Explore Fort Myers Sanibel Area Beaches

Few destinations in the world have such an abundance of uninterrupted sandy coastline, much of it undisturbed by man. Add a subtropical climate and warm Gulf waters, and it's a recipe for everyone's fantasy island vacation.

Sand is just sand, right? Not on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. Each beach has a character all its own, derived from its unique geography and sand qualities.

Families will find soft, white sand great for kids, and a few beaches with excellent playgrounds nearby. Couples can experience solitude and exceptional sunsets. And active types can enjoy volleyball, picnicking, shelling, cycling and skimboarding.

Great Variety of Shells

One of the most popular beachside activities on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel is the collection of seashells. Shelling aficionados come from all over the world to comb the beaches for their favorites, and it’s not hard to see how this pastime can turn into an obsession.

There are shells everywhere on area beaches, including Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach and the outer islands, but Sanibel and Captiva islands get the lion’s share. Take the Sanibel Causeway ($6) to reach both islands.

Geography here plays a key role, as shells from the Caribbean roll up the gradually sloping undersea shelf, and gentle wave action keeps shells intact. Find the best shell specimens early in the morning, before the selection is picked over. Shellers share the beach with nature lovers, as beaches on these barrier islands are groomed only by nature, not machines, so wildlife feels right at home.

Estero Island Beaches

Estero Island beaches are a study in contrasts: Wide stretches of white, powder-soft sand and a gently sloping shoreline abut a 1940s beach town gone 21st century. Brightly colored umbrellas propped in the sand shelter moms and dads watching kids at play, and a lively scene visits the area by night.

Times Square, a pedestrian shopping and dining area, does double duty: By day, it’s a sandy lunch spot, and by night it’s a jumping-off point for evening festivities.

Festivals abound here, and two notables are the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival at Lynn Hall Memorial Park and the American Sandsculpting Championship Festival, which attracts competitors from all over the world – and spectators from near and far.

Music emanates from the bars, restaurants and shops lining Fort Myers Beach. Public beach accesses, marked by colored banners extending south along Estero Boulevard, lead the way to tranquil sands. Sand quality varies, but is generally white and powder soft.

Secluded Spots

Lovers Key State Park provides couples – and families – a true castaway experience. Ride the trolley or walk the boardwalks over tidal lagoons to a white sandy beach, complete with fledgling sea oats. Sand is soft and powdery.

Beaches farther south in Bonita Beach include the county’s only dog beach and good shelling. The beach is a mix of sand made from crushed shells and swaths of shells.

Remote and sparsely populated, beaches on the bridgeless islands of North Captiva and Cayo Costa offer a secluded, wide-open-spaces beach experience. Sand is white, soft and squeaky underfoot.

Boca Grande is accessible by road (there’s a $4 toll for its causeway). Gasparilla Island State Park has five beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. Sand quality varies, but it’s generally soft and white, mixed with crushed shells. Some shelling on southernmost beaches.