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Southwest Florida |
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Beaches |
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By
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Bonita Beach |
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Barefoot Beach Preserve |
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3300
Santa Barbara Blvd |
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Naples, Florida |
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239
498-4364 |
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parking fee |
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Within Collier County, but
accessible from Bonita Beach Road, the 342 acres in this
preserve contain a coastal hammock and 8200 feet of
beach and low dunes. Sea grapes, cabbage palms and other
native vegetation landscape the grounds. Gopher
tortoises often lumber across the road and paths.
Rangers give nature walks and shell talks at the chikee
learning center. |
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Restrooms, showers, nature, learning
center, aquatic butterfly garden, snack
bar. |
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Bonita
Beach Park |
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27954 Hickory Blvd |
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Bonita Beach, Florida |
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239 229-0459 |
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parking fee |
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| Bonita Beach
Park is the only true park on Bonita Beach. It
is very lively during high season and on
weekends. Water sports and volleyball, plus a
hamburger and bar joint, create a youthful
spirit. Vegetation is sparse: there's nothing
hidden about this beach. There are several accesses with
free but limited parking on Hickory Blvd. to
the north. |
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Picnic table shelters, restrooms,
lifeguard, water-sports
and beach rentals,
volleyball, nearby
restaurants.. |
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Dog
Beach Park |
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8600
Estero Blvd |
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Bonita Springs, Florida |
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239 461-7400 |
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free parking |
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| Dog Beach Park
allows dogs to roam free in a beautiful beach
setting. No restroom facilities or running
water. Open sunrise to sunset. Parking is free. |
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Cape
Coral |
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Cape
Coral Yacht Club Community Park |
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5819
Driftwood Pky |
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Cape Coral, Florida |
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239
547-0806 |
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free parking, pool
admission fee |
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| The man-made
beach on the Caloosahatchee River is part of a
large park that sponsors recreational and other
programs and exudes a true sense of community.
The groomed beach is better for sunning than
swimming, for which the pool fills the void. |
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Restrooms, showers,
picnic shelters,
swimming pool, marina,
shuffleboard, outdoor
racquetball courts,
fishing pier. |
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Captiva Island |
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Captiva
Beach |
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N
end of Captiva Rd |
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Captiva Island, Florida |
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parking fee |
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| Only early
arrivers get the parking spots for this prime
spread of the deep, shelly sand. It's also a
good place to watch a sunset. |
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Restrooms, showers,
picnic shelters,
swimming pool, marina,
shuffleboard, outdoor
racquetball courts,
fishing pier. |
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Turner Beach |
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S end Captiva Rd |
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Captiva Island, Florida |
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239
472-6397 |
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Parking fee |
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| A pretty beach
with wide, powdery sand, Turner tends to get
crowded and parking is limited. The entrance is
on a blind curve which can be dangerous. More
bad news, riptides coming through the pass make
this taboo for swimming. Park your beach
towel far north or south of the pass for calmer
swimmable waters. This beach is a popular for
watching the sunset. Surfers like the water to
the north in certain weather. It is also a
hotspot for fishermen, who line the bayside
shores and ridge between Sanibel and Captiva.
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Restrooms, nearby
restaurants,
water-sports and stores. |
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Fort
Myers |
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Bunche
Beach |
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18201 John Morris Rd |
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Fort
Myers, Florida |
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239 432-2006 |
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free
parking |
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| This 731-acre
facility is a natural tidal wetlands area that
is located on San Carlos Bay. This pristine,
completely natural area that is indicative of
the area before the introduction of exotic plant
species, is old Florida. This beach is an
example of a living ecosystem that ranges from a
sandy beach to mangrove forests to salt flats
and contains a wide variety of wildlife. For
passive recreational day use and has no
amenities. Parking is limited, but is free.
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Lakes
Regional Park |
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7330
Gladiolus Rd |
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Fort
Myers, Florida |
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239
432-2000 |
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Parking fee |
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| Lakes Park is a
great place for the family to spend the day. The
park of 158 acres of freshwater lakes features a
small sand beach with a roped-off swimming area.
The 279 acre park offers a water playground, canoeing,
paddle boating, fishing, nature and
bike trails, an exercise course, an observation
tower, a miniature train ride, and terrific
playground facilities. The wet playground,
Florida Cypress Swamp, provides 17 squirting,
spraying, and splashing frogs, snakes, and birds.
