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Beach-Bound By Samantha Crespo
Vanderbilt Beach offers water activities such as parasailing
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A beach is a beach is a beach, right? Not in Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades, where beaches reflect – and attract – distinct personalities. Resort-goers can seek sand within steps of luxury accommodations. Families will appreciate amenity-packed shores. Nature-lovers can discover wildlife near the waves, while eco-tours await adventurers at select venues.
In an area where beaches abound, you're bound to find a shore that suits your personal style.
Resort-Ready
Guests of Vanderbilt Beach Resort, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Naples call Vanderbilt Beach their backyard. But you don't have to be a resort-goer to enjoy this popular spot. Vanderbilt Beach County Park provides public access to the Gulf of Mexico, white sands wispy with sea oats, abundant shells and birding. More than a pretty face, Vanderbilt Beach offers concessions, toilets and showers, expanded parking, handicap access and proximity to the shops and restaurants of north Naples.
Marco Island's four-mile shoreline welcomes guests of the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort, Marco Beach Ocean Resort, and Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa, and is book-ended by the public accesses of Tigertail Beach Park and South Beach. Both beaches juxtapose natural with manmade – South Beach's palm-lined walkway and Tigertail's dunes and lagoon contrast the island's skyward architecture.
Family Faves
On Marco Island, Tigertail Beach Park rates with families for providing nice-to-haves among nature. A playground, sand volleyball court and picnic area with grills help stage the quintessential family beach day, facilitated by concessions for beach equipment and refreshments, parking, showers, toilets and handicap access.
Amenities are everything during a family beach day, and Naples 
Family-friendly beaches abound on the Paradise Coast
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Municipal Beach delivers with parking aplenty at a metered lot on 12th Avenue South, picnic tables and showers. Its residential surroundings give it a low-key feel, and its landmark pier holds a classic place not only in the annals of family outings, but in local history – this freight and passenger dock dates to 1888. A concession stand, parking and toilets update the structure, which invites fishing 24 hours a day. No license required.
Tip: After the beach, cool off in the lazy river, pools for all ages and on the waterslides at Sun-n-Fun Lagoon inside Naples' North Collier Regional Park.
Naturally Inviting
Tigertail's amenities improve on its natural assets: a butterfly garden, tidal lagoon, picturesque dunes and boardwalks that grant glimpses of numerous bird species. The beach is a site on the Great Florida Birding Trail, as is Naples' Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. It's equally celebrated for its mangrove forest and tidal pools that support a variety of marine life including loggerhead sea turtles. An observation tower, boardwalks and boat ramps greet guests at this barrier island escape.
At nearby Clam Pass Beach Park, you can view the mangroves up close from the boardwalk (a tram also runs the three-quarter-mile stretch to the dune-dotted beach).
North of Naples, Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park calls to naturalists. Explore on your own or enquire about ranger-led programs to learn of the flora and fauna that characterise the barrier island, from the gumbo-limbo tree to the gopher tortoise.
Adventure-Happy
Take your love of nature further by cruising to Keewaydin Island as part of the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project. Sea Excursions' master naturalist will guide you along Keewaydin's beach; aboard the 30' Dolphin Explorer, researchers will engage you in identifying and tracking dolphins in area waters.
Tip: For additional dolphin (and other wildlife) sightings, take the Marco Island Ski & Watersports guided WaveRunner tour, departing from the beach in front of the Marco Island Marriott and Hilton.
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