Southwest Florida Relocation Guide Fall 2024

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

RELOCATION GUIDE

COLLIER AND LEE COUNTIES

ADVENTURES IN NATURE, GOLF, BOATING, AND RECREATION

ART & CULTURE, CITY HIGHLIGHTS, LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES, REAL ESTATE, AND MORE

Your Home’s

True Potential

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DOWNTOWN NAPLES

Half mile north of 5th Avenue South 670 Ninth Street North

239.220.3535

NORTH NAPLES

2 blocks south of Wiggins Pass Road 13250 Tamiami Trail North

239.596.5959

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RELOCATION GUIDE

Associate Publisher Meegan Wyatt

EDITORIAL

Editor Cathy Chestnut

DESIGN

Art Director Laurie Spector

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Phil Borchmann

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Michael Caronchi; Arnold Collens; Dennis Goodman; James Greco; Jeff Herron Photography; Leif Johnson; Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau; Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau; Doug Thompson

ADVERTISING

Account Manager Kathleen Beuttel, 239-298-7506, kbeuttel@naplesillustrated.com

Advertising Services Coordinator Elizabeth Hackney

Marketing Manager Rebecca Desir

PRODUCTION

Production Director Selene M. Ceballo

Production Manager Lourdes Linares Digital Pre-Press Specialist George Davis

Web Editor Abigail Duffy

Production Coordinator Ileana Cabán

Advertising Design Coordinators Anaely J. Perez Vargas, Jeffrey Rey

OPERATIONS

Chief Operating Officer Todd Schmidt

Circulation Manager Marjorie Leiva Logistics Manager Omar Morales

Distribution Manager Judy Heflin

Accounts Receivable Specialist Ana Coronel

Circulation Assistant Britney Stinson

IT Manager Omar Greene

Group Publisher Terry Duffy Editorial Director Daphne Nikolopoulos

Creative Director Olga M. Gustine

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PUBLISHERS

❚ From inspiration to installation, our design team focuses on what matters, YOU! With exceptional product, extraordinary design services, and unlimited possibilities, Clive Daniel Home provides everything you could imagine in crafting your dream home. Voted the Best New Showroom in the USA and Best Showroom in SW Florida for ten consecutive years.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CHARMS

Are you already one of the privileged individuals who calls Southwest Florida home or is considering relocating to this ever-expanding community?

Florida—the third-most populous state— is currently the second fastest-growing, too. You’re not alone in discovering the Sunshine State’s advantages and this region’s special charms.

I have had the pleasure of growing up and raising my family in Southwest Florida, interspersed by long stints away. There is a long list of reasons why I hold Southwest Florida close to my heart, and many of these special places and experiences are showcased in these pages.

Here you’ll find information that will help you decide where to live, shop, dine, and play. You will also get a detailed overview of Collier and Lee counties and their incorporated cities—as well as health care, education, and transportation—and a whole lot more.

If you want to get outdoors, Southwest Florida has unparalleled natural resources and world-class facilities. (And we conveniently average more than 250 days of sunshine each year.) Beaches, golf, tennis, pickleball, sportfishing, watersports, biking, and hiking we’re surrounded by unending opportunities, no matter where you live in the region.

Because of a consistent annual increase in the local population, the housing market remains strong and the array of options to fit a range of budgets, needs, and lifestyles continues to expand.

Reading through this guide, it should become clear why so many people are choosing to plant roots in Southwest Florida.

Explore the area and settle in. We’re glad you’re here.

Cathy Chestnut Editor

Fun FACTS 10

About Southwest Florida

Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León is credited as the first European to reach Florida in 1513. He returned in 1521 with two ships, 200 men, and ca le, landing along the Southwest Florida coast and releasing the cows into the scrubland. De León was fatally injured when the explorers were a acked by the native Calusa people who ruled a wide range of Southwest Florida. The Spaniards’ abandoned ca le drew resourceful se lers and became a vital commodity following the Civil War.

Inventor Thomas Alva Edison bought a winter home in Fort Myers on the banks of the Caloosahatchee in 1885. He publicly professed his love of the community, announcing: “There is only one Fort Myers in the United States, and there are 90 million people who are going to find it out.”

Southwest Florida is a top birdwatching spot. In Collier County, Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a significant nesting ground for the endangered wood stork. In Lee County, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Preserve on Sanibel Island supports an array of wading and migratory birds. There are 26 sites in both counties along the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail 1 2 3

4

In 1923, Collier County was named for Barron Gift Collier Sr., who at one time was reputed to be the largest landowner in the state. The New York City advertising mogul and real estate developer agreed to complete the construction of the Tamiami Trail (its name derived from its Tampa-to-Miami route) from Naples to Miami. Collier County was carved from Lee County and is the largest county in the state by geographical size.

5

Big-game sportfishing was born when William Halsey Wood landed a 93-pound tarpon (known as the “Silver King”) near Sanibel Island on March 25,

1885, with an ordinary rod and reel—news that traveled around the world and made the region the epicenter of the brand-new sport.

6

The top employers in Lee and Collier counties are the two primary health care providers: NCH Healthcare System with more than 7,000 employees and Lee Health with more than 13,500.

7

Since the 1990s, Southwest Florida has claimed the No. 1 spot in the nation for golf holes per capita. With some communities featuring two and, in some cases, three 18-hole courses, Collier and Lee counties boast more than a combined 150 courses.

8

Time-honored community traditions include the annual Swamp Buggy Races held since 1918 in Collier County, where the unique vehicles were invented for the rugged backcountry, and the Edison Festival of Light Parade in Fort Myers, which began in 1938 to honor Thomas Alva Edison. The Izaak Walton Tarpon Tournament was founded on Useppa Island circa 1908, and is the oldest tarpon

tournament in the United States.

9

For paddlers, Lee County’s Great Calusa Blueway encompasses 190 miles through three distinct regions of the Gulf of Mexico coast. Collier County’s Paradise Coast Blueway paddling trail features six day trips from Everglades City to the village of Goodland. The Everglades Waterway kayak and canoe trail is 99 miles long.

10

Lee County is home to two Major League Baseball spring-training facilities and stadiums for the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins. Spring training has been at home in Southwest Florida since the Terry Park Ballfield stadium, east of Fort Myers, was built to host the Philadelphia Athletics in 1925.

OPENING OF THE TAMIAMI TRAIL IN 1928

MINNESOTA TWINS MASCOT T.C. BEAR

MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS

The Sunshine State is teeming with terrestrial, aquatic, and avian wildlife.

More than 130 native species are threatened or endangered—and many make their home in Southwest Florida. Whether they’re outgoing or shy, get to know a few of your neighbors’ “cool factors.”

LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE

scientific name: Caretta caretta

adult size: 3 feet

weight : 250 to 300 pounds

lifespan : More than 50 years

habitat : Temperate and tropical regions of the ocean

diet : Fish, crustaceans, jellyfish, and occasionally seagrass and algae

status: Threatened in Florida, endangered in other parts of the world

Cool factor: Mature sea turtles return to the beaches where they hatched to lay their eggs.

FLORIDA PANTHER

scientific name: Puma concolor coryi

adult size: 7 to 8 feet from the nose to tail tip

weight : 100 to 160 pounds

lifespan : 12 to 15 years

habitat : Confined to Southwest Florida’s pinelands, hardwood hammocks, and mixed swamp forests

diet : Deer, wild hogs, raccoons, armadillos, snakes, alligators

status: Endangered, with an estimated 120 to 230 panthers in Florida, making them one of the rarest and most endangered mammals in the world

Cool factor: Panthers are strong swimmers. They have a keen sense of smell and a 130-degree field of vision.

EASTERN INDIGO SNAKE

scientific name: Drymarchon couperi

adult size: 6 to 8 feet long

weight : Up to 9-plus pounds, averaging about 5 pounds

habitat : Upland forests, hardwood hammocks, Florida scrub

diet : Small mammals, reptiles, amphibians status: Threatened

Cool factor: This snake eats its prey live, and hunts and consumes other snakes, including venomous ones. It is also the longest native snake in North America.

ROSEATE SPOONBILL

scientific name: Platalea ajaja

adult size: 2.5 to 3.5 feet, with a wingspan

of 4.5 to 5 feet

weight : Up to 4 pounds

habitat : Shallow wetlands, marshes, bays, or swamps

diet : Small fish, insects, small aquatic crustaceans

status: Threatened, protected by the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act

Cool factor: Shortly after hatching, spoonbill chick bills gradually flatten and develop into their iconic flared shape after a few weeks’ time.

RIVER OTTER

scientific name: Lontra canadensis

adult size: 3 to 5 feet

weight: 11 to 31 pounds

lifespan: 10 years

habitat: Rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, and swamps

diet: Fish, crayfish, turtles

status: Native

Cool factor: The tail comprises 40 percent of total body length and facilitates strong swimming skills. Otters can swim eight miles per hour and dive to depths of 36 feet. They are mostly nocturnal and live in burrows on the banks of fresh or brackish waterbodies.

GOPHER TORTOISE

scientific name: Gopherus polyphemus

adult size: Up to 15 inches

weight: 8 to 15 pounds

lifespan: 40 to 60 years

habitat: Well-drained, sandy soils found in habitats such as longleaf pine sandhills, oak hammocks, scrub, pine flatwoods, dry prairies, and coastal dunes

diet: Low-growing plants, such as wiregrass, broadleaf grasses, gopher apple, and legumes

status: Threatened

Cool factor: The only tortoise naturally found east of the Mississippi River, they spend up to 80 percent of their time in burrows that average 15 feet long and more than 6 feet deep. These burrows offer shelter for more than 350 other species.

SANDHILL CRANE

scientific name: Antigone canadensis

adult size: Approximately 4 feet

adult size: 7 to 10 pounds

habitat: Marshlands, wetlands, and open fields

diet: Berries, seeds, small invertebrates

Cool factor: The sandhill crane mates for life, and pairs dance together to reinforce their bond.

Be a Good Neighbor

We all play a part in making sure these natives remain happy, healthy neighbors. Whether you are a long-time resident or first-time visitor, here are some tips for being a good neighbor.

• Leave nothing but footprints. A leading cause of harm to all creatures is plastic pollution. Bottle caps, ribbons, balloons, and monofilament fishing line commonly kill or maim birds, sea turtles, and marine mammals. (More than 700 pelicans die each year in Florida alone from entanglement in fishing gear.) Use less plastic and clean up litter, especially around waterways.

• Keep your eyes on the road. Observe safe speeds on the roads and on the water to avoid unnecessary collisions with wildlife.

• Don’t feed wildlife. This causes animals, including alligators, to lose their fear of people, posing a threat to humans and domestic animals—and to the animals that are being fed.

• Take nothing but pictures. Florida has strict laws that prohibit the capturing, harming, or harassment of Florida’s native species, including live shells, sea stars, urchins, and sand dollars at the beach.

GET UP-CLOSE The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is a nonprofit environmental protection organization established in 1964. Learn about Southwest Florida’s ecosystems, plants, and wildlife at the Dalton Discovery Center. Rent kayaks, take an electric boat tour, and stroll through native ecosystems. See gopher tortoises at the Christopher B. Smith Preserve. Go behind the scenes at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital. Find out more: conservancy.org.

NATIVE LANDSCAPES

FROM SWAMPS TO MANGROVE FORESTS, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA’S TERRAIN IS UNIQUE

To newcomers, Southwest Florida’s topography might seem flat and unchanging, but don’t let its subtleties fool you. Changes in elevation coupled with rainfall create distinct habitats that are home to a web of life for native wildlife and a wondrous spectrum of flora. You are likely quite familiar with the beach and coastal areas, so here’s a primer on the other natural habitats you will encounter as you explore these sometimes hardy, and sometimes fragile, lands.

PINE UPLANDS: This habitat is high in elevation, at least for Southwest Florida. A few inches in elevation can make a big difference, and this elevation allows for pine forests, which are high and dry areas dominated by needleleafed slash pine. The trees get their name from the early settlers who “slashed” the bark of the pines and collected their sap to make turpentine and rosin.

HARDWOOD HAMMOCKS: Tropical hardwood hammocks are found along both

coasts of South Florida, and throughout the Everglades and Florida Keys. Hammocks are also called “tree islands” because they rise from wet, low-lying areas. Oaks, sweetgum, hickories—more than 120 species of tropical

plants—provide cool and shady refuge for deer and other wildlife during hot summer months.

CYPRESS SWAMPS: These swamps experience seasonal changes in water levels

CYPRESS SWAMP

BY CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

that fluctuate during wet and dry months. Elevations determine hydroperiods—how long soils are saturated or flooded. Many species have adapted to live in this variable habitat, such as the predominant cypress tree. Their knees (above-ground extensions of their roots) and their buttresses (wide fluted bases) provide stability in the soft, organic soils and increase surface area for gas exchange. Cypress trees are deciduous conifers; they lose all their needles in the fall and winter.

MANGROVE FORESTS: Mangroves play a unique and important role in Southwest Florida’s ecosystem. Red mangroves ring coastal estuaries. Their intricate root systems act as a nursery for many small fish, crustaceans, shellfish, and other marine life during their earliest stages of life. They also provide shelter and nutrients for wading birds and land creatures and protect the coastline from storm-driven

SAWGRASS MARSHES: These grassy, freshwater wetlands allow for water to move from north to south, making its way from Lake Okeechobee into Florida Bay. Grasses and sedges grow in these important habitats for amphibians. Sawgrass is a sedge with “teeth” lining the edges of its leaves. Marshes provide a protected haven for alligators, otters, apple snails, dragonflies, and wading birds to nest and raise their young.

OPEN-WATER SLOUGHS: Sloughs (pronounced SLOOs) are deep marsh habitats that are slow-moving paths of freshwater utilized by many species, sometimes as a travel corridor. This environment is active with wildlife because it remains wet year-round. Sloughs shed floodwaters and improve the quality of the water as it makes its way into the estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Bay.

THE EVERGLADES: WORLDS APART

“There are no other Everglades in the world. They are, they have always been, one of the unique regions of the earth; remote, never wholly known. Nothing anywhere else is like them.”

—Marjory Stoneman Douglas

The Everglades region—a vast, nearly flat, seabed that was submerged at the end of the last Ice Age—is so unique that it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Here’s why, according to these excerpts from the official statement of its significance:

Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness reserve on the North American continent. Its juncture at the interface of temperate and subtropical America, fresh and brackish water, shallow bays and deeper coastal waters creates a complex of habitats supporting a high diversity of flora and fauna. It contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere, the largest continuous stand of sawgrass prairie, and the most significant breeding ground for wading birds in North America.

The Everglades contains vast subtropical wetlands and coastal/marine ecosystems including freshwater marshes, tropical hardwood hammocks, pine rocklands, extensive mangrove forests, saltwater marshes, and seagrass ecosystems important to commercial and recreational fisheries. The mixture of subtropical and temperate wildlife species is found nowhere else in the United States.

Everglades National Park provides refuge for more than 20 rare, endangered, and threatened species (including the Florida panther, snail kite, American alligator, crocodile, and manatee). It provides important foraging and breeding habitat for more than 400 species of birds, includes the most significant breeding grounds for wading birds in North America, and is a major corridor for migration.

MADE IN PARADISE

For a locally crafted piece of paradise to share with your northern pals (or to keep for yourself), consider a souvenir or culinary delight made in Southwest Florida

CLEOPATRA’S BARGE NAPLES MEDALLION

The signature Naples Medallion celebrates the iconic Naples Pier and was designed by Marilyn Janss, who founded her downtown boutique in 1966 as the city’s first fine jewelry designer. The medallion is available in 14-karat gold or sterling silver and a variety of sizes, backgrounds, and frames. (cleopatrasbarge.com)

CONGRESS JEWELERS SEALIFE COLLECTION

No doubt you have found yourself doing the “Sanibel stoop,” bent at the waist as you eagerly survey the shell-strewn shoreline. Congress Jewelers on Sanibel Island has captured these memories in its proprietary, hand-crafted Sealife by Congress collection, featuring a wide range of pendants in gold, enamel, and pavé diamonds of various local shells for necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. (congressjewelers.com)

EDISON

AND FORD WINTER ESTATES SHOPPE

This high-profile landmark in Fort Myers has a unique on-site gift shop with so many one-ofa-kind offerings that it also has an off-site store in the Edison Mall called Edison Ford Shoppe. Both retail locations have an extensive book selection, Edison and Ford memorabilia, kids’ games, local artwork, and kitchen items. (edisonfordwinterestates.org)

FORT MYERS BREWING COMPANY

There are several awardwinning breweries in the region, but Fort Myers Brewing Company was the first to open in Lee County in 2013 and it continues to lead Southwest Florida’s craft beer movement. Fort Myers Brewing creates an award-winning line of flagship beers in addition to seasonal brews and small-batch specialties. Its ales, pilsners, stouts, and IPAs are poured and sold at hundreds of bars, restaurants, and retail outlets, including Publix and Total Wine. Fort Myers Brewing’s 40,000-square-foot Gateway facility includes a tasting hall, event space, beer garden, and food-truck zone. It offers tours and regular events. (fmbrew.com)

FRESH CITRUS & REGIONAL FLAVORS

Of course, you can find fresh citrus and orange juice around these parts. Here are two places where you can pick up a bag of vitamin-C goodness or have it shipped north: In Lee County, grab a couple of gallons of freshsqueezed orange juice and citrus goodies at Sun Harvest Citrus in Fort Myers. Learn the difference between honeybell, Valencia, and temple oranges and order gift baskets brimming with red grapefruit, mandarins, or tangelos. Sun Harvest also sells smoothies, orange blossom honey, Key lime cookies, Florida jellies and marmalades, and other regional delights. (sunharvestcitrus.com)

FORT MYERS BREWING COMPANY

In Collier County, South Naples Citrus Grove is the go-to for Key lime pie, citrus candy, and bags of fresh-picked oranges and grapefruits. The farm stand, established in 1978, is stocked with seasonal delights, including ruby red, pink, star grapefruit, honeybells, sugarbells, navels, honey tangerines, and Orlando tangelos. Find fresh-squeezed orange and grapefruit juices, gift baskets, swirled orange and vanilla soft-serve ice cream, jams, marmalades, and candies. (naplescitrus.com)

SUN HARVEST CITRUS

NAPLES SOAP COMPANY

Electric boat tours • Interactive educational galleries

Dynamic learning theater • Engaging daily programs

Native sea life touch tank • Wildlife encounters & MORE!

LEARN MORE AT CONSERVANCY.ORG

1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples, FL 34102

Tuesday - Saturday | 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

GATOR HAMMOCK

SAUCES & RUBS

If you like to crank up the heat, pick up one of Gator Hammock’s sauces, rubs, or mustards. The first in the line of products, Gator Sauce, launched in 1989. The Felda-based company’s growing line of handmade, all-natural condiments have been applauded by the Fiery Food Industry and featured on the Food Network. Gator Sauce, a blend of peppers, garlic, vinegar, and other spices, is sold in local grocery stores and utilized at are restaurants. Other condiments include Cooter Rubb, Swamp Mustard, Bull Gator, Gator Sprinkle, Lethal Gator, and Sawgrass Boil. (gatorhammock.com)

KRISTI’S KEY LIME COOKIES

Gourmet, handcra ed Kristi’s Key Lime Cookies are vanilla cookies smothered with a decadent Key lime, preservative-free topping and baked to order. All new: Kristi’s Orange Cookies. With a three-week shelf life, these kosher treats are popular as wedding favors and corporate gi s. They are sold at local a ractions, resorts, and boutique food stores, including Seed to Table and Three60 Market. (kristiskeylimecookies.com)

NAPLES SOAP COMPANY

A er struggling with eczema and psoriasis, Naples Soap Company Founder/CEO Deanna Wallin set out to find effective skincare solutions. In 2009, she opened Naples Soap Company in Naples’ Tin City to sell her all-natural s products that are free of preservatives and commercial additives. Naples Soap Company operates several retail stores in Florida. Find therapeutic bath bombs, allergen-free parfum, loofah soaps, body scrubs, and shampoo and conditioner bars at its coastalthemed shops in Estero, Naples, and Fort Myers. (naplessoap.com)

NORMAN LOVE CONFECTIONS

If you’re a chocolate connoisseur, you already know the name Norman Love. Since Norman Love Confections began cra ing ultra-premium chocolates in Southwest Florida in 2001, the award-winning, Fort Myers–based chocolatier has been lauded internationally by Forbes.com, The Huffington Post, The Daily Telegraph, and more. Norman Love has chocolate salons in Fort Myers, Estero, and Naples, and a pastry shop and café at Whole Foods Markets in Fort Myers and Naples. (normanloveconfections.com)

TASTE OF IMMOKALEE

Taste of Immokalee is a social enterprise that teaches entrepreneurship and real-world skills to Immokalee High School students. They develop family recipes spotlighting Immokalee’s crops and cultures, while learning about food science, marketing, accounting, operations, and public speaking. Its line of products is sold at Publix stores and small, organic grocers throughout Collier County. Taste of Immokalee incorporates Lipman Family Farms’ field-grown tomatoes into barbecue sauces, habanero and serrano hot sauces, and salsas. Best of all, profits

are donated to local charities. (tasteofimmokalee. com)

WICKED DOLPHIN

Since 2012, Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery in Cape Coral has been pulling in awards for its ever-growing line rums—black, silver, gold, premium, spiced, flavored. The distillery’s rums are made Florida sugar and ingredients. Handcra ed in small batches in an American copper-pot still, the rum is aged in white-oak barrels once used for premium Kentucky bourbon. The 100-proof RumShine infuses fresh fruits— strawberry or blueberry— picked at their peak of ripeness and comes in a Mason-style jar, imparting the spirit of moonshining in the ‘Glades frontier. Wicked Dolphin is sold and served in local restaurants, bar, and stores. The distillery also has a retail shop on-site and offers free tours. (wickeddolphinrum.com)

TOWER GALLERY

Tower Gallery on Sanibel Island is an artists’ cooperative featuring two-dimensional and three-dimensional mediums by two dozen artists. The gallery was founded in 1982 and features the work of popular regional artists—some you won’t find anywhere else. (towergallery.net)

NORMAN LOVE CONFECTIONS

WICKED DOLPHIN

KRISTI’S KEY LIME COOKIES

TOWER GALLERY

FOCUS ON ECONOMIC DIVERSITY

LOCAL LEADERS ARE EMBRACING EDUCATION, WORKFORCE TRAINING, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND REGIONAL COLLABORATIONS TO LAY A SOLID ECONOMIC FOUNDATION—FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW

There is some serious business happening in Southwest Florida, and we have the economy to prove it. The potent combination of a diverse commercial base and the nonstop population growth contribute significantly to the region’s vitality.

We no longer rely upon tourism, agriculture, and construction industries, which have historically carried the load. Rather, the economic base now includes emerging manufacturing, finance and insurance, and health care sectors. That assortment, combined with a solid workforce, attract American and global companies that are expanding within or relocating to the region. Existing businesses and entrepreneurs are thriving as well.

All of this means that Southwest Florida’s 1.44 million residents—as of 2022—can take comfort in knowing that our economic health offers stability during cyclical ups and downs.

The region consists of Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties, which are home to a labor force of 446,228, according to the 2023 Southwest Florida Educational and Workforce Outcomes Report. The analysis is a collaboration of the Regional Economic Research Institute (RERI) at Florida Gulf Coast University Lutgert College of Business, Florida SouthWestern State College and the FutureMakers Coalition, a Fort Myers workforce education and development initiative.

The five largest industries by employment are retail trade, accommodation and food services; construction; health care and social assistance; and administrative and waste

services, according to the report. Other sectors are adding jobs, as well.