An amusement park is in the planning stages next
to the park. |
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Picnic area, restrooms, showers,
playgrounds, model
railroad ride, fitness
trail , bike path, bike
rental, water-sports
rental, restaurant. |
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Fort
Myers Beach |
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Bowditch Point Regional Park |
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50 Estero Blvd |
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Fort
Myers Beach, Florida |
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239
463-1116 |
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Parking fee |
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| This pretty,
green, 17 acre park fronts estero bay and the
Gulf of Mexico. It's a nice, relatively quiet
beach that is unspoiled, and a favorite of
boat-ins. |
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Picnic areas, restrooms, showers,
playground, fishing
pier, water-sports
rentals, nearby
restaurants, bars and
shops. |
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Fort
Myers Beach Public Access |
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Several points along Estero Blvd |
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Fort
Myers Beach, Florida |
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239
432-2000 |
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Parking fee |
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| There are more
than 30 beach access points marked with colorful
beach access banners offering entry onto
developed, as well as secluded, pristine
stretches of shoreline. Many are near
restaurants and cafes. |
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Little
Hickory Island Beach Park |
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26082 Hickory Blvd |
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Fort
Myers Beach, Florida |
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parking fee |
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| A white-sand
beach combined with a feeling of seclusion is
the main attraction at this beachfront park.
Surf fishing is a favorite pastime for visitors.
The beach is wide and clean and offers
restrooms, picnic tables and showers. A ramp
runs from the parking lot to the sand allowing
accessibility for wheelchairs. Parking $1 per
hour. Hours: sunrise to sunset. |
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Lynn
Hall Memorial Park |
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950 Estero Blvd |
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Fort
Myers Beach, Florida |
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239
463-1116 |
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Parking fee |
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| Times square
Plaza, a pedestrian park, attracts students and
families alike. A rocking, rollicking place, it
has something for everyone. For lighter crowds,
try public accesses on the south end of Estero
Blvd or Bowditch Point. At low tide a plethora
of starfish, sandollars, and other small marine
life can be found in the shallows. |
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Picnic shelters, restrooms, showers,
hiking path, store,
restaurant. |
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Lovers Key State Park |
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8700 Estero Blvd |
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Fort
Myers Beach, Florida |
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239
463-4588 |
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Parking fee |
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| Ride a
truck-pulled tram through the natural mangrove
environment to South Beach, or walk to secluded
North Beach. The area between Estero, & Little
Hickory Island consists of natural island
habitat populated by birds, dolphins, and crabs.
On the barrier island of lovers key, Australian
pines provide shaded picnicking along a narrow,
natural stretch of sand that is due for
renourishing in the coming years. South of the
park entrance, dog beach is the county's only
designated off-leash dog beach (most beaches on
Sanibel Island allow pets on leash.) A gazebo
provides a picnic shelter and a popular wedding
venue. Away from the beach, shaded picnic
grounds line estuarine inlets with a launch for
canoes and kayaks and a path accommodates hikers
and cyclists. |
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Picnic shelters, restrooms, showers,
hiking path, store,
restaurant. |
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Sanibel Island |
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Blind Pass Beach |
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Bowman's Beach Rd off
Sanibel-Captiva Rd |
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Sanibel Island, Florida |
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Parking fee |
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| A nice spot for
shelling. Courtesy beach wheelchairs provided
upon 24-hour notice to City of Sanibel Police
Department Dispatch, 239-472-3111. Based on
availability. Parking is metered. |
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Bowman's Beach |
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Bowman's Beach Rd off
Sanibel-Captiva Rd |
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Sanibel Island, Florida |
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Parking fee |
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| Located
mid-island on Sanibel off Sainbel-Captiva Road,
Bowman's Beach is pristine and quiet. Although
the area's most popular beach, there is still
plenty of room to stretch out and discover your
own private spot for swimming or shelling. There
is plenty of room for windsurfing or sailing.
This beach has picnic areas with barbecue
grills, trails, showers and restrooms. Courtesy
beach wheelchairs provided upon 24-hour notice
to City of Sanibel Police Department Dispatch,
239-472-3111. Based on availability. |
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Picnic shelters, restrooms,
showers, fitness trail. |
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Gulfside City Park |
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Algiers Lane |
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Sanibel Island, Florida |
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239 472-6477 |
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Parking fee |
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| Located off Casa
Ybel Road on Sanibel Island, this beach is known
as Algiers Beach to the locals because of a
steamboat by the same name that once pulled
ashore. It is a wonderful spot for picnics;
there are tables in the shaded expanse.
