See where health alerts have been issued and which beaches are affected.
Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida Getaways
Southwest Florida is known for some of the best beaches in Florida, wildlife and birds, gateway to the Everglades and the Ten Thousand Islands and other outdoor getaways.
- Everglades City, a historic fishing village known for its stone crabs
- Marco Island, a beach resort close to the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands
- Naples, a good basecamp for exploration of nature-rich region
- Fort Myers Beach, an Old Florida beach town
- Sanibel, an unspoiled island where seashells litter the beach.
- Punta Gorda, natural beauty and historic charm
- Venice, Mediterranean-influenced city with old world charm
We recommend:
Hiking: Myakka River State Park near Sarasota and Bird Rookery Swamp near Naples.
Biking: The Legacy Trail in Venice and the many bikes trails on Sanibel Island.
Kayaking: The little known Shell Creek near Punta Gorda and the joys of paddling with manatees in winter on the Orange River in Fort Myers.
Camping: There’s tent camping on the beautiful wild island of Cayo Costa State Park. One of our favorite campgrounds for both tents and RVs is Camp Venice on the Myakka River.
Interesting Old Florida spots: Historic Smallwood Store near Everglades City and Koreshan Historic State Park near Naples.
The following are recent stories about Southwest Florida.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples reopens; it’s ranked in top 10 US beaches
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park has superb white sand, clear water and is ranked #8 in the US. It just reopened after damage from fall 2024 hurricanes.
Sanibel Island: After damage from 3 hurricanes, 2 major resorts reopen for peak season
The damage from three hurricanes in two years is still visible on Sanibel Island, but many hotels and restaurants have reopened. The beaches, shells and wildlife are as beautiful as ever. Is it time to go back?