For example, the professional and technical services sector now ranks as the second-fastest growing, just behind construction and almost even with health care and social services. Tech startups, services—such as spas, auto repair, and recreational rental outfits—and new restaurants and retail shops are a vital component of the local small-business ecosystem, which provides roughly a quarter of all jobs in Southwest Florida.

That economic diversity dynamic is fueled by the region’s population surge, which has exceeded the state’s growth by 16.9 percent since 2010. From 1990, Collier County’s compounded population growth average was 3.2 percent per year and Lee County’s grew by 2.8 percent annually. These rates are expected to consistently gain at least 1.2 percent annually in Collier County and 1.4 percent in Lee County through 2045, according to the RERI.

The bottom line: More people create higher demand in all sectors of the economy. This reality has prompted local leaders to collaborate with trade and technical schools, colleges, and universities on measures that will meet those needs. Efforts are being coordinated among educational institutions, employers, and public stakeholders to address today’s market demands while preparing for the future.

EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING

Regionally, a significant emphasis has been

placed on education. Southwest Florida’s community leaders understand that graduating high school seniors need to have a vision for their futures and ways to achieve those goals—learning a trade, starting a business, joining the military, or heading off to college. Academic success that results in obtaining a high school diploma and earning an industry certificate or higher degree begins when little ones entering kindergarten are ready to learn their ABC’s and 1, 2, 3’s.

These are two great examples of “cradleto-career pathway” collaborations focused on creating a sustainable workforce pipeline:

• Future Ready Collier, made up of 60 learning partners, wants to ensure that every child is prepared to enter kindergarten—the start of their academic journey—on strong footing, and that each high school senior graduates with a clear college or career path. The initiative, coordinated by Champions For Learning— Education Foundation of Collier County, is working on several fronts to identify and fill educational gaps throughout the expansive county. (Learn more: futurereadycollier.org)

• The FutureMakers Coalition is spearheaded by Collaboratory (formerly the Southwest Florida Community Foundation). It aims to transform Southwest Florida’s workforce by increasing the proportion of working-age adults with college degrees, professional and industry certifications, and other high-quality credentials to 55 percent by 2025.

FutureMakers has more than 260

participants representing business, education, government, nonprofits, philanthropy, residents, and students. The target population includes students and adults who haven’t pursued education beyond high school and adults who started a degree or certificate program but never finished.

Thanks to a $29 million federal grant, the FutureMakers Coalition has launched the

Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline to compensate employers who train under-skilled employees in four key sectors: PK-12 education, manufacturing, logistics, and health care.

(Learn more: futuremakerscoalition.com and collaboratory.org)

LOCAL INITIATIVES

Other highlights of local leaders working

together to diversify and expand the local economy :

COLLIER COUNTY

• The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce and its partnerships with regional, state, and national organizations focus on business retention, expansion, a raction, talent development, and relocation. The chamber

collaborates with government agencies, foundations, schools, and businesses on key issues shaping the local economy. It also cultivates future community leaders through the Leadership Collier Foundation. (Learn more: napleschamber.org)

COLLIER COUNTY

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE

• The Florida Culinary Accelerator @ Immokalee is a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen open to a membership base. Members select from a range of customized hours and plans to prepare, cook, and package their culinary creations for sale and distribution. (Learn more: collieredo.org)

LEE COUNTY

• The Lee County Economic Development Office provides business assistance to retain existing businesses, encourage entrepreneurship and attract new business, and promotes new private development projects and investment activity. (Learn more: leecountybusiness.com)

Greater Naples 2150 Goodlette-Frank Road N., 1st Floor, Naples239-262-6376napleschamber.org

Marco Island 1102 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island 239-394-7549marcoislandchamber.org

LEE COUNTY

Boca Grande 471 Park Ave., Ste. 3, Boca Grande 941-964-0568bocagrandechamber.com

Cape Coral 2051 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral 239-549-6900capecoralchamber.com

East Lee County 25 Homestead Road N., #11, Lehigh Acres 239-369-3322eastleechamber.com

Estero 9990 Coconut Road, Ste. 337, Estero 239-390-1137esterochamber.org

Fort Myers 1520 Lee Street, #101, Fort Myers

239-332-2930fortmyers.org

Fort Myers Beach 100 Lover’s Lane, Fort Myers Beach 239-454-7500fortmyersbeach.org

North Fort Myers 2787 N. Tamiami Trail, #10, North Fort Myers 239-997-9111 nfmchamber.org

Pine Island 10530 Stringfellow Road, Unit 3, Bokeelia 239-283-0888pineislandchamber.org

Sanibel & Captiva Islands 1159 Causeway Road, Sanibel Island

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Above Board Chamber of Florida 4616 Mackinaw Ave., North Myers

239-472-1080

239-910-7426aboveboardchamber.com

Chamber of Southwest Florida 16451 HealthPark Commons Drive, Ste. 104, Fort Myers 716-983-1075chamberswfl.com

SWFL, Inc.

25071 Chamber of Commerce Drive, Bonita Springs 239-992-2943swflinc.com

Southwest Florida Harmony Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 62053, Fort Myers

Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 1400 Colonial Blvd., Ste. 250, Fort Myers

239-291-5571swflhcc.org

239-418-1441 hispanicchamberflorida.org

• Leadership Lee County invites professionals and rising entrepreneurs to gain a deeper understanding of local challenges and opportunities while honing their community leadership skills. (Learn more: leadershipleecounty.org)

• The public-private Horizon Council advises the Lee County Board of Commissioners on retaining and encouraging the expansion of existing businesses, and attracting new and diversified employers. The council has up to 80 members representing municipalities, businesses, and education organizations. (Learn more: leecountybusiness.com)

• The Lee County Industrial Development Authority is a seven-member board appointed by the Lee County Commissioners that encourages manufacturing companies to utilize Industrial Development Revenue Bonds to finance projects. (Learn more: leecoida.com)

REGIONAL

• Florida Gulf Coast University’s FGCU Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship has earned national acclaim for its innovative model of teaching entrepreneurship across all academic disciplines and providing programs for veterans and students to launch their own businesses. The school’s Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program is a tuition-free program that provides equity-free funding directly to veteranowned businesses (Learn more: fgcu.edu/ school-of-entrepreneurship)

COLLIER COUNTY

NETWORKING

Leadership Collier Foundationnapleschamber.org

Naples Newcomers Club Northnaplesnewcomersnorth.com

Wake Up Naples napleschamber.org

Young Professionals of Naplesypnaples.com

WOMEN'S GROUPS

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Greater Naples Branch greaternaples-fl.aauw.net

The League Club leagueclub.org

Local Chapters of Business Women (LCBW) Naples Chapter lcbw.org

Naples Junior Woman’s Clubnaplesjuniors.com

Naples Woman’s Club napleswomansclub.org

Women’s Business League Naples Chapter womensbusinessleague.com

Women’s Foundation of Collier County wfcollier.org

Women of the (239) womenofthe239.com

Zonta Club zonta-district11.org

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS & NETWORKING GROUPS

LEE COUNTY

NETWORKING

Bonita Springs Newcomers Clubbonitaspringsnewcomersclub.com

Estero Newcomers Club esteronewcomers.com

New Resident Club of Cape Coralcapecoralnewresident.com

WOMEN’S GROUPS

American Business Women’s Association Palms of Edisonia Chapter palmsofedisonia.abwa.org

American Business Women’s Association Palms of Edisonia Chapter Imperial River Chapter abwaimperialriver.org

Fort Myers Woman’s Community Clubfmwcc.net

Junior League of Fort Myers jlfm.org

Local Chapters of Business Women (LCBW) Cape Coral Chapter lcbw.org

Local Chapters of Business Women (LCBW) Fort Myers Chapter lcbw.org

Zonta Club zonta-district11.org

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Goodwill SWFL MicroEnterprise Institute goodwillswfl.org/microenterprise

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) score.org

Small Business Development Center @ FGCU fsbdcswfl.org

Tamiami Angel Funds tamiamiangels.com

PENNY POWER

A one-cent sales surtax in Collier County collected from 2019 to 2023 raised an estimated $550 million to fund a slate of much-needed projects. The county shares a portion of the funds with the cities of Naples, Marco Island, and Everglades City. The tax money is funding:

• Hurricane resilience projects

• Three emergency medical services substation upgrades

• A career and technical training center

• A Veterans Administration nursing home

• Numerous road, bridge, and sidewalk improvements

• A central mental health and addiction treatment facility

• A new forensic evidence building that will be used by a variety of law enforcement agencies

• Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park

• Domestic Animal Services shelter improvements/replacement

• A workforce housing land trust

• Florida SouthWestern State College’s Corporate Training and Workforce Now Research Initiative assists local businesses in obtaining Quick Response Training grants to train new hires when their business expands and Incumbent Worker Training grants to train existing employees and develop customized training classes. (Learn more: fsw.edu)

• SWFL Tech is a nonprofit membership organization that encourages the development, growth, and a raction of technology companies and resources. It is comprised of technology companies and users, economic development groups, and higher education institutions. It promotes and expands the regional tech sector through seminars, forums, and educational programs. (Learn more: swfrtp.org)

every

TOP EMPLOYERS

GET TO KNOW SOME OF THE BIGGEST PLAYERS IN COLLIER AND LEE COUNTIES

Job seekers may naturally check out some of the largest employers in the region because they offer positions that fit all ranges of experience and skill level. The following are some of the largest employers based in Collier and Lee counties.

Some of the biggies are not included in this list: the federal government and national and regional retailers and chains, such as Home Depot, Walmart, and Publix Supermarkets. Here, as in many places, local government,

including school districts, as well as health care systems are the largest employers.

In Southwest Florida, November through April is prime time for tourists and returning seasonal residents, so many resorts, restaurants, and shops beef up staff temporarily to meet the fluctuating seasonal demand.

Here are some of the region’s biggest employers listed in alphabetic order, not size of workforce.

COLLIER COUNTY

ARTHREX

1370 Creekside Blvd., Naples 800-933-7001 • arthrex.com

This global medical device company—a leader in new product development—pioneered the field of arthroscopy and sports medicine. Arthrex’s global headquarters is in Naples, with worksites in Ave Maria, Bonita Springs, and Fort Myers, as well as internationally. Arthrex, a privately held company, has developed more than 14,000 surgical devices. More than 3,900 employees are based in Collier County.

DOWNING-FRYE REALTY

8950 Fontana Del Sol Way, Ste. 100, Naples 239-261-2244 • downingfrye.com

Since 2004, Downing-Frye Realty has been ranked in the top 100 real estate offices in the country based on closed sales volume. It focuses on selling properties in Collier County, Bonita Springs, and Estero.

GARGIULO

15000 Old 41 N., Naples 239-597-3131 • gargiulofarms.com

Gargiulo has farms and a packinghouse in Collier County for growing and distributing tomatoes. Founded in 1980, it is estimated to generate $58 million in annual revenues, and employs more than 2,000.

NCH

350 Seventh St. N., Naples 239-624-5000 • nchmd.org

NCH is an alliance of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and 3,200 employees with two hospitals and dozens of medical locations in Collier County and Bonita Springs. NCH is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

marriott.com

The international hotel chain has three luxury resort properties in Collier County—The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón, and JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort—in addition to other properties in Collier and Lee counties.

MOORINGS PARK

120 Moorings Park Drive, Naples 239-643-9111 • mooringspark.org

Moorings Park originated with the members of Moorings Presbyterian Church in 1977 as a nonprofit corporation designed to create a nondenominational community where retirees could enjoy a secure, comprehensive residential and health care program. With three local campuses, Moorings Park offers luxurious residences with upscale and casual dining, comprehensive physician services, state-of-the art fitness centers, social activities, and continuing care options.

OAKES FARMS

925 New Harvest Road, Immokalee 239-592-9024 • oakesfarms.com

Oakes Farms is one of the largest independently owned agribusiness operations in South Florida. Oakes Farms’ diversified portfolio includes farming, packing, shipping, and seafood aquaponics, and food service and retail markets Oakes Farms Market, Food & Thought, and Seed to Table.

PHYSICIANS REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM (COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS)

8300 Collier Blvd., Naples 239-354-6000 • physiciansregional.com

Community Health Systems is the parent company of Physicians Regional Healthcare System, which has three hospitals in Collier County and more than 700 employees.

Community Health Systems owns seven health care campuses along the gulfcoast.

SEMINOLE CASINO HOTEL IMMOKALEE

506 S. First St., Immokalee 239-658-1313 • seminoleimmokaleecasino.com

The Seminole Tribe owns and operates the Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee. Opened in 1994, it is Southwest Florida’s premier gaming destination, offering slot machines, table games, concerts, and 100 suites and rooms.

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

JAMES J. GRECO

VI AT BENTLEY VILLAGE (VI LIVING)

850 Retreat Drive, Naples 239-431-2100 • viliving.com

Vi at Bentley Village is a 156-acre continuing care retirement community featuring a par-3 golf course and exceptional amenities. Vi operates 10 communities across the United States where residents enjoy stylish apartments, world-class cuisine, and varied lifestyle programming.

OTHER MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN COLLIER COUNTY

CITY OF NAPLES

735 Eighth St. S., Naples 239-213-1000 • naplesgov.com

COLLIER COUNTY GOVERNMENT

3301 Tamiami Trail E., Naples 239-252-8999 • colliercountyfl.gov

COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

5775 Osceola Trail, Naples 239-377-0001 • collierschools.com

COLLIER HEALTH SERVICES (HEALTHCARE NETWORK) 1454 Madison Ave. W., Immokalee 239-658-3000 • healthcareswfl.org

DAVID LAWRENCE CENTERS FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 6075 Bathey Lane, Naples 239-455-8500 • davidlawrencecenters.org

GENESISCARE

733 4th Ave. N., Naples 239-436-5520 • genesiscare.com

GULF BAY GROUP OF COMPANIES

8156 Fiddlers Creek Parkway, Naples 239-732-9500 • gulfbay.com

JOHN R. WOOD PROPERTIES

9130 Corsea Del Fontana Way, Naples 239-262-1900 • johnrwood.com

NAPLES GRANDE BEACH RESORT 475 Seagate Drive, Naples 239-597-3232 • naplesgrande.com

NAPLES LAKE COUNTRY CLUB 13491 Tamiami Trail N., Naples 239-592-5533 • germaincars.com

PELICAN BAY FOUNDATION

6251 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples 239-597-8081 • pelicanbay.org

PHILHARMONIC CENTER FOR THE ARTS (ARTIS-NAPLES)

5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples 239-597-1900 • artisnaples.org

JW MARRIOTT MARCO ISLAND BEACH RESORT

LEE COUNTY

CHICO’S FAS

11215 Metro Parkway, Fort Myers

239-277-6200 • chicosfas.com

Through three brands—Chico’s, White House Black Market, and Soma—Chico’s FAS is a specialty retailer of apparel, accessories, and lifestyle products for women 30 years and older. The brand was founded in 1983 on Sanibel Island. Its corporate headquarters is located on an award-winning, 24-acre campus and there are several retail stores in Collier and Lee counties.

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers

239-590-1000 • fgcu.edu

FGCU opened its doors as the state’s tenth fouryear university in 1997. The 800-acre campus east of I-75 in south Lee County is home to six colleges with an enrollment of 16,000 students annually and a staff of 900-plus that includes 587 faculty. Half of the campus—400 acres—is restored or preserved natural habitats.

FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STATE COLLEGE

8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers

239-489-9300 • fsw.edu

The main campus of Florida SouthWestern

(FSW) is in Fort Myers in Lee County, with satellite campuses in Charlotte and Collier counties and outreach programs in Hendry and Glades counties. It has an enrollment of 16,576 in 45 academic programs and employs a staff of 1,245.

GARTNER

12651 Gateway Blvd., Fort Myers

800-213-4848 / 239-561-4000 • gartner.com

Gartner is the world’s leading research and advisory company, with more than 16,000 client organizations and 120 offices. Its Fort Myers campus is its largest to date and employs 2,100 people. Gartner provides technology research to senior executives with business-specific insights, tools, and advice. It offers high-wage jobs exceeding averages for the region and was named to Forbes’ annual list of the “2023 World’s Most Admired Companies.””

GULF COAST VILLAGE

(VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA)

1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral 239-772-1333 • gulfcoastvillage.com

Gulf Coast Village is a large continuing care community providing a range of expertly delivered health care options. It has been in operation since 1989 and is part of the nonprofit, faith-based Volunteers of America. Gulf Coast Village offers Seniors Choice at Home, a program that enables seniors to age in place at home. It has rapidly expanded with The

Preserve in Fort Myers and the development of the Colonnade in Estero, adding a combined 982 units and 750 employees.

HERC RENTALS

27500 Riverview Center Blvd., Ste. 100, Bonita Springs 239-301-7000 • hercrentals.com

Herc Rentals is a 57-year-old, full-service equipment rental company with 350 locations across the United States and Canada. In lieu of a headquarters, its Field Support Center provides support services for branches and other field operations and company-wide business functions.

HERTZ GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS

8501 Williams Road, Estero 239-301-7000 • hertz.com

The Hertz Corporation is one of the largest worldwide vehicle rental companies. It operates the Hertz, Dollar and Thrifty vehicle rental brands throughout North America and beyond. It is a major local employee at its headquarters and rental locations.

HOPE HOSPICE

9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers 239-482-4673 • hopehospice.org

Hope Healthcare is a nonprofit, comprehensive home health-care system nationally recognized as a leader in providing high-quality, innovative care. Serving Southwest Florida for more than 30 years, Hope Hospice cares for more than 3,000 individuals a day through a variety of programs at its locations in Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, and Glades counties.

LEE HEALTH

2776 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers 800-936-5321 • leehealth.org

Lee Health is the largest health-care system in Southwest Florida with more than 14,000 employees and 100-plus locations offering medical services.

GARTNER

RADIOLOGY REGIONAL CENTER

3660 Broadway Ave., Fort Myers 239-936-2316 • radiologyregional.com

Radiology Regional is one of the largest physician-driven diagnostic imaging providers in the Southeast United States. Radiology Regional has 13 imaging centers in Southwest Florida.

SHELL POINT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

13921 Shell Point Plaza, Fort Myers 800-780-1131 • shellpoint.org

Florida’s largest single-site continuing care retirement community for people 60 and older was established in 1968 by the nonprofit ministry Christian and Missionary Alliance Foundation Inc. Shell Point has approximately 2,500 residents and more than 1,200 employees. Amenities include a championship golf course, Gulf-access marina, dining, salon, and fitness, and a $15 million performing arts hall that opened in 2021.

OTHER MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN LEE COUNTY

AMAZON

7929 Drew Circle, Fort Myers hiring.amazon.com/#/

BONITA BAY CLUB

26660 Country Club Drive, Bonita Springs 239-495-0200 • bonitabayclub.net

CITY OF CAPE CORAL

1015 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral 239-574-0401 • capecoral.net

CITY OF FORT MYERS

2200 Second St., Fort Myers 239-321-7000 • cityftmyers.com

FLORIDA CANCER SPECIALISTS & RESEARCH INSTITUTE

5578931 Colonial Center Drive, Ste. 300, Fort Myers • 239-274-8200 • flcancer.com

LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

2855 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers

239-334-1102 • leeschools.net

LEE COUNTY GOVERNMENT

2115 Second St., Fort Myers

239-533-2245 • leegov.com

LEESAR/COOPERATIVE SERVICES OF FLORIDA (CSF)

2727 Winkler Ave., Fort Myers 239-939-8800 • leesar.com

NEOGENOMICS

9490 NeoGenomics Way, Fort Myers 239-768-0600 • neogenomics.com

SEAGATE DEVELOPMENT GROUP

9921 Interstate Commerce Drive, Fort Myers 239-738-7900 • seagatedevelopmentgroup.com

SHAW DEVELOPMENT

25190 Bernwood Drive, Bonita Springs 239-405-6100 • shawdev.com

VANCE BROTHERS CONSTRUCTION

P.O. Box 51009, Fort Myers 239-243-1557 • vancebrothersconstruction.com

GULF COAST MEDICAL CENTER

LET’S TALK TRASH... AND RECYCLING New to Town?

WHAT YOU CAN RECYCLE IN COLLIER COUNTY

What goes in your cart must be clean, dry and loose. No plastic bags.

CURBSIDE SERVICES

Scan our code to find out what day your services are.

• Twice-a-week garbage collection

• Once-a-week recycling collection

• Once-a-week yard waste collection

• Once-a-week bulky item collection. Call 239-252-2380, 48 hours in advance to schedule collection of appliances, electronics, standard vehicle tires or vehicle batteries

Preparations and Guidelines to follow:

• There will be no curbside services on Fourth of July, Thanksgiving or Christmas Day

• Set your carts out before 6 a.m. on collection day and remove before 6 a.m. on the day after collection

• Place your carts at least three feet from each other and from other obstacles like mailboxes

DISPOSE OF ADDITIONAL ITEMS

Safely dispose of paint, batteries, electronics and more at a Drop-Off Center near you Monday-Saturday 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

• Naples

• Marco Island

• Northeast Collier – Tim Nance Center

• North Collier

Most items are accepted free of charge. For a full list of accepted material and rates, visit colliercountyfl.gov/dispose

PREPARE FOR HURRICANE SEASON

Visit colliercountyfl.gov/hurricaneprep to learn how you can prepare for a storm

Plastic bottles, jars, jugs and tubs

Metal cans

Glass bottles and jars Paper, cardboard and cartons

A CATALYST FOR THE

Where are you located in relation to the airport?

The Naples Airport is a catalyst for the regional economy, providing critical public services and supporting philanthropic efforts. In 2022, the airport supported 5,454 jobs and generated a total economic impact of $781 million as estimated by the Florida Department of Transportation. The impact of aircraft noise depends on your location. View the map of Naples on the right to locate where you are in relation to the airport.

Scan the QR code above to learn about the airport’s noise abatement measures and 2023 Part 150 noise study.

EDUCATION IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

The public school systems in Collier and Lee counties are working hand in glove with local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to provide a cradleto-cap learning experience that begins with school readiness when entering kindergarten and continues through career readiness for all graduating high school seniors.

Both districts provide a robust roster of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that prepare students for college or careers through professional certifications and specialization in fields such as aerospace, information technology, web development, and the culinary arts. Magnet schools with a primary emphasis provide an opportunity for students to hone their skill or passion. For college-bound students, high schools offer International Baccalaureate, Cambridge AICE, Advanced Placement, AVID, honors, and dual enrollment programs.

Technical colleges provide a host of courses that lead to immediate employment in an array fields, from law enforcement to veterinarian care to medical billing, with many offering a “career in a year” format. Both Collier and Lee

counties are home to two technical colleges.

CLASS SIZE: The Florida Constitution sets limits on the number of students in core classes in the state’s public schools. The maximum number of students in each core class are set at:

• 18 students: PK through Grade 3

• 22 students: Grades 4 through 8

• 25 students: Grades 9 through 12

SCHOOL ZONES, CHOICE, AND ASSIGNMENT: In Collier and Lee counties, students attend a school based on two factors—their geographical zone and their choice of schools within that zone. Students and parents rank the schools that lie within the zone in which they live, and the student is assigned based on a lottery system during the regular registration period. In Lee County, schools located on the barrier islands (Sanibel Island, Pine Island, and Estero Island) are not

considered part of any choice zone. However, these students may apply for zone or multizone magnet schools.

School and out-of-zone assignments may change if the student requires special educational programs that are not provided at the assigned school or within the zone, if the family moves to another zone, or if a districtemployed parent changes schools, in addition to other specific factors.

If you are new to Collier or Lee county, contact the school district’s Student Enrollment Office to learn about the documents needed for enrolling a child and registration and school assignment deadlines.

COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FAST FACTS

• High school graduation rate: 92.7%

• Statewide grade: A

• Elementary schools: 31

• K-12: 1

Public Schools

Technical Colleges

Education Resources

Private Schools

Higher Education

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

• Middle schools: 10

• High schools: 8

• Charter schools: 9

• Special/alternative centers: 1

• Technical colleges: 2

• Career academies: 32

• Student enrollment: 48,000

• Teachers: 3,165

• Languages spoken: 104 Website: collierschools.com

(Source: CCPS Fact Sheet, July 2022)

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LEE COUNTY FAST FACTS

• High school graduation rate: 88.5 %

• Statewide grade: B

• Elementary schools: 45

• K-8: 4

• Middle schools: 16

• High schools: 15

• Charter schools: 23

• Special education centers: 11

• Technical colleges: 2

• Career & Technical Education Programs: 16 career clusters

• Student enrollment: 97,264

• Teachers: 5,170

• Languages spoken: 160

Website: leeschools.net

(Source: 2021-2022 Impact Report and Florida Dept. of Education)

CHARTER SCHOOLS

Charter schools in Florida are nonprofit organizations sponsored by a school district, which oversees the schools. The Florida Department of Education provides an annual

analysis and comparison of the overall performance of charter school students to traditional public-school students based on statewide assessments.

Both the Collier County and Lee County school districts sponsor charter schools. In both counties, some charter schools offer a general curriculum similar to that of the public schools, while many others provide unique specialty or career education options not available elsewhere.

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Students enrolled in high school in Collier and Lee counties may be dual enrolled at a local institution of higher learning such as a community college, technical college, or university. Credits earned on highereducation campuses are applied to high school

FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL

flvs.net/homeschool

graduation requirements. In addition, formal articulations have been established with local and statewide institutions to ensure that students receive credit or advanced standing if they enroll in these institutions to continue a career program. At technical colleges, dualenrolled high school students with a grade of C or higher earn weighted credit and may also earn industry certifications.

POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION

Florida administers a Postsecondary Education Readiness Test (PERT) to 11th-grade high school students, virtual school students, and homeschooled students to assess their academic skills, college readiness, and course placement. Achievement of a qualifying score on the test, or successful completion of a remediation course, is required for high school

Florida Virtual School (FLVS) is a free, online public school offering more than 150 courses. FLVS gives students the ability to enroll in courses 365 days a year and the choice to take courses online during the summer or school year. As virtual learners, students can chart an educational path around individual needs, hobbies, athletic pursuits, activities, and travel. Students who complete the virtual course of study receive the same accredited diploma distributed by any other public school.

LEE VIRTUAL SCHOOL

lvs.leeschools.net

Lee County has its own virtual program. Lee Virtual School provides full-time, K-12 virtual instruction that follows the school district calendar and provides access to many of the same courses available in the bricks-and-mortar schools, including Advanced Placement and dual enrollment, along with the flexibility of participating in electives and sports at local schools. Lee Virtual School is a franchise of FLVS.

GOLDEN GATE HIGH SCHOOL

graduation. PERT scores are also used for college placement.

The SAT and ACT tests are generally accepted or required by Florida’s state universities and colleges. Several private colleges and community colleges in the state permit the substitution of alternative tests such as COMPASS, a multiple-choice, untimed, computerized placement test or the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.

TECHNICAL COLLEGES

Recent workforce and labor studies indicate that two out of three jobs created between now and 2030 will require education and training beyond a high school diploma, but not

necessarily a four-year college degree, so gaining a professional or industry certificate or license is a smart career move. Technical colleges operate under the governance of the Florida Department of Education Division of Workforce Development and by the local school district. Tuition is competitively low and financial assistance is available. The colleges also aid in job placement. The programs offer a mix of in-class, online, and hands-on experiences, and many can be completed within a year.

COLLIER COUNTY

IMMOKALEE TECHNICAL (ITECH) COLLEGE itech.edu

iTECH offers 17 programs in addition to courses designed for English-language learners

FLORIDA PREPAID COLLEGE PLANS

The Florida Prepaid College Board offers several plans tailored to meet a range of financial needs. These include a 529 plan; one-year, two-year, and four-year plans; and a 2+2 plan that starts a child at one of the 28 Florida colleges at a lower cost and guarantees their admission to a state university upon completion of an associate degree. Information about each plan is available at myfloridaprepaid.com.

and for obtaining a GED. Campus storefronts include a cyber café and restaurant, practicing medical office, automotive service center, childcare center, and cosmetology center. The Center for Manufacturing Excellence, an extension of the campus, is a cuttingedge training facility that gives students the knowledge and skills they need for a successful career in today’s manufacturing field.

LORENZO WALKER TECHNICAL COLLEGE lwtc.edu

Lorenzo Walker Technical College offers two dozen programs in addition to courses designed for English-language learners, literacy, and for obtaining a GED. It is a stateof-the-art, 200,000-square-foot facility with a catalog of offerings that frequently expands to meet industry needs. It offers adult and community education courses.

HOMESCHOOLING IN FLORIDA

Homeschooling is popular in Florida, with a2zhomeschooling.com estimating approximately 86,500 homeschooled students in the state. Families interested in homeschooling must register with the Colllier or Lee County School District by filing a letter of intent. Parents must also maintain a portfolio logging each student’s educational activities and provide an annual evaluation, which may include the Florida Standards Assessment, among other required actions. For comprehensive information, contact the Home Education Department of each district at:

COLLIER COUNTY: collierschools.com LEE COUNTY: leeschools.net

GULF COAST HIGH SCHOOL

LEE COUNTY

CAPE CORAL TECHNICAL COLLEGE

capecoraltech.edu

Cape Coral Technical College offers 16 programs in the categories of agriculture, business, health, hospitality, and technology.

FORT MYERS TECHNICAL COLLEGE fortmyerstech.edu

Fort Myers Technical College offers more than 20 programs in a variety of occupational clusters, from construction to law enforcement to cosmetology. More than 150 business leaders serve on program advisory committees.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PUBLIC SERVICE ACADEMY swfpsa.org

The Southwest Florida Public Service Academy is comprised of two separate public safety academies: The Southwest Florida Criminal Justice Academy and The Southwest Florida Fire Academy.

EDUCATION RESOURCES

CAREERSOURCE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA careersourcesouthwestflorida.com

CareerSource is the organization chartered by the state of Florida to develop, create, and retain a quality workforce system in Southwest Florida. It offers professional services to all employers and job-seekers.

CHAMPIONS FOR LEARNING—EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF COLLIER COUNTY championsforlearning.org

Champions For Learning’s College & Career Preparation Program supports 11th- and 12th-grade students and their families. The foundation supports and recognizes teachers with grants and awards and administers the Take Stock in Children scholarship. Champions For Learning is the backbone organization supporting Future Ready Collier, a collaborative network working to ensure every child in Collier County is ready for kindergarten and every young

person graduates high school with a career path. It is also a partner in the regional FutureMakers Coalition.

EARLY LEARNING COALITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA elcofswfl.org

The Early Learning Coalition works to increase the availability of quality early-learning programs to meet the needs of families, particularly those working toward economic self-sufficiency. Its Child Care Resource & Referral is a free community service for all families.

FUTUREMAKERS COALITION

futuremakerscoalition.com

The FutureMakers Coalition is a five-county regional initiative that includes businesses, nonprofits, school districts, and other organizations that aims to transform Southwest Florida’s workforce by increasing the proportion of working-age adults with college degrees, industry certifications, and other high-quality credentials.

THE FOUNDATION FOR LEE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS leeschoolfoundation.org

The foundation enhances the quality of public education in Lee County by increasing community involvement, supporting and recognizing teachers with classroom grants and awards, and providing local students with the College & Career Center. It administers the Take Stock in Children scholarship program; online scholarship application portal; and the Student Advocacy and Mentoring Partnership for at-risk students.

THE IMMOKALEE FOUNDATION

immokaleefoundation.org

A nonprofit foundation that has worked tirelessly for more than 25 years to strengthen one of the nation’s largest migrant communities, with a focus on education, vocation, and life skills. It helps more than 2,500 students annually through its individualized Pathways to Success programs and administers the Take Stock in Children scholarship program. One-hundred percent of its students graduate from high school and go on to postsecondary education.

SCHOLARSHIPS

COLLIER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Collier Scholars Common Application colliercf.org

SCHOLARSHIP CONNECTOR

A web-based scholarship search engine serving Southwest Florida swflscholarships.org

THE FOUNDATION FOR LEE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS leeschoolfoundation.org

COLLABORATORY—SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION collaboratory.org

STATEWIDE RESOURCES

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION fldoe.com

FLORIDA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT PROGRAMS (BRIGHT FUTURES)

floridastudentfinancialaid.org

Florida’s largest merit-based scholarship program

FLORIDA PUBLIC TECHNICAL COLLEGE “CAREER IN A YEAR” PROGRAMS careerinayearfl.com

FLORIDASHINES

floridashines.org

Free, online tools and resources designed to help students succeed in school, earn a college degree, and embark on a rewarding career

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

COLLIER COUNTY

Collier County has 30 private schools serving more than 8,400 students from pre-kindergarten to high school graduation. More than 61 percent are religiously affiliated (most commonly Catholic and Christian) although several have no religious affiliation, including Montessori schools for preschoolers. The average tuition cost is $11,355, which is higher than the Florida average of $10,574.

Following is a select list of the largest Collier County private schools that serve PK-12 students. (Source: privateschoolreview.com)

COMMUNITY SCHOOL

OF NAPLES (PK-12)

13275 Livingston Road, Naples 239-597-7575; communityschoolnaples.org

Community School of Naples (CSN) is an independent, college-preparatory day school

committed to the development of the whole child. CSN’s rigorous and globally focused academic curriculum from grades PK3-12 prepares students not only for college, but for a lifetime of intellectual curiosity and social accountability. Students are encouraged to strengthen skills and build confidence through various athletic, art, music, and extracurricular clubs and activities.

COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF NAPLES

DONAHUE ACADEMY OF AVE MARIA (PK-12)

4955 Seton Way, Ave Maria 239-842-3241; donahueacademy.org

Ranked among the top 50 Catholic schools nationally, Donahue Academy is located in the town of Ave Maria, located 36 miles east of Naples. It offers sports and extracurriculars.

FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY (PK-12)

3000 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples 239-597-2233; fbalions.org

This school, set on a 94-acre campus, opened in 1996 as a ministry of First Baptist Church Naples to provide a rigorous academic program of studies infused with Christian teaching. It offers Advanced Placement courses, in addition to programs for homeschooled students, sports, and extracurriculars. Upperclassmen participate in hands-on learning internships to expose them to a range of career fields.

NAPLES CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (PK-8)

2655 Northbrooke Drive, Naples 239-455-1080; napleschristian.net

Naples Christian Academy was the first school in Collier County to be honored as a National Blue Ribbon School and its

stated mission is “to develop well-rounded student leaders who will be known by their faith, Christian character, intellect, and impactful contributions.” It offers sports and extracurriculars.

NICAEA ACADEMY (PK-12)

14785 Collier Blvd., Naples 353-9090 • nicaeaacademy.com

Instruction at Nicaea Academy is based on the Christian-based Abeka textbooks developed by the Pensacola Christian Academy. It has three early learning campuses—one in Naples and two in Lee County.

SAINT ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL (PK-8)

542 Eighth Ave. S., Naples 239-262-4110 • stann.net

Saint Ann Catholic School, a ministry of Saint Ann Parish, is rooted in the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and was founded in 1956. The school offers robust athletic and extracurricular programs.

SAINT ELIZABETH SETON CATHOLIC SCHOOL (PK-8)

2730 53rd Terrace SW, Naples 239-455-2262 • saintelizabethseton.com

DONAHUE ACADEMY OF AVE MARIA

St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic School is a Catholic school founded in 1981. The school offers six sports and six extracurriculars and has an average class size of 22.

SAINT JOHN NEUMANN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (9-12)

3000 53rd St. SW, Naples

239-455-3044 • sjnceltics.org

Students from different counties attend this small, faith-based, college-preparatory school, founded in 1980 and rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. It provides a rigorous learning environment with several Advanced Placement, honors, and college preparatory courses, as well as extracurriculars, community volunteer programs, sports, and robust cultural offerings. It is known for its personalized college advisory program that begins with incoming freshmen to ensure students have a vision and plan for higher education or their careers after graduation.

SEACREST COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL (PK-12)

7100 Davis Blvd., Naples

239-793-1986 • seacrest.org

Seacrest Country Day School is an independent, nonsectarian school for children ages 3 through twelfth grade on its 42-acre campus in East Naples. Established in 1983, Seacrest fuels intellectual engagement and leadership with several Advanced Placement courses, as well as two dozen extracurriculars, a dozen sports, and cultural opportunities. The academy allows highly competitive athletes who participate in individual sports (such as swimming, golf, and tennis) to fulfill graduation requirements, prepare for standardized testing, and work with professional college counselors. Seacrest Country Day School enrolls a socioeconomic diverse population based on annual income.

THE VILLAGE SCHOOL OF NAPLES (PK-12)

6000 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples

239-593-7686 • villageschoolnaples.org

The Village School of Naples is an independent Methodist school serving infants through twelfth grade. As the first independent STEAM school in Collier County, the school is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in academics, technology, athletics, and the arts. The Upper School for 9-12 students was launched in 2017, and it offers an intense college preparatory experience in an encouraging atmosphere with a wide array of Advanced Placement courses.

LEE COUNTY

Lee County has 50 private schools serving 8,850 students from pre-kindergarten to high school graduation. About 74 percent are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Baptist), but there are several nonreligious schools, including Montessori schools. The average tuition cost is $10,603.

Following is a select list of the largest Lee County private schools that serve PK-12

CANTERBURY SCHOOL

students. (Source: privateschoolreview.com)

BISHOP VEROT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (9-12)

5598 Sunrise Drive, Fort Myers 239-274-6700 • bvhs.org

Since 1962, Bishop Verot Catholic High School has provided an academic environment that integrates learning about the Roman Catholic tradition. Its college preparatory curriculum consists of state-required courses for graduation, including two dozen Advanced Placement courses, and a wide range of electives. It offers two dozen sports, performing arts, and more than two dozen extracurriculars, as well as assistance to students with diagnosed learning disabilities.

CANTERBURY SCHOOL (PK-12)

8141 College Parkway, Fort Myers 239-481-4323; canterburyfortmyers.org

Founded in 1964, Canterbury School is a college preparatory school dedicated to academic excellence within an atmosphere emphasizing character, leadership, and service. At Canterbury, the life of the mind is complemented by a strong athletic program and a commitment to the arts. These elements come together to instill a love of learning. Canterbury offers a robust Advanced Placement program with more than 30 courses.

BISHOP VEROT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

CRESTWELL SCHOOL

(PK-8)

1901 Park Meadows Drive, Fort Myers 239-481-4478 • crestwellschool.org

Crestwell is a nonsectarian school established in 1993 by parents and educators. It’s located on a 7-acre campus with an expansive student-maintained garden and greenhouse.

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

(PK-12)

8237 Beacon Blvd., Fort Myers 239-936-3319 • goecs.org

Founded in 1973, Evangelical Christian School is an independent, college-preparatory school on a 28-acre campus that incorporates biblical principles into academics, athletics, technology, and fine arts. Its curriculum includes Advanced Placement courses, in addition to sports and extracurriculars.

FORT MYERS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (PK-8)

1550 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers 239-939-4642 • fortmyerschristianschool.org

Fort Myers Christian School was established in 1979 by First Assembly of God of Fort Myers and provides a Christian-based academic setting and curriculum. It offers sports, extracurriculars, STEM, art, and music programs.

GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN SCHOOL (PK-12)

4770 Orange Grove Blvd., North Fort Myers 239-995-7711 • goodshepofnfm.com

Good Shepherd Lutheran School, founded in 1967, is owned and operated by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with a well-balanced, Biblebased curriculum.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

COMMUNITY SCHOOL OF NAPLES

SAINT ANDREW CATHOLIC SCHOOL (PK-8)

1509 SE 27th St., Cape Coral 239-772-3922 • standrewcs.org

St. Andrew Catholic School opened in 1989 and provides a solid academic foundation that infuses Roman Catholic learning across its curriculum. It a STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, Math) school that provides a Primary Years International Baccalaureate program for ages 3 to 12. It offers extracurriculars and sports.

SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC SCHOOL (PK-8)

2055 Heitman St., Fort Myers 239-334-7707 • stfrancisfortmyers.org

St. Francis Xavier School, founded in 1938, provides quality academic instruction that integrates the teaching of the Roman Catholic faith at its open-air campus featuring a performing arts center and high-tech Learning Commons. St. Francis Xavier School also offers several sports and extracurricular activities.

SAINT MICHAEL LUTHERAN (PK-8)

3595 Broadway, Fort Myers 239-939-1218 • smlcs.org

Saint Michael Lutheran School is a parochial Lutheran school founded in 1956, offering a challenging academic and arts curriculum. It provides support for learners with dyslexia and language-based and learning disabilities, as well as sports and extracurriculars.

SONSHINE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (PK-12)

12925 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers

239-694-8882 • sonshinewarriors.org

Dedicated Teachers

Proven track record for student learning and life success since 1981. Build a Bright Future for Your Child…Join Our School Family!

St. Elizabeth Seton School 2730 53rd Terrace SW | Naples 239.455.2262 www.SaintElizabethSeton.com

Sonshine Christian Academy, located on 18 acres, provides a Christcentered education focused on Abeka Christian Curriculum and Accelerated Christian Curriculum. It offers sports, a vocal ensemble, and A.C.E. Student Convention extracurricular enrichment programs.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (K-12)

3750 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers 239-936-8865 • sfcakings.org

Southwest Florida Christian Academy opened in 1994 as a ministry of McGregor Baptist Church. The high school is focused on college preparation, offering Advanced Placement courses for students in grades 10 through 12. It offers more than a dozen sports.

Note: See individual websites for details. For a listing of all private schools in Collier and Lee counties: privateschoolreview.com

SAINT ANDREW CATHOLIC SCHOOL

HIGHER EDUCATION

LOOKING TO CHANGE PROFESSIONS OR OBTAIN A POSTSECONDARY DEGREE OR PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION? YOU’RE IN LUCK. SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW YOUR CAREER. TUITION IS FOR IN-STATE STUDENTS PER SEMESTER AND IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ON-CAMPUS HOUSING, BOOKS, OR OTHER EXPENSES.

PUBLIC COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers

239-590-1000, 800-590-3428 fgcu.edu

Four-year state university set on 800 acres offering 63 undergraduate programs, 26 master’s programs, 18 certificate programs, and 7 doctoral programs

Enrollment: 16,004

Established: 1991, opened in 1997

Tuition: $6,118

FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STATE COLLEGE

7007 Lely Cultural Parkway, Naples

239-732-3700

8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers

239-489-9300 • fsw.edu

This public college serves a five-county area with campuses in Fort Myers, Naples, and Punta Gorda, as well as a Corporate Training Center in Bonita Springs and a satellite center in LaBelle. It is a cost-effective choice, with 70 percent of students graduating debt-free. FSW offers 10 Academic & Career Pathways— a set of associate and/or bachelor’s degrees

Enrollment: 14,714

Established: 1962

Tuition: $3,401

PRIVATE COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW

1025 Commons Circle, Naples

239-687-5300 • avemarialaw.edu

An independent law school in the Catholic tradition that is fully accredited by the American Bar Association, located on a 12-acre campus near the Vineyards community.

Enrollment: 299

Established: In Michigan in 2000 and relocated to Naples in 2009

Tuition: $47,900

BLAZE A PATH TO YOUR DREAM CAREER

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY

5050 Ave Maria Blvd., Ave Maria 239-280-2500 • avemaria.edu

A private university in the Catholic tradition with a 113-acre campus in the town of Ave Maria offering 31 bachelor’s programs as well as a master’s of theological studies and an MA and PhD in theology.

Enrolled: 1,245

Established: In Michigan in 1998, relocated to Naples in 2003, permanent campus completed in 2007

Tuition: $14,408

BARRY UNIVERSITY

Sunrise Building, 12381 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 502, Fort Myers

239-278-3041 • barry.edu

The second-largest private Catholic university in the Southeast, with bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs offered in Fort Myers and online.

Highest degrees (Fort Myers): MAA, MPA, MSW

Established: 1940

Tuition: $16,400

KEISER UNIVERSITY

3909 Tamiami Trail E., Naples • 239-513-1135

9100 Forum Corporate Parkway, Fort Myers 239-277-1336 • keiseruniversity.edu

Keiser University has 18 campuses in Florida and offers degrees in more than 100 different doctoral through associate degrees in a variety of high-demand fields, including health care, business, information technology, culinary arts, legal studies, and education.

Established: 1977

Tuition: Dependent on program

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

3650 Colonial Court, Fort Myers

239-274-6070 • nova.edu

Florida’s largest independent, not-for-profit

institution of higher education based in Fort Lauderdale offers undergraduate, graduate, and specialist degrees in 50 career-focused programs at its Student Educational Center in Fort Myers.

Highest degrees: MBA, DO, JD, DBA, EdD, PhD

Enrollment: 755 in Southwest Florida

Established: 1964

Tuition: Dependent on program

RASMUSSEN COLLEGE

9160 Forum Corporate Parkway, Ste. 100, Fort Myers 239-477-2100 • rasmussen.edu

Private, regionally accredited college with a focus on business, design, education, health sciences, justice, nursing, and technology, as well as professional certifications. It offers some full degrees through online courses.

Past college coursework, military transcripts, course waivers, and industry certifications maximize credits and reduce overall costs.

Highest degrees (Fort Myers campus): MH, MS in Data Science, MSHR, MSN

Established: 2008 in Fort Myers (Originally 1900 in St. Paul, Minnesota)

Tuition: Dependent on program and location

AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY

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If you are looking for a doctor close to home, want more information about our services, or have a question about NCH, call to speak with one of our representatives today.

Call us from 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week at NCH-7777 (239-624-7777)

IN THIS SECTION

Health Care Overview

Major Medical Facilities

Children’s Hospitals

Freestanding ERs

Urgent Care Clinics

VA Clinics

HEALTH CARE

QUALITY CARE IS A PRIORITY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Health care is a vital industry in Southwest Florida’s economy, and the region is home to state-of-the-art medical centers and expert practitioners in a range of specialties.

Collier County is home to award-winning NCH and Physicians Regional Healthcare System. Lee Health is the flagship hospital system in Lee County, while Millennium Physician Group is a network of walk-in urgent care centers and primary care medical providers. HCA Florida Heatlhcare has entered the Southwest Florida market with two freestanding emergency rooms—one in Cape Coral and one scheduled to open in Fort Myers in fall 2024. (It also operates HCA Florida Fawce Hospital in nearby Charlo e County.) In addition, there are ample Veterans Affairs services, nonprofit health care networks for low-income residents, and hospice services.

HOSPITALS

COLLIER COUNTY

NCH

239-624-5000 • nchmd.org

NCH ranks in the top 2 percent of hospitals nationwide for overall clinical performance and among the top 50 for surgical care, according to Healthgrades. NCH operates two hospital campuses, and urgent-care, wellness, and family medical facilities. It is building a new NCH Rooney Heart Institute and Wingard Stroke Institute (an accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center) on its downtown campus. It has partnered with the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) on the state-of-the-art

Patty & Jay Baker Pavilion for orthopedic and musculoskeletal care. Its orthopedic program is already accredited by the Joint Commission. NCH is a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and sponsors the Blue Zones Project Southwest Florida. The system has approximately 4,644 employees, more than 700 physicians, and 716 licensed beds.

