Southwest Florida is famed for its Gulf beaches, and there are a wide variety of them. Somewhere from Captiva in Lee County to the southern tip of Marco Island in Collier there's a beach for you.

Lee County beaches

1. LIGHTHOUSE PARK BEACH, Sanibel

DIRECTIONS: Across the Sanibel Causeway to the 4-way stop, left on Periwinkle Way; go all the way to the east end of the island. Look for beach signs.

DETAILS: A real family affair. Although the beach is long, people won't find too much width. Medium sand quality, good shelling. Clear view of the Gulf, with large shade trees by the parking area to chill under.

There's a little shell-and-animal-guide hut en route to the historic lighthouse/bathroom area. It offers explanations of objects you'll find.

The nature trail is wheelchair-accessible, and the fishing pier has been remodeled. Check it out.

Around the corner from the beach and just beyond the bathrooms, people will find a smaller beach. They can see the Sanibel Causeway pretty well from there - nice Kodak moment.

The Fun Time food wagon usually is parked in the lot until 4 p.m., selling crackers, hot dogs and ice cream. Paid parking is fairly plentiful. Fine is $35. Drinking alcoholic beverages on the pier is not allowed.

2. GULFSIDE CITY PARK/ALGIERS BEACH, Sanibel

DIRECTIONS: Across Sanibel Causeway, right at 4-way on Periwinkle Way, left on to Casa Ybel Road to West Gulf Road. Turn left on Algiers Lane.

DETAILS: It's called Algiers by the locals because of the old steamboat of the same name that once was pulled ashore to be a house. It's a wonderful spot for picnics.

Tables are shaded by a grove of trees. Boardwalks offer a comfortable access to the beach.

This beach is a well-kept secret, hard to find but worth it. Offers restrooms, paid parking.

3. TARPON BAY ROAD BEACH, Sanibel

DIRECTIONS: Right on Periwinkle Way, left on Tarpon Bay Road.

DETAILS: Features lots of parking - even for large vehicles - although the lot is a tad far from the beach.

High sand quality, good shelling. New restrooms. An ice cream truck occasionally swings by.

4. BOWMAN'S BEACH, Sanibel

DIRECTIONS: Right on Periwinkle Way to Tarpon Bay Road. Turn right, head north to Sanibel-Captiva Road. From this road, turn left to Bowman Beach Road.

DETAILS: No South Beach or Fort Lauderdale, but this is probably the island's most popular beach. Medium sand quality; great shelling.

It's a hike to the beach from car. Amenities include picnic tables, a pay phone, bathrooms and bike racks. Bring own food/drinks; it's kind of isolated, but that's what's great about it. $3 to park via an automated system.

5. TURNER BEACH, Captiva

DIRECTIONS: Sanibel-Captiva Road to Blind Pass. It's just after the bridge to Captiva, on the left.

DETAILS: Water gets deep quickly and there can be a strong undertow. Best advice: Move farther down the beach away from strong currents by the bridge. Good fishing from the beach and on the rock jetty there. Great place for sunsets, romantics.

Parking is no longer free. Pay 75 cents an hour; about 20 spots. Good sand quality and a nice beach thanks to 1996 renourishment project.

Bars and restaurants are across the street nearby. A really nice spot for shelling is at Blind Pass beach just before this one, other side of the bridge. Parking is 75 cents an hour there as well, or accessible by walking across the bridge.

6. SANIBEL CAUSEWAY BEACHES, Sanibel

DIRECTIONS: Either side of causeway.

DETAILS: The long, thin stretch of beach starts just before the toll gate and continues along the causeway. It's fun to watch the windsurfers, boats and dolphins, but don't expect a nice, soft beach to sit on.

Take a chair. Water's shallow. Fishing's good. Bathrooms are available.

7. BUNCHE BEACH, between Sanibel and Fort Myers Beach

DIRECTIONS: Take Summerlin Road toward Sanibel, turn left on John Morris Road at the Circle K. Follow to end.

DETAILS: This bay beach is no good for swimming. What draws people here is that it's uncommercial and not closely watched. Dogs are popular here, although they're not allowed on county property.

Most of the property is private and has been used for years by the public. The county does own the small lot, where parking is hassle-free and cost-free. A good beach for catching rays without aggravation. No bathrooms.

