Soak Up the Sun

These beautiful beaches offer something for everyone.

By Jeffrey Laign

Naples boasts some of the most pristine beaches, and no two are alike. You’ll have no trouble finding a sun-kissed shore that’s perfect for you and every member of your group.

Best for Families

Lowdermilk Park is packed with amenities and attractions that are great for adults and kids: Think a duck pond, two playgrounds, sand volleyball courts, and more. Gazebo pavilions are prime gathering spots for reunions, birthday parties, and family picnics.

Best for Watersports

of opportunities to get your sporting fix. Zip around on a Jet Ski or WaveRunner, belly up to a banana boat, skim the water’s surface on a paddle board, or get your blood pumping as you soar above the Gulf on an unforgettable parasailing adventure.

Best for Nature Lovers

If you’re staying at Naples Grande Beach Resort, you’re a boardwalk away from Clam Pass Park, a 35-acre habitat for shorebirds and other creatures that thrive in red, white, and black mangroves. Keep your camera ready. For a change of pace, take a leisurely stroll on the white-sand beach and enjoy nature’s beauty.

Best for Romance

Naples Municipal Beach & Fishing Pier offers couples the best of both worlds. The city’s celebrated landmark stretches 1,000 feet over the Gulf of Mexico and is a famed spot for watching spectacular sunsets. Just off the sand, nature gives way to chic boutiques and intimate restaurants.

Best for Solitude

People are not plentiful at the off-the-beatentrack Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park. What you will find are loggerhead sea turtles, migratory osprey, gopher turtles, and secluded spots that are perfect for meditation and reflection.

Best for Shelling

Tigertail Beach in Marco Island is a prime spot for collecting colorful seashells, especially if you comb the northern tip of the beach known as Sand Dollar Spit. You will find roseate spoonbills, snowy plovers, and other shorebirds congregating in tidal pools across the lagoon. Another great place to go shelling is on Keewaydin Island, accessible only by boat.

Best for Exploring

Although it’s been ranked among Florida’s top 10 beaches, Lovers Key State Park still manages to elude the crowds. The secluded gem in Bonita Springs, just north of Naples, is great for sunning and swimming; but to thoroughly experience this special park, rent a kayak or canoe and explore its four barrier islands.

Best for Anglers

Pompano, sea trout, snook, and tarpon are among the many species of fish that thrive in the waters in and around Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. Cast your rod from shore or see what you can hook from back bays, the Cocohatchee River, and the farther reaches of the Gulf.