Planning your Bonita Beach and Bonita Springs vacation

Known as the "Gateway to the Gulf", Bonita Springs is unsurpassed in its natural charms. Its lovely gulf front area, Bonita Beach, provides a Mecca for those who crave seclusion. More genteel than its neighbor to the north, Fort Myers Beach, the pace of life here is slower and less harried. Bonita Springs itself has emerged as one of Florida's most dynamic coastal communities, bringing new residents to Southwest Florida by the thousands. They come to enjoy year-round outdoor living, and the town doesn't disappoint. Boating, fishing, golfing, tennis and biking are only a few of the activities to be enjoyed by resident and visitor alike.

Though Bonita Beach is a relatively small area, much of its shoreline has been preserved as public beach. Little Hickory Island Park showcases a shelly, white sand beach combined with a feeling of isolation. A ramp runs from the parking lot to the sand, allowing handicapped access, and the shore is wide and clean. Surf fishing is a favorite pastime for visitors here, with locals and tourists alike raving about abundant catches. Recently renovated, Bonita Beach Park features picnic shelters, volleyball courts and a bathhouse accented by a beautiful view, great sand and good surf fishing. In addition, ten beach access points are located along three miles of Hickory Blvd. High sand quality and peaceful surroundings make these great places to go and just enjoy the beach. South of Bonita Beach at the border with nearby Naples, Barefoot Beach Preserve offers over 350 acres of pristine beaches and woodland trails. A learning center features exhibits on sea turtles and shorebirds, and occasional lectures are offered on subjects as varied as shelling and fossil collection.

Bonita Springs offers many recreational opportunities for the visitor. A bike path runs three miles along Bonita Beach and connects to another at the south end, which leads to nearby Vanderbilt Beach. Bike rentals are available at Bonita Beach Bike located on Bonita Beach Road. Golfing is another favorite pastime, and both Bonita and nearby Naples feature several challenging public courses. Estero River Outfitters offer canoe and kayak rentals for use along the spring-fed Estero River. The canoe route runs 4-1/2 miles beginning at US 41 near Koreshan State Historic Site, through the tropical surroundings of a state preserve area, and ending in Estero Bay. In the bay a short distance from the mouth of the river the canoeist can paddle to Mound Key. An internationally significant archaeological site, many artifacts have been recovered from the original inhabitants of the small island, the Calusa. When Europeans arrived in the early 1500's, the Calusa ruled all of south Florida from an island town known as Calos. Virtually all researchers believe that the town of Calos stood on Mound Key. It was there that the Calusa king received the Spanish colonial governor, Pedro Menendez, in 1566, shortly after the founding of our nation's oldest city, Saint Augustine. It was also at Calos in 1567 that the Jesuit priest Juan Rogel manned a short-lived mission, San Antonio de Carlos, in a vain attempt to convert the Calusa to Christianity.