Sandwiched Between Fort Myers And Naples Lies One Of Florida's Best Unspoiled Beaches

Florida is not short when it comes to amazing beaches. The Sunshine State has nearly 8,500 miles of total shoreline, including bays, inlets, and barrier islands, so it is hardly surprising that it boasts some of the best stretches of sand in the U.S. From lesser-known, unspoiled beaches in state parks to the biggest names like South Beach, Clearwater, and Bahia Honda, Florida is a paradise for beach-lovers and sun worshippers.

One of Florida's best unspoiled beaches is one that very few people have heard of. Tucked away between the coastal city of Fort Myers and the upscale elegance of Naples, Barefoot Beach County Preserve is wild, remote, undeveloped, and serenely beautiful, a stunning barrier island filled with white, sugar-soft sand and gorgeous natural dunes. It is the ideal location for anyone searching for a quieter spot for a beach day, and is the perfect place to get away from it all and disconnect, even if just for an afternoon.

Barefoot Beach County Preserve is on Wiggins Island in Collier County, about 18 miles north of Naples and 27 miles south of Fort Myers. The nearest airport to this little slice of paradise is Southwest Florida International, which is a 45-minute drive away and serves routes across the U.S., the Caribbean, and Europe. Getting to Barefoot Beach Preserve means a drive along Bonita Beach Road from Bonita Springs, home of one of Florida's best botanical gardens, or a scenic drive down Estero Boulevard from Fort Myers Beach. Once you reach Bonita Beach Park, head south until you reach the parking lots.

Barefoot Beach County Preserve is one of the last barrier islands in Southwest Florida that has remained mostly untouched. This gives it a sense of tremendous tranquility and seclusion, even though it is only a short drive to Naples and Fort Myers. It has maintained its pristine, natural ambiance, with only a boardwalk, a few concessions, and a sprinkling of condos at the northern end taking away from its remote, desert island paradise vibes.

Barefoot Beach County Preserve covers 342 acres, including 1.5 miles of white-sand beach strewn with conch shells and rolling dunes covered in sea oats. Beach umbrellas, loungers, towels, and sunscreen are all available for rent or purchase, making this spot ideal if you want to spend the whole day at the beach, while also being close enough to make it back to the city by dinnertime. There are also restrooms and picnic tables, so despite the atmosphere of untouched remote wildness, it is a practical and comfortable place to spend the day.

Barefoot Beach is great for shelling, with cockle shells, murex, coquinas, and sand dollars all plentiful. Although the water is usually calm, the conditions can be a little rougher on occasion, and there are no lifeguards, so kids shouldn't swim unattended. It is also a decent spot for surf fishing, with common catches including whiting, pompano, snapper, redfish, and snook.

One of the biggest draws of Barefoot Beach is the wildlife-spotting opportunities it offers. Thanks to the lack of development on the island, it is home to a variety of interesting animal species, and the clear, turquoise waters of the Gulf are also teeming with life.

Head north along the beach for a chance to see dolphins playing in the surf, as well as manatees seeking warm waters during the winter months. Mind your feet when playing in the shallows, as stingrays are often found gliding along the sandy bottom. Barefoot Beach is also one of the best places in Southwest Florida to see gopher tortoises, who make their burrows in the dunes that back onto the beach, and come out to explore in the mornings and evenings. The islands are also a nesting site for loggerhead sea turtles from May through October.

For birdwatchers, ospreys are common, as are black vultures and eagles. Wading birds like herons, ibis, and egrets wander through the shallow surf, and shorebirds like terns, gulls, frigatebirds, and plovers fly overhead.