Dolphin House is located on Little Hickory Island, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and halfway between Naples and Fort Myers. Private residences only are permitted in this section of the beach, and the lack of crowding testifies to this. The beach is 150 feet west of the front door and is teeming with ocean life, especially in summer. May through August is turtle nesting season, with tracks and nests dotting the shoreline. Shelling and bird watching is excellent here also with heron, egret, eagle, osprey, pelican and gull all present. The gas heated, screen enclosed saltwater pool provides a private place to relax after enjoying the beach, where the gulf water temperature in summer is 87 degrees Fahrenheit. Dolphin House is ideally located for a morning walk on the beach or taking in the evening sunsets.
Dolphin House is shown on the right side of the street just at the end of the video presentation of Bonita Beach in the photo section.
Area attractions: Many activities are available in the local area, including parasailing and jet skiing available at the beach one half mile away. Paddle board and kayak tours are available within 2 miles of Dolphin House, and pontoon boat rental is available also. Corkscrew Swamp, an 11,000 acre preserve run by the Audubon Society is a 45 minute drive east. Alligator, birds, fish and snakes are observable in their natural environment from a 2.5 mile boardwalk through the swamp. The Jay Ding Darling Wildlife refuge is 25 minutes north up the beach on Sanibel Island and offers excellent views of migratory water bird life. Naples is 15 minutes south by car with numerous restaurants, museums, a fishing pier and shops. Ft Myers is 20 minutes north up the coast and also has a fishing pier. The Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is a 25 minute drive from Dolphin House.
House details: Dolphin House has been completely remodeled and updated in 2023. Everything is brand new, spacious and comfortable. Convenience is afforded by the fact that everything is on one level. Two bedrooms in the house have glass doors facing out to the pool area. All glass in the house is hurricane rated, so this provides for a quiet interior as well as enhanced privacy. The shower in the master bath is a walk-in, and the second bathroom has a full bathtub/shower. The A/C system is new, cool and quiet. We have two televisions, a large screen in the family room and a second set in the master bedroom. All new furnishings including furniture, bedding, appliances, linens and kitchenware. For convenience, there is an attached two car garage with automatic door opener. Beach is accessed by a two minute walk across the street. We can accommodate 4 adults and 2 children in beds.
Beach details: Bonita Beach has been included in the top 10 beaches in America, and is well-suited to swimming. Sloping gently for miles into the Gulf of Mexico, the sandy bottom is comfortable and the gulf wave action is generally mild. Pelicans, terns, osprey, frigate, heron and other sea birds can be seen at the beach along with dolphin and sea turtles. Sunsets over the water are beautiful and panoramic. Bonita Beach streches for six miles along the Gulf of Mexico and is only 150 feet from the front door of Dolphin House. This area of the beach is residential and uncrowded, allowing for the ideal beach experience. Beach access #3 is located two houses north of us and makes it possible to walk to the beach in less than two minutes. Shelling is a popular activity on Bonita Beach as many beautiful specimens can be found in the clean sand.
Waterfront restaurants within a one mile radius include Coconut Jacks, Docs Beach House and The Fish House. Enzos is a fine Italian dining local tradition on Bonita Beach Road located 3 miles away.