With all due respect to the good people at WalletHub, who named Naples the nation’s No. 1 beach town, plenty of other Southwest Florida spots could give the Neapolitan city a run for its money too.

That’s because the region is blessed with an abundance of first-rate beaches. As proof, we offer – in no particular order other than alphabetical – 10 places on the Gulf coastline that prove our point.

Barefoot Beach Preserve

More than 340 acres of pristine habitat make this place as popular with wildlife – think gopher tortoises and osprey – as it is with human visitors.

Where: 505 Barefoot Beach Blvd., Naples

Cost: Without a permit, parking fee is $8.

Contact: 239-252-4000

Bonita Beach

Come for the sun and sand; stay for the food – classic picnic fare served up by the iconic Doc’s Beachhouse.

Where: 27954 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs

 

Cost: Parking is $2 per hour

Contact: 239-949-4615

Bowman’s Beach

This classic Gulfside beauty also offers some of Sanibel Island’s best shelling.

Where: 1700 Bowman's Beach Road, Sanibel

 

Cost: Parking is $5 per hour

Contact: 239-472-6397

 

Clam Pass Park

Nestled behind the hotels and resorts, this almost-hidden gem boasts blinding white sand, a boardwalk and mangroves to explore.

Where: At Seagate Drive and Crayton Road, Naples

Cost: Without a permit, parking fee is $8.

Contact: 239-252-4000

 

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

Stunning Gulf views and shell-studded sand make this state park a Collier County favorite.

Where: 11135 Gulfshore Drive, North Naples

Cost: $6 per vehicle, limit 2-8 people per vehicle; $4 for a single-occupant vehicle; $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, and passengers in a vehicle with holder of annual pass

Contact: 239-597-6196

Dog Beach

Bring your best friend to this mangrove-fringed playground.

Where: 8800 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach

 

Cost: Free; no parking fee

Contact: 239-949-4615

Lovers Key

 

Don’t let the name fool you – this picturesque spot is also great for kids and curmudgeons alike.

Where: 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach

Cost: $8 per vehicle, limit 2-8 people per vehicle; $4 for a single-occupant vehicle; $2 for pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers and passengers in a vehicle with holder of an annual pass

Contact: 239-463-4588 

Fort Myers among the best places to live near the beach, U.S. News & World Report says

Tigertail Beach

Curled into the Marco Island shoreline, there’s a shallow lagoon behind the beach, both of which make this a great spot for birding as well as sun-soaking.

Where: 480 Hernando Dr. Marco Island

 

Cost: Without a permit, parking fee is $8.

Contact: 239-252-4000 

Turner Beach

Spanning both sides of Blind Pass,  this beach is loved by shell-seekers and anglers as well as bird-watchers.

Where: 17200 Captiva Drive, Captiva

Cost: Parking is $5 per hour

Contact: 239-472-6397

Vanderbilt Beach Park

This wide, family-friendly beach is a popular option close to hotels and vacation spots.  

Where: Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples

Cost: Without a permit, parking fee is $8.

Contact: 239-252-4000

Due diligence before you go

Environmental conditions can change daily, so here are some resources you can check before you head out:

For beach water quality conditions, visit http://data.news-press.com/beach-water-quality/

The Florida Department of Health’s Healthy Beaches program monitors many (though not all) beaches in Lee and Collier counties for fecal coliform and enterococci bacteria, and issues advisories if results show potentially unsafe levels: http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/beach-water-quality/index.html

For recorded information on beach conditions, call 941-232-2437 (Press 4 for Lee County conditions; 11 for Collier)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's red tide information page is here: http://myfwc.com/redtidestatus