One Beach Lover’s Top 5 Reasons to Hit the Beach on Florida’s Paradise Coast
If you live in Florida, like I do, you sometimes let everyday life get in the way of enjoying the Sunshine State’s star attraction — the beach. No matter how many times I go, it never seems to be quite enough. I envy visitors who spend entire days along the shore. I gaze wistfully their way whenever I drive past a beach, and have to fight the temptation to ditch an appointment, slip off my shoes and join them with my toes in the sand.
Lately it’s been gnawing at me that I need to up my beach time (really, everybody does). And one of my favorite places to "get more beach" is Florida's Paradise Coast, where there’s always a beach close by.
The Paradise Coast’s 30 miles of oft-described sugar-sand beach starts at Barefoot Beach at the northern edge, and extend south to Naples, with its multiple beach access points, and then another four miles along Marco Island. Keewaydin Island sits in between them. The eight-mile barrier island is a paradise within a Paradise – one that can only be reached by boat.
Sometimes the beach peeks between lavish Gulf-front homes. Other times it takes you by surprise, revealed in a wide-open sweep of breathtaking white sand and azure waters just tempting you to dive right in.
There are countless reasons to revel in the beaches of Florida's Paradise Coast. Here are my Top 5:
1. BECAUSE A LOT OF OTHERS SAY SO
Don't take just my word for it. Leading travel experts constantly sing the praises of the unique combination of sand, sun and calm waters on Florida’s Paradise Coast.
The beaches have won many prestigious awards. In 2025, Dr. Beach placed Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park at No. 4 on his list of Top 10 Beaches in the United States. Paradise Coast beaches have been named to TripAdvisor’s Travelers' Choice Awards. An illustrious panel of travel editors from Condé Nast, USA Today and Fodor's are also among the area's beach admirers. Bloggers also list Paradise Coast beaches among their tops in the world. How's that for a pedigree?
2. A NIGHTLY SHOW
With apologies to P.T. Barnum, I happen to think the greatest show on earth occurs every night along Florida's western shores. Florida's Paradise Coast beaches, the Naples Pier and Gulf-front restaurants are the perfect spots for taking in spectacular sunsets, almost always accompanied by an enthusiastic round of applause and, if you're lucky, a glimpse of the elusive green flash.
3. IF BY SEA
Rent a boat or bring your own and enjoy the area's scenic shores by water. You'll get to the beach faster and don't have to worry about traffic or red lights, plus your hair will have that glorious wind-blown look. If you’re up for a detour, seek out picturesque backwater mangrove estuaries and rookeries that can only be reached by boat. And then there’s Keewaydin Island, without a bridge in sight. You’ll feel like a castaway here — 85 percent of the island is undeveloped and open to the public.
For a slower pace, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards get you even closer to the water's surface — and you can work on your tan and get an upper body workout at the same time. A wide variety of operators in different locations rent these portable watercrafts.
4. FREE SOUVENIRS
Buying a T-shirt is fine, but why not show those stuck at home you were thinking of them by sharing gems from your new shell collection? (And that includes starfish and sand dollars.) Shelling enthusiasts will tell you that the northern and southern tips of Marco Island are prime hunting grounds for rare finds like the scotch bonnet, zigzag scallop, hawk-wing conch and the elusive junonia. Keewaydin Island is another top shelling destination. Just remember, county regulations forbid taking live shells.
5. PARK IT!
There's more to Paradise Coast beaches than the aforementioned sand, sun and calm Gulf waters. Beach parks offer a host of activities, including water sports, fishing, volleyball and more. Follow a boardwalk through natural Florida habitat that’s ideal for birding and photography — not to mention taking deep breaths of nature-perfumed air. You might even see a sea turtle nest (just be sure to keep your distance and not disturb it!) You're bound to forget that there's a city with all its shopping, dining and other amenities just a short walk or drive away.
Click the links below for more details on the city, county and state parks you can enjoy on Florida’s Paradise Coast:
Clam Pass Beach Park; Lowdermilk Park, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park; Tigertail Beach Park; Barefoot Beach Preserve.