Life in Naples, Florida

Naples~It's My Town!

2011-11-07T15:00:00.000-05:00

Naples is a place like no other. It is a town that appears to all that visit or live in it to be clean, well maintained and manicured throughout with beautiful beaches of white sugar sand that you can walk for miles just listening to the relaxing sound of the tide washing in. I love taking long walks on the beach with no worries or concerns about anything at all. It is a great place to relieve stress and just let your thoughts wander. The the selection of fine restaurants, shopping and entertainment is vast. I have always enjoyed living in Naples as an adult but when I was a teenager I remember I couldn't wait to escape. So what changed?

Naples has grown in many ways since I was a teenager. Many would admit that some are good while others bad. I guess I would say I found
Naples to be a rather small fishing town when my parents first moved our family here when I was eleven (41 years ago) but each year we were here we saw the town experience growing pains~ Fast food restaurants opened around the high school first McDonalds then Burger King (now gone); the opening of Kmart was once a big deal since Walmart, Target or the mall were nonexistent at that time; influx of people crowding the roadways from many different origins which brought on the local housing boom beginning with Park Shore then moving first north, then northeast, then southeast with our first true towering condominiums coming down on Vanderbilt then all along the North-Central Naples coast line; the state owned park providing paved parking and beach access at a price; hotels and condos cutting off direct beach access; road expansion; stop-lights galore and the never-ending golf courses that were developed. Some of this growth took place in my absence when I was attending FSU in Tallahassee earning my degrees, making new friends, and trying to find my place as a young career-minded adult. Once again believing Naples was not a place I planned to return to but then came marriage, responsibilities, a slowing job market in North Florida and here we were newlyweds in Naples with the original intent of always returning to North Florida. We made our family here; were gainfully employed in jobs we enjoyed; and found ourselves wanting to stay for the services, amenities and schools which we felt benefited our young family and children. We became part of the community as adults. Love the beach, the parks, the amenities, the restaurants, old friends and new . . . So we grew into the community as adults and lost that immature attitude we had as young people. But don't get me wrong there are many things that we have lose through the growth of Naples that will never be returned- the freedom to drive right up to the beach without a permit; the hunting grounds now known as the estates or even subdivisions east of 951 (Collier Blvd). But most of all we lost the small hometown fishing village feeling; the closeness of the community; the securities often found in small towns; and the familiarity of all of our neighbors. When I went to school there was one Naples High School and now there are six with people living in all the areas that we once viewed as undisturbed.

I remember the days when life was carefree; school was fun; friends were many; and you could drive on the road without finding yourself backed up in traffic . . . I remember the old roller rink; driving around town with little to no traffic; parties at the beach; camp outs at the beach; and the relaxed nature of this area. I remember when the mall was in Ft. Myers or Miami not across the street from the high school which was once just a vast area of trees for students to escapes in for one reason or another. It's been a long time since my family first moved to Naples and it has definitely changed.

When I was a teenager I thought living in North Naples in Palm River was like living out in the boondocks, so far from everything. I rode a school bus for the first time since we moved from a city in which I could once walk to anything. But that city is no longer a good place to raise a family now with all the places I once freely wandered as a child full of gangs and those who no longer welcome the pure joys of just living. Naples however is a place and will always be a place I can enjoy those pure joys of living with the freedom to travel only to find myself appreciated all the amenities and progress that Naples has. I haven't found another place that can compare and I am still young compared to the average age in this paradise, HaHa!

Wine Coolers At One???

2011-11-07T12:51:00.001-05:00

I have witnessed parents giving their young children kool-aide and soda in a bottle I have heard of children being left home alone as young as two. And, I am constantly hearing reports of parental neglect and poor judgement in the news, here, in the Naples area and I wonder, "Did these parents ever have any training on how to rear a child?" But then again, I think well who is actually responsible for teaching parenting skills? It's not taught in Collier schools. So that leaves it to parents and society as role models to teach children how to be parents. Unfortunately many do not have the skills themselves to pass on. So that leaves us with parents who have no skills and are not aware of how to properly raise a child causing many children to experience some form of neglect.

I was outraged when I heard that a parent had allowed their one year old child to consume wine coolers at a family party. I thought, how could someone be so ignorant allowing a toddler to ingest alcohol and then I thought, Hmmm, if it was a party, there was more than one adult present who could of intervened to guide the parent in the needed skills. It's obvious that did not happen since the parent was arrested and charged with neglect with the child being placed in foster care. But here it is 'neglect' which typically results in the parent being unaware of their responsibilities as a parent.

I also heard about a parent arriving home to find law enforcement packing up her children because she had left them alone in a urine/feces infested home to go partying with her friends. Mmmm, hello, you have children who require you to care for them. If you are going out, you need to arrange for their care. You also have to assure they live in a clean, healthy environment. Again, no parenting skills ~ kids in foster care ~ parent arrested for pure ignorance.

I have seen children who are malnourished with poor health because their parents are unaware of services to help with these essential needs. Some of the parents are too proud and forced into this category due to the economic situation in today's society, while others are just uneducated on their responsibilities as a parent. The reason is not important. It all results in neglect of the child. Parents are responsible for meeting all the basic needs of a child and when they cannot society should step in to help. But programs are being cut leaving some with no outlets for support, while others are denied funding because they do not understand how the system works.

But the question still stands, who is responsible for educating parents. It is obvious to me that we cannot leave this job up to parents or society because they are not doing a very good job. Oh yes, they will make parents who are found neglectful go to parenting classes but that is reacting to a problem that should not exist, at least not at the level I am aware of. It is the state of Florida's responsibility to make sure all parents have the knowledge to develop the skills necessary to provide exemplary care in raising children. It needs to start at the state level and work itself down into the educational system. Children need to be taught how to care for one another as well as how to be parents. We need to put the classes that once taught these important daily survival skills back into the educational curriculum. The state has focused so acutely on academics that they forgot about the social responsibility they have for educating our children to become good parents and citizens.

Education is no longer as well rounded as it was when you and I attended. Students have fewer elective choices, more graduation requirements and less time to learn basic skills that will help them survive in society. The only course that even touches on these subject is health and it may present the topic in a lesson but never allows the student to apply or totally investigate the application of the topic. Therefore making it irrelevant to the student in the long run. We need to eliminate parental ignorance and neglect by teaching these skills to ALL students in school before they become parents.
It saddens me to know that children suffer because we do not.

Listen to the Music!

2011-08-04T16:03:00.000-04:00

Live Music for the Family The Mercato Shops located at the corner of U.S. 41 and Vanderbilt Beach Road offer live music on the green across for THE PUB and PURE~URBAN OASIS the first Friday of every month. Tomorrow they are sure to have great music that can be enjoyed by the entire family. Bring the kids and enjoy Pizza while listening to the music. Let the kids enjoy themself with others their own age while they run on the green and dance to the vibes. Bring a chair or a blanket if you prefer to sit instead of stand since it is an open green that doesn't provide seating unless you choose to enjoy a cocktail or bite to eat at one of the many establishments in this area of the Mercato that offer an outdoor dining option. You can have a full meal, a lite fare, pizza, yogurt, a burger and much more. It is a great family activity that doesn't have to cost you a penny. The entertainment is free. Your only expense is if you choose to support the local businesses at Mercato that have arranged for the entertainment. So if the weather is permitting tomorrow evening between 6 & 9 pm, why not come out with the kids and enjoy some great live music. I have had the opportunity to listen to many of bands throughout the year and I cannot say I have heard a terrible one yet. In fact most of them are quite good. So why not get out and enjoy the music with friends, family or even by yourself. What else do you have to do?

Night Time Entertainment

If you miss the live music at Mercato, you can catch some great tunes at the BLUE MONKEY located on the corner of Collier Boulevard (951) and Vanderbilt Beach Road. You can get bite to eat, have a few cocktails, enjoy a night out with your spouse, friends, date or by yourself. Meet some new friends or meet a group of those you already have. Enjoy yourself! Dance to the beat, if you choose. The music is always great on Friday and Saturday nights. Usually begins about 9 pm but the service can be a little off from time to time. Just take it upon yourself to get the waitress when you can. Once the band starts the place is a bit dark, busy and the music is awesome. Check it out if you haven't or come out and join in the fun again if you have. You are sure to have a great time~ even the designated driver will enjoy themself with the music being played.

Other places in Naples that often offer live entertainment are THE PEWTER MUG; SOUTHSTREET . . . Will talk about others in future postings. Have a great week!

Restaurant Review- "PURE ~ URBAN OASIS"

2011-08-03T16:37:00.000-04:00

Are you anything like us? Eat out 2-3 times or more a week? Like to stay within a few miles of home? Prefer to stay away from fast-food of any kind? Enjoy a beer or drink with our meal? Like to choose from a variety of establishments to avoid monotony? Like good food without emptying the bank?

Well if you are, then you want to pay attention to my Wednesday blogs. Wednesdays will look at one restaurant in Naples~ the cuisine, specialty drinks, entertainment (if applicable), service and price points. Due to convenience, we tend to end up at one of the many restaurants located in ths Shops at Mercato located at the corner of U.S. 41 and Vanderbilt Beach Drive. PURE URBAN OASIS is one of those spots. They typically offer a specials menu that includes the chef's selections which can be a seasonal fresh catch, lamb chops, seasonal carpaccio, or rice toppers. One great thing about this restaurant is they offer a simple menu with a varied selection of foods. You may want to start out your meal with Rice Toppers (Tuna, Beef or Shrimp); Carpaccio (Beef or Tuna); or a Small Plate ~ Bacon wrapped dates; Sliced blackened shashimi tuna; Cajun sea scallops; Escargot; Pot stickers; Crunchy shrimp; Chicken skewers; Crab stuffed mushrooms; or Lobster corn dog. If you prefer a more traditional start to a meal, you might like to choose between the Lobster Cappuccino (buttery cocoa blended bisque which is delicious) or Black bean soup. If you order a salad to eat before your entry, you want to make sure you express your desire to the wait staff because the typical PURE salad is substantial and filling. They offer five salads which you can add your choice of meat to if you wish (chicken, salmon, shrimp, or beef). The salads include Apple vinaigrette salad; Baby spinach salad; Chopped Caesar salad; BLT salad or my favorite the Tomato Mozzarella salad. Make sure you request all dresssings on the side since on occassion I have found the salad can get drenched if you forget.
PURE offers two types of main courses~

PURE Spa Cuisine (lighter choices with fewer carbs without sacrificing taste~ these selections are also guilt and gluten free)

Grilled Chickn Breast with lemon grass vinaigrette
Beef Filet
Pan seared Atlantic Salmon with grapefruit vinaigrette

PURE Main Dishes (a combination of great ingredients and flavors)

Beef Filet with peppercorn crust
Grilled Shrimp with white wine and sundried tomatoes
Sea Bass with honey ginger miso
Hollies Chicken with goat cheeses and sundried tomatoes
Chicken~ cranberry crusted

PURE also offers a variety of side dishes and Desserts that can be added to any meal ~

Side Dishes~ Bread points; Sweet potato fries; Truffle fries; Vegetable of the Day; Grilled vegetables or Parmesan Potatoes.
Desserts~ Loaded cheesecake; Lava Cake; Gelato (variety of flavors); and Big Apple Fritter al a mode, of course.

We have eaten at PURE several times in the past two years and have never had a bad meal. Once in a while the serves is a bit slow and the guy playing the 'horn' gets a bit carried away with the volume but the food has always been exellent. There are ample servings without stuffing you like a Thanksgiving Turkey. However my favority part of PURE is the specialty drinks. They have over two dozen specialty drinks to choose from. Each one I have tried has been wonderfully delicious. One of my favorites is Hot Mango Night (rain organics honey mango melon vodka, jalapenos, fresh mango, lemon and lime). If you want to have your dessert as a cocktail you have to try Original Sin (Dutch chocolate Van Gogh vodka, chocolate liquer, creme de menthe and dark chocolate shavings, whipped cream, double Dutch chocolate mint gelato, fresh mint)- it is definitely sinful but exceptionally good. You are sure to have a good meal and time, if you choose to visit PURE located at 9123 Strada Place Suite 7135~Naples~Florida~34108~ (239) 514-PURE. For more information, hours of operation, updates on specials and changes made to the menu, visit www.pureurbanoasis.com Head out Friday evening between 6 & 9 pm and listen to live music while you enjoy your meal on PURE's patio or eat indoors and enjoy the music before or after. The Starda at Mercato offers live music the first Friday of each month on the green across from PURE or you can catch a movie at the Silver Spot Theatre~ the only place to watch movies in town. You will definitely want to at least try a cocktail- YHMMMM!

Build or Remodel a House in Naples with ONLY the BEST!

2011-08-02T12:36:00.000-04:00

A. VERNON ALLEN BUILDER, INC. has been building houses in Naples since 1951. Who could ask for more experience? Not only do they build and remodel existing homes, they do the BEST work in town! They are well-known for the details to every level of construction fine tuning every element to meet the owners expectations and needs.
They not only build the home of your dreams but they will take care of you and the work they have done well into the future. Unlike many builders that purchase a menial insurance policy to cover the workmanship of their construction, AVA stands behind their workmanship for years to come. The people who work for AVA are their to make you feel at ease through every step of the process and help you make the decisions needed to build and create a home that will endure for many years. They have been well-established in Port Royal and Downtown Naples for over 60 years now and have built amazing structures.
I have had the opportunity to see their work from plans, pilings, foundations to the final decorator touches and the workmanship is outstanding. You will not find better workmanship in Southwest Florida.
You may find that the owner is a bit eccentric but you will find that he has nothing but your best interests at heart. He can be a bit overwhelming but again he has and will continue to build and stand behind the product that they have built for ages. They have even been hired to go in and clean up the messes that other contractors in the area have created with poor workmanship and the inability or wiliness to guarantee the work. That is one thing you will never have to worry about with AVA, they will always be there to complete the project with excellent workmanship and a guarantee offered by no other.
You are a fool, if you go with the cheapest bid in this area because you will get just what you paid for, substandard workmanship. You need to consider what years of guaranteed quality workmanship will provide you from day one. And I know if you do, you will have no doubts about choosing the ONLY QUALITY CONTRACTOR in Collier County.

For more information on A. VERNON ALLEN visit their website at
http://www.avernonallenbuilder.com/index.php There website will share a gallery of homes built by this quality contractor as well as remodeled (special projects) homes with before and after pictures. From this site you will also find more background on the company, links to sites in Naples and contact information for AVA.

Thinking about building or just remodeling~ Want quality with a guarantee~ Contact them today!

Sunny Naples

2011-08-01T17:28:00.000-04:00

Beautiful Sunny weather in Naples today. A great day to take in the beach with clear baby blue skies laying on sugar white sand listening to the sound of the tide washing in and out while reading a new suspense novel enjoying my solitude followed by a long walk along the south shore of Naples along the beach backed by Gordon Drive all the way to point where you can see Keewaydin in the distance. Then the walk back to 16th South, a dip in the Gulf, a bit more sun to dry off before loading up the car and heading home. This is the life in Naples when you are unemployed but enjoying the life while you can.

The beaches in Naples are beautiful and anyone who visits the area needs to make sure they spend some time walking the shore that is not completely contaminated with condominiums common in many other areas of the coast but homes to millionaires. I've had the opportunity to see many of the homes decorated and just built through the years and it is never the size that amazes me, it is often the furnishing or decor. You look at them and you would agree with me I am sure, who lives here. No one who takes their shoes off and just sits down. No one who puts their feet up on a table or the sofa. There are decorative statues or in one carousal horses set out but there were no personal items, keepsakes or decorative pieces on the kitchen counters. Nothing seems out of place anywhere. In fact, many of the furnishings look like museum pieces and you might wonder as I do~ just where do you put your feet just to watch the news. There are walls decorated in cloth or marble floors that clearly need polishing daily to eliminate any foot prints. At least if I lived there they would. I don't know about you but I like walking around in my bare feet; I like to put my feet up on the furniture once in a while. Don't get me wrong, I like everything in it's proper place in my house and I like my home clean, tidy and decorated. However, I also like to feel like it is a home; that someone lives there; that you can touch things; or set something down. I think my home is better (sure smaller than the monstrosities) and it feels lived in. It's okay to put the paper on the table for the day or hang clothes to dry in the laundry, put bananas on the counter, or forget to make the bed once in a while. My home has breakables and items I don't want others touching all the times but you can just sit, enjoy yourself, relax, recline and take a nap in comfort. I think I prefer mine over theirs. You?

Kamela Patton- Collier's New Superintendant of Schools

2011-07-26T17:05:00.000-04:00

Official Ceremony of New
Collier County Superintendent,
Dr. Kamela Patton taking office

Collier Public Schools has a new leader, Dr. Kamela Patton who believes communication is the key to building trust. I am confident that the Dr. Patton will be quite successful in Collier if she can rebuild the collaboration and morale of many stakeholders that suffered a the hands of the former superintendent, Dr. Dennis Thompson. Thanks to the current School Board we are not experiencing the same Sunshine Law controversy over a superintendent termination that was 'hot news' in Collier for quite some time when Dr. Thompson first took leadership. Unfortunately that entire situation tarnished Dr. Thompson's perception from day one. It was the untimely demise of Ray Baker and the contract settlement that ended the reign of former School Board member Linda Abbott since many believe she was instrumental in the poor handling of the superintendent situation at that time. Now that three years have past and the board has new life and leadership, the school district may now move forward with hopes of redefining itself as a force among school districts in this state. At her swearing in to the office of Superintendent of Collier County Public Schools, Dr. Kamela Patton stated "I am so excited to be your Superintendent. As I have said right along, this district isn’t broken – it is a great district and I’m happy to be here to enhance it in any way I can.Communication is what it is all about for me and I pledge to communicate regularly with you – staff and members of the community – hopefully in fresh, innovative, and perhaps some unexpected ways.
I have hit the ground running, as they say, already meeting with staff and various community groups. In the weeks and months ahead, I will continue to reach out to you. In the meantime, if you need to reach me, I invite you to do so."(collier.kk12.fl.us)
Dr. Patton claims to want to engage all stakeholders in collaboration building trust and an open relationship with them. She also believes in multi-level management, meetings and input from everyone. This is quite encouraging since from my experience and knowledge of the last administration communication was not open, collaboration did not include everyone and morale was down district wide. Although Dr. Patton stated that this district is not broken, it will be up to her to pick up the pieces that have not been interactive or working in the past few years and put them back together into an efficiently working model. After reviewing her application and resume, it is apparent to this writer that she does have extensive experience with legislative platforms, budgets, accountability, technology, community involvement, statutory compliance, team-building and diversity. She believes in testing and evaluating realizing that everyone working in this district must focus on closing the achievement gap between the underachievers and overachievers. But that is easier said than done. Anyone who has worked with children knows that is the goal. Now is her chance to help Collier County use the data they have to achieve those goals while meeting the demands of our state and federal governments.
I want to commend Dr. Patton for taking the first step towards helping those underachieving schools by changing leadership. I believe all the principals relocated are excellent at what they do whether school was and "A" school or not. Some schools in our district have more disadvantages as other which influences the grade (unfortunately). Hopefully a shift in management will help. It's good for schools to get new management periodically anyways. It helps to integrate new ideas from new perspectives where steady management can become stagnant. I also hope that Dr. Patton takes a really close look at all the leadership in Collier reviewing all aspects of their successes and failures. It's great that Dr. Patton believes Principals should hold people accountable; have data charts for teachers; reach out to the community; and manage the operation and maintenance of their site but I can only hope she will have close oversight over these Principals. Every once in a while a little house cleaning needs to be down especially if Principals become too comfortable, cocky or dominant. We shall see if the morale in all schools improves, the grades in schools improve, and if Dr. Kamela Patton is really a "people person" who will connect with the students, community, employees, businesses, foudations, universities, unions, and all other stakeholders in Collier County Schools. I wish her luck but I know many are anticipating her changes and management style.

Family Fun!!

2011-07-25T15:36:00.000-04:00

Naples has many entertaining, educational and fun activities to offer your whole family. You may find the beach or swimming pool will hold the interest of the kids most of the time but your visit will be less monotonous when you take the time to plan and explore some of the other family-friendly activities available to you in Southwest Florida. Oh don't get me wrong, you want to some of your time on our beautiful beaches with the white sugar sand, palm trees and mild currents. You may experience a dolphin sighting; enjoy a bit of shelling; take a refreshing swim in the gulf; or build a memorable sand castle as a family. And don't forget to take advantage of our majestic sunsets. Although you may hear these common words - "I'm bored!" from your children if you don't mix up the activities a bit.

Here are a few suggestions to help you plan your stay--

Coral Cay Adventure Golf: spend the morning or early evening (when it's not so hot in the summer) to take in a game of putt-putt (adventure golf). It's great fun for the whole family. Coral Cay offers two different courses, open 10 am- 11 pm daily and is only minutes east of downtown Naples at 2205 Tamiami Trail East ~ 239-793-4999 ~ coralcaygolf.com
King Richard's Family Fun Park: Everyone will find something to enjoy at King Richards! It features a variety of games, entertainment and services including laser tag, batting cages, go-kart race track, Dungeon Drop, rock climbing wall and an huge game room. It's a great place to take children 8 and older since many of the activities may have height requirements. It's conveniently located between Vanderbilt Drive and Pine Ridge Road on Airport Road (6780 N.) ~ 239-598-2042~ kingrichardspark.net
Sun-n-Fun Lagoon: This enormous water park is located off Livingston Road in North Naples in the North Collier Regional Park and is filled with many water features to keep everyone busy for hours. Enjoy shooting water pistols or dumping buckets on one another while you keep yourselves refreshed in one of the four pools; floating in the lagoon; sliding on one of the large slides. There is also a tadpole pool for little ones. Spend the day and enjoy lunch at the snack bar. Call for hours of operation. 15000 Livingston Road ~ 239-252-4021 ~ colliergov.net
Naples Pier: The Naples Pier has been a community landmark since 1888. Enjoy the view of the beaches for miles from the vantage point of the pier or fish from the pier that extends 1,000 feet into the Gulf of Mexico anytime of the day. Frozen bait is available on the pier and you do not need a license to fish from the pier but you will need your own gear. You may catch a small shark, red fish, grouper, catfish, snapper and . . . . This is also a great place to watch one of our memorable sunsets. The Pier is located at 25-12th Avenue South ~ 239-213-3062
Naples Botanical Gardens: Be inspired and captivated by 170 acres of tropical garden features designed by some of the finest landscape architects in the world. You will find gardens cultivated from Brazil, Asia and the Caribbean as well as a Water Garden filled with water lilies, papyrus and lotuses plus 90 acres of restored natural Southwest Florida habitat. Your children will enjoy the interactive children's garden with it's two story tree house or the Butterfly house where butterflies may actually land on your shoulder or taking a walk through the preserve and trails. This is a beautiful place and one of a kind. You will want to plan a whole day of fun around this amazing Florida natural experience. 4820 Bayshore Drive ~ 239-643-7275 ~ naplesgarden.org
Naples Zoo and Carribean Garden: This is no ordinary walk-a-bout zoo. Your family will enjoy hand feeding the giraffes; coming eye-to-eye with apes, zebras, tigers and bears; or participate in alligator feedings; watch a show; or cruise through the island of monkeys in the tropical jungle of this historic botanical garden originally created by Jungle Larry himself. Located across from the Coastland Mall and Fleishman Park at 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road ~ 239-262-5409 ~ napleszoo.org
Everglades Island Airboat Tours and Totch's Island Tours: Take a guided airboat tour in a small airboat with cushioned elevated seats through the back country seeing the natural wild habitat of the everglades or an open water trip to the private island of Totch's for shelling and lunch. For reservations and information contact 1-866-626-2833 or 239-695-2333 ~ Evergladeairboat@aol.com ~ www.airboateverglades.com ~ 929 Dupont St. (off State Road 29 just before the Everglades Bridge)
Cruise Naples- JetSki Tours: See dolphins, manatees, pelicans and more. Journey through the vast mangroves on a guided tour through Naples Gordon River and the Coastal Waterways that can be customized to meet your needs with beach picnics, water and shelling adventures. Older children may prefer to explore on their own enjoying a day on the open waters. Located at 1200 5th Avenue S. ~ 239-263-4949 ~ cruisenaplesflorida.com
Naples Boat Charters: Reserve a day of private sightseeing, fishing or a sunset cruise for up to 6. See Naples from the water. A spectacular experience for all. For reservations contact 239-593-7475 ~ www.naplesboatcharters.net
Tour Naples by Trolley, Sedway or Sea: Naples Trolley offers different tours at different times of year. You will need to contact them for more information but it is a treat to see Naples in an old fashion trolley. Or tour on a Sedway while wearing a wireless headset for a safe, fun and informative tour of historic downtown Naples. Or spend the entire day on an airboat touring the Everglades enjoying the natural wildlife and habitat. Located at 1010 6th Avenue S. ~ 239-262-7300 ~ www.experience-naples.com.
Boat Rentals at Park Shore Marina: Rent and captain a high quality cruise or fishing boat if you enjoy exploring on your own. Or the marina offers offshore and backwater fishing charters and guided sightseeing tours as well as kayak rentals, ship store, fuel dock, bait, tackle and sundries. Conveniently located on the north side of the Village of Venetian Bay at 4310 Gulfshore Blvd. N. ~ 239-434-0724 ~ www.naplesflboatrentals.com

As you can see there is quite a bit to do in Naples without even venturing to Marco, Fort Myers or many of the surrounding Southwest Florida areas. We also invite you to enjoy the shops and restaurants on 5th Avenue South; Third Street South and the Mercato in North Naples. You may also want to spend a morning on one of the many golf courses in our town or take the children to one of our Community Parks which all include playgrounds and other activities.

If you are not planning your trip this year, you will want to add the Golisano Children's Museum of Naples (C*MON) to your list. It is scheduled to open in February 2012. It will be an educational interactive museum for children that will encourage exploration, and enhance curiosity in an engaging meaningful fun way for all those who visit. www.cmon.org ~ 239-514-0084

Rainy Day?!?

2011-06-18T11:14:00.000-04:00

The skys are gray and it looks like rain today in sunny Naples, Florida. But don't fret, there are many things to do. You can read a good book in the comfort of your air conditioned home. You can catch a great movie at my favorite theatre located at Mercato- Silver Spot Cinemas. You will enjoy the comfort of posh leather seating while watching the latest movies with a date, a group of friends or even by yourself. BUT Don't forget a drink ( wine, beer . . .) or a snack to take into the theatre with you so you can enjoy all the comforts available. Afterwards have a cocktail at one of the establishments conveniently located in the Mercato shops- The Pub for a great Ale; Pure for a special concoction; the Blue Martini or even the Cigar Bar. If it's dinner time plan on eating at one of the great restaurants located in the Mercato. They all offer excellent food with a variety of cuisine to satisfy any one's palate.

If you are lucky enough to plan your night out the first Friday of the month, you will also enjoy live music from 6-9 pm outdoors on the green between the Pub and Pure. I have enjoyed many of the bands that have played throughout the year. It is also a great place to allow the kids to run while you are listening to music. And did I mention it is FREE!

Today looks like a day for a movie for me and dinner at McCormick and Schmucks. I am being encouraged by the men in my life to go see Hangover 2. Not my first choice but I do hope it is good. If you have seen it or have any insight, please let me know. Hope you have an enjoyable weekend and remember I have only mentioned a couple of things you can do in Naples on a rainy afternoon. There are many more to cover in the future, so stay tune.

Hot and Humid-But I love It!

2011-06-16T16:39:00.000-04:00

It is another hot and humid day in Naples, Florida with the sun shining amongst blue skies with very few clouds. There is not a wind today or if there is you will not notice. You can enjoy the beach, a dip in the pool or a cool beverage to help you tolerate the heat. Naples is located in Southwest Florida and I love it. The medians are well-landscaped; buildings all built to code; cleanliness is unsurpassed by any other city I have ever visited and the average automobile is a luxury model. You will not see poverty if you travel through Naples because for years it has been well-hidden. You will notice the shopping districts, banks, golf-courses and multitude of restaurants that are surrounded by multi-million dollar homes in many areas of the city.

Naples is a great place to visit and the perfect place to live especially if you grew up here as I did. Naples has all the amenities to keep most people busy. There are fishing charters, festivals, theatres, live performances, golf, tennis, and much, much more. The city has definitely grown in the forty years I have lived here. I have lived a couple other places in my adult life and visited many others but none of them compare to the clean feeling you get when you drive around Naples. It has the best health care for all ages and the school system has always been outstanding. I do miss the small town feel but I enjoy the amenities that have come with the growth- parks, well-maintained beaches, excellent roads, . . . It's a great place. If you have never been to Naples, Florida, now is the time to plan a visit. I am betting you will fall in love with it. I have:)

Don't get me wrong, there is poverty in Naples and everyone including myself is not wealthy. It is just the vibe generated by what you see when you visit. Most of the full time residents of Naples are middle class and live in mid-range housing but unless you are looking that is not what will catch your eye when visiting our town. It's just the way the town is and has been for as long as I can remember. Maybe that is one of the reason I like living here.

Key West Express

2011-04-13T16:53:00.000-04:00

Naples to Key West via Ft. Myers Beach or Marco Island on the Key West Express which sails year round from both locations. You can find more information at www.keywestexpress.us or call 239-463-5733. It is a great way to enjoy the sun and travel to Key West in half the time it would take to drive. Not to mention you avoid all the stress that driving can bring upon us. You will see amazing sea life and enjoy panaramic views on this trip. All you do is relax and enjoy. Now that is the way to visit the keys, don't you agree? Not to mention you can enjoy a cocktail and the captain takes you back to port as your very own designated driver. Make it safe and simple for all by booking a room at the Marco Marriott Resort or the Lani Kai on Ft. Myers Beach allowing you to enjoy your vactation with no worries of driving while enjoying yourself. So pack for the sun or a day or more of fun in Southwest Florida. I live in Naples and I, too, enjoy a weekend sailing to the south (Keys) and staying at the beach every once and in awhile. It is the perfect way to relax and unwind!

Beautiful Sunshine

2011-04-12T15:44:00.000-04:00

Naples, Florida is especially a beautiful place this time of year. The sun shines daily with limited cloud cover and mild winds. Today I spent the morning taking a leisurely 10 mile ride on my bike enjoying the sites as well as the flowers, bushes and trees that are blooming this time of year. Lately we have experienced limited rain fall which is unfortunate for the drought index but most enjoyable for anyone, like myself, who likes to spend time outdoors this time of year. If you have been to Naples, please share your experiences and thoughts and if you haven't plan on visiting us soon. There are always things to do and regular entertainment for your enjoyment. If you need to know where to stay or what to do, if you are planning a trip to our beautiful city, let me know and I will be glad to give you several suggestions. I hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful sunny day where ever you are.

Beach Photos

2011-03-04T11:05:00.000-05:00

Naples Pier

Naples Beach

Naples Sunset

Perfect Sunshine

2011-03-02T15:16:00.000-05:00

Spent this morning basking in the sunshine at one my favorite Olde Naples beaches just south of the Pier. The sky was a beautiful cloudless blue, the sand sugary soft, and the water a bit too cold, yet for this Napolean. It was wonderfully peaceful and serene while I walked the gulf's edge and sat reading a new mystery novel listening to the sounds of the ocean waves. What an ideal morning.

Where to Stay In Naples

2011-03-01T20:21:00.000-05:00

Naples offers the beach, golf, sun and much more. You can enjoy all of these things at the Naples Beach Hotel located on Gulfshore Boulevard on the beach with it's own 18 hole golf course. You can schedule Tee time and beach time on the same day without leaving the grounds of your hotel. The hotel also offers a large pool with a beach/pool bar, and large green area to enjoy a leisurely afternoon. If you want to feel of olde Naples, I suggest you stay in one of the cottage rooms which are decorated in bold colors and have a field of an olde beach house even though they are part of a compex within the property. Rooms are also available in the tower and in the newly remodeled area of the hotel. You'll find the food to be exceptional at the hotel restaurants if you want to just rest and enjoy the hotel without venturing to town. However the Naples Beach Hotel is conveniently located between the Naples Coastland Mall that features the Cheesecake Factory and other restaurants as well as the food court and Naples Downtown shopping and dining districts of 5th Avenue and 3rd Street South. The downtown area has numerous restaurants to satsify anyone's palate; the Sudgren Theatre where you can watch a show performed by the Naples Players; shop at many of the shops in the area. If you want to take a tour of Naples, please take a look at the trolley schedule and you get a wonderful treat. We hope you visit us soon and enjoy Naples as much as we do.

Beaches

2011-03-01T20:08:00.000-05:00

Naples has the most beautiful white sugar sand beaches in Florida that are accessible to both visitors and residents. Parking is available in the down town area at the end of each avenue and at specific parking areas. Visitors must pay a fee to park by meter on the avenues or by the day in parking garages or park lots. The beacher south of the Naples Pier in 'Olde Naples' are the most peaceful and serene if you enjoy walking without having to dodge people at all times. Just a word of advice- walk south. Although you do not have facilities at each avenue, you can easily walk north to the pier and use the facilites or even buy a snack at the snack bar on the pier itself. If you enjoy fishing, Naples Pier is a popular spot. There are also many charters available for deep sea fishing around Tin City and Naples Dock area. So join us in Naples, for some fun in the sun!