Discover the Gulf Coast’s charm

Bountiful beaches, golf courses galore and all sorts of water sports. Nature trails, spring training baseball and festivals. Restaurants range from cozy dives to the finest of fine dining. An abundance of arts and culture. And pickleball? Yep. Lots of it. 

All that and more await visitors to Southwest Florida, the coastal swath that comprises Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties. The region, home to roughly 1.5 million residents, has grown by 9.5% since 2020 and is anticipated to grow another 7.4% by 2030, according to U.S. Census figures. 

There are countless reasons people choose to visit or relocate to Southwest Florida. Here is a sampling of superlatives that highlight Southwest Florida’s many charms. 

LEE COUNTY 

Baseball central: The region is triply blessed when it comes to Major League Baseball. The Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins have home stadiums that come to Fort Myers with the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins and Port Charlotte with the Tampa Bay Rays. Games take place from late February through March. 

Commune with nature: J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel provides an intimate view of the unspoiled subtropical refuge, home to birds such as the roseate spoonbill, osprey and yellow-crowned night heron. There are plenty of gators, too. 

Catch the Sanibel Stoop: Sanibel beaches are considered among the world’s best shelling locations, making them logical places to contract this condition. While walking along the beach, your eyes turn from the beauty of the waters to the ground beneath your feet. The shells are everywhere. It’s not long before that downward glance becomes a bend to investigate more closely, ending in a full-out stoop. 

Stuff yourself with stone crab claws: Meaty and richly flavored, the claws are sustainably harvested from nearby Gulf waters and are in season from mid-October to May. While pink Gulf shrimp and grouper are better-known delicacies from area waters, stone crabs are in a class by themselves – and you won’t find them in most of the country. 

Soar with eagles: Visit the site of the SWFL Eagle Cam broadcast on Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers. From a distance, you can observe the nest of bald eagle M15 (male born in 2015) and his mate F23 (female born in 2023). Bald eagle pairs have nested here since 2006. Bring binoculars or a long-lens camera to watch the bonded, beautiful couple. Check out the eagle etiquette on the website before heading out. (dickpritchettrealestate.com/southwest-florida-eagle-cam). 

See turtles: We are talking about really big sea turtles, which return to beaches all along the Southwest Florida coast at night to make nests, bury their eggs and then return to sea. Two months later, the hatchlings emerge and crawl their way to the gulf. The best beaches for observing this vary, but Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel generally have nests monitored by local organizations that protect them. You can join in on their nighttime patrols. In Collier, Vanderbilt Beach, Naples, Marco and Keewaydin islands have had nests. In Charlotte, Englewood Beach is a sea turtle nesting territory. 

COLLIER COUNTY 

Retire in style: U.S. News & World Report rates Naples as the best place to live and to retire, citing its choice location between the Everglades and the Gulf of Mexico, its beaches and bounty of shopping, golf courses and restaurants. The publication also noted another plus: the extensive agricultural industry – tomatoes, vegetables and cattle – in Immokalee, east of Naples. 

Golf paradise: With 80-plus championship golf courses – and the most holes per capita of any place worldwide – Naples is an excellent choice for golfers, according to Golfpass, a golf membership service. Lee and Charlotte counties have their share of courses, too. 

Pickleball central: Organizers of the Minto U.S. Open Pickleball Championships (April 26-May 3) call it the largest event of its kind. Whether you go to watch the competition or to take to the courts yourself, the National Pickleball Center in East Naples Community Park contains 59 courts, including six championship courts. Because of the fervor and facilities for the sport there, Naples has been dubbed “the pickleball capital of the world.” 

Sling some mud: Or watch the pros do it. If your timing is right, you may be able to take in one of the periodic Swamp Buggy Races, in which the rugged buggies compete on the Mile ‘O’ Mud at Florida Sports Park. The races have taken place since the early 1900s. 

Airboat adventure: Explore the Big Cypress National Preserve in an airboat with a guide who will explain the many fascinating types of flora and fauna. 

Take a hike: Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, situated in Big Cypress, is home to the rare ghost orchid, the endangered flower featured in Susan Orlean’s “The Orchid Thief.” Or stroll the 2 ¼-mile boardwalk through the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to get an up-close look at the various habitats, plus loads of birds, gators and possibly other critters, plus the world’s largest forest of old-growth bald cypress trees. 

Cultural riches: Naples offers an abundance of cultural activities, starting with Artis—Naples, with its world-class lineup of plays and performers. It’s also the home of the Naples Philharmonic. The Baker Museum, which emphasizes contemporary and modern art, is also nearby. Other cultural highlights include two opera companies, community theater troupes and dozens of art galleries throughout the city. 

CHARLOTTE COUNTY 

It’s good for you: Punta Gorda bats above its weight regarding appeal. Besides its historic downtown district, situated along Charlotte Harbor, it offers 18 miles of bike and walking paths, 55 miles of canal-front homes, plenty of golf and water sports, plus a thriving ecosystem boasting 600 bird species, assorted land critters and abundant marine wildlife. Punta Gorda was named among the top five “Best Healthy Place(s) to Retire” by U.S. News & World Report and was fifth among “Great Places to Retire in Florida” by the editors of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. Countywide, there are 830 miles of shoreline, including that on the Peace and Myakka rivers, with more than 80% preserved to protect marine life and the overall environment. 

Paddle for miles: The Charlotte County Blueway Trails system offers nearly 200 miles of paddling trails for kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards in fresh and salt water. 

Visit the first solar-powered town: The rapidly developing Babcock Ranch community in southern Charlotte County is powered by its 870-acre solar farm. The community’s downtown, Founder’s Square, offers places to dine and shop. This young and growing community has been featured on “60 Minutes” and national newscasts for its sustainable development approach and resilience during hurricanes. 

Tackle a tarpon: Boca Grande Pass is among the best places in North America to catch tarpon, hard-fighting silver game fish. (April to October is prime time, but they can be caught year-round.)