Governor Rick Scott Cites Southwest Florida Beaches Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples Ranked in Top 10 Nationally
In case you had any doubt that Southwest Florida maintains some of the best beaches the country has to offer, look no further than this reference to a June 20014 press release by the office of Florida’s Governor, Rick Scott, for proof that Florida’s Gulf Coast is stiff competition when it comes to national beach rankings.
The beautiful Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs ranked number two, second only to Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Honolulu, on the 24th annual Top 10 Beaches List for 2014. The scenic Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples received the honor of ranking number ten on this esteemed list by “Dr. Beach,” also known as coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman of Florida International University. Criteria to determine the top 10 beaches in America include sand softness, water temperature, smell, litter and safety record. The always highly-anticipated list is released each year around Memorial Day, marking the unofficial start of summer as families begin planning their beach vacations with the help of the list’s rankings.
Dr. Beach boasts the 342-acre Barefoot Beach’s family-friendly atmosphere consisting of shallow waves, large amounts of various seashells, and interactive wildlife programs put on by the park’s rangers as helping it clench the much-coveted number two slot. Not far from Bonita Springs you’ll find the 166-acre Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples, also ranked in Dr. Beach’s list of the top 10 beaches in the nation due to its picturesque landscape of powder white sand complete with dunes and sea oats, easily admired from the park’s observation tower.
Visits to both of these nationally ranked beaches are within your reach with a pontoon boat from Bonita Boat Rentals. Knowledgeable and helpful staff are happy to help you plan your trip so you and your family can enjoy two of the best beaches in the United States.
Read the Governor’s press release here.