NCH Baker Hospital Downtown

350 Seventh St. N., Naples

239-624-5000

The flagship, 391-bed acute care and emergency hospital, home to the NCH Heart Institute, has been a top performer nationally in cardiac care for five consecutive years.

NCH NORTH NAPLES HOSPITAL

NCH North Naples Hospital

11190 Health Park Blvd., Naples

239-552-7000 • nchmd.org

This acute care facility has 322 beds, a palliative care unit, and a pediatric emergency department that is run in collaboration with the esteemed Nicklaus Children’s Health System, nephrology, and more.

PHYSICIANS REGIONAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

physiciansregional.com

Physicians Regional Healthcare System operates three hospitals and a rehabilitation center with 357 licensed beds. More than 500 physicians provide advanced medical care in more than 45 specialties and subspecialties. Its 24/7 emergency rooms on Collier Boulevard and Pine Ridge Road typically boast short wait times. Community Health Systems is the parent company of Physicians Regional Healthcare System

Physicians Regional-Collier Boulevard 8300 Collier Blvd., Naples 239-354-6000

This 130-bed hospital is a 24/7 STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) receiving facility providing around- the-clock treatment for patients experiencing chest pain and other cardiology emergencies. It is conveniently located to Marco Island and East Naples, with a special emergency clinical staff and amenities designed for older adults.

Physicians Regional-Inpatient

Rehabilitation Facility 1285 Creekside Blvd, Naples 239-304-4102

Located on the North campus, this facility has 30 private rooms to help patients regain physical and cognitive abilities so they can return home at their highest level of health and independence.

Physicians Regional-North 1285 Creekside Blvd., Naples • 239-260-6631

This 55,000-square-foot facility is focused on orthopedic and spine surgical patients. It includes four operating suites and is licensed for 20 medical/surgical beds, all of which are private.

Physicians Regional-Pine Ridge 6101 Pine Ridge Road, Naples • 239-348-4000

This 177-bed acute care facility features all private rooms, general medical/surgical services, and specialized centers for robotic surgery, neurovascular and stroke, cardiology, vein, orthopedic and spine, and ENT specialty care.

LEE COUNTY LEE HEALTH

800-936-5321 • leehealth.org

Lee Health has been the major hospital

provider in Lee County since it was founded in 1916. It has 11,000 employees, 1,812 beds, and 950-plus physicians and advanced practitioners in 100-plus practice locations throughout Southwest Florida. It provides comprehensive care for children and adults, as well as kidney transplants, immunology, wound care, urgent care facilities, and occupational, physical, and speech therapy. Lee Health is a national, accredited leader in stroke care.

Cape Coral Hospital

636 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral • 239-424-2000

Cape Coral Hospital is a 303-bed, acute care facility with all private rooms. It has earned several recognitions for quality of care and was the first hospital in the state to receive the Governor’s Sterling Award for performance excellence in management and operations. Its full-service Healthy Life Center is a medically based fitness center providing members access

to cardiovascular equipment, exercise classes, indoor pools, massage, a healthy café, pro shop, and health and wellness presentations. Cape Coral Hospital is a Primary Stroke Center.

Coconut Point Emergency Department

23450 Via Coconut Point, Estero • 239-468-0095

As part of Lee Health’s 31-acre facility off U.S. 41 near Coconut Point Mall, the 24/7 emergency department features 25 examination, observation, and recovery rooms, along with staff trained in advanced cardiac life support. The staff treats chest pain, breathing difficulty, head and eye injuries, severe illnesses, sudden change in mental states, and other emergency conditions.

Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida

9981 S. HealthPark Drive, Fort Myers 239-343-5437

This state-of-the-art, 135-bed pediatric hospital provides emergency and specialized services for infants, children, and teens, including behavioral health, surgery, neonatal intensive care, orthopedics, cancer, cardiology, and burn treatments. The only center of its kind between Tampa and Miami, it is located on the HealthPark Medical Center campus.

Gulf Coast Medical Center

13681 Doctor’s Way, Fort Myers 239-343-1000

Gulf Coast Medical Center is a 699-bed, acute care facility— the only Level II Trauma Center between Sarasota and Miami—with 54 intensive care unit beds and 584 private rooms. It features a floor dedicated to inpatient cancer care and is an accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center. Gulf Coast Medical Center has an on-site pharmacy, laboratory, and 75 skilled nursing unit beds.

LEE HEALTH REGIONAL CANCER CENTER

HealthPark Medical Center

9981 S. HealthPark Drive, Fort Myers

239-343-5000

HealthPark Medical Center is the primary location for Lee Health’s cardiac program and gynecological and obstetric care, including an OB emergency room and state-of-the-art birthing suites. More than 6,100 babies are born at HealthPark each year. It is co-located with Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The 461-bed hospital was named one of the “100 Top Hospitals” for cardiology and intensive care nationwide.

HealthPark Care & Rehabilitation Center

16131 Roserush Court, Fort Myers

39-433-7300

Located on the campus of HealthPark Medical Center, this 112-bed skilled nursing facility carries a five-star rating from the Agency for Health Care Administration. It provides care for patients recovering from joint surgery, a stroke,

heart surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or any other medical condition.

Lee Memorial Hospital

2776 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers

239-343–2000

Lee Memorial Hospital, originally established in 1916, is a 336-bed, acute care hospital provides emergent care and diagnostic services. The facility also houses the Rehabilitation Hospital (239-343-3900), a 60-bed comprehensive, inpatient rehabilitation unit focused on neurological and orthopedic injuries. It is a Certified Primary Stroke Center and Chest Pain Center.

LEHIGH REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

1500 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres 239-369-2101 • lehighregional.com

A member of Prime Healthcare, Lehigh Regional Medical Center is a 53-bed, acute care facility commi ed to patient-centered health

care since 1965. The state-of-the-art facility provides emergency and critical care, as well as specialty and subspecialty care, pathology, imaging, and women’s health. It has earned the Joint Commission Seal of Approval.

VETERANS MEDICAL CENTERS

COLLIER COUNTY

NAPLES VA CLINIC

800 Goodlette Road N., Ste. 120, Naples 239-659-9188 • baypines.va.gov

This regional clinic, part of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, provides primary care, mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) care, women’s health, nutrition counseling, laboratory and pathology services, a pharmacy, and referrals for specialty care.

YOUR FAMILY’S

MEDICAL AND DENTAL HOME

HEALTHCARE NETWORK offers the highest level of coordinated care to your entire family. No matter where you are on your journey, your family receives patient-centered healthcare that meets all your needs.

With practices located throughout Collier County, we offer quality, accessible care for the whole family including:

Children’s Care

Dental Care

Family Care

Senior Care

Women’s Care

Behavioral Health Counseling Pharmacy

Telehealth Appointments Walk-In Care X-ray and Lab MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY! 239.758.8902 | HealthcareSWFL.org

NAPLES VET CENTER

2705 Horseshoe Drive S., Unit 204, Naples 239-403-2377 * 877-927-8387 (24/7 call center) • baypines.va.gov

The community-based center offers confidential help for veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Services include counseling for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and military sexual trauma. It offers resources for support in the VA system and the community.

LEE COUNTY

LEE COUNTY VA CLINIC

2489 Diplomat Parkway E., Cape Coral 239-652-1800 • baypines.va.gov

This full-service regional clinic, part of the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, is open Monday through Saturday, providing comprehensive primary care, mental health services, women’s health, ambulatory surgery, audiology, cardiology, dental, dermatology, optometry, gastroenterology, home care, orthopedics, neurology, pharmacy, spinal cord injury,

urology, diagnostic screening, nutrition counseling, prosthetics, physical and occupational therapy, podiatry, addiction and substance use treatment and rehabilitation, and referrals for specialty care.

FORT MYERS VET CENTER

2891 Center Pointe Drive, Ste. 100, Fort Myers 239-652-1861 • 877-927-8387 (24/7 call center) • baypines.va.gov

The community-based center offers confidential help for veterans, service members, and their families at no cost in a non-medical setting. Services include counseling for

CAPE CORAL HOSPITAL

depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and military sexual trauma. It offers resources for support in the VA system and the community.

NONPROFIT FAMILY MEDICAL CENTERS

COLLIER COUNTY

HEALTHCARE NETWORK

239-658-3000 • healthcareswfl.org

Offering the highest level of coordinated care to all ages, Healthcare Network (HN) plays an integral role in keeping the entire community healthy, providing quality and comprehensive care and financial assistance when needed. With practices located throughout Collier

County, primary health care services include family care, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, dental care, and pharmacy as well as behavioral health counseling.

Medical Centers • (Main line: 239-658-3000)

NAPLES

HN Dental Care East

1749 Heritage Trail, #801

HN Children’s Care East

6350 Davis Blvd., #1001

HN at Veteran’s Park

1845 Veterans Park Drive, Naples

HN at Cordero Pediatrics

1090 Sixth Ave. N .

HN Friendship Health

2355 Stanford Court

HN at Nichols Community Health Center

12655 Collier Blvd.

HN at Nichols Pediatric at YMCA of Collier County

5450 YMCA Road, #102

IMMOKALEE

HN at Marion E. Fether

1454 Madison Ave. W.

HCN at Florida State University, College of Medicine

1441 Heritage Blvd.

HN Family Care at iTech

508 North Ninth St. #142

NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CLINIC

88 12th St. N, Naples • 239-529.2255

neighborhoodhealthclinic.org

This nonprofit clinic delivers quality medical and dental care to low-income, working but

uninsured Collier County adults, using a professional volunteer staff of 250 physicians and 50 dentists, as well as nurses, translators, and wellness instructors. It is funded by private philanthropy.

LEE COUNTY

FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

844-342-7935 • fhcswf.org

Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida has several medical and dental offices and pharmacy locations with a focus on disease management, prevention, and education. Family Health Centers provides medical, dental, pediatric, podiatry, women’s services, and optometry services to children and adults, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. It is part of the National Health Service Corps.

Medical Centers • (Main line: 844-342-7935)

BONITA SPRINGS

Family, Pediatrics First Choice Kid Care, and Family Dental

11921 Saradrienne Lane

CAPE CORAL

First Choice Kid Care

305 S.W. 2nd Terrace

Del Prado Optometry, Podiatry, Pharmacy,

Family Dental, and First Choice Kid Care

316 Del Prado Blvd. S.

ESTERO

Estero Adult Medical, Family Dental,

Pediatrics First Choice

Kid Care, Pharmacy, Women’s Health

19701 S. Tamiami Trail

FORT MYERS

Broadway Family Dental

3600-A Broadway, Fort Myers

Summerlin Pediatrics First Choice Kid Care, Podiatry, Women’s Health 11100 Summer Ridge Lane

Downtown Fort Myers Adult Medical, Pediatrics First Choice

Kid Care, Family Dental, Pharmacy, Women’s Health 2232 Grand Ave.

East Fort Myers Adult Medical 4040 Palm Beach Blvd.

LEHIGH ACRES

Lehigh Acres Adult Medical, Family Dental, Pediatrics First Choice Kid Care, Optometry, Pharmacy, Women’s Health 3415 Lee Blvd., 1st Floor

HEALTHCARE NETWORK VETERAN’S PARK CLINIC

EMERGENCY ROOMS

COLLIER COUNTY

NCH Baker Hospital Downtown 350 Seventh St. N., Naples 239-624-5000 • nchmd.org

NCH North Naples Hospital 11190 Health Park Blvd., Naples 239-552-7000 • nchmd.org

Physicians Regional-Collier Boulevard 8300 Collier Blvd., Naples 239-354-6000 • physiciansregional.com

Physicians Regional-Pine Ridge

6101 Pine Ridge Road, Naples 239-348-4000 • physiciansregional.com

LEE COUNTY

Cape Coral Hospital 636 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral 239-424-200 * leehealth.org

Coconut Point Emergency Department 23450 Via Coconut Point, Estero 239-468-0095 • leehealth.org

Gulf Coast Medical Center 13681 Doctor’s Way, Fort Myers 239-343-1000 • leehealth.org

HCA Florida Cape Coral Emergency

322 SW Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral 941-249-6858 • hcafloridahealthcare.com

HealthPark Medical Center

9981 S. HealthPark Drive, Fort Myers 239-343-5000 • leehealth.org

Lee Memorial Hospital

2776 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers 239-343–2000 • leehealth.org

Lehigh Regional Medical Center 1500 Lee Blvd., Lehigh Acres 239-369-2101 • lehighregional.com

URGENT CARE

GET THE HELP YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT LEE COUNTY

BONITA SPRINGS/ESTERO

ISLAND

URGENT CARE/WALK-IN CLINICS

GET THE HELP YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT

COLLIER COUNTY NAPLES

ADVANCE MEDICAL OF NAPLES 7 20 GOODLETTE ROAD N. 239-566-7676

BREEZEMED URGENT CARE 15044 SANDPIPER DRIVE, UNIT 8 239-529-2142

COLLIER URGENT CARE – CREEKSIDE CORNERS 1514 IMMOKALEE ROAD, UNIT 114 239-593-3232

COLLIER URGENT CARE – FOUNDERS SQUARE 8845 FOUNDERS SQUARE DRIVE, UNIT 100 239-593-3232

COLLIER URGENT CARE – PARK SHORE 3601 TAMIAMI TRAIL N., UNIT 2 239-593-3232

EPN URGENT CARE - COUNTRYSIDE COMMONS 6400 DAVIS BLVD., STE. 103 239-775-2300

ER QUICKCARE 13030 LIVINGSTON ROAD, STE. 3 239-403-3772

NAPLES URGENT CARE WALK-IN MEDICAL CLINIC 1713 S.W. HEALTH PARKWAY, STE. 2 239-597-8000

NCH IMMEDIATE CARE - SOUTHEAST 7717 COLLIER BLVD. 239-624-8000

NCH IMMEDIATE CARE - VANDERBILT 801 VANDERBILT BEACH ROAD 239-624-8220

PHYSICIANS REGIONAL URGENT CARE - PINE RIDGE 6376 PINE RIDGE ROAD 239-348-4221

PHYSICIANS REGIONAL URGENT CARE - EAST NAPLES 4525 THOMASSON DRIVE

TYRONE MEDINA WALK-IN CLINIC 400 EIGHTH ST. N. 239-649-3333

GOLDEN GATE

MD NOW URGENT CARE 13005 COLLIER BLVD. 239-354-4093 MARCO ISLAND

NCH MARCO URGENT CARE 40 S. HEATHWOOD DRIVE 239-624-8540

PHYSICIANS REGIONAL URGENT CARE - MARCO ISLAND 1839 SAN MARCO ROAD 239-348-4221

HOSPICE/ END-OF-LIFE CARE

COLLIER COUNTY

Avow Hospice 1095 Whippoorwill Lane, Naples 239-261-4404 • avowcares.org

Visiting Angels

999 Vanderbilt Beach Road, #200, Naples 239-561-7600 • visitingangels.com

VITAS Healthcare 4980 N. Tamiami Trail, Ste. 102, Naples 239-649-2300 • vitas.com

LEE COUNTY

Comfort Keepers 12480 Brantley Commons Court, #101, Fort Myers 239-590-8999 • comfortkeepers.com

Hope Hospice 9470 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers 239-482-4673 • hopehospice.org

VITAS Healthcare 12751 Westlinks Drive, Fort Myers 855-946-3144 • vitas.com

LAY OF THE LAND

UNIQUE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES THRIVE ALONG THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST

IN THIS SECTION

City Spotlights

Lifestyle Communities

Senior Living

Collier County is often touted as the largest county by geographical size in Florida, and what’s more impressive: More than 75 percent of the land is set aside for federal, state, and county parks and conservation. As a result, it is home to vast wildlands—swamp, prairie, marsh, and coastal ecosystems—along with rural and agricultural areas that flourish in the frost-free area. Collier County was one of the last frontiers in the American South, and it was named for advertising magnate Barron Gift Collier who, at one time, was the largest landowner in Florida and fueled the completion of the construction of the Tamiami Trail. Today it has three incorporated cities and many distinct communities throughout the unincorporated parts of the county. Here is a snapshot of the municipalities:

EVERGLADES CITY: COASTAL OUTBACK

When Collier County was carved out of Lee County by the Florida legislature in 1923, this remote town was incorporated as Everglades and designated the county seat. (The county seat later moved to Naples.) The town served as the base for Barron Collier’s development of the Tamiami Trail, linking the east and west coasts of South Florida, which opened with national fanfare in 1928. Its arduous completion through muck, limestone, and swarms of mosquitoes unlocked the remote region for more efficient travel for tourism, commerce, and development.

Located on the edge of Chokoloskee Bay, the Everglades City area had previously been occupied for millennia by Native Americans, followed by Seminoles and white settlers after the Civil War.

Today, this remote incorporated city is renowned for fishing and its proximity to Everglades National Park, Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, and Ten Thousand Islands. Its population of 400 residents is a hardy, tightknit community still recovering from the direct impact of Hurricane Irma in 2017. Nearby, smaller towns include Chokoloskee, Plantation, Jerome, Copeland, and Ochopee.

MARCO ISLAND: RELAXED OASIS

At 24 square miles, Marco Island lies 35 miles south of Naples and is the largest barrier island within the Ten Thousand Islands. With a permanent population of about 16,170 and a peak winter season

population of 40,000, Marco Island features six miles of beaches and is crisscrossed with more than 100 miles of canals and waterways created when the city was developed in the 1960s. Marco Island is recognized for its high quality of life with a low crime rate, proximity to fantastic fishing, and casual atmosphere, and friendliness. While real estate is relatively expensive compared to many communities in Florida, there is a wide variety of price ranges for homes, condominiums, and vacation rentals.

NAPLES: JEWEL ON THE GULF

Upon its founding as a resort town in 1888, Naples was named for the romantic town in Italy because of its shimmering Naples Bay and location on the Gulf of Mexico. As the county seat of Collier County, it is home to both city and county government offices, law enforcement headquarters, and courts. It has ranked among the top 10 wealthiest cities in the United States. Home to about 20,000 residents, Naples has long been a popular winter destination, boasting more than 250 sunny days per year, rich cultural amenities, a strong philanthropic spirit, and sophisticated dining and shopping.

COLLIER COUNTY

FAST FACTS

404,310 Population

1,997 square miles

Geographical size by land area

$82,011

Median household income

$443,700

Median value of owneroccupied housing dwellings

25.5 minutes

Mean commute time to work

3 Incorporated cities

Source: U.S. Census, 2023 estimates

LEE COUNTY

FAST FACTS

834,573 Population

781 square miles

Geographical size by land area

$69,368

Median household income

$290,900

Median value of owner-occupied housing dwellings

27.9 minutes

Mean commute time to work

6 Incorporated cities

Source: U.S. Census, 2023 estimates

The 67-mile-long Caloosahatchee River wends its way to the Gulf of Mexico through Lee County, which was created in 1887 after it was carved out of Monroe County. The river is part of the Western Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Okeechobee Waterway, which connects the state’s west and east coasts by water inland. The Caloosahatchee is also a unique natural resource for the county seat, Fort Myers. Originally a military fort and then a cattle town, Fort Myers was selected by inventor Thomas A. Edison for his seasonal winter home, which is now a popular tourist destination. International travelers are also drawn to Sanibel and Captiva islands, Gasparilla Island, and the rich fishing grounds of Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. Lee County has Major League Baseball

spring training facilities for both the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins. There are six incorporated cities and many distinct communities throughout the unincorporated parts of the county. Here is a snapshot of the municipalities:

BONITA SPRINGS: BEACHFRONT PARADISE

Bonita Springs is an incorporated city in south Lee County with a population of 56,370. It is home to the 1,616-acre Lovers Key State Park, stunning beachfront homes, public access to its gulf shoreline, a large community park on the Imperial River, and a historic downtown.

CAPE CORAL: CITY OF CANALS

Across the Caloosahatchee west of Fort

BONITA SPRINGS

Myers, Cape Coral is the largest city between Tampa and Miami with a population of 216,000. It is the seventh largest in the state. At 120 square miles, Cape Coral is the third largest city in Florida by land mass. Developed in the late 1950s, Cape Coral is one of the largest master-planned communities in the nation. It is known as the “City of Canals” for good reason: With 400 miles of navigable waterways, it has more canals than Venice, Italy. Cape Coral has a wide mix of residential options and plenty of vacant, developable lots; it is only 50 percent built out, so there are many commercial and industrial opportunities.

VILLAGE OF ESTERO: HISTORIC RIVER HAMLET

Estero is a 25-square-mile village nestled between Fort Myers and Bonita Springs that became incorporated in 2014. Today, it hosts a population of 37,700. For more than a century, it has drawn visitors to the Koreshan State Historic Site and the Estero River. In recent decades, it has become home to Florida

Gulf Coast University, Hertz Corporation’s headquarters, Coconut Point Mall, and the Hertz Arena. The arena attracts national concerts and hosts the Florida Everblades hockey team.

FORT MYERS: HISTORIC HUB

The county seat of Lee County, Fort Myers is a diverse community of 95,900 residents living in the 40-square-mile city. Fort Myers is home to the Caloosahatchee River, palm-tree-lined McGregor Boulevard, Dunbar community, the county’s central government offices, and Southwest Florida’s largest concentration of historic commercial buildings in the downtown River District. The residential neighborhoods feature a blend of architectural styles ranging from the early 1900s to modern gems. Many apartment complexes and riverfront condos provide options.

FORT MYERS BEACH: CASUAL COASTAL COMMUNITY

At six square miles, Fort Myers Beach has a

year-round population of about 5,660, though it soars with seasonal visitors in the spring and winter months. Beachfront lovers can find a bungalow, condo, or multilevel mansion for full- or part-time living. The island lifestyle is casual and laid-back, with dining, live music, and community events that draw visitors from throughout the region.

SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS: GULF GEMS

Sanibel and Captiva Islands have a unique natural beauty and commitment to environmental stewardship that has restricted both commercial and residential development. These islands are home to about 6,400 residents. Their shores have drawn the world-famous for more than a century. Captiva consistently ranks among the most desirable beaches in the world, and Sanibel has a global reputation for unparalleled shelling and coastal recreation. Due to limited inventory, these island gems boast the highest price tags in the county.

SANIBEL ISLAND

LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES

WHAT’S YOUR IDEA OF LIVING IN PARADISE? SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS HOME TO A SPRAWLING SELECTION OF GATED COMMUNITIES THAT EMPHASIZE FITNESS, SOCIALIZATION, FUN IN THE SUN— OFTEN CENTERED AROUND BREATHTAKING GOLF COURSE VIEWS—AND AMENITIES GALORE

COLLIER COUNTY

AUDUBON COUNTRY CLUB

625 Audubon Blvd., Naples audubonccofnaples.com

Audubon Country Club is a 755-acre, gated community with 58 percent dedicated to natural preserve and 28 lakes interspersed throughout. It is an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary that provides world-class golfing at the Joe Lee–designed, 18-hole golf course and clubhouse, in addition to tennis, croquet, bocce, swimming, and a fitness center.

EAGLE CREEK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

11 Cypress View Drive, Naples eaglecreekgcc.org

Eagle Creek Golf and Country Club is a small, award-winning gated community on 300 wooded acres, centrally located midway between Naples and Marco Island. Eagle Creek has 460 residences, including condominiums, carriage home villas with detached guest suites, and estate homes with golf views. The recently renovated Larry Packard-designed golf course winds through cypress and pine preserves, with residential housing

only on six holes. Amenities include a fullservice clubhouse, tennis and bocce, pool and spa, and a fitness center.

