Trail because of its fall and spring migration fallouts. Amenities: parking (fee); toilets. Best for: sunrise; walking; windsurfing.

Once a little-known secret, this out-of-the-way park encompassing 1,616 acres on four barrier islands and several uninhabited islets is popular among beachgoers and birders. Bike, hike, walk, or paddle the park's trails (rentals available); go shelling on its 2½ miles of white-sand beach; take a boat tour; or have a beach picnic under the trees. Trams run regularly from 9 to 4:30 to deliver you and your gear to South Beach. The ride is short but often dusty. North Beach is a five-minute walk from the concession area and parking lot. The new center includes an exhibit hall and outdoor discovery areas with observation decks. Watch for osprey, bald eagles, herons, ibis, pelicans, and roseate spoonbills, or sign up for a free excursion to learn fishing and nature photography. On the park's bay side, across the road from the beach entrance, playgrounds and a picnic area cater to families, plus there are boat ramps, kayak rentals, and a bait shop. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

On the northwest side of the island is 2,500 feet of both developed and undeveloped areas. Once Gulf-front, in recent years a sand spit known as Sand Dollar Island has formed, which means the stretch especially at the north end has become mud flats—great for birding. There's plenty of powdery sand farther south and across the lagoon that draws a broad base of fans for its playgrounds, butterfly garden, volleyball nets, and kayak and umbrella rentals. Beach wheelchairs are also available for free use. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; swimming; walking.

This is a prime sunset-watching spot on the southern point of Captiva. Strong currents through Blind Pass make swimming tricky but shelling amazing, and parking is limited. Surfers head here when winds whip up the waves. The beach is narrower than in other parts of the island. No buildings sit on the beach, but 'Tween Waters Resort is across the road to the north of the public access, and Castaways Beach & Bay Cottages is beachfront across the bridge on the Sanibel side of Blind Pass. Restaurants are nearby. Amenities: parking (fee); toilets. Best for: sunsets; surfing; walking.

If a day at the shore just doesn't seem quite complete without a piña colada and serious people-watching, then this beach is for you. Its white powdery sand often looks like a kaleidoscope, with multihued towels and umbrellas dotting the landscape in front of the nearly 3 miles of tony north Naples condos and luxe resorts. If you walk far enough—which many people do—you'll come across the architecturally stunning mega-mansions of Bay Colony perched up on the dunes. A covered public parking garage allows for easy access to this beach, which really comes alive at sunset with onlookers. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; sunsets; walking.