Englewood Beach
Englewood, FL
Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park sits on Manasota Key, a barrier island known locally for the shark teeth that regularly wash up in the sand after a good tide. It's a quieter, more residential stretch than the bigger tourist beaches further north in Sarasota or south around Fort Myers.
Shark tooth hunting gives it a genuine, family friendly hook other Gulf Coast beaches don't have, though the strict no pets policy and fairly plain amenities keep it from being a standout destination.
How we score beachesCome after a storm or a strong tide change if shark tooth hunting is the draw, that's when the best finds turn up along the shoreline. Pay the parking fee through the ParkMobile app rather than hunting for a meter, it's the more common method here now.
Parking runs 75 cents an hour, payable through the ParkMobile app or in advance online. Seasonal and annual passes are available through the county's recreation centers or tax collector's office.
Chadwick Park has a paved lot and short, flat walk to the sand. The beach itself is a straightforward, easy walk for most visitors from the main parking area.
Dogs aren't allowed on the sand or in the swimming areas at Englewood Beach, part of a countywide rule with no dog-friendly beach exceptions in Charlotte County.
Winter and spring bring the mildest weather and the biggest snowbird crowds to this part of the Gulf Coast. Summer's heat and hurricane season, June through November, thin things out despite warmer water.
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