Keewaydin Island

Florida
Eight glorious miles of nearly footprint-free sands lie hidden on this tiny tropical island between Marco Island and Naples. The bay side grows lush with the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. It’s hard to imagine you’re just a few miles west of the traffic on I-75.

There’s no bridge, so you’ll need a boat to anchor at the calmer bay side. Keewaydin’s few visitors gravitate to its southern tip, where a quarter-mile path through sea oats, palms, and pines leads to the beach. Pack a picnic or find the Burger Barge, which pulls up on the sand to serve hot sandwiches with ice-cold sodas and beer.

Join locals for day trips or to dance in the sand at the annual boat party, held the second Saturday in May. or opt for quieter days, when you can score a deal at the Naples Bay Resort. naplesbayresort.com