Who doesn’t dream of a vacation on a toasty Florida beach? It just so happens that Southwest Florida claims bragging rights to the top Florida beaches with more than 100 miles of shoreline. Its barrier islands and coastal shores lay out a tasty spread of sand and shells that are the fantasy of any and all visitors who have yearned to dig their toes into the warmth of a Florida beach.
Southwest Florida Travel Guide is your foremost beach travel guide to finding – and loving – the best beaches in Florida.
Family Friendly Beaches
Above all, SW Florida beaches have a reputation for safety, playful waves, and sand tailor-made for fashioning sand castles -- and even more elaborate sand sculptures at annual competitions and festivals on Fort Myers Beach.
Shelling Mecca
Sanibel Island in particular dominates in the category of shelling beaches. It is recognized as one the top Florida beaches to find seashells, and is known worldwide by casual shellers to conchologists. It, too, welcomes small-fry beach bums as well as nature-lovers, who flock to watch birds and spot dolphin. Other SW Florida islands accessible only by boat – Cayo Costa, North Captiva Island, Coconut Island, and Keewaydin Island -- attract the shelling and birding crowd with their isolation.
Seclusion
These unbridged islands have the best beaches for getting away from the crowds, but you don’t need a boat to find beaches less crowded. Places such as Bowman’s Beach on Sanibel Island, Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers Beach, and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in North Naples are short on people, long on nature.
Action-Packed
At the other end of the scale, beach parks on Fort Myers Beach and in parts of Naples and Marco Island offer a full-range of water sports, plus beach bars, live music, alfresco restaurants, and lively festivals and other events.
Whichever Florida beach vacation you’re seeking, SW Florida’s award-winning beaches mean you’ll never be disappointed. Refer to our beach travel guide for a menu of the best beaches you can find anywhere.