Bonita Springs

 Bonita Springs, just 15 miles north of Naples on Florida’s Southwest Coast, is a friendly city where visitors can enjoy serene waterways, secluded beaches, nature preserves and state parks, and plenty of in-town activities, from open-air shopping and dining to day spas. 

The islands of Lovers Key State Park offer unspoiled beaches and opportunities for hiking, biking, paddling, and spotting wildlife including bald eagles, dolphins, and manatees. East of Bonita Springs, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a must-see for birders and wildlife enthusiasts, with a 2.25-mile boardwalk that takes visitors through old-growth cypress forest that’s home to wading birds, raptors, song birds, alligators, otters, white-tailed deer, and other animals.

South of Lovers Key State Park, Big Hickory Island Preserve is where paddlers can explore the 190-mile Great Calusa Blueway, a saltwater kayaking and canoeing trail, which winds through Estero Bay, Pine Island Sound, and the Caloosahatchee River.

In town, visitors can enjoy open-air shopping and dining at Promenade at Bonita Bay, which also hosts the Bonita Springs Farmers Market on Saturdays from October until May. Tarpon Bay, located at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, offers a menu of fresh seafood and craft cocktails. The Harvest & Wisdom restaurant at Shangri-La Springs, a boutique hotel downtown Bonita Springs, serves organic, farm-to-table cuisine.