ESPLANADE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

8912 Torre Vista Lane, Naples naplesesplanadegcc.com

This new 1,800-acre gated community includes 1,000 acres of natural preserves, wetlands, and walking trails, as well as 170 acres of lakes. When complete, the community will consist of approximately 1,121 planned residential homes. The championship golf course, designed by architect Chris Wylczinsk, has already earned awards. The community, located three miles east of Interstate 75, offers a clubhouse, tennis and pickleball, resort pool, bocce, and fitness, wellness, and spa facilities.

GREY OAKS COUNTRY CLUB

2400 Grey Oaks Drive N., Naples greyoakscc.com

Grey Oaks offers 18 neighborhoods featuring single-family and estate homes, detached villas, and three condominium neighborhoods, as well as three championship golf courses for a total of 54 holes. Grey Oaks is centrally located in Naples west of Livingston Road and north of Golden Gate Boulevard. The Estuary at Grey Oaks is the newest neighborhood, located across the street, east of Airport-Pulling Road. Both have clubhouses and luxury, resort-style amenities. The Estuary at Grey Oaks has a 62,000-square-foot clubhouse, heated lagoon swimming pool with an outdoor café, fitness center with personal trainers, tennis center with eight lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, and children’s playground.

LELY

8004 Lely Resort Blvd., Naples

lelyresortgolfandcountryclub.com

Lely is a census-designated neighborhood of 2,037 households in a large range of options. Lely Resort Golf & Country Club is home to 54 holes of golf designed by three of golf’s most legendary names. The public-access Flamingo Island and Mustang courses were designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Lee Trevino, respectively, and the private Classics course was designed by Gary Player. Flamingo and Classics each have a clubhouse, and there are two expansive, full-service golf practice facilities.

MEDITERRA

15755 Corso Mediterra Circle, Naples mediterraliving.com

Mediterra comprises 1,700 acres of nature preserves, lakes, and parks, as well as 950 luxury homes. The community’s design and luxury homes replicate the lush beauty of Europe’s Mediterranean region. The five-star,

OLDE CYPRESS

private country club includes a USTA awardwinning tennis program, Har-Tru tennis and pickleball courts, fitness studio and spa, and the Mediterra Beach Club, a 10,000-squarefoot clubhouse with a heated pool on the Gulf of Mexico on Bonita Beach.

NAPLES LAKES COUNTRY CLUB

4784 Naples Lakes Blvd., Naples oldecypress.com

Naples Lakes Country Club features an 18hole, Arnold Palmer signature course. With 200 acres of protected nature preserves and lakes, Naples Lakes has been an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary since 2001 and amenities include dining, tennis, fitness, a pool and spa, and a calendar of social activities.

OLDE CYPRESS

7165 Treeline Drive, Naples oldecypress.com

Olde Cypress is a 540-acre, gated community featuring P.B. Dye’s first 18-hole championship golf course in Collier County. Its seven neighborhoods feature 550 singlefamily estate homes, villas, and courtyard homes on 176 acres of pine and cypress preserves. The 36,000-square-foot clubhouse includes an outdoor area with a bar and bigscreen TV overlooking the ninth green, as well as a players’ lounge, library, media center, card rooms, private lockers, tennis courts, swimming pool, dining, and fitness center.

PELICAN MARSH

1810 Persimmon Drive, Naples pelicanmarshgc.com

Pelican Marsh is nestled within more than

1,000 acres of tropical landscaping, lakes, and 133 acres of nature preserves, including the Cocohatchee Strand Preserve. This gated Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary community provides miles of pathways for biking, jogging, or walking. Pelican Marsh offers a wide variety of neighborhoods and home and condo selections. The award-winning Robert Von Hagge championship golf course, Pelican Marsh Golf Club, and the two-story clubhouse, are the jewels of the community. Pelican Marsh also enjoys a community center with tennis, bocce, and fitness and spa studio.

QUAIL WEST

5950 Burnham Road, Naples quailwest.com

This community spans Collier and Lee counties, with the majority of the 688 luxury estate homes in Collier. Its 70,000-square-

foot clubhouse was recently refurbished, alongside the opening of a new two-story fitness center and restored championship golf courses. The club also offers eight red-clay tennis courts, an indoor, lagoon-style, Junior Olympic–sized pool, and a private beach pavilion.

THE QUARRY

8950 Weathered Stone Drive, Naples quarrygolfnaples.com

The Quarry is a gated community that offers both a golfing and waterfront lifestyle, featuring a large freshwater lake for water skiing, relaxing on the beach, catch-andrelease fishing, or visiting the beach club. The waterfront club includes a tiki bar and grill, resort-style lap pool, fitness and wellness center, tennis, pickleball, and bocce courts, boating, and dining. The Quarry’s clubhouse, fitness facilities, and 72-par golf course wind around 700 acres of lakes and private nature preserves. The community consists of singlefamily homes in 11 home designs ranging from 1,600 to 4,400 square feet and condos.

THE STRAND

5840 Strand Blvd., Naples thestrandcc.com

The Strand is a luxury community located on more than 500 acres of preserves and lakes, with 27 holes of golf on three courses designed by Gordon Lewis, a practice aqua range, putting green, and golf academy at The Club at The Strand. Members enjoy a fitness center and day spa, a Junior Olympic–sized swimming pool, tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, and 55,000-square-foot clubhouse with a boardroom, meeting rooms, pro shop, locker rooms, ballroom, and several dining options.

TALIS PARK

16980 Livingston Road, Naples talispark.com

This gated luxury community in North Naples with 12 neighborhoods features attached villa homes, penthouse-style condominiums, and single-family and showcase estate homes ranging from 5,900 to 6,820 square feet. Designed for country club living with a focus on health, walkability, and social vitality,

Talis Park includes an acclaimed 133-acre golf course with champion trees designed by Pete Dye and Greg Norman. Its Tuscany-inspired village center includes a fitness center and spa, pool, café, and tennis. Residents enjoy complimentary trips to Vanderbilt Beach via the community’s exclusive shuttle service.

THE VINEYARDS

75 Vineyards Blvd., Naples vineyardsnaples.com

This planned, 2,000-acre neighborhood has 38 unique communities—many gated—with villas, condos, coach homes, single-family homes, and luxury custom homes. The 32-acre Vineyards Community Park, with soccer and ballfields, walking trails, courts, and water play area, is located adjacent to the community. The Vineyard’s 70,000-squarefoot clubhouse includes dining rooms overlooking the Tuscany-style patio with golf course views. Amenities include a new wellness and fitness center and spa, saltwater lap pool and sun deck, smoothie café, and salt room. It is one of the largest country clubs in Naples, with a professionally staffed tennis

VERANDAH

and pickleball center, 70,000-square-feet clubhouse, and more than 300 acres dedicated to the club’s grounds.

WYNDEMERE COUNTRY CLUB

700 Wyndemere Way, Naples wyndemere.com

Wyndemere Country Club is a golfing community comprising 634 single-family homes, condos, and villas in 16 communities on 450 acres. Wyndemere includes an Arthur Hills–designed championship golf course with 27 holes, 10 Har-Tru tennis courts, pickleball, bocce, a 44,000-square-foot clubhouse, and a fitness center with a heated, outdoor swimming pool.

LEE COUNTY

BONITA BAY

3451 Bonita Bay Blvd., Ste. 100, Bonita Springs bonitabayresidents.com

Bonita Bay is a 2,400-acre gated community of 56 neighborhoods, tucked among 1,400 acres of parks, nature preserves, lakes, and open spaces. A 12-mile network of biking and walking paths links intimate collections of single-family homes, villas, coach homes and luxury high-rise residences. At build out, Bonita Bay will have fewer than 3,300 homes. Three Arthur Hills–designed courses within Bonita Bay and two courses by Tom Fazio at nearby Bonita Bay Club provide 90 holes of championship golf. The private Bonita Bay Club also offers residents an opportunity to enjoy tennis, fitness center and spa, and a new clubhouse with a variety of dining options. The full-service Bonita Bay Marina provides direct access to the Gulf of Mexico—via the Imperial River and Estero Bay— and boasts wet slips, dry storage, and a ship’s store.

BONITA NATIONAL

17001 Bonita Beach Road S.E., Bonita Springs

bonitanationalgolfcc.com

Bonita National Golf & Country Club is a luxury golf course community that consists of condominiums, attached homes, and singlefamily homes. Residents enjoy the 18-hole championship golf course and clubhouse with a fitness center, resort-style pool, scenic walking paths through conservation areas dotted with lakes, and a beach shuttle.

THE BROOKS

26388 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs thecommonsclub.com

This 2,492-acre, master-planned development offers different types of properties in five distinct gated communities: Shadow Wood, Shadow Wood Preserve, Spring Run, Lighthouse Bay, and Copper Leaf. Shadow Wood and Shadow Wood Preserve have three diverse, championship golf courses, while Copper Leaf and Spring Run boast their own courses. Residents of The Brooks are offered membership in The Commons Club, a member-owned club of 2,300 families situated in a tranquil, park-like setting in Estero. The club features a health and lifestyle center, enrichment center, lakeside restaurant, and a private beach club located on Little Hickory Island.

FIDDLESTICKS COUNTRY CLUB

15391 Canongate Drive, Fort Myers fiddlestickscc.com

With 585 homes and two golf courses, Fiddlesticks is a low-density community with two golf courses and private, estate-sized lots, condos, townhouses, and single-family residences. The resort-style community features a cabana and pool, eight HarTru tennis courts that host league and recreational play, and a 7,000-square-foot fitness facility with youth programs, including summer and school vacation camps.

GATEWAY

11360 Championship Drive, Fort Myers gatewaygolf.com, gatewaydistrict.org

This 3,000-acre, master-planned community with 32 neighborhoods offers residential options for a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Gateway is centrally located off Daniels Parkway near I-75 and is largely a single-family home community with quarter-acre lots. Neighborhoods such as Hammock Cove, Stoneybrook, Timber Ridge, and Summerwind also feature condos and townhouses. The private, 18-hole, Tom Fazio–designed golf course highlights amenities that include an Olympic-sized swimming pool, soccer complex, the Gateway Fun Park, a dog park, 15 miles of multi-use trails, tennis

BONITA BAY

and volleyball courts, and a lake and picnic grounds.

GRANDÉZZA

11481 Grand Oak Blvd., Estero grandezzacc.com

The centerpiece of Grandézza is a 53,000-square-foot, Tuscan-style clubhouse with multiple dining and lounge locations, a Junior Olympic pool, fitness center and studio, and tennis facility. The Club at Grandézza’s championship golf course, designed by Darwin Sharp III, plays to a par 72. The privately owned and managed community, featuring scenic exercise paths, has easy access to I-75.

LEXINGTON COUNTRY CLUB

16257 Willowcrest Way, Fort Myers lexingtoncountryclub.com

Lexington Country Club consists of a Golf Village and a Lake Village, with 1,479 homes and an 18-hole championship golf course with six tee box choices redesigned by Kipp

Schulties Golf Design in 2017. The community also features 12 lighted hydro-grid tennis courts, six heated swimming pools, a fitness center, and bocce courts. The main clubhouse boasts a variety of dining experiences, social clubs, and special events, as well as an outdoor tiki bar, pool and jacuzzi, computer center and library, and a sandy beach.

MIROMAR LAKES BEACH & GOLF CLUB

18061 Miromar Lakes Parkway, Miromar Lakes miromarlakes.com

A 700-acre freshwater lake with three miles of white-sand shoreline is the centerpiece of this community, providing endless recreational and social activities. Luxury estate, beach, coach, and villa homes overlook the lake or the remastered Arthur Hills championship golf course. Residents year-round social events, boating, water skiing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing, casual and fine dining at three restaurants, and resortinspired amenities along the lakefront. Located near Estero, Miromar Lakes also

has a full-service, European spa and fitness center, tennis and bocce courts, marine services, and private golf club.

PASEO

11611 Paseo Grande Blvd., Fort Myers mypaseo.life

Paseo is an award-winning community located in south Fort Myers off Daniels Parkway, close to shopping, the beaches, attractions, and I-75. It is a private, gated community surrounded by Six Mile Cypress Slough. There are a variety of single-family homes, two-story and split-level townhouses, casitas, and villas. Its village center offers a resort-style pool complex, fitness facilities, community movie theatre, fishing pier, an internet café/library, and courts for tennis and pickleball, basketball, volleyball, and bocce.

PELICAN LANDING

4450 Pelicans Nest Drive, Bonita Springs nestgolf.com

HOMEBUYERS: GET IN THE SWING

Welcome to the nation’s golf capitol. Did you know that there are an estimated 150-plus golf courses in Collier and Lee counties? The minority—less than 10 percent—are open to the public. That means the other 90-plus percent are private courses, typically located in gated golf course communities. In rare instances, a handful of these courses are semi-private, providing play to non-residents and non-members.

If you are a player who is interested in buying a home in a private community, be sure to do your homework. Referrals and word of mouth are a good way to start. If you’re looking at the bottom line, remember that annual membership dues vary greatly. Here are two key distinctions in memberships; be sure to investigate your options.

BUNDLED GOLF COMMUNITIES: Golf and social memberships are bundled into the purchase of your residence. You do not pay an additional initiation fee, but annual membership dues are required. Every homeowner will be a golf or social member of the club.

EQUITY GOLF COMMUNITIES: These require an upfront initiation fee for golf membership, followed by annual membership dues.

ALTERNATIVE MEMBERSHIPS: Ask if there are alternative membership options to player memberships, such as a social, executive, or sports membership. These memberships include year-round access to social activities and amenities. (Social and sports memberships allow golf privileges during the summer months, May through October 31, while executive memberships allow for some in-season play.)

NOT A GOLFER? If so, there are plenty of reasons to live in a golfing community: security, fewer neighbors, great views, and social activities. In Southwest Florida, these communities are also focusing on providing a vibrant, healthy lifestyle for all residents. State-of the-art fitness centers have become vital for many new homebuyers, as well as natural spaces, walkability, and recreational opportunities. Many of these fitness centers have full-time personal trainers, and large ones often have an on-staff nutritionist. Local clubhouse menus are continually revamped to provide culinary options for specific diets and local seafood, farm-to-table vegetables, and organic meat and poultry.

As with any home purchase, consider the location and do your homework to ensure the community fits your needs and your budget.

Pelican Landing is a master-planned community of 3,350 residences spread across 2,365 acres accented by lakes and preserves. It is situated along Spring Creek and its private, highly rated The Nest Golf Club has 36 holes at two golf courses: the Audubon-designated Hurricane and Gator courses. Pelican Landing owns a private barrier island with a 34-acre beach park on the Gulf of Mexico, and provides a boat shuttle, beach house with restrooms, shower facilities, a nature library, sun decks, and a screened pavilion. Other amenities include a 4,400-square-foot fitness center, bocce and pickleball courts, championship tennis courts, full-time pro and pro shop, sailing club, docking and launch facilities, and canoe/kayak parks. The community center provides activities coordinated by an activities director. The Hyatt Regency at Coconut Point offers residents lodging discounts and access to hotel services. Residences include custom estate homes, single-family homes, villas, coach homes, and condominiums. The Colony Golf and Country Club, with a private, par-72, Jerry Pate–designed course, is a sister community located within Pelican Landing.

RIVER HALL

2401 River Hall Parkway, Alva liveriverhall.com

This 1,500-acre, master-planned community features a semi-private, Davis Love III–designed, par-72 golf course and a 14,000-square-foot clubhouse. Located in Alva, a Town Hall Amenity Center in this 10-year-old community provides a resortstyle lagoon pool, programmed activities led by an on-site lifestyle director, miles of interconnected and meandering sidewalks around lakes and preserves, and River Hall Elementary School. More than 600 vacant homesites are available.

SANDOVAL

2573 Sandoval Parkway, Cape Coral

livesandoval.com

This 524-acre master-planned, gated community with a Caribbean flair has a host of family amenities: a lagoon pool with waterslide, wide, two-mile-long linear park path for running and cycling, four-anda-half-acre Calypso Park with grills and fishing pier, dog park, and a community center. It also has sports courts, volleyball, bocce, and horseshoe pits. Sandoval housing options include carriage homes and single-family homes.

VERANDAH

12201 River Village Way, Fort Myers verandah.com, verandahlife.com

Verandah is located along the Orange River in East Fort Myers near Alva, not far from I-75. In addition to two 18-hole championship golf courses—Old Orange, designed by Bob Cupp, and Whispering Oak, a Jack Nicklaus II–designed course— residents enjoy a fitness with spa treatment rooms, tennis and bocce center, group and personal training, resort-style pool, and green space for outdoor games. The waterfront River House restaurant was recently renovated.

WEST BAY CLUB

22050 S. Tamiami Trail, Estero westbayclub.com

Nestled on 868 acres among wetlands and nature preserve, and bounded by Estero Bay and Estero River, West Bay Club includes nine established neighborhoods and a new luxury, single-family villa neighborhood, WestLake Court. Choices of home styles range from carriage homes and villas to single-family estates and highrise condos. The final development within the community will be the 24-floor condo, The Island, offering panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico and golf course and 86 residences. The 18-hole championship golf course was designed by Pete and PB Dye, and the community features tennis, a resort-style pool, private beach club, and state-of-the-art fitness center.

WILDCAT RUN GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

20300 Country Club Drive, Estero wildcatruncc.com

Located east of I-75, Wildcat Run is a mature, luxury community with golf and water views from most homes. Amenities include a clubhouse with tennis, library, fitness center, putting green, and signature Arnold Palmer golf course. It is an intimate community, with only 450 homes ranging from carriage houses, detached villas, and condos to custom estate homes.

WILDCAT RUN

GOLDEN YEARS

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A COMFORTABLE PLACE TO LIVE OUT YOUR GOLDEN YEARS, HERE’S A HANDY GUIDE TO SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES IN COLLIER AND LEE COUNTIES

COUNTY LIFE CARE/CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES (Area code 239)

ALL SEASONS NAPLES

15450 Tamiami Trail N., Naples, 34110 316-4479 • allseasonsnaples.com

ARBOR TRACE 1000 Arbor Lake Drive, Naples, 34110 598-2929 • arbortrace.com

THE ARLINGTON OF NAPLES 7900 Arlington Circle, Naples, 34113 932-2946 • thearlingtonofnaples.com

ASTON GARDENS AT PELICAN MARSH 4800 Aston Gardens Way, Naples, 34109 215-3356 • astongardens.com

THE CARLISLE NAPLES 6945 Carlisle Court, Naples, 34109 249-6877 • srgseniorliving.com

DISCOVERY VILLAGE AT NAPLES 8417 Sierra Meadows Blvd., Naples, 34113 243-0145 • discoveryvillages.com

THE GLENVIEW AT PELICAN BAY 100 Glenview Place, Naples, 34108 977-9744 • glenviewnaples.com

GRAND LIVING AT NAPLES

15150 Tamiami Trail N., Naples, 34110 428-0163 • grandliving.com

MOORINGS PARK AT GRANDE LAKE 7410 Little Lane, Naples, 34105 900-3749 • mooringspark.org

MOORINGS PARK AT GREY OAKS

2591 Rue Du Jardin, Naples, 34105 314-3691 • mooringspark.org

TERRACINA GRAND

6825 Davis Blvd., Naples, 34104 455-1459 • terracinaseniorliving.com

SEASCAPE AT NAPLES

3490 Thrive Drive, Naples, 34105 309-7729 • rui.net

VI AT BENTLEY VILLAGE

850 Retreat Drive, Naples, 34110 877-660-0714 • viliving.com

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING

BRADFORD SQUARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

3255 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, 34109 465-0650 • rlcommunities.com

LELY PALMS RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

1000 Lely Palms Drive, Naples, 34113 775-7661 • lelypalmsretirementliving.com

SANDALWOOD VILLAGE

3511 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples, 34109 855-385-7844 • sandalwoodvillage.com

THE MARBELLA AT PELICAN BAY

7425 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples, 34108 593-2300 • marbellapelicanbay.com

ASSISTED LIVING

ADVINIACARE OF NAPLES

7801 Airport-Pulling Road N., Naples, 34109 566-8077 • adviniacare.com

BROOKDALE NORTH NAPLES 1710 S.W. Health Parkway, Naples, 34109 944-9220 • brookdale.com

THE COVE AT THE MARBELLA AT PELICAN BAY

7425 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples, 34108 593-2300 • marbellapelicanbay.com

TUSCANY VILLA OF NAPLES

8901 Tamiami Trail E., Naples, 34113 775-2233 • fivestarseniorliving.com

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

AMIRA CHOICE NAPLES

9015 Bellaire Bay Drive, Naples, 34120 734-5639 • amirachoice.com

BARRINGTON TERRACE OF NAPLES 5175 Tamiami Trail E., Naples, 34113 719-3298 • arborcompany.com

BEACH HOUSE 1000 Airport-Pulling Road S., Naples, 34104 • 399-5507 beachhousenaplesseniorliving.com

THE COLLIER AT NAPLES 770 Goodlette Road N., Naples, 34102 351-1803 • inspiritseniorliving.com

ELITE ALF AT NAPLES 1155 Encore Way, Naples, 34110 598-1368 • elitealf.com

THE FAIRWAYS AT NAPLES 3053 Airport-Pulling Road N., Naples, 34105 880-8516 * thefairwaysatnaples.com

MOORINGS PARK –OAKSTONE AT GREY OAKS 2591 Rue Du Jardin, Naples, 34105 919-1732 • mooringspark.org

MOORINGS PARK - ORCHID TERRACE 111 Moorings Park Drive, Naples, 34105 643-9136 • mooringspark.org

THE PINEAPPLE HOUSE AT SAPPHIRE LAKES

7901 Radio Road, Naples, 34104 259-0707 • pineapplehousenaples.com

MEMORY CARE

ARDEN COURTS PROMEDICA MEMORY CARE COMMUNITY - LELY PALMS 6125 Rattlesnake Hammock Road, Naples, 34113 417-8511 • arden-courts.com

BAYSHORE MEMORY CARE NAPLES 1260 Creekside Blvd. E., Naples, 34109 213-9370 • seniorlifestyle.com

MEMORY CARE OF NAPLES 2626 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples, 34103 403-0826 • memorycarenaples.com

NAPLES GREEN VILLAGE 101 Cypress Way E., Naples, 34110 514-0300 • naplesgreenvillage.com

LEE COUNTY

LIFE CARE/CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT

COMMUNITIES

AMAVIDA

7650 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, 33907 445-3250 * amavidaliving.com

AMERICAN HOUSE - COCONUT POINT 8460 Murano Del Lago Drive, Estero, 34135 221-6050 • americanhouse.com

ATRIUM AT LIBERTY PARK 1321 N.E. 24th Ave., Cape Coral, 33909 800-0318 • meridiansenior.com

CANTERFIELD SENIOR LIVING 18301 Trifecta Lane, Fort Myers, 33967 990-6100 • canterfieldseniorliving.com

CYPRESS COVE AT HEALTHPARK 10200 Cypress Cove Drive, Fort Myers, 33908 297-7377 • cypresscoveliving.org

DISCOVERY VILLAGE AT THE FORUM 2645 Forum Blvd., Fort Myers, 33905 236.1785 • discoveryvillages.com

GULF COAST VILLAGE 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, 33991 772-1333 • gulfcoastvillage.org

HIGHPOINT AT CAPE CORAL 1701 Four Mile Cove Parkway, Cape Coral, 33990 282-4794 • highpointcapecoral.com

THE PALMS OF FORT MYERS 2674 Winkler Ave., Fort Myers, 33901 275-7800 • fivestarseniorliving.com

SEASIDE AT FORT MYERS 15800 Beachwalk Blvd., Fort Myers, 33908 349-3769 • rui.net

SHELL POINT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY 15101 Shell Point Blvd., Fort Myers, 33908 441-2054 • shellpoint.org

THE TERRACES AT BONITA SPRINGS 26455 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, 34134 949-7555 • theterracesatbonitasprings.com

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING

AMERICAN HOUSE - BONITA SPRINGS III 27301 Foster Lane, Bonita Springs, 34135 206-4289 • americanhouse.com

BROOKDALE - COLLEGE PARKWAY 8351 College Parkway, Fort Myers, 33919 457-1862 • brookdale.com

CAMPO FELICE 2500 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers, 33901 307-5493 • camposeniorliving.com

COASTAL GARDENS SENIOR LIVING 3625 Hidden Tree Lane, Fort Myers, 33901 666-1847

DIAMOND OAKS VILLAGE 24110 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, 34134 319-5338 • diamondoaksvillage.com

FOUNTAIN CREST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

1230 Taylor Lane, Lehigh Acres, 33936 239-214-8752 • sunshineretirementliving.com

TYPES OF SENIOR LIVING

INDEPENDENT LIVING

These communities are designed to enable residents to remain independent as long as possible. A community may offer annual or month-to-month payment structures. Independent communities provide residents with convenient access to dining and meal plans, entertainment and social activities, transportation, housekeeping and laundry, maintenance, and wellness clinics. Independent living communities are not licensed to provide personal or nursing care.

