THEY (Boca Grande residents) have voted unanimasly to keep visitors off the island by taking away almost all parking on the island. Just don't go there! You are not welcome. There are many beautiful beaches near by that are far more friendly and welcoming. read more

Beautiful here. Just a wonderful place to visit, vacation or live (pricey though...). A lovely spot on the gulf coast.

I don't understand the allure of this place. I was staying nearby and was told I need to check out Boca Grande. $6 toll, drive around the island, and quick beach visit and I found I can find the same thing up and down the gulf coast. Don't get me wrong, beautiful houses and beaches but it's not worth another trip back. Dining and shopping very limited as well. read more

On a quick weekend trip my husband and I hit up two beaches, Boca Grande and Siesta Key. If I were to recommend one of these beaches to a friend for a relaxing beach day, I would say Boca Grande for a few reasons: -An overall less populated beach -The millions of seashells piled up on the shore -The lack of dead fish (when they're your phobia, you tend keep a sharp eye) -The miles of sandy beach that you can walk NOTE: You do have to pay a $6 toll to get to the island and an additional $2 to park your car in the lot we chose. A mere $8 in exchange for a serene suntan? I'll take it. read more

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Boca Grande is an island full of everything that a beach lover will want and more. There are amazing restaurants, shopping, a beach destination, and it is super dog friendly. People often are riding golf carts around the island or bicycles, but you can definitely drive around the island. The toll is $6 to get on the island. Once you get on, you will see the main downtown area full of life. You will also want to see the Gasparilla Inn which is a cool historical hotel. Boca Grande also has a lighthouse for those who love lighthouses. The beaches have many entry points which are nestled in the residential areas. You can also go to the state park. That state park is the only area on the beach where the dogs are not permitted. This is a perfect getaway for those that live in Ft. Myers or perhaps Tampa area. It is about two hours away. This is definitely a happy place!!! read more

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I found it beautiful in Boca Grande last July. White sand, quite beach, plenty of palm trees and blue water, which I wish it was transparent and calm to swim pacefully, but the sea gets very rough in that area, even so, it was beautiful. The sand was plenty of big seashells!!! It is definetly very hot on summer season, it might be better during spring time. Parking spots are available and in some spots free. read more

Boca Grande - Beaches Near Me - Boca Grande, Florida

Love the beautiful clear water!! Every time I've been here the waters have been calm and it's always fun getting in the water, or just sitting in the sun. The beach is full of shells if you enjoy collecting them! And it's $6 to get on the island read more

This place has the prettiest and bluest water that I've ever seen in the United States. It's almost the same shade as the waters in the Caribbean. The sand isn't as white and powdery as it is in nearby Siesta Key, but I'd much prefer these beaches over Siesta Key. The beaches here are shelly. I wasn't staying on the island. My aunt and uncle who are locals from nearby Port Charlotte, named Boca Grande as a must see during my short stay in the area. So, they paid the $6 toll and took me over and showed me around. After lunch, we rented a 6 person golf cart and did what apparently is the #1 activity, site see from the gold cart. There are random golf cart trails and roadways made specifically for the golf carts. Don't cross a local on one of their golf carts though, they'll practically run you over. The lighthouse that sits directly on the beach is currently undergoing a facelift. Apparently it used to be rusted and rustic. It's now in the process of being painted white. The beaches were quiet and had very few people on them... but I was there on one of the coldest days of the year. That shouldn't stop them though. Their coldest day of the year is probably much warmer than the warmest winter day in my hometown. The shops in town are basically ritzy and overpriced in my opinion. read more

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My dog was so angry when she found out I came to Boca without her! Boca Grande is the place for dogs! Dogs on the beach and dogs riding in golf carts! Dogs hanging out in dog parks! So cool! We parked for free on 7th St. right next to the beach. Practically empty all day long first week in March. There is also a large dog park there. The beach is serene and uncrowded. The sand is white, the water turquoise, clear and calm. There was a drop-off a foot or two into the water, but it is nothing dangerous. Lots of shells. I am not a shell expert but the nice man at the toll booth gave me a Boca Grande visitor's guide that had pictures of the types of shells with their names. I was really proud of my olive shell find. After the beach, we had a great time riding the island in a golf cart from Kappy's Market. We were charged $50 for a four seater for four hours. There is a golf cart and bike path that runs the length of the island and golf carts are allowed on the downtown streets. Easy parking. The locals were friendly as we rode around clearly looking like tourists. If you need a bathroom, there is a clean one at the community center on 1st St. So sit on the beach and watch the pelicans. Walk the beach and look for shells. Go in the water and float around. Drive a golf cart and see the sights. Feel good in Boca! read more

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A beautiful beach, water very clear and easy to swim in. Paid $6 to cross the bridge and then it was free. I would definitely come back.