8. BOWDITCH POINT REGIONAL PARK, Fort Myers Beach

DIRECTIONS: Take Matanzas Pass Bridge onto Fort Myers Beach. Turn right at foot of bridge, follow Estero Boulevard to the end.

DETAILS: If people like an unspoiled, uncrowded, wide sandy beach with lots of native vegetation, check out Lee County's passive park at the north end of Estero Island.

The peaceful 17-acre park fronts both the bay and the Gulf. Amenities include restrooms, showers, changing rooms, picnic tables, grills, hiking paths, benches, bike racks, a handicap-accessible boardwalk to the beach and beautiful courtyard pavilion, which can be rented for weddings and private parties.

No concessions. Free admission. Six handicapped parking spots available.

A trolley (25-cent fare) runs every 15 minutes. Park free at Main Street Park and Ride lot, just north of Matanzas Pass Bridge. Or park in Times Square area and walk. 75 cents per hour parking.

9. LYNN HALL MEMORIAL PARK, Fort Myers Beach

DIRECTIONS: Turn right at foot of Matanzas Pass Bridge. Left off North Estero Boulevard.

DETAILS: A family affair, plus lots of teens. There's a huge parking lot. Cost is 75 cents for hour.

Get there before 11 a.m. to get a spot. Features a playground for the kids, fishing pier, picnic huts, benches, information kiosk and loads of shops and restaurants around at the newly improved Times Square, now a pedestrian mall with lights, trees and outdoor tables.

The bathrooms score high, and workers keep the park clean. Water fountains have ice-cold water. There also are change and soda machines and paid lockers. Free admission.

Parking lot open 24 hours. Fine for not paying: $18.

10. ASSORTED BEACH ACCESS at various points along Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach

DIRECTIONS: People should keep their eyes open and they'll see white fabric signs denoting beach access points. Parking is free, although some have no parking.

DETAILS: These are great places to enjoy the beach - and peace and quiet. Sand quality usually is high. They're often isolated, so bring a cooler. Some are within a short walk to cafes. Shelling can be decent on the right day.

11. LOVER'S KEY/CARL JOHNSON STATE RECREATION AREA: Black Island, Inner Key and Lover's Key

DIRECTIONS: Follow Estero Boulevard south, cross over to Black Island. Sign is on right.

DETAILS: The price went up to $4 a car with two to eight passengers, $2 for just a driver, and $1 for walk-ins. Fishing is allowed under the boardwalks and at the northern end of the park which borders Big Carlos Pass.

There are acres to explore on nature trails. The beach is pristine and the water is clear. It's a family affair, but singles looking for a nice beach and less of a meat-market mentality hang there as well. Manatee sightings are frequent. Picnic tables are available on the beach.

Bring your own food/drinks. Canoeing is allowed in the inland waterways. No motorized craft are permitted. Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset.

From the parking area a free tram will take visitors over to the south side of the beach. There is a picnic area along the beach. Dogs are allowed in the park as long as they are on a leash. Call 463-4588.

12. LITTLE HICKORY ISLAND BEACH PARK

DIRECTIONS: Head southeast down Estero Boulevard. It's on the right at Hickory Boulevard between condominiums.

DETAILS: Little Hickory Island has access positioned all along Hickory Boulevard behind nice homes overlooking the gulf. There is room for several cars at each access. 75 per hour for parking.

13. BONITA BEACH PARK

DIRECTIONS: Follow Estero Boulevard southeast. It's on the right, just before Collier County.

DETAILS: Beautiful ocean view and high sand quality. Food concession or several beach restaurants are within easy walking distance. Parking is 75 cents per hour.

There are handicap spaces and wheelchair access bathrooms. It is located at the end of Bonita Beach Road. Yearly parking stickers may be bought for $40 each at this location on Monday and Saturday only 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Collier County beaches

14. BAREFOOT BEACH PARK/BAREFOOT BEACH PRESERVE

DIRECTIONS: U.S. 41 south to Bonita Beach Road. West to Lely Barefoot Beach guardhouse.

DETAILS: Two parks were merged into one megapark - 356 acres of beaches and trails. About 100 cars can park here, plus six with disability permits. Cost is $3 a day to park. There are soda machines, a restaurant/bar and pay phone.

