Real Estate & Lifestyle Guide
Bonita Springs, a welcoming beach community in Southwest Florida between Fort Myers and Naples, is home to more than 55,000 residents and offers a suburban feel and a great place to own a home. Bonita Springs is loved by people who spend their days outdoors at beaches, parks, and golf courses.
If you would prefer to be surrounded by full-time residents who focus on a more community-based style of living, then Bonita Springs might end up being a better match than Naples. The homes in Bonita Springs consist of beachfront condos, traditional Florida-style homes in golfing communities, and large estates with dock access on canals.
Bonita Springs has grown nearly 30% over the past decade, now home to more than 55,000 residents with a median age in the early 60s. Alongside that longtime retiree base, newer communities on the east side of town are drawing a wave of young families and young professionals, even as downtown works hard to hold onto its small-town character, 'Small Town Charm, Big Bright Future' is the city's own motto for a reason.
Much of the community's energy centers around downtown and Riverside Park, home to the Bonita Springs National Art Festival, one of the top-ranked fine art festivals in the country. Throughout the year, the city also hosts a full calendar of holiday celebrations, farmers markets, and unique events like the Venezia Renaissance Faire.
Beyond the festivals, residents are known for being neighborly and involved, whether that's through the Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs' year-round exhibitions and classes, boating and fishing along the Imperial River and Estero Bay, or simply spending time outdoors at the beach or on the golf course.
When it comes to dining, Bonita Springs has a number of notable eateries, including Angelina's Restaurante, a fantastic, upscale spot for Italian dishes in a cozy space with intimate booth seating and a patio. DeRomo's Gourmet Market, Restaurant, and Banquets is a full-service dining destination offering a restaurant and market. Looking for a place with great seafood and water views? Award-winning Coconut Jack's Waterfront Grille and pet-friendly The Fish House Restaurant are great picks. Downtown, Sugarshack Downtown has quickly become one of the area's most popular spots for live music and food, while historic Shangri-La Springs offers a more relaxed brunch and yoga-on-the-lawn setting and wedding location. The seasonal Rooftop at Riverside food truck park is another downtown favorite.
There are several fantastic shopping spots in Bonita Springs. Flamingo Island Flea Market has 600 booths ranging from clothing to handcrafted arts, jewelry, food, and more. The seasonal Bonita Springs Farmers Market runs every Saturday from October to April. The Promenade at Bonita Bay has some of the finest retail stores, unique boutiques, high-end salons, and delectable restaurants. Located in neighboring cities, shop your favorite high-end, luxury retailers at Waterside Shops, Mercato, Coconut Point, and Miromar Outlets. Bonita Springs is also getting its own Mercato-style destination, Midtown Bonita, a major new development bringing upscale shopping and dining directly to the area.
The many outdoor activities keep residents busy most of the year. The Everglades Wonder Gardens offers a botanical garden and refuge for over 300 rescued, rehabilitated, and non-releasable birds and reptiles, truly a Bonita Springs treasure that continues to capture the Old Florida charm. Farmer Mike's U Pick is a great place to take the family, visit on the weekend and shop for fruits and veggies, or enjoy their seasonal events like haunted corn mazes, pumpkin patches, Christmas trees and lights, hayrides, sunflower fields, and more. East of town, the Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary offers a boardwalk trail through old-growth cypress forest and some of the best birdwatching in Southwest Florida.
Bonita Springs is also home to several fun water activities. Some visitors may wish to check out Mike's Coastal Expeditions, the top-rated kayak and paddle tour outfit in the area, or Adventures Kayaking for guided eco-tours around Big Hickory Island. Your four-legged friends will love to run free and play at The Bonita Springs Dog Beach. Many people visit who don't even have dogs but enjoy watching them run and play with their furry friends on land and water. If you long for a beach away from the crowds, Little Hickory is the place to go, with great unspoiled beaches and billions of shells to pick from to add to your collection.
Downtown, the energy keeps growing too. Riverside Park hosts Bonita Springs' annual traditions, from the Star-Spangled Bonita 4th of July parade and fireworks show to the Holiday in the Park tree lighting and month-long Holiday Stroll each December, alongside the Bonita Springs National Art Festival and Venezia Renaissance Faire. A new splash pad is on the way as part of ongoing park upgrades, and once complete, the Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT) will add more than 11 miles of walking and biking paths connecting Bonita Springs to Naples and Estero, one of several projects reshaping downtown while keeping its small-town feel.
Bonita Bay: Five world-class courses make up Bonita Bay Club. On the West Campus, weave your way through the natural wetland terrain of the Marsh course, the rolling hills of the Creekside course, and the challenging length of the Bay Island course, all designed by Arthur Hills. On the East Campus, two Tom Fazio-designed courses, Cypress and Sabal, wind through preserved cypress wetlands and pine flats. This club offers seasoned golfers a challenge and newcomers a space to grow their love for the game.
The Nest at Pelican Landing: Golfing at one with nature makes the perfect golf day. At The Nest experience bald eagles, herons, bobcats, egrets, foxes and pelicans in their natural habitat while you play one of their two 18-hole courses.
The Colony Golf and Country Club: Spanning approximately 6,802 yards, this golf course was designed by renowned golf course architect and former U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate. 18-holes with a par-72 championship golf course is complemented by their newly renovated Club House that offers dining, cocktails and camaraderie.
Spanish Wells Golf & Country Club: One of the largest golf communities in Bonita Springs, Spanish Wells features 27 holes across three different 18-hole combinations, giving members a variety of ways to play the course throughout the year.
Palmira Golf and Country Club: This semi-private club features a Gordon Lewis-designed 27-hole championship course playing 7,403 yards at a par 72. The clubhouse offers casual and fine dining, while The Renaissance Club adds a fitness center, lap and lagoon-style pools, spa, and tennis and pickleball facilities.
Worthington Country Club: An 18-hole championship course designed by Gordon Lewis, Worthington is known for its signature peninsula 18th hole. The clubhouse offers fine and casual dining, alongside a spa, fitness center, five tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and bocce.
Residents in Bonita Springs are served by the Lee County School District. Public schools include Bonita Springs Elementary School, Bonita Springs Charter School, Bonita Springs Middle School Center for the Arts, Oak Creek Charter School of Bonita Springs, and Bonita Springs High School, which opened in 2018 as the city's first high school since its incorporation.
Private school options within Bonita Springs itself are limited, with a handful of smaller, faith-based schools such as Grace Classical Academy and Gospel Baptist Christian School. Families looking for a wider range of private options, including college-preparatory schools, often look to nearby Naples or Estero.
For higher education, Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College are both a short drive away in Fort Myers, offering bachelor's and associate degree programs across a range of fields.