Bonita Springs Travel Guide

Facing the Gulf of Mexico is the charming city of Bonita Springs. A visit here is sure to make you forget your troubles as you have endless opportunity to admire the sunsets and pristine beaches. Indeed, the beautiful Bonita Springs, FL is home to golden sand beaches and plenty of water activities and boating to keep anyone amused. The Downtown district also offers historic walks to learn more about the city, as well as plenty of art and landmarks to snap photos of. Seafood is a big deal in Bonita Springs and there is nowhere better to try jumbo shrimp, crabs, and scallops.

Things to Do in Bonita Springs

If your idea of a perfect vacation is a leisurely day lazing around on the sand then head to Bonita Beach Park. Here, there's a swimming area with sand dunes and a boardwalk for a laidback stroll. Lover’s Key State Park is paradise for outdoor enthusiasts since there are miles of biking and hiking trails, as well as the chance to kayak and canoe. To see examples of the diverse and unusual wildlife from Florida, head to the Everglades Wonder Gardens where you can encounter everything from panthers and alligators to exotic birds.

Best Time to Visit Bonita Springs

To avoid the rainy season, the best times to visit Bonita Springs is during spring and fall. The hottest months of the year are during the summer but these months are busy with tourist traffic and families on summer vacation. Also from June to August the weather can be shockingly humid and afternoon rain showers are just about guaranteed. Be sure to also stay up to date on hurricane season, which usually sees a peak in late summer.

A Local's Guide to Bonita Springs

The friendly beach community of Bonita Springs is located between Fort Myers and Naples, and is home to a wide selection of vacation rentals.

Most visitors come to Bonita Springs come for the stunning coastline. There are a number of picture perfect beaches around the city, some of which have rental homes along the shore. Fort Myers Beach is known as the world’s safest beach. It also is known for its velvety soft sand and sand bars, which make lounging in shallow water a refreshing reality. The public beach of Barefoot Beach Preserve is wilder but just as beautiful. Travelers enjoy this beach for the feeling of isolation, as if they were miles and miles away from the high-rise buildings on the coast in the distance because Barefoot Beach Preserve is one of the last undeveloped barrier islands on the southwest coast of Florida. The numerous nature trails are great for wildlife; hikers often encounter Gopher Tortoise burrows and marks on the sand left by the Atlantic loggerhead turtles crawling back to sea. Many of the hikes weave between impressive sand dunes. Also while on beach be sure to remember to keep an eye out for bottle-nosed dolphins jumping out of the waves.

Outdoor enthusiasts should also be sure to head to Lovers Key State Park. The name was sparked by the island’s past because the island used to be so remote that only couples looking for romance would venture there. Today, the island is more accessible and is lined with beautiful natural vegetation. For those traveling with pets, a visit to Dog Beach is a must. As many will have guessed from the name, this beach welcomes dogs to run free. Located amongst a beautiful setting, with access to cool amenities like doggy power showers and free parking, it's a wonderful free facility. Other popular local spots to hit the beach are the beaches on the Hickory Islands. Big Hickory Island is largely isolated which means that many of the beaches are not heavily trafficked by tourists or locals. Many of those who stroll these shores cruise at a leisurely pace and scour the sands for some of the amazing shells that wash ashore here. Big Hickory Island is right across Estero Bay from the popular Hyatt Regency resort. Families staying there who can pry themselves away from the resort’s waterslides can take the nearby ferry to the island. Big Hickory is just south of Lovers Key State Park and Dog Beach. Little Hickory Island because of its accessibility is a bit more popular but still just as beautiful.

Adventure tours around the western Everglades are easy to find in the Bonita Springs area. Those who choose to embark on one of these unique adventure tours can simply sit back and enjoy the chance to enjoy some wildlife and flora in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There is a huge range of tours available -- including airboat rides through narrow swampland or kayaking through the mazes of natural tunnels made by mangrove trees. Other options include hiking through the humid landscapes of Southwest Florida, taking a swamp buggy ride, or watching the dolphins aboard a catamaran as day gives way to the orange and pink skies of sunset.

The Everglades Wonder Gardens make a great day trip, where visitors can take a swing bridge over an alligator pit and see a feeding frenzy at lunchtime.

Those hungry for the comforts of the indoors and maybe a touch of culture should experience the Center of the Arts of Bonita Springs. The Visual Arts Center alone is 10-acres so there is always plenty to see. The Center of the Arts is constantly rotating exhibits so there is often a crowd ready to see something with new eyes. The organization that arranges the exhibits aims to emphasize art primarily created by local Floridian artists, however when the opportunity arises they will host a national talent. The center also offers a number of different art classes for both adults and children. Also, in conjunction with the Center of the Arts of Bonita Springs, the city has a celebrated arts festival every year. Occurring for one weekend in January, February, and March the Bonita Springs National Arts Festival is rated as one of the better fine arts festivals in the country. There are many shopping, dining, and entertainment options close to the vacation homes in the area. For a little more luxury, the upscale private golf course and tennis community of Bonita Bay, as well as Worthington Country Club, are worth going to.

For those traveling with a large group of friends or family, a Bonita Springs vacation rental with a large living room is the ideal option for mingling and bonding. The majority of rentals in Bonita Springs reflect the small-town charm of the city. Rentals can be extremely close to the white sands of the beaches, or are sometimes set back closer to the neighborhood canals. The waterways connect multiple bays and are an ideal spot for fishing enthusiasts. There are also many fancy and private options for rentals because of Bonita Springs’s multiple gated communities. Many of these homes serve as people’ second property and thus it is common for them to be available to rent as short-term vacation homes. Our favorite gated communities in the Bonita Springs area are Bonita Village Landing, the Hawthorne Community, and The Colony at Pelican Landing. For those opting for a budget option in the more expensive summer season, just make sure there the property is air conditioned!