Bonita Beach is a Southwest Florida Treasure

Just north of Naples beaches and Vanderbilt Beach is the beautiful barrier island community of Bonita Beach that has a lot in common with affluent Naples beachcombers. The pristine shorelines of Bonita Beach located on Little Hickory Island is a shining upscale beach community with tasteful condominiums and some of the finest modern beachfront homes in the entire Southwest Florida area. Gulf mansions and traditional Florida cottages share endless Gulf water views from Naples to Sanibel. Bay-front homes on the east side of Hickory Boulevard also have splendid water views and many homes have private docks with direct Gulf access. You won’t find a strip of hotels and resorts lining the beach here or one with tacky t-shirt shops. This is a quiet, natural place where residents enjoy walking, shelling, swimming and water sports…or just relaxing on the beach and enjoying a spectacular sunset. Tucked among the charm of Old Florida and its scenic beauty, Bonita Beach delights in a natural landscape of lush tropical foliage, coconut palms, and sea grapes. The greenery is a welcome site from more congested areas around Fort Myers Beach. The Gulf-facing beach on the west side of Little Hickory Boulevard is picturesque with fine white sand, natural coastal dunes, sea oats and surf. At the south end of Bonita Beach, there are luxury home developments. Bonita Beach enjoys a nature preserve and county beach park. Residents often go to dinner then view a magnificent colorful sunset. To get to Bonita Beach, take I-75, exit 116 to Bonita Beach Road and west to the beach. For vacation accommodations, you can stay at the plush Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, 5 miles north of Bonita Springs. The resort has a boat that shuttles you across the bay to your own private beach on Big Hickory Island. Little Hickory Beach Park on the northern part of the island is the northernmost public beach access. It has one of the best shelling spots in Southwest Florida with a wide area of beach covered with nice shells, soft white sand, occasional dolphin sightings and turtle nesting grounds. Bonita Beach has a lovely boardwalk through sea grape trees and quiet residential areas. The main public beach access is where Bonita Beach Road meets the island, and there is also Barefoot Beach Access. It’s a nice clean park with parking, restrooms, picnic tables and a hot dog vendor. Doc’s Beach House Restaurant, a landmark in Bonita Beach, is next to it for nice meals and sunsets, just steps from the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, there are also beach equipment and personal watercraft vendors on the beach. The Barefoot Beach Preserve was ranked the #2 Best Beach in the nation in 2014, by Dr. Beach; it’s a county beach park with a nature center, shaded boardwalk, nature trail, restrooms and a kayak launch. The nature trail goes all the way to Wiggins Pass. It’s an ideal spot for swimmers, snorkelers, kayakers, rafters, and windsurfers who will like the clear waters. Here is a resource to explore home ownership options on Bonita Beach.