A Beach for Each

By Lisa Codianne Fowler
Published: April 29, 2009
Last Updated On: July 26, 2011

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Related Cities & Topics:

Beaches

Family

Romance

Parks

Museums

Fort Myers

Sanibel Island

Fort Myers Beach

Water Sports

Shelling

Estero

Cayo Costa

Whether it's a family vacation or a romantic retreat, the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel are great destinations.

Sparkling blue waters, sugar-white sand and sun-kissed skies... The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel rival those of any Caribbean isle. Come, build castles in the sand, find treasures of the sea; explore exotic flora and fauna in our alluring paradise. Here you'll discover the world's largest concentration of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, as well as manatees, shore birds and loggerhead turtles. Windsurf, parasail, kayak or fish; stroll hand-in-hand on our sun-swept shores. Whether you want a quiet respite with your loved ones or an action-packed adventure, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel has a beach for each.


Family Fun

Gulfside City Park: This is one cool spot for picnicking, swimming safely and shelling 'til you siesta. Stroll the rustic boardwalk or hike off the beach along the bike path to the historic pioneer cemetery. Also known as Algiers Beach, this pretty park is on Sanibel Island.

Tarpon Bay Beach: Swimming, walking and playing volleyball are some of the most popular pastimes at this beautiful beach on Sanibel; it features high sands and plenty of seashells.

Fort Myers Beach: Miles of gleaming white sand, gentle sloping shoreline, restaurants, cafes, shopping and recreational activities galore render this famous beach a family favorite. Rent a boat, parasail, fish, swim, shop or soak up some rays. These sprawling sands are located in the town of Fort Myers Beach.


Spectacular Shelling

Sanibel, Captiva and Cayo Costa Islands: Conchs, whelks, sand dollars and rare lettered olives are among the mounds of mollusks you'll see on these islands in the sun. Go ahead and do the "Sanibel Stoop" and the "Captiva Crouch," the positions you're likely to take when presented with this area's compelling shelling. Sanibel is also home to the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, featuring shells from all over the world. Cayo Costa is a state park and one of the largest uninhabited barrier islands in Florida. Accessible only by boat, it's fringed with sea oats, sand dunes, miles of white-sand beach and a kaleidoscope of seashells. Scoop them up, swim, snorkel, fish or camp in this wilderness wonderland.

Getting to Captiva Beach is a romantic adventure in itself; quaint restaurants shaded by tropical foliage, cozy bed & breakfasts and colorful boutiques dot the path to seductive seclusion, breathtaking sunsets and romance.

Romantic Retreats

Lovers Key: Many couples have been known to surrender to the romance of this aptly named hideaway; listen carefully and you might hear wedding bells chime from the turn-of-the-century-style gazebo on the beach. Nature lovers delight in kayaking The Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail in Estero Bay to watch dolphins playfully leap and seabirds plunge for dinner.

Cayo Costa, Captiva, Chino Island and Big Hickory Island: Pack a picnic basket, rent a boat and hop to one of these islands, where love is definitely in the air, in the water and on the beaches. Getting to Captiva Beach is a romantic adventure in itself; quaint restaurants shaded by tropical foliage, cozy bed & breakfasts and colorful boutiques dot the path to seductive seclusion, breathtaking sunsets and romance.


Where the Action Is

Lighthouse Beach: Located on Sanibel Island's southern tip, this beach is picture-perfect for those who prefer less strenuous sports. Swim, fish from the pier, stroll, shell or sail; windsurfing is also available.

Sanibel: Follow the wooded nature trail to the base of the historic Sanibel Lighthouse and its T-shaped fishing pier. Take a bicycle ride through Old Town, one of the island's earliest settlements located at the end of the island. You'll find Sanibel is full of surprises.

Sanibel Causeway: Windsurfers rule at Sanibel Causeway, a most popular spot for this thrilling sport. Don't own a board? Renting one is easy. Boaters enjoy the convenience of launching small boats and personal watercrafts from ramps at either end of the causeway, while fisherman find luck casting into the surf or from bridge abutments.

Boca Grande Lighthouse Park: Although swimming here is not recommended because of strong currents, conditions are excellent for windsurfing, sailing and especially sport fishing in the Boca Grande Pass.