Must Do Naples Visitor Guide Summer/Fall 2019

MUST DO BEACHES
Concessions Dog-Friendly Fishing Parking Restrooms
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Features an observation tower
and is 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. Go fishing, rent a kayak,
or paddleboard to explore the tidal
lagoon that separates Tigertail Beach
from Sand Dollar Spit’s narrow and
unspoiled Gulf front beach. 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.
CHECK IT OUT
SEA TURTLE
NESTING SEASON
From May through August
hundreds of sea turtles lay their
eggs on Naples and Marco area
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.
JENNIFER BRINKMAN
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