When Times Square feels a little busy, head the other way. Bowditch Point Park sits at the very northern tip of Estero Island, where the Gulf meets Matanzas Pass, and it is one of the calmest stretches of sand on the beach. It is a Lee County park with a small parking lot, restrooms, picnic pavilions and a short nature trail that loops through native scrub and mangroves.
The draw is the point itself. You get beach on two sides, boats sliding through the pass on their way out to the Gulf, dolphins working the current, and a wide-open view of the sunset with Sanibel in the distance. It is a good spot to swim, cast a line or just sit with a book.
Parking is limited and fills fast, so go early, or ride the beach trolley which stops right at the entrance. Late afternoon into sunset is the best time. Pack water and snacks; there is nothing to buy on site, which is exactly why it stays peaceful.
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