The bathrooms are nice, handicap-accessible with diaper-changing stations. Mix of families, seniors, singles.

15. DELNOR-WIGGINS PASS STATE RECREATION AREA, Naples

DIRECTIONS: U.S. 41 south. Head west on 111th Avenue. After the bridge, it becomes Bluebill Avenue. Beach is at end of road.

DETAILS: Admission is $4 for up to eight people in a car. For a single person in a car, it's $2. On foot or bike, it's $1. Age 6 and younger, no charge.

Sand is high-quality, water is clear, view is great. Lots of shade trees, native foliage, wildlife, picnic tables and grills.

Bathrooms are bigger and cleaner than typical; showers are nearby. Fishing is good along the pass. Bring own food and drinks. Open 8 a.m. to sunset. Lifeguards on duty.

16. VANDERBILT BEACH, Naples

DIRECTIONS: U.S. 41 south, then west to Vanderbilt Beach Road. Beach is at end.

DETAILS: Just down the street from Wiggins Pass. It's a short distance from several restaurants.

There are 152 parking spaces. Park hours are 8 a.m. to sundown daily. There is a $3 parking fee, or a beach parking is required.

17. CLAM PASS, Collier County

DIRECTIONS: U.S. 41 south to Seagate Drive. Then west. Beach is next to Naples Registry Resort.

DETAILS: Natural resources abound. The park consists of 35 acres of mangroves, coastal dunes, and 3,200 linear feet of beach on the Gulf Mexico. A boardwalk provides access to the beach.

There are restrooms. A concession offers beach equipment rental, food and drinks. A handicapped beach wheelchair is available at this site. There are 182 parking spaces available. There is a $3 parking fee.

18. BEACH ACCESS POINTS along Gulf Shore Boulevard, Naples

DIRECTIONS: U.S. 41 south, west on Park Shore Drive, turn on to Gulf Shore.

DETAILS: Along the boulevard - behind numerous homes overlooking the ocean - is the beach, which extends from Seagate Drive south past the Naples Pier and into Port Royal. Look for beachheads off the boulevard. They have parking spaces.

The beach is much the same as Vanderbilt, with a bit less beachfront. There also are neat little tide pools that are cool to plunk a chair in or let the kids play in. Bring food; these sites are peaceful because of parking shortages. No restrooms. $3 parking fee or beach parking permit is required.

19. LOWDERMILK PARK, Naples

DIRECTIONS: U.S. 41 south, then west on Banyan Boulevard. At corner of Banyan and Gulf Shore boulevards.

DETAILS: Park offers long sandy beaches, loads of parking and decent restrooms, plus picnic tables, volleyball courts and a vending area. There are a few shops, a deli and some restaurants across the street.

20. NAPLES FISHING PIER

DIRECTIONS: U.S. 41 south dead-ends into Ninth Street South. Follow that to Broad Avenue South, then take 12th Avenue South to the pier.

DETAILS: The structure was reinforced with concrete pilings, and the concession area was enlarged.

The beaches around the pier are large, family affair-ish and pretty nice. Really green water. High sand quality; terrific view. The pier is much larger than the Fort Myers Beach one, stretching farther out from shore. Parking is metered - and limited. This beach rates pretty high, although there aren't many stores or cafes around.

21. TIGERTAIL BEACH, Marco Island

DIRECTIONS: U.S. 41 south to SR 951. Head to Marco Island. Follow 951 into town, follow the signs and turn right on to Tigertail Court, then left on Hernando Drive. The beach is at the end.

DETAILS: Located on Marco Island, Tigertail Beach offers natural resources and beachside amenities.

The beach offers five boardwalks leading from the parking area to the beaches.

There are restrooms and a playground. A concession offers beach equipment rentals, food and drinks. A handicapped beach wheelchair is available at the site.

There are 190 parking spaces. There is a $3 parking fee.

22. SOUTH MARCO BEACH

DIRECTIONS: Off SR 951, the beach is on the right down a small walkway nestled between The Apollo and Cape Marco condos, toward the end of the island.

DETAILS: Located on South Collier Boulevard, Marco Island. There are no facilities. There is a $3 parking fee. The beach is open from 8 a.m. to sundown.