A paws-itive for your pups! Here are some dog-friendly parks, restaurants, beaches in SWFL

Samantha Neely, Fort Myers News-Press
·4 min read
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Looking for a spot to grab a drink with your dog? Maybe somewhere to beat the heat and go for a quick dip in the water with your pup? Maybe even just somewhere to sit around while they get out their zoomies for the day.

Southwest Florida has a variety of different dog-friendly restaurants, parks, and beaches for those to enjoy a day with their prized pooch.

Need some help finding these locations? Here's a list of where to look.

Register pet in Lee County: Moving to SWFL with your furry friend? What to know about licensing your pet in Lee County

And in Collier County: Moved to Collier County with your pets? Here's everything to know on licensing your dogs and cats

Dog-friendly beaches in Collier County

According to their website, dogs are not allowed on the beach in Collier County. County officials wrote that:

"The presence of dogs on beaches is very disruptive to the natural ecosystem, including shore birds and other animals that make the beach their home. Saltwater is also an irritant to dogs’ skin, as are sand fleas, and drinking salt water is harmful to their digestive systems. In addition, there is a human health element, in that there is no way to remove dog waste from the water."

Keewaydin Island, a barrier island only accessible by boat located between Naples and Marco Island with nearly eight miles of untouched white sand beach, does allow dogs. However, dogs must remain on a leash at all times.

With Marco’s condo towers behind, the new pass cut through Keewaydin Island seen on Jan. 21. Area waterways are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Ian, with missing navigational markers and hidden underwater hazards.
With Marco’s condo towers behind, the new pass cut through Keewaydin Island seen on Jan. 21. Area waterways are still feeling the effects of Hurricane Ian, with missing navigational markers and hidden underwater hazards.

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park also allows dogs due to its status as a Florida State Park, officials writing that they are welcome to explore the park on a six-foot, hand-held leash. It is located at 11135 Gulf Shore Drive in Naples and cost $6 per car to get in.

Dog parks in Collier County

  • Rover Run Dog Park - 1895 Veterans Park Drive, Naples, FL

  • Golden Gate Paws Park - Santa Barbara Blvd., Naples, FL

  • Naples Dog Park - 99 Riverside Circle, Naples, FL

  • Canine Cove - 50 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island, FL

  • Ave Maria Dog Park - 5710 Mayflower Way, Ave Maria, FL

Where you can shop with your dog in Naples

  • Mercato - 9110 Mercato Drive, Naples, FL

  • 5th Avenue South in Naples

Dog-friendly restaurants in Collier County

The Island Gypsy Poolside Cafe provides a tropical oasis at Park Shore Resort in Naples.
The Island Gypsy Poolside Cafe provides a tropical oasis at Park Shore Resort in Naples.

According to the review website Yelp, some of the top dog-friendly restaurants around Collier County are:

  • The Rooster

  • M Waterfront Grille

  • Seventh South Craft Food + Drink

  • Bone Hook Brewing Company

  • Parmesan Pete's Italian Restaurant

  • Oil Well Craft Beer

  • Lee Be Fish

  • Island Gypsy Cafe

  • Havanna Cafe

  • Triad Seafood

Dog-friendly beaches in Lee County include some in Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel

  • Bonita Beach Dog Park - 8800 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL

  • Gulfside City Beach Park - 2001 Algiers Ln, Sanibel, FL

  • Bowman's Beach Park - 1700 Bowmans Beach Rd, Sanibel, FL

  • Causeway Islands Park - 19931 Sanibel Causeway Rd, Sanibel, FL

  • Lighthouse Beach Park and Fishing Pier - 110 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL

  • Dog Beach - 14436 Bonita Beach CSWY, Bonita Springs, FL

  • J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge - 1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel, FL

Dog parks in Lee County

The following off-leash dog parks throughout Lee County are:

  • Bonita Springs Bark-N-Play Park - 1071 E Terry St, Bonita Springs, FL

  • Buckingham Dog Park - 9800 Buckingham Rd, Fort Myers, FL

  • Pooch Park Dog Park at Judd Community Park - 1297 Driftwood Dr, North Fort Myers, FL

  • Paw-Radise Estero - 21720 S Tamiami Trl, Estero, FL

  • K-9 Corral at Estero Park - 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero

  • Paws 4 Duty - 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres, FL

  • Wa-Ke Hatchee Park & Recreation Center (Temporarily closed due to Ian) - 16760 Bass Rd, Fort Myers, FL

Ava Drcar plays with "Bailey" the Labrador during a visit to Bonita Beach Dog Park on August 12, 2021.
Ava Drcar plays with "Bailey" the Labrador during a visit to Bonita Beach Dog Park on August 12, 2021.

For a full list of dog-friendly parks where you need to leash up, visit Lee County's website here.

Where you can shop with your dog in Fort Myers and Estero

  • Coconut Point - 23106 Fashion Drive, Estero, FL

  • Miromar Outlets - 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero, FL

  • Edison Mall (Service dogs only) - 4125 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers, FL

  • Downtown Fort Myers

Dog-friendly restaurants in Lee County

According to review website Yelp, some of the top dog-friendly establishments around Lee County are:

  • The McGregor Café

  • 10 Twenty-Five

  • Bistro 41

  • Ford’s Garage in Fort Myers

  • The Dog Bar & Grille

  • Rumrunners

  • Pinchers Crab Shack

  • Survey Cafe

  • Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille

  • Rosalita's Cantina

  • Blue Giraffe Restaurant

  • Bonita Brunch

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Dog-friendly places in Naples, Fort Myers Florida to take your pooch