LIFE PLAN/CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES

These communities offer several kinds of residences that provide various levels of housing options, community amenities, and health care services for residents ranging from active seniors to those in need of skilled nursing. They typical include apartments, condos, or homes for independent living. Assisted living residents usually live in apartments, while those in skilled nursing and memory support areas reside in private or shared suites or rooms. Life care communities usually provide a long-term contract between the resident (frequently lasting the term of the resident’s lifetime) and the community, which offers maintenance-free living and access to a continuum of health care, commonly all on one campus. If the resident requires assisted living, memory care, or skilled or rehabilitative nursing, the community provides varying levels of care.

ASSISTED LIVING

Assisted living provides a combination of housing, personal care services, and personalized health care designed for individuals who need assistance with normal daily activities in a way that promotes maximum independence. Services typically include: nutritional meals and special diets, supervision and assistance with personal care, assistance with medications, transportation and escort to medical appointments, housekeeping and laundry, and social and leisure activities. There are four types of assisted living licenses.

MEMORY CARE

These are licensed assisted living communities that specialize in delivering care to residents suffering from a cognitive impairment, dementia, or Alzheimer’s. These communities are secure for residents’ safety and provide 24-hour supervised care. The same license rules apply as assisted living. Staff members are trained for the special needs of this population.

(Source: Seniors BlueBook, seniorsbluebook.com)

THE ROSE GARDEN OF FORT MYERS

2117 Earl Road, Fort Myers, 33901 215-1337 • rosegardenfortmyers.com

THE SUMMIT OF FORT MYERS

1499 S. Brandywine Circle, Fort Myers, 33919 433-0477 • thesummitoffortmyers.com

INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING

BROOKDALE - BONITA SPRINGS

26850 South Bay Drive, Bonita Springs, 34134 488-3005 • brookdale.com

CALUSA HARBOUR

2525 First St., Fort Myers, 33901 332-3333 • fivestarseniorliving.com

ASSISTED LIVING

BROOKDALE - CAPE CORAL

1416 Country Club Blvd., Cape Coral, 33990 673-0735 • brookdale.com

BROOKDALE - LAKES PARK

14521 Lakewood Blvd., Fort Myers, 33919 239-308-0496 • brookdale.com

DORNOCH PLACE

2728 S.E. 16th Place, Cape Coral, 33904 573-7598 • capealf.com

LEHIGH ACRES ASSISTED LIVING 1251 Business Way, Lehigh Acres, 33936 368.2500 lehighacresassistedliving.seniorlivingnearme.com

MERRILL GARDENS AT BARKLEY PLACE 36 Barkeley Circle, Fort Myers, 33907 788-2337 • merrillgardens.com

PONDELLA RESIDENTIAL CARE

1923 N.E. Sixth St., Cape Coral, 33909 242-0597 • pondellaresidentialcare.com

SPRINGWOOD COURT

12780 Kenwood Lane, Fort Myers, 33907 206-4182 • springwoodcourtal.com

VILLA PALMS ASSISTED LIVING 6722 Winkler Road, Fort Myers, 33919 433-5553 • villapalmsalf.com

ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE

AMERICAN HOUSE – BONITA SPRINGS 11400 Longfellow Lane, Bonita Springs, 34135 206-8587 • americanhouse.com

AMERICAN HOUSE – FORT MYERS 14001 Metro Parkway, Fort Myers, 33912 844-779-1146 • americanhouse.com

BARRINGTON TERRACE OF FORT MYERS

9731 Commerce Center Court, Fort Myers, 33908 201-4891 • arborcompany.com

BAYSIDE SENIOR LIVING 3501 Hancock Bridge Parkway, North Fort Myers, 33903 208-1248 • volanteseniorliving.com

BROOKDALE - CYPRESS LAKE 7460 Lake Breeze Drive, Fort Myers, 33907 895-9648 • brookdale.com

DISCOVERY COMMONS CYPRESS POINT 6870 Alister Way, Fort Myers, 33912 768-4044 • discoverycommons.com

ELITE ALF AT CAPE CORAL 4920 Viceroy Court, Cape Coral, 33904 542-3121 * elitealf.com

PACIFICA SENIOR LIVINGFORT MYERS 9461 HealthPark Circle, Fort Myers, 33908 829-5119 • pacificafortmyers.com

THE PRESERVE 14750 Hope Center Loop, Fort Myers, 33912 264-4444 • thepreservevoa.org

THE WINDSOR OF CAPE CORAL 831 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, 33991 772-9400 • legendseniorliving.com

MEMORY CARE

ARDEN COURTS PROMEDICA MEMORY CARE - FORT MYERS 15950 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, 33908 454-1277 • arden-courts.com

BROOKDALE - THE COLONY 13565 American Colony Blvd., Fort Myers, 33912 955-8381 • brookdale.com

BROOKDALE - SANTA BARBARA 911 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, 33991 673-1159 • brookdale.com

GULF POINT MEMORY CARE 22900 Lyden Drive, Estero, 33928 221-6120 • ahmg365.com

INSPIRED LIVING AT BONITA SPRINGS

27221 Bay Landing Drive, Bonita Springs, 34135 301-3095 • inspiredliving.care

TIPS ON RESEARCHING SENIOR COMMUNITIES

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT PLACE FOR YOU OR YOUR LOVED ONEIN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, BE PREPARED BEFORE YOU GET STARTED.

START YOUR RESEARCH EARLY

Compare the senior communities in your area. Begin actively planning where you want to be today, before health problems develop. Determine the kind of lifestyle and health care options you want for yourself and narrow down your choices. Don’t feel rushed, but don’t procrastinate. Don’t be one of those people who end up saying, “I wish I hadn’t waited so long.”

DECIDE WHAT SERVICES AND AMENITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU

Make a list of services, amenities, and features that are important to you. Remember: You are not just thinking about today but planning for your future.

VISIT AND TAKE NOTES

Once you have narrowed down your choices, take tours. Can you visualize yourself living in this community? How do the grounds look? Is the staff friendly? Is the environment clean, well-maintained, and nicely appointed?

ASK QUESTIONS

Come prepared with a list of questions. If you don’t ask questions, you won’t be able to make an informed decision. You should feel certain that the staff is answering your questions and addressing your concerns.

EVALUATE THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

There are a variety of financial arrangements available. These might include rentals, equity, and entrance fees. Learn the pros and cons of each. Understand what is included and what is “extra.”

(Source: Seniors BlueBook, seniorsbluebook.com)

UNDERSTAND THE HEALTH CARE COMPONENT

What levels of care are available? Does the staff seem caring and professional? Are there activities for the residents who are receiving care? What is the community licensed to provide, and what are the costs should care be needed? This is a very important part of your research

MEET THE RESIDENTS

Can you envision the residents as your neighbors?

DINE AT THE COMMUNITY

The more you can experience the lifestyle, the better. How is the atmosphere in the dining room? Is there a dress code for dinner? Does the menu offer good variety? Is the service attentive? Does the chef accommodate dietary requirements? Will you enjoy dining here?

REVIEW PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

Ask for an event calendar to see if there are programs and activities of interest to you. Are there a variety of educational, social, cultural, and fitness programs available? Can residents volunteer within the community? Are special travel opportunities available to residents?

GET YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS INVOLVED

If your family or friends can aid you in deciding, ask them to evaluate your top choices. They may raise questions you haven’t considered.

SEEK THE ADVICE OF A PROFESSIONAL

Utilizing a senior housing advisor can help you narrow down your choices and provide valuable insight about the places you are considering

REAL ESTATE

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CONTINUES TO ATTRACT NEW RESIDENTS SEEKING THEIR OWN SLICE OF PARADISE

In early 2024, a Naples beachfront estate hit the market for a cool $295 million; at the time it was reportedly the most expensive residential listing in the country. Although the eye-popping price for the lush, 9-acre compound would eliminate most mortals from the bidding, it illustrated the aspirational quality that surrounds Southwest Florida.

Thankfully for the rest of us, the good life here is a ainable at costs that fit a variety of budgets. And that has been the story ever since our corner of the Sunshine State began a racting new residents from the colder climes early last century.

Southwest Florida is a global destination for those seeking mild winters, along with

ISLAND

and abundant outdoor activities, sporting events, concerts, and festivals. Plus, there is no state income tax, a homestead exemption, and other tax benefits for residents.

Because of those a ributes, the population continues to surge. Collier County, which has a reported population of 397,994, ranked twel h in the state for growth with more than 12,000 new residents. Lee County added more than 34,000 newcomers from July 2021 to July 2022 to reach 822,453, making it the sixth fastest-growing county in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It also ranked first among Florida’s 67 counties in net migration.

Of course, the influx creates a substantial demand for housing, and lots of them. Fortunately, the local real estate profession is prepared to help newcomers find a place they can call home.

MARKET OVERVIEW

That need means new construction, as evidenced by scores of building sites popping up all over, from coastal neighborhoods to inland gated communities. Single-family home permits in Lee and Collier counties rose 31 percent between December 2022 and 2023, according to market studies.

The fresh supply of new housing combined with thousands of existing units

MARCO

result in a sizzling real estate market. Inventory has grown a er a decline in 2022, and listings are also on the rise.

Prices varied in 2023, dipping 0.7 percent with a median price of $735,000 for singlefamily homes in Collier County (excluding Marco Island) and increasing 9.5 percent to a median price of $385,000 in Lee County. The condo-townhouse market is also solid in Collier County, where the median closed price (excluding Marco Island) rose 6.6 percent to $485,000 in 2023. In Lee County, the median sale price of condos and townhouses remained at a $300,000 in the same period.

COMMUNITIES

Collier and Lee counties abound with assorted cities and towns, stretching from the smallest post office in the United States in tiny Ochopee in Collier County to the affluent environs of Boca Grande and Captiva islands to the rural calm of Buckingham and Alva

Some neighborhoods are tucked with turn-of-the-century and 1920s Mediterranean-style homes, and simple ranch houses from the 1960s and ’70s. Condominiums, townhouses, apartments, and updated homes round out the options. Most gated communities provide health, fitness, social amenities, and dining options.

Standing tall on the horizon, residential high-and low-rises can be found along the Caloosahatchee River front, gulf coast, and in city center locations. They include: Triton Cay, a five-story apartment building on the downtown Fort Myers River District; Aura at Metropolitan, a 15-story condominium high-rise in downtown Naples; Grandview at Bay Beach, an 11-story condo building on Fort Myers Beach; and the 24-story Island at West Bay in Estero that overlooks Estero Bay. Omega at Bonita Bay, in Bonita Springs, is a 27-story residential tower that’s also perched above Estero Bay.

The City of Cape Coral in Lee County ranks among the top 10 fastest-growing

cities in the nation. In Collier County, master-planned communities are rising in the rural east to make way for more residents and the workers needed to support population growth. Ave Maria in Collier County reported a total of 652 new home sales in 2023, placing it among the top 20 master-planned nationwide.

WHAT’S TO LOVE?

One a raction is financial. There is no state income tax, and state sales tax is 6 percent. A homestead exemption allows Florida homeowners to reduce the assessed value of their primary home when it’s declared their domicile. Other exemptions include those for veterans, active-duty military, first-responder survivors, seniors and low-income individuals.

Lifestyle-wise, the Gulf of Mexico invites boating, fishing, diving, and recreation, in addition to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Two official paddling trails—one each in Lee and Collier counties—offer scenic routes for canoe, kayak, and paddleboard exploration inland and along the coast.

On terra firma, Collier and Lee counties have a combined 150 golf courses that draw championship tournaments. Naples is ranked No. 1 nationally for golf holes per capita by the National Golf Foundation. For pickleball enthusiasts, there are plentiful courts. East Naples Community Park, with 65 courts, is home to the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships.

Vast natural lands are preserved as national, state, and regional parks, in addition to more than 34,000 acres of conservation areas purchased through Collier and Lee tax-funded preservation programs.

MUNICIPAL

BAYFRONT OF NAPLES

MOVE-IN ESSENTIALS

IF YOU’RE NEW IN TOWN, HERE’S A HANDY DIRECTORY TO HELP YOU GET ADJUSTED

Relocating to a new town is exhilarating, but it can be tedious tracking down all of the details you need to know to get settled in comfortably. You have many questions, and this guide will make the process a little easier. If you are moving into an incorporated city, visit the city’s website to find out about local offices and services. If you are not living within the boundaries of a municipality, you are in an unincorporated area, so contact county government. (Area code 239)

EMERGENCY

Police, Fire, Medical: 911

COLLIER COUNTY

TRAFFIC FINES, MARRIAGE LICENSES, DIVORCE, PASSPORTS, SMALL CLAIMS, JURY DUTY

Collier County Clerk of Court

Collier County Courthouse Annex, Second Floor 3315 Tamiami Trail E., Ste. 102, Naples 239-252-2646 • collierclerk.com

VOTER REGISTRATION

Collier County Supervisor of Elections

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Building 3750 Enterprise Ave., Naples 252-8683 • colliervotes.com

Satellite office at the North Collier Government Services Center on Orange Blossom Drive.

COLLIER COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM

Library Headquarters 2385 Orange Blossom Drive, Naples 252-7311 • collierlibrary.org

The library system has as 10 locations to serve Collier County.

DRIVER’S LICENSES, VEHICLE TAGS, CONCEAL CARRY, BOAT REGISTRATION, HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES

Collier County Tax Collector

Main Office

3291 Tamiami Trail E., Naples

252-8171 • colliertaxcollector.com

The Collier County Tax Collector has 11 offices/ locations in Collier County.

PET LICENSE

Collier County Domestic Animal Services 7610 Davis Blvd., Naples 252-7387 (PETS) • colliercountyfl.gov

The owners of all dogs and cats over four months old must obtain a Collier County license. Proof of a current rabies vaccination is required. Veterinary clinics can also issue pet licenses.

RECYCLING, YARD WASTE, & SOLID WASTE

Collier County Solid Waste Division 3339 Tamiami Trail E., Ste. 302, Naples 252-7575 • colliercountyfl.gov

Collier County Solid & Hazardous Waste Division handles garbage and recycling for unincorporated areas of Collier County, City of Marco Island, and Immokalee. The county has one of the highest residential recycling rates in the state.

Recycling: Only these items should be placed in your recycling cart: plastic bottles, jars, jugs and tubs; glass bottles and jars; metal cans; paper; cardboard; and cartons. Do not place plastic bags in your recycling cart.

Hazardous waste: Collier County operates six main drop-off centers to dispose of hazardous waste for residents and businesses within the county. They are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Hazardous waste includes chemicals that can harm people, other living organisms, property, or the environment, such as aerosols, insecticides and herbicides, antifreeze, paint, batteries, pool chemicals, motor oil, and pharmaceuticals. They also accept electronics, including computers, TVs, and cellphones. Visit colliercountyfl.gov for collection locations.

The Naples Solid Waste Division is responsible for the collection and disposal of commercial and residential trash, horticultural, and recyclable material within the city. Contact: 2600 Corporate Flight Drive or 213-4700.

Marco Island Recycling Drop-off Center Contact: 990 Chalmer Drive or 252-2380.

IRRIGATION AND FERTILIZING REGULATIONS

Watering restrictions (including lawn irrigation and car washing) and fertilizing schedules are in place year-round. Check with your local government for the schedules.

LEE COUNTY

TRAFFIC FINES, MARRIAGE LICENSES, DIVORCE, PASSPORTS, SMALL CLAIMS, JURY DUTY

Lee County Clerk of Court

Lee County Justice Center

2075 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd./1700 Monroe St., First Floor, Fort Myers 533-5000 * leeclerk.org

VOTER REGISTRATION

Lee County Supervisor of Elections

Melvin Morgan Constitutional Complex 2480 Thompson St., Third Floor, Fort Myers LEE-VOTE (533-8683) • lee.electionsfl.org

Branch offices in Cape Coral, South Fort Myers, and Bonita Springs. Registration forms are available online. You can also register to vote when you apply for a new driver’s license.

DRIVER’S LICENSES, VEHICLE TAGS, CONCEAL CARRY, BOAT REGISTRATION, HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES

Lee County Tax Collector 2480 Thompson St., Fort Myers 239-533-6000; leetc.com

The Lee County Tax Collector has eight offices. Application forms and information are available online.

PET LICENSE

Lee County Animal Services 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers 239-533-7387; leegov.com/animalservicesPet licensing: 239-533-9215 or 239-533-9217

All cats, dogs, and ferrets, four months of age or older, that live in Lee County for at least 30 days per year must be vaccinated against rabies (or show proof from another state) and licensed. Veterinary clinics can also issue pet licenses.

RECYCLING, YARD WASTE & SOLID WASTE

Lee County Solid Waste Division 6441 Topaz Court, Fort Myers 239-533-8000; leegov.com/solidwaste Lee County Solid Waste, a division of the Department of Public Utilities, provides a variety of waste and recycling services to more

HELPFUL NUMBERS

COLLIER COUNTY LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Collier County Administration

North Collier Government Center

Collier Area Transit (CAT)

Clerk of Court

Domestic Animal Services

Health Department

Library System Headquarters

Property Appraiser

Public Schools

Sheriff’s Office

Non-Emergency Dispatch

Solid & Hazardous Waste Division

Supervisor of Elections

Tax Collector

Utilities Customer Service

MUNICIPALITIES

Everglades City

City of Marco Island

City of Naples

239-252-8999 colliercountyfl.gov

239-252-8999 colliercountyfl.gov

239-252-7777 ridecat.com

239-252-2646 collierclerk.com

239-252-7387 (PETS) colliercountyfl.gov

239-252-8200 collier.floridahealth.gov

239-252-7356 collierlibrary.org

239-252-8141 collierappraiser.com

239-377-0001 collierschools.com

239-774-4434 colliersheriff.org

239-252-9300 colliersheriff.org

239-252-2508 colliercountyfl.gov

239-252-8683 colliervotes.com

239-252-8171 colliertaxcollector.com

239-252-2380 colliercountyfl.gov

239-695-3781 cityofeverglades.org

239-389-5000 cityofmarcoisland.com

239-213-1000 naplesgov.com

LEE COUNTY LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Lee County Administration

Animal Services

Clerk of Court

Health Department

LeeWay - Toll Transponder Stickers

LeeTran - Public Transportation

Library System

Property Appraiser

School District

Sheriff’s Office

Non-Emergency Dispatch

Solid Waste Division

Supervisor of Elections

Tax Collector

Utilities Customer Service

MUNICIPALITIES

City of Bonita Springs

City of Cape Coral

City of Fort Myers

City of Sanibel

Town of Fort Myers Beach

Village of Estero

239-533-2221 leegov.com

239-533-7387 / 239-533-9215 leegov.com/animalservices

239-533-5000 leeclerk.org

239-332-9501 lee.floridahealth.gov

239-533-9297 leewayinfo.com

239-533-8726 (LEE-TRAN) leegov.com/leetran

239-479-4636 leegov.com/library

239-533-6100 leepa.org

239-334-1102 leeschools.net

239-477-1350

sheriffleefl.org

239-477-1000 sheriffleefl.org

239-533-8000 leegov.com/solidwaste

239-533-8683 (LEE-VOTE) lee.electionsfl.org

239-533-6000 leetc.com

239-533-8845 leegov.com/utilities

239-949-6262

cityofbonitasprings.org

239-574-0401 capecoral.net

239-321-7000 cityftmyers.com

239-472-3700 mysanibel.com

239-765-0202 fortmyersbeachfl.gov

239-221-5035 estero-fl.gov

than 320,000 households in unincorporated Lee County and its six municipalities.

Recycling: Only five materials should be placed in your recycling bin: paper, glass (green, brown, and clear), cardboard (non-waxed coating), plastic containers labeled 1-7 in the triangle (no plastic bags or Styrofoam), and metal (aluminum and tin) cans.

Hazardous waste: Lee County also handles the disposal of residential hazardous waste such as aerosols, insecticides, antifreeze, paint, ba eries, pool chemicals, and herbicides. It also accepts electronics, including computers, TVs, and cellphones. (Electronics are accepted for trash pickup in some cities.)

Free mulch: Lee County provides free mulch to residents at five locations within the county.

City Waste Haulers: If you live in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, or Estero, check with that city’s public works and solid waste divisions to learn about obtaining trash and recycling bins, local ordinances, and pickup schedules. Some cities contract with these private companies: Advanced Disposal Services: 239-334-1224 or 239-368-2300; advanceddisposal.com

Waste Management: 239-334-4115 or 941-629-1106; wm.com Waste Pro: 239-945-0800; wasteprousa.com

IRRIGATION AND FERTILIZING REGULATIONS

Watering restrictions (including lawn irrigation and car washing) and fertilizing schedules are in place year-round. Check with your local government for the schedules.

COLLIER AND LEE

ELECTRICITY

Florida Power & Light (FPL): 800-226-3545or fpl.com

Establishing service online is preferred. To report an outage: 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243)

Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC): 800-599-2356 or lcec.net

LCEC headquarters: 4980 Bayline Drive, North Fort Myers LCEC provides power to parts or all of several Southwest Florida communities:

Lee County: Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, Sanibel, Captiva, Pine Island, Matlacha, Burnt Store Marina, Useppa, Cabbage Key, Lehigh Acres

Collier County: Everglades City, Ochopee, Goodland, Marco Island, Golden Gate Estates, Immokalee, Ave Maria

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GETTING THERE

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BY AIR

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (RSW)

11000 Terminal Access Road, Fort Myers 239-590-4800 • flyrsw.com

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is operated by the Lee County Port Authority and is one of the top 50 airports nationally for passenger traffic. It is located three miles east of I-75 off exit 128 (Alico Road).

COLLIER

COUNTY

EVERGLADES AIRPARK

650 E.C. Airpark Road, Everglades City 239-252-6298• colliercountyfl.gov

A 29-acre airpark surrounded by Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve.

IMMOKALEE REGIONAL AIRPORT (IMM)

165 Airpark Blvd., Immokalee 239-252-6296 • colliercountyfl.gov

Located 35 miles northeast of Naples and 110 miles from the Port of Miami. It is a designated Foreign Trade Zone.