Boardwalks offer comfortable access to the
beach. Has restrooms, barbecue grills and
parking. Courtesy beach wheelchairs provided
upon 24-hour notice to City of Sanibel Police
Department Dispatch, 239-472-3111. Based on
availability. |
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Picnic shelters, restrooms. |
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Lighthouse Park Beach |
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S end of Periwinkle Way |
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Sanibel Island, Florida |
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239
472-6477 |
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Parking fee |
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| Skirting Sanibel
Island's historic lighthouse is an arc of
natural beach fronting both the gulf and San
Carlos Bay. One of Sanibel's most populated
beaches, it's highlights include a nature trail and fishing pier.
Strong currents forbid swimming off the point.
The wide beach gives way to sea oats, sea
grapes, and australian pine edging. The
surounding neighborhood is more historic and
laid-back than other parts of the island. |
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Picnic area, restrooms, nature trail,
fishing pier, mobile
food concession
in-season. |
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Sanibel Causeway Beach |
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Sanibel Causeway Rd |
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Sanibel Island, Florida |
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Free
Parking |
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| Windsurfers and
fisherman espically favor this pact-sand
roadside beach. It's been dressed up with palms
and pines, but it's noisy and typically busy.
Beach lovers in RV's and campers often pull up
her to picnic and spend the day in the sun. |
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Tarpon Beach |
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Middle Guf Dr & Tarpon
Bay Rd |
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Sanibel Island, Florida |
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239
472-6477 |
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Parking fee |
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| Another popular
beach, this on is charcaterized by sugar sand
and a nice spread of shells. It's a bit of a
hike from the parking lot to the beach, and the
area gets congested on busy days. RV's can park
here. Great for swimming. |
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Restrooms and mobile
food concession
in-season. |
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Upper Islands |
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Boca
Grande Lighthouse Park |
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880 Belcher Rd |
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Boca
Grande, Florida |
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239
964-0375 |
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fee, bridge toll |
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| The Boca Grande
Lighthouse, located in Gasparilla Island State
Park, was built in 1890 and is a maritime
landmark. The park edges the deepwater tarpon
grounds of Boca Grande Pass. It's plush sands
encompass 135 acres, although in some parts the
beach gets quite narrow. Swimming is not
recommended here because of strong currents.
Located in the park is the Boca Grande
Lighthouse Museum and Amory Memorial Chapel. |
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Picnic ground, restrooms,shoowers,
parking. |
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Cayo
Costa Island State Park |
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LaCosta Island (accessile
only by ferry or private boat) |
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239
964-0375 |
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Admission fee |
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| Accessible only
by boat, Cayo Costa is one of the largest
barrier islands in Florida. It contains unique
vegetation that has gone unspoiled for the past
500 years. Ideal for camping, swimming, shelling
and fishing. Courtesy beach wheelchairs (based
on availability) - please contact the Florida
Dept. of State Parks 941-964-0375.Cayo
Costa stretches for seven miles and is most
secluded at it's southern extremes. A larger
population of beachgoers congregates at the north
end, where docks and a picnic and camping ground
attract those who seek creature comforts with
their sun and sand. Shelling is superb in these
parts, particularly at Johnson Shoals, which
surfaces at the island's north end during low
tide. |
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Picnic ground, canoe &
kayak rentals, nature
trails, bike trails, restrooms,
showers, camp sites,
cabin rentals. |
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Gasparilla Island State Park |
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880 Belcher Rd |
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239
964-0375 |
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fee, bridge toll |
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| The restored
Boca Grande Lighthouse, built in 1890, is the
main attraction. Visitors can tour the
lighthouse museum or enjoy picnicking, swimming
and fishing in Boca Grande pass, celebrated by
anglers as the "Tarpon Capital of the World." |
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Picnic ground, canoe &
kayak rentals, nature
trails, bike trails, restrooms,
showers, camp sites,
cabin rentals. |
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North Captiva |
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Across Redfish Pass from
South Seas Resort and
Captiva Island:
accessible only by boat |
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| Like Cayo Costa,
here's a place to go for private beaching.
Though it's narrow at the south end, the sand is
like gold dust. You will find no facilities
unless you venture across the island to the bay,
where the restaurants and civilization inhabit
the north end. |
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