Beautiful Beaches in Bonita Springs, Florida

19

Mar

Last week I had my last post on my adventures in the Deep South, and after visiting New Orleans, Alabama, and Mississippi, I went to Florida to visit my family. They recently moved to Fort Myers, and I visited them last March and wroteΒ a post about some hidden gems there, and I’ve visited them twice since this trip so be on the lookout for lots of fun Florida posts in the future! Whenever I visit, we always go to beaches in Bonita Springs, and they are some of the most beautiful beaches I’ve been to in the U.S.! πŸ™‚

Beautiful Beaches in Bonita Springs

We go to the beaches in Bonita Springs at Big Hickory and Lovers Key State Park instead of Fort Myers because the Fort Myers beach is more crowded, and I’m always a fan of empty beaches. There are lots of pretty shells and you can rent jet skis (which will be in a future post!) and paddle boards, AND there are tons of dolphins and manatees that swim really close to shore! πŸ™‚ (And yes, I took lots of photos of them!)

The day I took most of these photos was pretty cloudy and the water was rough (this was during Hurricane Harvey and right before Hurricane Irma), so if you want to see them on a sunny day, check out my Fort Myers post.

Bonita Springs beach

Bonita Springs beach

Crab on the beach

Bonita Springs beach

Purple flowers on the beach

Bonita Springs beach

Bird on the beach

Purple flower on the beach

Purple flower on the beach

I love these purple flowers all over the beach!

Birds flying

Hermit crab

Bird in the ocean

Birds on the beach

Birds in the ocean

Birds on the water

Hermit crab

You can see lots of hermit crabs crawling around!

Crane in the water

Seagulls on the beach

Starfish on the beach

Crab on the beach

Shell decoration on the beach

Dolphins in the ocean

These photos don’t show you exactly how close these dolphins were to the shore, but they were probably only 20 feet from me! My dad swims in the ocean, and they were swimming all around him. I’ve seen dolphins almost every time I’ve been to the beaches in Bonita Springs, and they’re pretty amazing to see jumping around in person!

Dolphin in Florida

Dolphin in Florida

Dolphin in Florida

Dolphin in Florida

Pelican in Florida

We also saw a manatee! They’re very friendly and are known for coming up to people in the water and rolling over for a belly rub, so I was in the water part of the time hoping he would come up to me, but sadly he didn’t. He did pop his nose up and look around a lot though! I saw a manatee in the ocean during another trip to Florida and that one didn’t pop up nearly as often as this one. This manatee was even closer to the shore than the dolphins, and he was swimming in water that only came partway up my thighs.

Manatee in Florida

Manatee in Florida

Manatee in Florida

If you’ve read my many beach posts, you know I can’t go to the beach without getting photos of the sunset! (If you’re interested on seeing them, I have posts on Daufuskie Island, Chincoteague Island, Florida, and the Amalfi Coast). Like most photographers, it’s no secret that I do edit my photos some, but I barely did anything to these sunset photos because the colors were so vibrant! You should definitely watch the sun rise and set on the beach if you’re ever in Florida.

Bonita Springs beach

Bird on the beach at sunset

Boat in Florida

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

If you’re shooting a sunset, don’t forget to look at the sky behind you! The colors tend to be more pastel, and I loved how the colors looked with the softness of the clouds.

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach Β Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

Sunset on a Florida beach

I have never seen these colorful beams after a sunset before! I have no idea how the sunset had this effect, and I haven’t seen it sinceΒ 

Sunset on a Florida beach

If you’re visiting southwest Florida, I highly recommend going to the beaches in Bonita Springs! The water is such a pretty turquoise (when there isn’t a hurricane), and the beaches are beautiful and empty πŸ™‚

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Blog, Florida, North America, Photography, Travel, USA

  1. Emily says:

    Oh Wow! These photos are gorgeous, and makes me feel like I’m right there – feeling the waves crash up against my legs. Yet again, your photos always seem to make me feel like I’m right there, where they’re taken!!????
    http://www.beautynbrushes.co.uk

  2. Michelle says:

    Oh my gosh! I would have loved seeing that manatee swimming around in his natural environment. So awesome. Thanks for the fun share and the gorgeous pictures!

  3. Kathleen says:

    I go to Florida to visit my mom once or twice a year. I haven’t heard of this beach. I would love to visit it though and see the great wildlife. I also like going to a beach without so many people. Thanks for the introduction.

  4. Zoe says:

    Beautiful photos! Makes me want to book a flight and visit right away πŸ˜€

  5. Dawn says:

    Wow, this really looks so relaxing. The sunset there looks so amazing with all those colors. Would love to visit there someday. Great post!

  6. Camille says:

    Stunning photos, as always, Julia! This has me wishing summer was here now!!

  7. Blessing says:

    Wow, love this! Looks beautiful and I can’t believe how close the dolphins we’re! Was it warm?

  8. Mercedes says:

    GOREGOUS photos! I really want to go now. I love all the wildlife you shared. LOVE!

  9. Beautiful place! I really liked yout sunset pictures. So pretty!

  10. Heather says:

    Wish I were there now! It’s always so magical seeing dolphins. Great shots

  11. Julia says:

    Wow the sunset photos are so beautiful, you really caught an amazing one! The rays of light on the last photos are so special, I’ve never seen anything like it before – lucky you, it’s awesome that you got to capture it and share it with us. Florida is on my list of places to visit in the UK, and its beaches are one of the reasons why I want to go!

    Julia x
    Last Post: The Coolest Gap Jumper | http://juliaspeaksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/fashion-jumper-that-makes-me-happy.html

  12. Heidi Roland says:

    Take me to the beach! love the sunset photos!

  13. Sally says:

    Beaches & sunsets…two of my most favorite things! Love your pics, Julia! I haven’t been in the Bonita Springs area in far too long and it’s time for a family adventure there. Which was your most favorite spot?

  14. tonya says:

    Wow! That sunset was really pretty! Bonita Springs is now on my bucket list so I can swim with the dolphins!

  15. Beautiful photos! I live in Fort Myers and you did a great job of capturing the essence of the beaches in Bonita

  16. LOVE this whole area of Florida. Your photos are so beautiful, they made me miss Southwest Florida. I am sitting in Michigan where the current temperature is 31 degrees and I am seriously considering packing up the car and heading south.

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