Must Do Naples Marco Island Winter/Spring 2018 visitor guide

BEACHES
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Experience the
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Concessions Dog-Friendly Parking Restrooms Fishing
Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park
2 Barefoot Beach Blvd., Bonita Beach
Features a boardwalk, one-mile
nature trail, showers, picnic area, concession
for equipment rental, and food and drink
purchases. Handicapped beach wheelchair
access. A terrific spot for fishing and
shelling. Preserve is 342 acres of unspoiled
land and one of the last undeveloped
barrier islands on Florida’s west coast.
Parking is $8 per vehicle for non-beach
parking permit holders.
Lowdermilk Park on Naples Beach
1301 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples
Popular beachfront park with
a duck pond. The concession stand is
open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers food
and beverage for purchase. Additional
amenities include two children’s play
areas, sand volleyball courts, picnic tables,
and showers. Offers handicap access and
beach wheelchair rentals. Beach permit,
pay-by-space, and metered parking
available for $2.50 per hour.
Beach
Scavenger Hunt
JENNIFER BRINKMAN
Fun Starts
Here!
Many of you hopped on a plane or drove
across the country to enjoy Southwest
Florida’s spectacular beaches. You’ve
packed the sunscreen and swimsuits
for the opportunity to dig your feet
into the soft white-sand and enjoy the
warm sparkling Gulf of Mexico waters.
The Paradise Coast beaches will not
disappoint. Stretching from Bonita Springs in the north to Marco Island in the south,
Naples’ beaches offer locals and visitors a variety of activities and atmospheres.
Collier County requires residents, non-residents, and visitors to pay for beach
parking. Visitors, and non-residents may purchase an annual $50 beach parking
permit as an alternative to paying the metered or daily beach parking fee. Visit
Colliergov.net for locations to obtain a beach parking permit. For additional
photos and information on area beaches visit MustDo.com.
Check It Out
Sea Turtle Nesting Season
From May through August hundreds of sea
turtles lay eggs on Naples’ and Marco Island’s
beaches. Hatchlings emerge through October
to make their way to the water. Please do
not approach or disturb nesting females or
hatchlings. Remember to fill in any holes dug
on the beach, ensuring they have a clear path
to make it safely to the Gulf waters.
Sea Turtle Conservancy • ConserveTurtles.org
JENNIFER BRINKMAN
Clam Pass Park
410 Seagate Drive, Naples
One of the most popular
beach access points in the Naples area.
Stroll the boardwalk or ride the tram
to access a 3,200-foot stretch of soft,
white-sand beach. Concessions, picnic
area, outdoor showers, chairs, cabanas,
and watersports equipment rentals are
available. Great spot for shelling. Parking
is $8 per vehicle for non-beach parking
permit holders.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
11135 Gulf Shore Drive, Naples
A 166-acre park offering an
opportunity to swim, scuba dive, kayak,
or fish along more than one mile of beach
rated as one of the best in the United
States. Easy access to the beach from five
parking lots via a system of connecting
trails and boardwalks. Grills, picnic areas,
bicycle racks, restrooms with wheelchair
access, and outdoor showers are available.
Admission is $4-6 per vehicle, $2 for
bicyclists or pedestrians.
Dog Beach Park
8800 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach
Give your pet an off-the-leash run
on the only county-owned beach where
pets are allowed. Doggie shower and
disposal stations are available. Owners
are required to clean up after their pets.
Maximum of two dogs per person allowed.
A coastal tideland, therefore the size of the
beach varies on the water level and tide.
Parking is free.
Lovers Key State Park & Beaches
8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach
Four barrier islands offering
biking, wildlife viewing, fishing, and shelling
in a pristine setting. Manatees, dolphins,
coastal birds, and even bald eagles are
often seen. The two-mile long beach is
accessible by boardwalk or tram. Kayak,
canoe, pedal boat, stand-up paddleboards,
beach chairs, and umbrella rentals are
available. Park entrance admission fee
varies between $2 and $8 depending
on the number of occupants and mode
of transport.
Naples Beach & Fishing Pier
25 12th Avenue South, Naples
A community landmark
and hub for activity or a popular
gathering place to watch a magnificent
Gulf of Mexico sunset. Pier fishing is
available without a license 24-hours
a day. Amenities include restrooms with
showers, concession stand with a covered
eating area, beach supplies, bait shop,
volleyball nets, and handicapped beach
wheelchair access.
South Marco Beach Access
South Collier Blvd., Marco Island
One of two public beach
access points on Marco Island – and
generally the less busy of the two. A
great place for families to go shelling,
beach fishing, or dolphin watching.
Parking and restrooms are available
on Swallow Avenue and is a short walk
across South Collier Boulevard to the
beach. Parking is $8 per vehicle for
non-beach parking permit holders.
Tigertail Beach
400 Hernando Drive, Marco Island
White sand, shelling, tidal
pool exploration, and a playground
make this a great family beach and one
of the most popular in the area. It is also
one of the best birding sites in Southwest
Florida. Amenities include restrooms,
boardwalks, picnic area, playground,
and concession stand offering beach
equipment rentals, food, and drinks.
Parking is $8 per vehicle for non-beach
parking permit holders.
Vanderbilt Beach Park
280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples
Gorgeous white sand, great
shelling, and bird watching. Amenities
include easy handicap accessibility to
the beach, concessions offering beach
equipment rentals and snacks. There
is a parking garage just west of The
Ritz-Carlton hotel entrance. The Naples
Trolley Tour also makes a stop at the
beach. Bicycle racks are located close
to the beach. Parking is $8 per vehicle
for non-beach parking permit holders.
Naples and Marco Island have more than 14 miles of beaches along the Gulf of
Mexico. Shelling on Marco’s beaches rival that of Sanibel Island and other popular
shelling spots. Challenge your kids to find starfish, egg casings, sea glass, sand
dollars, coral, and more while exploring the white sandy beaches. They will enjoy
exploring the coastal environment and delight in having found a natural treasure
to take home. And, who doesn’t love beach combing? One important caution:
Make sure the shells your kids collect are not live (inhabited). Aside from the
surprise you’ll get back home, it’s illegal to remove living shells from the beaches.
This includes sand dollars, starfish, and sea urchins.
Scavenger Hunt List Suggestions:
Three different kinds of shells.
A feather.
A unique piece of driftwood.
A creature’s home
(crab holes are a good one).
Something swimming
in the water. What is it?
A whole sand dollar.
A starfish.
A piece of seaweed.
A piece of coral.
Three pieces of trash.
A piece of sea glass.
An egg casing.
An animal track in the sand.
What type of animal made
the track?
Count how many waves crash
into shore in one minute.
How many paces wide
is the beach?
Wade into the water. Time
how long it takes for your
feet to dry.
Find something red.
SHUTTERSTOCK
10 WINTER | SPRING 2018 MustDo.com