Local Beaches

The Sea Turtle nesting/hatching season is from 1st May to 31st October. Any nests will be fenced off on the beach. Female turtles lay about 80-120 white leathery eggs in one nest. Sae turtles eggs incubate in the sand for about two months before hatching. Nesting turtles lay tens of thousands of eggs each summer but only one in 1,000 hatchlings survive. All sea turtles are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, Florida Statute 370, and cited Charlotte County Ordinances. The following rules should be obeyed:

	Do not interfere with nesting females, eggs or hatchlings. (Ord. 98-41).
	Leave nests, markers, signs and protective screens undisturbed. (Ord. 98-41).
	Shield or turn off all lights that shine on the beach. This includes car headlights, fishing lamps, flashbulbs, and flashlights. (Ord. 98-41).
	Motorized vehicles prohibited in beach. (Ord. 98-41).

Here is a roped off turtle nest:

Boca Grande Beaches (State Park - Toll $3.50) 15 minutes away

10 miles into the village, turn right and follow the road to the public beaches. $2 entrance fee includes parking, picnic tables, BBQs, restrooms and showers.

There is a lighthouse at the beach at the tip of the island, and another beach has a chapel alongside!

Englewood Beach (parking meter 25c per hour) 15 minutes away

Picnic tables, BBQs, playground, volleyball, restrooms and showers.

Manasota Beach 20 minutes away

North end of Manasota Key. Picnic tables, BBQs, restrooms and showers.

Middle Beach (Blind Pass) 20 minutes away

Right at Englewood beach, 3 miles north, restrooms and showers.

When we visited sea turtles nests had recently been made and were roped off to protect the eggs!

Don Pedro Island

This is a state park accessible only by private boat. There is a picnic pavilion, restrooms, tables and BBQ grills. The beach here is fabulous and well worth a visit.

Palm Island

This is accessible only by boat. There is a car and pedestrian ferry which you can catch from the Marina just past Johnny Leverock's. There is a nice restaurant, Rhum Bay, where you can have lunch at while you are over exploring the island.

Siesta Key 45 miles and about an hour away

On the way to Sarasota this is one of the finest beaches in the world. The sand is special and does not get hot. There is free parking, lifeguards, restrooms, showers, refreshments, children's play area, BBQs and picnic tables, tennis courts.

Stump Pass (State Park - Entrance fee $2.00) 18 minutes away

Left at T junction and follow road to the end. Over 1 mile of beach. Parking and restrooms.