Bonita Springs delivers the perfect balance between Naples' sophistication and Fort Myers' accessibility, creating a community identity all its own. The Riverside Park along the Imperial River serves as the town's gathering place, hosting festivals, farmers markets, and outdoor concerts throughout the year. Residents have direct access to both bay and Gulf waters, with Bonita Beach offering some of Southwest Florida's most beautiful sunsets and excellent shelling opportunities. The downtown district along Old 41 has transformed into a vibrant arts and dining destination, featuring galleries, craft breweries, and chef-driven restaurants. Nature enthusiasts appreciate the nearby Everglades Wonder Gardens and easy access to hiking trails, while the mix of established neighborhoods and new developments provides housing options for various lifestyles and budgets.
Bonita Springs literally means "Beautiful Springs" in Spanish, and locals agree the name is "spring-on" accurate! The city's original attraction, Everglades Wonder Gardens, opened in 1936 and still operates today—talk about some serious "staying power" in the attraction game. Bonita Springs is situated on both the Imperial River and the Gulf of Mexico, giving residents twice the waterfront fun—you could say they're really "going with the flow" in both directions! The annual Bonita Springs National Art Festival attracts over 30,000 visitors, making it a "master-piece" of Southwest Florida's cultural calendar. And here's something that'll make you do a "double-lake": Little Hickory Island (now Bonita Beach) was once accessible only by boat, but a bridge in 1960 connected it to the mainland, proving good things come to those who "wade"!