Page 46 - 2024-2025 Travel Guide to Florida

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
blindingly white, so don’t forget to pack the shades. This beach continues to be listed as the second best in the U.S. by TripAdvisor.
ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS
The nightlife in Naples—particularly downtown and in North Naples—is lively. Hit the live theaters around Fifth Avenue South, then stay to party at late-night clubs downtown. Or take in a show at Artis– Naples in North Naples and later head to the clubs and pubs in the Mercato shopping and entertainment district. You can do both dinner and a movie at its Silverspot Cinema or at the Paragon Theaters at The Pavilion
BOWMAN'S BEACH • FORT MYERS - ISLANDS, BEACHES AND NEIGHBORHOODS/ROB CROSBY
and Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge protect the seas and wetlands of the so-called River of Grass.
Beach glamour begins in Marco Island and Naples with award-winning strands that cover the gamut from the municipal beach and historic fishing pier in Naples to the wild Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.
What do travelers, and particularly families, find so endearing about local beaches? The soft, white sand, gently sloping sea bottom and tot-friendly waves win raves. Certain beach destinations, furthermore, have reputations for distinctive characteris- tics, such as the seashell overload on Sanibel and Captiva islands. Captiva Island and Lovers Key State Park are often listed in the most romantic category. The best shelling beaches around Sanibel include Bowman’s Beach and offshore Cayo Costa, which is accessible only by boat. A number of charters will take you there to collect shells, but call ahead to confirm openings.
In Venice, head to the fishing pier at Brohard Beach or to Caspersen Beach to sift for sharks’ teeth in the sand. In Sarasota, Siesta Key’s sand is famously soft and
INSIDER TIP
You can’t leave Southwest Florida without getting out on the water, whether it’s a paddleboard or kayak excursion, a shelling or sightseeing tour, or a fishing charter.
PING PONG POOLSIDE IN SARASOTA • VISIT FLORIDA/ SPARK
44 2024-25 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA