Barefoot Beach is a piece of the Collier County Park system and is situated in the northwest corner of the region up against Bonita Beach in Lee County. This wonderful summer destination has one little secret which we will tell you about later. For now, we’d have you know that the shoreline is a few miles in length and goes from Bonita Beach at the north end to the distance to Wiggins Pass on the south end. To get there, in case you’re voyaging west on Bonita Beach Road, go by at the stoplight just before Bonita Beach into an upscale private neighborhood. Try not to be tricked – you’ll drive through this for 1.5 miles until the point when you achieve the passageway to the recreation center.
Look for gopher tortoises crossing the roadway as you advance into the safeguard zone. Barefoot Beach Preserve is more than 340 acres of land of land and one of the last undeveloped buffer islands in Southwest Florida along these parts, this is a natural habitat for some species like the tortoises and osprey that you’ll see imparting space to you.
On the off chance that you like swimming through the water, simply sitting on the shoreline, shelling, angling or practicing in the outside, this is paradise. There’s a lot of space here thus, even on the exceptionally busiest shoreline days you can either blend among different people and families or pick a remote spot along the shoreline to set up camp and just once in a while experience somebody strolling the shoreline.
Barefoot Beach is packed with facilities. The preserve additionally offers shoreline wheelchair for the disabled to use. You’ll find restrooms, showers, a full-house lunch room, eating tables on the raised deck and the access points at Parking Lot #1. Park officers offer a few things including a guided strolling visit through the preserve where you can find out about the widely varied vegetation and identify a portion of the neighborhood birds and creatures. The learning center has showcases and workshops that will make you learn more about the shells you’ll discover at the shoreline and additionally depict the biological community of this extraordinary range.
At the Barefoot Beach Hut, you are able to rent umbrellas, giant cabanas, lounge chairs, pedal boats, canoes, kayaks of different sizes and other water gadgets. At the Pavilion you’ll find lots to fill your tummy at the cafe: grilled chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, pork, sandwiches, popcorn, chips, cookies, crackers, ice cream, frozen fruit smoothies, fresh squeezed lemonade, bottled water and sodas.
Now for the secret: It’s shelling. Shelling is a fun activity here in the preserve; begin from Parking Lot #3 and stroll to the shoreline. Begin looking when you see the osprey settle close to that section point. For reasons unknown, Mother Nature leaves the more shells the further south you walk. The shells are all unique and beautiful and we have found banded tulips, lettered olives, shark’s eye, crown conchs, colorful natica, bubble shells, nutmegs, limpets, horse conchs, murex, sugers, slipper shells, lightning whelks, sunray venus, cockles, angel wings, various scallop shells, jingles, catspaws, spiny jewel boxes and our favorite alphabet cones. So come on down and experience this great adventure only in Barefoot Beach.