MARCO ISLAND EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (MKY)

2005 Mainsail Drive, Ste. 1, Naples 239-252-1059 • colliercountyfl.gov

This airport is conveniently located to Naples, Marco Island, Goodland, and Isles of Capri. It provides affordable, hassle-free air travel and is home to flight-training companies. Airport staff provides professional services and arranges ground transportation and local reservations.

CHARTER SERVICE

Salt Island Seaplanes: 239-263-7258 or saltislandseaplanes.com

NAPLES MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (APF)

160 Aviation Drive N., Naples 239-643-0733 • flynaples.com

Naples Airport (APF) is operated by the Naples Airport Authority and accommodates more than 115,000 general aviation takeoffs and landings each year. It is home to sightseeing tours, air charter operators, flight schools, and other businesses, and it provides U.S. Customs clearing for international arrivals.

CHARTER SERVICES

Air Trek: 239-262-8735 or airtrek.cc

Aviation Advisor: 847-395-3767 or aviationadvisor.com

Elite Jets: 239-900-9000 or elitejets.com Flexjet: 866-309-2214 or flexjet.com Jet 1: 239-643-9700 or flyjet1.com

Naples Jet Center: 239-649-7900 or naplesjetcenter.com

Northern Jet Management: 800-462-7709 or northernjet.net

LEE COUNTY

PAGE FIELD REGIONAL

AIRPORT (FMY)

5200 Captain Channing Page Drive, Fort Myers

239-590-6600 • flylcpa.com/fmy

Page Field (FMY) is a business and general aviation airport operated by the Lee County Port Authority with Foreign Trade Zone status. It provides quick and convenient access to communities throughout the region. As a TSA-approved DCA Gateway Airport, Page Field is authorized to support direct flights into Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C.

Page Field also has FAA-approved aviation services including flight training, aircraft maintenance and repair, hangars, and air charter operations.

CHARTER SERVICES

Aeronautical Charters: 239-278-0101 or goflyaci.com

Cypress Air Charter: 239-272-5799 or cypressaircharter.com

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

PUNTA GORDA AIRPORT (PGD)

28000 A-1 Airport Road, Punta Gorda 941-639-1101, ext. 100 • flypgd.com

Punta Gorda Airport is located off exit 161 (Jones Loop Road) of I-75 in Charlo e County. Allegiant Air: 702-505-8888 or allegiantair.com

Sun Country Airlines: 651-905-2737 or suncountry.com

CHARTER SERVICES

Air Trek: 800-247-8735 or airtrek.cc

BY LAND

MAJOR HIGHWAYS

I-75 runs 471 miles in Florida, from the Georgia border south to Naples, where it turns east to Fort Lauderdale and connects to I-95, which runs north-south along the East Coast.

From the Georgia border, U.S. 41 / Cleveland Avenue/Tamiami Trail runs south and turns east at Naples and connects to Miami. I-75 / Major Exits From North to South:

LEE COUNTY

143: Bayshore Road (SR 78)/North Fort Myers

141: Palm Beach Boulevard (SR 80)/Downtown or East Fort Myers

138: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (SR 82)/ Downtown Fort Myers

136: Colonial Boulevard (SR 884)/Edison Mall or Fort Myers

131: Daniels Parkway/Bell Tower Shops, JetBlue Stadium, Beaches

128: Alico Road/RSW, FGCU

123: Corkscrew Road/FGCU, Miromar Outlets

116: Bonita Beach Road/Bonita Springs

COLLIER COUNTY

111: Immokalee Road (CR 846)/North Naples

107: Pine Ridge Road (CR 896)/Naples

105: Golden Gate Parkway (CR 886)/Golden Gate or Naples

101: Collier Boulevard (CR 951)

80: State Road 29/Immokalee, Lake Trafford, Everglades City

BUS & TROLLEY SERVICE

LEE COUNTY TRANSIT (LEETRAN)

239-533-8726 (LEE-TRAN) or leegov.com/leetran

Local routes, plus downtown trolley and beach shu les. Check website for schedules.

COLLIER AREA TRANSIT (CAT)

239-252-7777 or ridecat.com

Local routes, paratransit pick-up for the elderly and disabled, and beach shu les. GREYHOUND

greyhound.com * 800-231-2222

Serving Collier and Lee counties

NAPLES TROLLEY TOURS

1010 Sixth Ave. S., Naples

239-262-7300

naplestrolleytours.com

See 100 points of interest while riding this vintage trolley.

BY WATER

LEE COUNTY

ADVENTURES IN PARADISE

Port Sanibel Marina: 14341 Port Comfort Road, Fort Myers

Sanibel Marina: 634 N Yachtsman Drive, Sanibel Snug Harbor: 645 Old San Carlos Blvd, Fort Myers Beach

239-472-8443• adventureinparadiseinc.com

Cruises to Cabbage Key, Cayo Costa, and North Captiva islands.

CAPTIVA CRUISES

13921 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia 239-633-8142• islandgirlcharters.com

Cruises to Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Gasparilla Island, and Pine Island

ISLAND GIRL CHARTERS AT PINELAND MARINA

13921 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia 239-633-8142• islandgirlcharters.com

Water taxi service to North Captiva, Cabbage Key, Boca Grande, Captiva, and Useppa Island.

KEY WEST EXPRESS

1200 Main St., Fort Myers Beach

951 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island 239-463-5733• keywestexpress.net

Ferry linking Fort Myers and Marco Island with Key West.

COLLIER COUNTY

HEMINGWAY WATER SHUTTLE

951 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island 239-315-1136• hemingwaywatershuttle.com

Transports passengers from Rose Marina to Keewaydin Island.

NAPLES BAY WATER SHUTTLE

880 12th Ave. S., Naples

239-206-0160• naplesbaywatershuttle.com

A 1-hour hop-on, hop-off tour of Naples Bay, stopping at key waterfront shopping, hotel, and dining destinations.

NAPLES TROLLEY TOURS

ART & CULTURE

FILL YOUR CALENDAR WITH ART, THEATER, DANCE, HERITAGE, AND MUSIC

COLLIER COUNTY

ARTIS—NAPLES

THE BAKER MUSEUM

5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples 239-597-1900 or 800-597-1900 artisnaples.org

BIG CYPRESS GALLERY

52388 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee 239-695-2428 • clydebutcher.com

GULFSHORE OPERA

3281 Golden Gate Blvd. W., Naples 239-529-3925 • gulfshoreopera.org

GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE

100 Goodlette-Frank Road S., Naples 239-261-7529 • gulfshoreplayhouse.org

HISTORIC PALM COTTAGE

137 Twelfth Ave. S., Naples 239-261-8164 napleshistoricalsociety.org

HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & COHEN EDUCATION CENTER 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Ste. 108, Naples 239-263-9200 • hmcec.org

MARCO ISLAND ARTS CENTER THEATRE 1089 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island 239-394-4221 • marcoislandart.org

MARCO ISLAND CENTER FOR THE ARTS 1010 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island 239-394-4221 • marcoislandart.org

THE NAPLES PLAYERS

ARTS BONITA

NAPLES ART INSTITUTE

585 Park St., Naples 239-262-6517 • naplesart.org

NAPLES ART DISTRICT

Shirley Street, J&C Boulevard, AirportPulling Road, and Pine Ridge Road 239-249-1977 • naplesartdistrict.com

NAPLES DESIGN DISTRICT

Fith Avenue South, Seventh Avenue North, east side of U.S. 41 to GoodletteFrank Road • naplesdesigndistrict.com

NORRIS CENTER

Cambier Park • 755 8th Ave. S., Naples 239-213-3058 • naplesgov.com

OPERA NAPLES

2408 Linwood Ave., Naples 239-963-9050 • operanaples.org

THE NAPLES PLAYERS AT SUGDEN COMMUNITY THEATRE 701 Fifth Ave. S., Naples 239-263-7990 • naplesplayers.org

THE STUDIO PLAYERS

4701 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples 239-398-9192 • thestudioplayers.org

THEATREZONE

13275 Livingston Road, Naples 888-321-3090 • theatre.zone

LEE COUNTY

ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS

10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers 239-939-2787 • artinlee.org

HISTORIC PALM COTTAGE

ARTS BONITA

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs VISUAL ARTS CENTER

26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs 239-495-8989 • artcenterbonita.org

BARBARA B. MANN

PERFORMING ARTS HALL

13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers 239-481-4849 or 800-440-7469 bbmannpah.com

THE BELLE THEATRE

2708 Santa Barbara Blvd., #135, Cape Coral 239-323-5533 • thebelletheatre.com

BIG ARTS SANIBEL

900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel 239-395-0900 • bigarts.org

BROADWAY PALM DINNER THEATRE

1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers 239-278-4422 • broadwaypalm.com

BURROUGHS HOME & GARDENS

2505 First St., Fort Myers 239-337-9505 • burroughshome.com

CAPE CABERET

4725 Vincennes Blvd., Cape Coral 239-549-3000 • capecabaret.com

CAPE CORAL ART LEAGUE

516 Cultural Park Blvd.,

Cape Coral • 239-772-5657 capecoralartleague.org

CULTURAL PARK THEATRE 528 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral 239-772-5862 • culturalparktheater.com

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

BOWER SCHOOL OF MUSIC & THE ARTS

10501 FGCU Blvd. S., Fort Myers

239-590-7581 • fgcu.edu/ concerts

WASMER ART GALLERY AT FGCU

239-590-7199 • fgcu.edu/ artgalleries THEATRELAB AT FGCU 239-590-7581 • fgcu.edu/ theatrelab

FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATRE

2267 Bay St., Fort Myers

239-332-4488 • floridarep.org

FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STATE COLLEGE

BOB RAUSCHENBERG GALLERY

8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers

239-489-9313 • rauschenberggallery.com

FORT MYERS SYMPHONIC MASTERSINGERS

6900 Daniels Parkway, #29, Fort Myers 239-288-2535 • mastersingersfm.com

GHOSTBIRD THEATRE COMPANY

Site-specific performances at various venues ghostbirdtheatrecompany.org

GULF COAST SYMPHONY

6314 Corporate Court, #100, Fort Myers 239-277-1700 • gulfcoastsymphony.org

HERTZ ARENA 11000 Everblades Pkwy., Estero 239-948-7825 • hertzarena.com

LABORATORY THEATER OF FLORIDA 1634 Woodford Ave., Fort Myers 239-218-0481 laboratorytheaterflorida.com

SIDNEY & BERNE DAVIS ART CENTER

NAPLES ART INSTITUTE

MUSIC & ARTS COMMUNITY CENTER 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers 239-277-1700 • gulfcoastsymphony.org

PLAYERS CIRCLE THEATRE

13211 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers 239-800-3292 • playerscircletheater.com

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SYMPHONY

8290 College Parkway, Ste. 103, Fort Myers 239-418-1500 • swflso.org

SYDNEY & BERNE DAVIS ART CENTER 2301 First St., Fort Myers 239-333-1933 • sbdac.com

THEATRE CONSPIRACY

10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers 239-939-2787 • artinlee.org/theatre

Discover, buy & commission original artwork from our 100 Artists working in their studios creating Paintings, Sculpture, Photography, Jewelry, Fiber Arts, Woodworking, Ceramics, Glass & more!

Starts Here Art Starts Here

ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS

ATTRACTIONS & FAMILY DESTINATIONS

IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, HAVING FUN ISN’T JUST

FOR THE KIDS

COLLIER COUNTY

COLLIER MUSEUM

3331 Tamiami Trail E., Naples 239-252-8476 • colliermuseums.com

CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples 239-262-0304 • conservancy.org

DOLPHIN EXPLORER

951 Bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island 239-642-6899 dolphin-study.com

THE EDGE JOHNNY NOCERA SKATE PARK

1600 Fleischmann Park, Naples 239-213-3020 • naplesgov.com

GOLISANO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF NAPLES (CMON)

15080 Livingston Road, Naples 239-514-0084 • cmon.org

HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & COHEN EDUCATION CENTER

975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Naples 239-263-9200 • hmcec.org

NAPLES ZOO AT CARIBBEAN GARDENS

IMMOKALEE PIONEER MUSEUM AT ROBERT’S RANCH 1215 Roberts Ave. W., Immokalee 239-252-2611 • colliermuseums.com

ISLAND SAILING

800 12th Ave. S., Naples 239-398.1483 • sailnaples.com

MARCO ISLAND

HISTORICAL MUSEUM

180 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island 239-252-1440 • themihs.info

MUSEUM OF THE EVERGLADES

105 West Broadway Ave., Everglades City 239-252-5026 • colliermuseums.com

NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN

4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples 239-643-7275 • naplesgarden.org

NAPLES TROLLEY TOURS

1010 Sixth Ave. S., Naples 239-262-7300 • naplestrolleytours.com

NAPLES ZOO AT CARIBBEAN GARDENS

1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples 239-315-7626 • napleszoo.org

REVS INSTITUTE

2500 S. Horseshoe Drive, Naples 239-687-7387 • revsinstitute.org

ROOKERY BAY ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER 300 Tower Road, Naples 239-530-5972 • rookerybay.org

S EMINOLE CASINO HOTEL

506 S. First St., Immokalee 239-658-1313 • seminoleimmokaleecasino.com

SUN-N-FUN LAGOON AT NORTH COLLIER REGIONAL PARK 15000 Livingston Road, Naples 239-252-4021 • napleswaterpark.com

CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

LAGOON

TIN CITY WATERFRONT SHOPS

1200 Fifth Ave. S., Naples 239-262-4200 • tincityofnaples.com

WOOTEN’S EVERGLADES AIRBOAT TOURS

32330 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee

239-420-9172 • wootenseverglades.com

LEE COUNTY

BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM

3075 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel Island 239-395-2233 shellmuseum.org

BURROUGHS HOME & GARDENS

2505 First Street, Fort Myers 239- 337-9505 burroughshome.com

BUCKINGHAM FARMS

12931 Orange River Blvd., Fort Myers 239-206-2303 • buckinghamfarmsonline.com

CALUSA NATURE CENTER & PLANETARIUM

3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers 239-275-3435 • calusanature.org

CAPE CORAL MUSEUM OF HISTORY 544 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral • 239-772-7037 capecoralhistoricalmuseum.org

CAPTIVA CRUISES

11401 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva 239-472-5300 • captivacruises.com

ECHO (EDUCATIONAL CONCERNS FOR HUNGER ORGANIZATION) 17391 Durrance Road, North Fort Myers 239-543-3246 • echonet.org

EDISON AND FORD WINTER ESTATES 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers 239-334-7419 • edisonfordwinterestates.org

CAPTIVA CRUISES

ROOKERY BAY

FORT MYERS SKATIUM

2250 Broadway, Fort Myers 239-321-7509 • fmskatium.org

GATOR MIKE’S FAMILY FUN PARK

35 N.E. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral 239-574-4386 • gatormikes.com

HERTZ ARENA

11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero 239-948-7825 • hertzarena.com

IMAG HISTORY & SCIENCE CENTER

2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers 239-243-0043 • theimag.org

KORESHAN STATE HISTORIC SITE

3800 Corkscrew Road, Ester 239-992-0311 • floridastateparks.org

MOUND HOUSE

451 Connecticut St., Fort Myers Beach 239-765-0865 • moundhouse.org

MOUND HOUSE

POPSTROKE GOLF

5531 Six Mile Commercial Court, Fort Myers 239-323-4653 • popstroke.com

RANDELL RESEARCH CENTER/ CALUSA HERITAGE TRAIL

13810 Waterfront Drive, Pine Island 239-283-2157 floridamuseum.ufl.edu/rrc

SHANGRI-LA SPRINGS

27750 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs 239-949-0749 • shangrilasprings.com

SHELL FACTORY & NATURE PARK

16554 N. Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers 239-995-2141 • shellfactory.com

SOUTHERN FRESH FARMS

8500 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers 239-633 7705 southernfreshfarms.com

WONDER GARDENS

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MILITARY

MUSEUM & LIBRARY

Edison Mall

4125 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers 239-541-8704 • swflmm.org

SUN SPLASH FAMILY WATERPARK

400 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral 239-574-0558 • sunsplashwaterpark.com

WONDER GARDENS

27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs 239-992-2591 evergladeswondergardens.com

SOUTHERN FRESH FARMS

AU NATURAL

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE AT SPECIAL PLACES WITH UNIQUE HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS WHERE YOU CAN EXPLORE FLORIDA’S FLORA AND FAUNA.

HIKE, PADDLE, CYCLE, SWIM, CAMP, TRAVEL ON HORSEBACK, OR SIMPLY RELAX IN NATURE’S BEAUTY.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR: RESEARCH EACH LOCATION TO PLAN A VISIT TAILORED TO YOUR INTERESTS AND NEEDS.

(239 AREA CODE)

COLLIER COUNTY

AUDUBON’S CORKSCREW

SWAMP SANCTUARY

375 Sanctuary Road W., Naples 348-9151 • corkscrew.audubon.org

BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE

Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center

33000 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee 695-4758 • nps.gov/bicy

Oasis Visitor Center 52105 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee 695-4111 • nps.gov/bicy

COLLIER-SEMINOLE STATE PARK

20200 Tamiami Trail E., Naples 394-3397 • floridastateparks.org

CONSERVANCY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA 1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples 262-0304 • conservancy.org

CONSERVATION COLLIER PRESERVES 252-2961 or 252-2979 • collierparks.com

CREW LAND & WATER TRUST TRAILS 4600 Corkscrew Road, Immokalee 657-2253 • crewtrust.org

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK GULF COAST VISITOR CENTER 815 Oyster Bar Lane, Everglades City 695-3311 • nps.gov

FAKAHATCHEE STRAND STATE PRESERVE 137 Coastline Drive, Copeland 695-4593 • floridastateparks.org

PICAYUNE STRAND STATE FOREST 2121 52nd Ave. S.E., Naples 348-7557 • fdacs.go

ROOKERY BAY NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE 300 Tower Road, Naples 530-5940 • rookerybay.org

DENNIS GOODMAN

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

LEE COUNTY

BUNCHE BEACH PRESERVE –SAN CARLOS BAY

18201 John Morris Road, Fort Myers leegov.com/parks

CALOOSAHATCHEE REGIONAL PARK

19130 N. River Road, Alva 694-0398 • leegov.com/parks

CAYO COSTA STATE PARK Captiva 941-964-0375 • floridastateparks.org

CONSERVATION 20/20 PRESERVES leegov.com/conservation2020

ESTERO BAY AQUATIC PRESERVE

3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero 992-0311 • floridastateparks.org

FOUR MILE COVE

ECOLOGICAL PRESERVE

East end of S.E. 23rd Terrace, Cape Coral 549-4606 • capecoral.net

HICKEY CREEK MITIGATION PARK

17980 Palm Beach Blvd., Alva 694-0398 • leegov.com/parks

J.N. “DING” DARLING

NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel Island 472-1100 • fws.gov

KORESHAN STATE HISTORIC SITE

3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero 992-0311 • floridastateparks.org

LAKES REGIONAL PARK

7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers 533-7575 • leegov.com/parks

MANATEE PARK

10901 State Road 80 (Palm Beach Boulevard), Fort Myers 690-5030 • leegov.com/parks

MATANZAS PASS PRESERVE

199 Bay Road, Fort Myers Beach leegov.com/parks

ROTARY PARK

ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER

5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral 549-4606 • capecoral.net

SIX MILE CYPRESS

SLOUGH PRESERVE

7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers 533-7550 • sloughpreserve.org

GO WILD IN TOWN

Nearby places to get in touch with wildlife

COLLIER COUNTY

BIRD SANCTUARY OF NAPLES 1060 Purple Martin Drive, Naples 813-841-1911 • birdgardensofnaples.org

NAPLES ZOO AT CARIBBEAN GARDENS 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples 262-5409 • napleszoo.org

SHY WOLF SANCTUARY EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE CENTER By appointment only 855-749-9653 • shywolfsanctuary.org

LEE COUNTY

THE BUTTERFLY ESTATES

1815 Fowler St., Fort Myers 690-2359 • thebutterflyestates.com

CALUSA NATURE CENTER & PLANETARIUM 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers 275-3435 • calusanature.org

SHELL FACTORY & NATURE PARK

16554 N. Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers 995-2141 • shellfactory.com

WONDER GARDENS

27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs 992-2591 • wondergardens.org

COLLIER COUNTY PUBLIC BOAT RAMPS

Permits for recreational vessels (motorized and non-motorized) and trailers are needed for county-operated boat ramps. (collierparks.com)

ANN OLESKY PARK

6001 Lake Trafford Road, Immokalee

Located at the end of Lake Trafford Road in Immokalee, the 1,500-acre Lake Trafford is known for fantastic freshwater crappie, bass, bluegill, and shellcracker fishing. The park features a 200-foot pier, boat ramp, and boat rentals.

BAYVIEW PARK

1500 Danford St., Naples

Four acres along Naples Bay offer two launching lanes, courtesy docks, 20 boat trailer parking spaces, canoe and kayak launching, picnic areas,

a pavilion, a playground, and restrooms.

BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE

SEAGRAPE BOAT LAUNCH

3310 Tamiami Trail E., Ochopee

A single ramp, four trailer parking spaces, and 12 single vehicle spaces. It’s located at the south end of Seagrape Drive and provides access to Halfway Creek (no docks).

BIG CYPRESS RECREATION ACCESS

(ALLIGATOR ALLEY MILE 51)

Everglades Parkway / Alligator Alley Mile 51 along west-bound lanes

Big Cypress offers a double ramp, staging docks, 50 trailer parking spaces, and 23 single-vehicle spaces.

CAXAMBAS PARK

909 Collier Court, Marco Island

Four acres inside of Caxambas Pass offer two

launching lanes, courtesy docks, 31 boat trailer parking spaces, picnic area, and restrooms. Diesel and regular fuels are available. Onsite Coast Guard Auxiliary building with boating and safety classes.

COCOHATCHEE RIVER PARK MARINA

13535 Vanderbilt Drive, Naples

This 7-acre county park located between 111th Avenue (Immokalee Road) and Bonita Beach Road provides Gulf access through Wiggins Pass. It has 60 boat trailer parking spots, four launching lanes, courtesy docks, and restrooms; paddlecraft can also be launched.

COLLIER BOULEVARD BOAT RAMP

3620 Collier Blvd., Naples

This area located at the intersection of Capri Boulevard offers a double-wide launching lane, courtesy dock, and 80 paved trailer parking spaces.

BOATING

LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAUNCH YOUR BOAT? START HERE

DELNOR-WIGGINS STATE PARK

11135 Gulfshore Drive, Naples

Located on the waters of Turkey Bay, this site has a single launching lane, courtesy docks, 30 boat trailer parking spaces, and restrooms at beach access points.

GOLDEN GATE BOAT RAMP

3300 Santa Barbara Blvd., Naples

Provides access to fresh/brackish water fishing for small vessels; located behind Golden Gate Community Park with ample boat and trailer parking.

GOODLAND BOAT RAMP

740 Palm Point Drive, Goodland

Two launching lanes, courtesy docks, 85 boat trailer parking spaces, and a ship’s store.

ISLES OF CAPRI PADDLECRAFT PARK

1295 Capri Blvd., Naples

Designed exclusively for launching nonmotorized paddlecraft—canoes, kayaks, and paddleboards—the park provides access to shallow, mangrove-fringed McIlvane Bay.

LANDINGS PARK

1101 Ninth St. S., Naples

Located on the western shore of Naples Bay, Landings Park has three launching lanes, courtesy docks, 35 boat trailer parking spaces, picnic pavilions, benches, and restrooms.

MAR-GOOD HARBOR PARK

321 Pear Tree Ave., Goodland

This 2.5-acre regional park has a launch for canoes and kayaks, but not for motorized vessels.

