With so many different beaches to choose from holidaymakers truly are spoilt for choice. Here is a breakdown of some of the key beaches in the region and who they appeal to!

Best Beaches for Families

Bowman's Beach   

Gulf-side on Bowman's Beach Road, Sanibel Island, Bowman's Beach is a county-owned and city-operated beach and picnic area. The well protected beach means the winds are light and the swimming is great.

Bowditch Point

Located on the northern tip of EsteroIsland at the northern tip of Fort Myers beach, this 17-acre park offers a day at the beach in a pristine, natural setting. A boardwalk leads to picnic areas and the shell-laden beach. Stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the bay, the park's amenities include a bathhouse and changing rooms, a 'village deck' for group gatherings and a covered waiting area for food service.

Bonita Beach

Located between Fort MyersBeach and BonitaSprings, this four acre pristine beachfront park features a boardwalk to protect the sea oats, sand dunes and coastal vegetation surrounding a gazebo and eight picnic shelters.

Lynn Hall Memorial Park  

Located on the north end of Fort Myers beach adjacent to the buzzing Times Square means there is shopping, dining and entertainment all right next to a white powdery beach which boasts a playground and fishing pier.

Best for Romance

Cayo Costa

With nine miles of pristine white sand and no road access, couples looking for a romantic spot all of their own can be assured of that here. Located on the bridgeless barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico just getting here is romantic!

Lovers Key State Park  

Located between Fort MyersBeach and Bonita Beach, this romantic location ranks in the top ten most visited of Florida's state parks. It's visually impressive and environmentally progressive. Walk the two and a half miles of sugar-sand Gulf beach for world-class shelling, or enjoy swimming, backbay fishing, bird watching and wildlife sightings, including endangered manatees, bottlenose dolphins and loggerhead sea turtles. Canoe and kayak miles of waterways that lead to several uninhabited islands through the park, which sits on EsteroBay, site of the state's first aquatic preserve. A 100-seat, turn-of-the-century beachfront pavilion is even available for weddings!

Gasparilla Island State Park

There are five separate beaches situated at the southern end of GasparillaIsland, all are renowned for their beauty and seclusion – the perfect idyll to escape to.

Captiva Beach

This is the ideal beach for sharing a romantic sunset with that special someone. Famous for the jaw dropping sunsets and their incredible colours the beach is also backed by several romantic restaurants where couples can head to for a romantic sunset meal while enjoying nature's spectacle.

Turner Beach

Great for shelling as well as romance, this beach offers the best sunsets over the Gulf.

Best Beaches for Shelling

Sanibel Lighthouse Beach

Located on Sanibel Island's southern tip, the site of the picturesque 100-plus-year-old lighthouse is outstanding for bird watching and enjoying a picnic, walking the beach or fishing from the pier. The crunchy sand here contains thousands of shells and is a popular beach for shelling and trying to find an elusive junonia!

Cayo Costa

Cayo Costa is a delightfully secluded island that is great for camping, swimming, shelling and fishing. Five miles of bicycle/hiking trails complement the eight-plus miles of beaches. Primitive cabins and tent sites are available for overnight stays. The nine miles of sand and limited access means there are always good shelling finds to be had here.

Turner Beach  

Situated between Sanibel & Captiva islands on BlindPass, this beautiful beach is prime shelling territory due to its flat, wide expanse and has the added benefit of being an excellent vantage point for West Coast sunsets.

Blind Pass Beach

On Sanibel's north end this beach is renowned as one of the key places for shelling.

Bowman's Beach

This is the quintessential Sanibel beach offering well preserved and well protected sand and shoreline without too many people – an ideal combination for shelling.

For further information about The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel please visit www.fortmyers-sanibel.com

For further information or images please contact Jules Ugo or Amelia Astley Birtwistle at Lotus UK on 0207 593 7470 or firstname@lotus-uk.co.uk

In the United States please contact Nancy Hamilton at The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel on 001(239) 338 3500 or NHamilton@leegov.com

EDITOR'S NOTES: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in southwest Florida includes: Sanibel Island, CaptivaIsland, Fort MyersBeach, Fort Myers, BonitaSprings, Estero, Cape Coral, PineIsland, Boca Grande & Outer islands, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres.