Florida Beach Vacation Rentals

South Gulf Beaches Info

On the south shore of Tampa Bay you’ll come to Bradenton and the charming beaches beyond, starting with Anna Maria Island, with its old timey pier and breakers exciting enough for surfers, and a beautiful unspoiled beach. There’s Holmes and Bradenton Beach, and a favorite for swimming and shelling, Coquina Beach.

Sarasota, long the cultural center star for the state, has a nice mix of sightseeing things to do, along with stellar beaches.  John Ringling, an Iowan who had successfully bought out Barnum and Bailey, loved it so much that he sank millions here; you can see his Museum full of Italian treasures and art that he and his wife Mable brought over from Italy, as well as their incredible estate, the beautiful Ca d’Zan (House of John), given to the city in 1936.  The excellent Circus Museum is there, too.

Several barrier islands that commence near Bradenton and continue their sparkling white sands down to Sarasota are popular with package tours, but seek out Turtle Beach, Lido Key and Siesta Key, superb sandy beaches all.

Sarasota is not just a snowbird city, so you’ll find lots to do.  It’s hip and refined.

Just south, less expensive while less crowded is adorable Venice Beach, a sleepy small town lined with palms and lovely flowers.  For the beach that yields a most prized fossil, go to Caspersen Beach, the shark tooth capital of Florida.  The pier is a great sundowner spot.  On Nokomis Beach, several thousand folks may show up to see belly dancers and drummers, often a hundred strong,  who show up to drum together, making a thrilling sound and you might want to join the dance.  Go at sunset on any Saturday and get your groove on.

Another “of the world”, Gasparilla Island is the tarpon capital of the world, at Boca Grande (“big mouth”).  The island’s State Park has a nice peaceful beach for swimming and fishing.  The Range Light warns ships of its coastline, amidst sea oats on pleasant dunes.

Fort Myers Beach offers the choice of ice cream shops, swimwear shops, and everything else, then you’ll want to head for Estero Island’s south end where you’ll have a choice of over 30 beach accesses. If that doesn’t suit you, you may pass over to Lovers Key State Park, famed for its quiet shelling, canoeing and kayaking in beautiful waters. Accommodations in Ft. Myers are less expensive, with day trips to the most famous shelling beaches in the US, Sanibel and Captiva nearby.

No condos here in Sanibel, thank you very much. No stoplights, either. But enough shells, thanks to some cooperative currents and shallow shelves offshore, for you to develop the Sanibel Stoop in search of the local Junonia shell.  If found, you will be a minor celebrity.  Captiva is quieter still, and home to a few resorts as long as they are no taller than a palm tree, nothing higher.

Less developed areas are accessible by boat, and offer that rare unspoiled moment that we all search for. Try Cayo Costa Island State Park with dunes and mangrove swamps, or Cabbage Key with a celebrated restaurant. This entire area will leave you feeling like you’ve been to beach heaven with a single sunset.

Naples is a town of rich folk with manicured lawns and magnificent beaches.
From Naples City Pier, travel down any of the 11 miles of public beach, a pristine beauty of white sand.  A favorite is Lowdermilk Park, and usually has a volleyball game underway. To see how the other half lives, take a walk down Gulfshore Blvd; pretty ritzy stuff.  But you came for the beaches, right? They won’t disappoint.

Largely residential, Marco Island is tricky to get beached up; best bet is Tigertail Beach Park on Hernando Drive.  Both Naples and Marco lend themselves as jumping off points for a venture into Big Cypress Swamp and the Everglades.

The southern gulf coast of Florida  is one of a kind.  If you’re ready to find a rental, head over to our South Gulf vacation rentals .

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