My ALL time favorite beach in the WORLD! Recharge! You need to pay the toll bridge to get here; it's EXCLUSIVE so you'll see why you have to pay. The sand is powder soft and sugar white, that's why I love the Gulf Coast. I have heard from locals they sometimes close off the island if G Bush senior is visiting, apparently he's a regular. Near Port Charlotte/Placida this place is the most quiet breathtaking spot to chillax. Just GORGEOUS. Great little boutiques and some fine restaurants in town (town is an eye blink). Christmas is celebrated with a beautiful lighting display and tasteful holiday festival. read more

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Shell Collectors, this beach is for you!! With just a quick $5 fee to get into the actual park, you have ample free parking and all the shell collecting you can find. As a hidden gem on the west coast side of Florida, Boca Grande is a hidden gem for any vacationer to enjoy. The quaint town is small and absolute perfect for a quick getaway, especially with this beach so accessible. While the shore on the east side of Florida rarely shows any great deal of shells, you can find millions upon millions of shells. Perfect for a day of family shell hunting fun, this is a place you certainly want to take your kids to visit. I collected such an ample amount of shells as momentos to bring home with me as a souvenir of my vacation. It was one of the best spots I found during my trip to relax, enjoy the beauty and enjoy a slower paced vacation. If you are looking for a great daytrip on the west coast side of Florida, this is THE PLACE to visit! read more

Boca Grande - best spot for shell collection - Beaches Near Me - Boca Grande, Florida

Cutest little beach full of amazing seashells. Beautiful lighthouse with museum. Great photo ops, especially at sunset. read more

Boca Grande - Beach is full of seashells - Beaches Near Me - Boca Grande, Florida

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We were determined to get here based on how many ppl told us that we had to check it out. It was soo much better than Ft. Myers beach! There wasn't long lines to get to the beach. There were a lot of ppl on golf carts driving thru the area (really cool) and I found out via another Yelper that the carts can be rented at a reasonable price. Parking wasn't a problem on a Saturday afternoon which is like driving thru Atlanta during rush hour and there's no traffic-unbelievable! This is a photographer's dream! The sky and water looked like they were one and we were awe struck. The water was cool cool as it rushed over your feet, the breeze made you just want to close your eyes and drift away. There were plenty of wildlife as well. Watch out as you walk in the water; there are things hanging out there. I strongly recommend that you get here, bring your snacks, games, frisbee, football, family and enjoy yourself. read more

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I don't want to say it. But omg there were more seashells than I had ever seen The locals were using garden tools to get through the piles of shells. Please just take what you can use Anything alive please leave alone read more

This is an absolutely beautiful beach - clean, spacious, quiet. It is IMPORTANT to note that this is not an Uber-friendly location. There is a toll ($6) to get in, then a long drive until you get to the final beach. Once there, Ubers/Lyfts are unreachable. Don't get stranded - if you don't have transportation, make sure to organize a way out. read more

My first trip to Florida included 2 days in Boca Grande - lovely! I thought this was such a neat area. I enjoyed many visits to the beach and it was so different from any I'd seen before. Everyone we met was so friendly. I had a lovely conversation with a retiree from NY who was searching for shells, and learned a lot about the different shells that could be collected in the area. Yes, get a golf cart! It's such a great way to enjoy the island! You can easily go from your room/house down to the lighthouse park, which is beautiful and historic. I hope I'll get another chance to escape to Boca Grande soon! read more

This little village on the island of Gasparilla couldn't get any more pretty. White sand beaches, crystal clear blue green water and a stunning local park with a historic lighthouse. We were there in the off-season and had the entire place to ourselves! Rented a 6-person golf cart and traveled the length of the village like a local. Fortunately, we had packed a lunch because very few businesses were open. I can't say what this area is like in-season (from what I've read, pretty exclusive), but was nice for a daytrip! read more

Great Beaches and some world class fishing!!

Awesome beach to relax for a day with the dogs! Good place to look for shells n sharks teeth etc... The sea shells literally piled up a few feet high in some spots, all the way down the beach. Decent spot to fish as well. read more

The staff is very nice at the country club. The beach had dead fish on it. The sunset was amazing. The establishment is elegant and nicely decorated. I would recommend it, I would just suggest to clean up the dead fish, it's gross. read more

Very beautiful beaches yes beaches there are several all along the drive to the tip. There are also two lighthouses on the beaches one half way thee other to the tip of the island! Beautiful clean beaches. read more

Gorgeous public beach. The sand is fine, and the water clear. Not much in the way of shells, but enough to send your kids home with a bag or two. We parked on a side street, so not sure if there are umbrella/chair rentals available. We didn't get time to explore, but seemed like a charming little town where you could kill a whole day. The toll bridge to get in is $6, but parking is free! read more

A very pretty island that seemed tucked out of view of traffic. Cute shops. Nice quiet beaches. read more

Really a great little beach town. Will definitely be going back. Safe, friendly, great shelling. Only drawback is the whole town pretty much closes at 6:00 every night and the restaurants are so expensive for the food quality that you receive. read more