PORT OF THE ISLANDS MARINA

525 Newport Drive, Naples

Five acres of commercially zoned waterfront and upland property used for boat trailer and

car parking as well as storage. The site includes one oversized single-boat launch ramp and 94 parking spaces. Future plans call for expanding the boat launch area and adding more facilities.

LEE COUNTY

PUBLIC BOAT RAMPS

Parking is $10 or less at county-operated boat ramps; annual parking stickers available. (leegov.com)

ALVA BOAT RAMP

21580 Pearl St., Alva

This public boat ramp has 15 parking spots, paddlecraft launch, and restrooms.

DAVIS BOAT RAMP

2227 Davis Blvd., Fort Myers

Single-lane community boat ramp with 11 spots for vehicle/trailer parking.

BOATING AND FISHING

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

From the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers to Lake Trafford in Collier County, boating and fishing are popular pastimes in Southwest Florida. Few places in North America offer such a wide variety of boating and fishing options—the choices are limitless, depending on your goal.

BEFORE HEADING OUT

Familiarize yourself with the rules and laws governing boating and fishing.

FISHING: A license is required for freshwater and saltwater fishing. (There are exceptions for people younger than 16; Florida residents older than 65 or disabled; fishing from a chartered vessel or a licensed pier; or a Florida resident in the U.S. armed services.) Nonresident freshwater or saltwater licenses are available for three days, seven days, or a year. Special permits are required for lobster, tarpon, and snook.

Different licenses and prices are available for residents and nonresidents, age ranges, and fresh or saltwater fishing. Licenses are issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) at: myfwc.com or 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356). You can also obtain fishing licenses at county tax collector offices, select bait and tackle shops, and retailers such

as Walmart and local hardware stores. FISHING RULES: Pick up or download a guide at myfwc.com that shows fish species, legal size, catch-number limits, and when each is in season.

BOATING: In Florida, any motorized vessel on a public waterway must be titled and registered. Find out about boat registration and legal boat operation at myfwc.com

BOATING LICENSE: Florida does not have a boating license, but anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 is required to successfully complete a National Association of State Boating Law Administrators–approved boating education course or pass an equivalent course or temporary certificate examination. They must have in their possession a boating and photo ID card before operating a vessel with a motor of 10 horsepower or more.

Visitors must comply with the boating safety education requirements. If a nonresident can show proof of having successfully completed a safety course certificate or card that meets or exceeds Florida’s requirements, a Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card is not required. Visitors planning to rent a boat may obtain a temporary certificate that is valid for one year. Learn more: myfwc.com.

Before heading out, check each location for parking and daily fees or permit requirements.

COLLIER COUNTY MARINAS

Location Community Phone Website

Calusa Island Marina 385 Angler Drive Goodland 239-394-3668 calusaislandmarina.com

Esplanade Marina 760 N. Collier Blvd. Marco Island 239-394-6333 esplanadeshoppesatmarcoisland.com

Marco Island Marina 1402 N. Collier Blvd.Marco Island 239-642-2531 marcoislandmarina.com

The Marina at Factory Bay 1081 Bald Eagle DriveMarco Island 239-389-2929 themarinaatfactorybay.com

Naples Bay Resort & Marina1500 Fifth Ave. S. Naples 866-605-1199 naplesbayresort.com

Rose Marina 951 Bald Eagle DriveMarco Island 239-394-2502 rosemarina.com

Southpointe at Windstar Marina1777 Gulfstar Drive S.Naples 239-774-0518 windstarclub.com

Tarpon Club Marina 240 Capri Blvd. Isles of Capri 239-394-5643 tarponclubmarina.com

Walker’s Coon Key Marina 604 E. Palm Ave. Goodland 239-394-9333 walkersmarine.com

Walker’s Hideaway Marina of Marco Island 705 E. Elkcam CircleMarco Island 239-394-9333 walkersmarine.com

Walker’s Hideaway Marina of Naples 475 North Road Naples 239-394-9333 walkersmarine.com

COLLIER COUNTY YACHT CLUBS

Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club7065 Hamilton Ave.Naples 239-775-0506 hamiltonharboryachtclub.com

Marco Island Yacht Club 1400 N. Collier Blvd.Marco Island 239-394–0199 marcoislandyachtclub.net

Naples Boat Club 909 Tenth St. S. Naples 239-430-4994 naplesboatclub.com

Naples Sailing & Yacht Club896 River Point DriveNaples 239-774-0424 thensyc.com

Naples Yacht Club 700 14th Ave. S. Naples 239-262-6648 naplesyc.org

Pelican Isle Yacht Club 410 Dockside Drive Naples 239-566-1606 piyc.net

LEE COUNTY YACHT CLUBS Location Community Phone Website

Captiva Island Yacht Club 15903 Captiva Drive Captiva Island 239-472-4133 captivaiyc.net

St. Charles Yacht Club 15900 St. Charles Harbour Blvd. Fort Myers 239-466-2007 stcharlesyc.com

Useppa Island Club Pine Island Sound between Intracoastal Waterway Markers 64 and 65

Useppa Island 239-283-1061 useppa.com

IMPERIAL RIVER

27551 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs

This facility has a small, wooden walking path to a fishing pier, restrooms, and canoe/kayak ramp—no motorized vessels.

LAVENDAR’S LANDING

7290 Barrancas Ave. N.W., Bokeelia

A two-slip boat launching facility that offers 23 boat trailer parking spaces, a marina store, and rental cottages. This Lee County Parks & Recreation facility and the cottages are under the management of Tropic Star of Pine Island.

LOVERS KEY STATE PARK

8700 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach

Two double ramps, staging docks, and 20 trailer parking spaces provide access to this group of barrier islands, mangrove coastline, and beyond.

MATLACHA BOAT RAMP

4577 Pine Island Road N.W., Matlacha

Matlacha has a two-slip boat ramp with 30 boat trailer parking spaces.

PINE ISLAND COMMERCIAL MARINA

6001 Maria Drive, St. James City

This marina is limited to commercial use Monday through Friday, but recreational boaters and anglers can use the ramp Saturdays, Sundays, and on Lee County–recognized holidays. The gate is open 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

PUNTA RASSA BOAT RAMP

15001 Punta Rassa Road, Fort Myers

Located on the east side of the Sanibel Causeway, this popular facility features two double ramps and long, wooden docks on either side with plenty of room for staging. It also has a fish-cleaning station, restrooms, and several vehicle/trailer combination and single-vehicle parking spaces.

SANIBEL BOAT RAMP

Bailey Road, next to the Sanibel Causeway, Sanibel

This area boasts a double ramp, staging and launching docks, 42 trailer parking spaces, and 15 single vehicle spaces located on the island at the foot of the bridge.

MUNICIPAL YACHT BASINS

COLLIER COUNTY

NAPLES CITY DOCK

880 12th Ave. S., Naples

239-213-3070 • naplesgov.com/cdw

The Naples City Dock has 48 recreational slips on floating docks accommodating 30to 60-foot vessels and 19 commercial slips. Services include diesel and ethanol-free gasoline, free pump-out, restrooms, and laundry facilities. It is located at Crayton Cove, with a full-line ship’s store, hotel, specialty shopping, and The Dock at Crayton Cove restaurant. Transient vessels are welcome and there are mooring balls for vessels up to 43 feet in length.

LEE COUNTY

FORT MYERS BEACH/MATANZAS PASS

MOORING FIELD

414 Crescent St., Fort Myers Beach 239-463-9258 • fortmyersbeachfl.gov

Also known as the Matanzas Pass Municipal Mooring Field, 89 mooring balls are available for public rental year-round, accommodating vessels up to 85 feet in length. It is located east of the Sky Bridge between San Carlos and Estero Island in Matanzas Pass at The Matanzas Inn. Amenities include a public dinghy dock, laundry room, restrooms, showers, pump-out, laundry facilities, and vending and ice machines.

Two municipal yacht basins have been closed due to extensive damage from Hurricane Ian in September 2022 and are in the process of being redeveloped:

Cape Coral (Godman) Yacht Basin capecoral.net

Fort Myers Yacht Basin cityftmyers.com

LEE COUNTY MARINAS Location Community Phone Website

Boca Grande Marina 220 Harbor Drive Boca Grande 941-964-2100 bocagrandemarina.net

Diversified Yacht Services 751 Fishermans Wharf Fort Myers Beach 239-765-8700 dysinc.com

Fish-Tale Marina 7225 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach 239-463-3600 thefishtalemarina.com

Four Winds Marina 16501 Stringfellow RoadBokeelia 239-283-0250 fourwindsmarina.com

The Gasparilla Inn & Club 500 Palm Ave. Boca Grande 941-964-4620 the-gasparilla-inn.com

Gulf Harbour Marina 14490 Vista River Drive Fort Myers 239-437-0881 gulfharbourmarina.com

Gulf Star Marina 708 Fishermans Wharf Fort Myers Beach 239-463-9552 gulfstarmarina.com

Jensen’s Twin Palm Cottages and Marina15107 Captiva Drive Captiva Island 833-668-7768 jensensmarina.com

The Marina at Edison Ford 2360 W. First St. Fort Myers 239-895-7703 marinaedisonford.com

Marinatown Yacht Harbour 3446 Marinatown Lane North Fort Myers 239-997-2767 marinatown.net

MarineMax Fort Myers at Deep Lagoon14030 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers 239-481-8200 marinemax.com

Matanzas Inn Bayside Resort and Marina414 Crescent St. Fort Myers Beach 239-463-9258 matanzas.com

Monroe Canal Marina 3105 Stringfellow Road St. James City 239-282-8600 monroecanalmarina.com

Moss Marina 450 Harbor Court Fort Myers Beach 239-765-6677 mossmarina.com

Pineland Marina 13921 Waterfront Drive Bokeelia 239-283-3593 pinelandmarina.com

Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina275 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach 877-583-2901 pinkshell.com

Port Sanibel Marina 14341 Port Comfort RoadFort Myers 239-437-1660 portsanibelmarina.com

Safe Harbor Cape Harbour 5828 Cape Harbour DriveCape Coral 239-945-4330 shmarinas.com/locations

Salty Sam’s Marina 2500 Main St. Fort Myers Beach 239-463-7333 saltysamsmarina.com

Sanibel Marina 634 N. Yachtsman DriveSanibel Island 239-472-2723 sanibelmarina.com

Snook Bight Marina 4765 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach 239-221-2800 snookbightmarina.com

Sweetwater Landing Marina 16991 State Road 31 Fort Myers 239-694-3850 sweetwaterlanding.net

Tarpon Point Marina 5971 Silver King Blvd., Unit 107Cape Coral 239-549-4900 tarponpoint.com

‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa 15951 Captiva Drive Captiva Island 239-472-5161 tween-waters.com

Walker’s Hideaway Marina of Cape Coral1503 S.E. 46th Lane Cape Coral 239-541-2988 walkersmarine.com

BEACH TIME

FOR AN ACTIVE DAY ALONG THE SHORE OR A RELAXING RESPITE, 80 MILES OF BEACHES BECKON WITH A RANGE OF AMENITIES IN COLLIER AND LEE COUNTIES

NAPLES

COLLIER COUNTY

BAREFOOT BEACH PRESERVE

505 Barefoot Beach Blvd., Naples

One of the last undeveloped barrier islands in Southwest Florida, Barefoot Beach is regularly rated among the country’s best beaches. The 342-acre Barefoot Beach Preserve was damaged by Hurricane Ian but it is open with parking and portable toilets. Access is located 20 feet off Bonita Beach Road on Lely Barefoot Boulevard.

CLAM PASS

Crayton Road and Seagate Drive, Naples

The three-quarter-mile boardwalk through the mangroves at Clam Pass is a nature-filled jaunt. The tidal ecosystem is home to birds and other wildlife, and the mangrove roots provide important spawning grounds for fish and shellfish. Once you’ve made it through—on foot or on the courtesy tram—one of Naples’ most scenic beaches awaits. With guided walks, bike racks, equipment rentals, beach wheelchairs, and life jackets, spend the day exploring this 35-acre gem. There are 171 parking spaces.

DELNOR-WIGGINS PASS STATE PARK

11135 Gulfshore Drive, Naples

Secluded and relaxing, the park boasts of one of the most unspoiled beaches in the United States. Get your cameras ready, because natural wildlife abounds: resident and migratory birds, tortoises, dolphins, and more. The park was damaged by Hurricane Ian in 2022 though it is open for limited day use and the boat ramp is operational. Parking is limited. A free beach shuttle service to the park is available at Conner Park (Bluebill Avenue and Gulfshore Drive).

LOWDERMILK PARK

1301 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples

Lowdermilk Park is a great place for the whole family. Spend the day at this premier beachfront park with a playground, picnic tables, sand volleyball courts, and two rentable gazebos. Convenient facilities include a concession stand, and restrooms and outdoor showers. There is ample on-site metered parking and on the street.

SOUTH MARCO BEACH

930 S. Collier Blvd., Marco Island

This is one of only two public beaches on the island; the parking lot is on Swallow Avenue.

TIGERTAIL BEACH

430 Hernando Drive, Marco Island

Tigertail Beach is a jewel along Marco Island’s western shore. On the island’s north end, this pristine beach can be accessed by five boardwalks though a mangrove forest. Visitors often wade across the tidal bay to Sand Dollar Island, a popular bird nesting area. The beach has an abundance of shells and sand dollars. Amenities include picnic areas, a playground, and restrooms.

VANDERBILT BEACH PARK

West end of Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples

This is one of the most popular beaches because of its natural beauty and amenities, including beach wheelchairs and a parking garage, Snacks and watersports rentals are available at Vanderbilt Beach Resort.

LEE COUNTY

ALISON HAGERUP BEACH PARK

14790 Captiva Drive, Captiva

This northern-most public beach on Captiva is as far from the beaten path you can get without having to hop on a boat. This tuckedaway locale is a best-kept secret for watching amazing sunsets and shelling. Pay to park with the ParkMobile app. Amenities include picnic shelters and restrooms.

PARKING: Plan to pay for parking at either metered parking spaces or pay stations—with a wide range of hourly or daily fees—or obtain a permit. (Disability permit holders may park at any space without payment.) Rules and fees vary for city, county, and state beaches. Research parking permit programs through the city or county where you will most frequently visit the beach.

BONITA BEACH PARK

27954 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs

Many amenities at this stunning beachfront park on the southern tip of Bonita Beach are still being repaired following extensive damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022. However, it is open dawn to dusk and offers stunning sunset vistas with dolphin sightings.

BOWDITCH POINT REGIONAL PARK

50 Estero Blvd., Estero Island

Bowditch Point Regional Park encompasses the 17-acre northern tip of Estero Island, with 10 acres set aside for preservation. Walking trails wind through varied environments and offer excellent opportunities for birdwatching and taking in views of Estero Bay. Many amenities are being repaired due to Hurricane Ian damage.

BOWMAN’S BEACH

1700 Bowman’s Beach Road, Sanibel Island

Isolated and picturesque, this is one of the most popular beaches on Sanibel Island, though there is plenty of space to stretch out. Great shelling and amenities make it worth the five-minute hike from the parking area to the beach. Adventurous beachcombers can walk for several miles on unobstructed white-sand beaches covered in shells. Amenities include charcoal grills, fishing, fitness stations, hiking trails, paddlecraft launch, picnic shelters, a playground, restrooms, and showers. Courtesy beach wheelchairs are provided upon 24-hour notice to the City of Sanibel Police Department Dispatch (239-472-3111).

BUNCHE BEACH PRESERVE ON SAN CARLOS BAY

18201 John Morris Road, Fort Myers

This 718-acre county park ranges from a sandy beach to mangrove forests to salt flats. It contains a wide variety of wildlife and flora, offering great photo opportunities and stunning sunsets. Bunche Beach Preserve is a designated Great Florida Birding Trail site, and Bird Patrol Tours (239-533-7275) are offered. The activity center has paddlecraft launches, wildlife viewing and fishing piers, a 310-foot boardwalk, and restrooms. The on-site Kayak Excursions (239-297-7011) is a full-service outfitter.

FORT MYERS BEACH/ESTERO ISLAND

950 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers

Find ample beach parking at the public Lynn

Hall Memorial Park, located north of the foot of Matanzas Pass Bridge.

GASPARILLA ISLAND STATE PARK

880 Belcher Road, Boca Grande

Separated from the mainland by Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, Gasparilla Island is part of a barrier island chain that falls into both Lee and Charlotte counties. The centerpiece of the park is the restored 1890 Port Boca Grande Lighthouse. Swimming, snorkeling, and fishing are popular activities that can be accessed from five parking lots. Two picnic areas offer shaded pavilions and scenic views.

LITTLE HICKORY ISLAND PARK

26082 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs

Little Hickory Island Park is in an isolated location just off Little Hickory Island with portable toilets and a paddlecraft launch.

SANIBEL CAUSEWAY ISLANDS

19931 Sanibel Causeway Road (SR/CR 867), Sanibel

The Sanibel Causeway are two spoil islands that link Sanibel Island to the mainland. The two islands provide bay and Gulf access and have traditionally been popular for recreation. However, they are closed to pedestrian during the construction of new parking lots and restrooms.

SANIBEL LIGHTHOUSE BEACH PARK

1 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island

Located on Sanibel Island’s southern tip, the 1884 lighthouse makes this family beach a picturesque location for shelling. It provides a clear view of the Gulf and plenty of large shade trees for picnicking, strolling, swimming, fishing from the pier, sailing, or windsurfing.

TURNER BEACH

17200 Captiva Drive, Sanibel Island

Located just past the bridge to Captiva, Turner Beach is a popular place for sunsets and fishing from the beach and the rock jetty. Swimmers should stay away from the bridge area due to deep water, strong tides, and the threat of undertow. Bars and restaurants are nearby. Amenities include paddlecraft landing/ launching and restrooms.

SANIBEL ISLAND

POOCH PLAYGROUNDS

FEEL LIKE ROMPING OUTDOORS WITH YOUR FOUR-LEGGED COMPANION?

FIND OFF-LEASH PLAYGROUNDS FOR A ROUND OF FETCH AND CANINE CAVORTING

COLLIER COUNTY

CANINE COVE DOG PARK

1361 Andalusia Terrace, Marco Island

FLEISCHMANN PARK

1600 Fleischmann Blvd., Naples

FREEDOM PARK

1515 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples

GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY PARK

3300 Santa Barbara Blvd., Naples

NAPLES DOG PARK

(CENTRAL BARK)

99 Riverside Circle, Naples

ROVER RUN

1895 Veterans Park Drive, Naples

VETERANS COMMUNITY PARK

1895 Veterans Park Drive, Naples

LEE COUNTY

BARKINGHAM DOG PARK AT BUCKINGHAM PARK

9800 Buckingham Road, Fort Myers

DO YOUR DUTY

Remember to pick up and properly dispose of your pet’s waste to prevent the bacterial and nutrient pollution of area waterways. In addition to degrading water quality, pet waste contains illness-causing pathogens, including parvovirus and parasites. Collecting your dog’s waste takes seconds, and many pet parks and walking areas provide bags and trash bins, making it a cinch to be a good citizen. Lee County’s motto is “Do your duty! Pick up the doodie!”

DOG BEACH

8800 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach

K-9 CORRAL AT ESTERO PARK

9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero

PAWS 4 DUTY AT VETERANS PARK AND RECREATION CENTER

55 Homestead Road S., Lehigh Acres

POOCH PARK AT JUDD PARK

1297 Parkview Court, North Fort Myers

WOOF-A-HATCHEE DOG PARK AT WA-KE HATCHEE PARK

16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers

On-leash dog walking is allowed in many parks in Collier and Lee counties. Each county has different rules. In Collier County, the leash cannot be longer than six feet. In both counties, leashed dogs are not allowed in many park areas, such as ballfields, dugouts, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, or designated skateboarding facilities. Heed park signage.

BLAZE NEW TRAILS

WALK, JOG, SKATE, OR CYCLE IN PARADISE

LEE COUNTY

BOCA GRANDE BIKE PATH

Discover Gasparilla Island’s soothing beaches, upscale eateries, shopping, and nautical history along this paved, six-mile trail that travels the length of the barrier island. Bring your sunscreen and wallet: Use of the trail is free, but the causeway crossing and sites along the route charge fees. From the south shore, you can begin at the state park and visit the museum. From the north, there are many

Gasparilla Sound overlooks. Whichever direction you choose, the scenic trail reaches central Boca Grande. Note: Golf carts share this trail.

CALOOSAHATCHEE REGIONAL PARK

This 768-acre park offers an outdoor escape along the Caloosahatchee River. It has interconnecting trails that make up 3.4 miles of hiking, with bicycles permi ed on many of the trails. The Overlook Trail is wheelchair-accessible. The park is also home to the more rugged and adventurous North Side Mountain Bike &

Equestrian Trails (Parking lot three at 18251 North River Road, Alva) boasting 10 miles of ru y trails.

CAPE HAZE PIONEER TRAIL

When you travel the nearly eight-mile Cape Haze Pioneer Trail, you’re tracing the line that once serviced Florida’s early phosphate industry and moved people, livestock, and local produce to steamships in Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island. The fairly straight and flat rail-trail originating near Charlo e Beach has

GORDON RIVER TRIBUTARY

multiple access points and three trailheads. The northern trailhead boasts ample parking, water, and restrooms.

ESTERO BAY PRESERVE STATE PARK

Off-road cycling is permitted at the Estero River Scrub Trails, however, bicycles are not permitted at the Winkler Point Trails. The Estero River Scrub Trails provide about 10 miles of sand, gravel, and dirt-surfaced paths. Riders are prohibited from traversing the salt flats.

JOHN YARBROUGH

LINEAR PARK TRAIL

Stretching from Colonial Boulevard to Six Mile Cypress Parkway, this six-mile, paved trail rolls alongside the Ten Mile Canal. Covered picnic tables provide shelter. Parking is located at the southern end of the trail, on the south side of Daniels Parkway.

MCGREGOR BOULEVARD

This stately, palm-lined thoroughfare in the city of Fort Myers is flanked by parallel pathways for exercisers of all types. Stay on the sidewalk of the 14.6-mile-long road that runs parallel to the Caloosahatchee River or veering into established neighborhoods leading to the river. There are many commercial places to park in downtown Fort Myers.

PINE ISLAND BIKE PATH

This 13.7-mile path spans the island along Stringfellow Road from York Road in St. James City to Barrancas Avenue in Bokeelia. Parking is located at Phillips Park (5675 Sesame Drive) at Pine Island Center.

SANIBEL ISLAND

The world-class island is well-known for its generous paths along the island’s main streets separated from traffic by grassy medians.

Entering the island from the causeway, Periwinkle Way is the main thoroughfare, offering access to the Sanibel Lighthouse, restaurants, and shops. Look for the brightly colored Sanibel Island Visitors Center (1159 Causeway Road) shortly after arriving on the island to pick up trip-planning information.

COLLIER COUNTY

BIRD ROOKERY SWAMP TRAIL

This popular trail offers 12 miles of hiking and biking trails. A quarter-mile, crushed-shell path leads to a 1,500-foot boardwalk with wheelchair accessibility, then trails become ground-level, flat berms with swamp on both sides. This site is part of the public-private, nonprofit CREW Land & Water Trust conservation properties.

SANIBEL ISLAND

COLLIER-SEMINOLE STATE PARK

The century-old Historic Marco Road was the original route between Miami and Marco Island. Today it is part of Collier-Seminole State Park and a 3.5-mile segment welcomes hikers and bikers to its marsh, hammock, and pine flatwood habitat. The off-road trail is grass and dirt, which can get muddy in rainy months. The park rents bikes.

GORDON RIVER GREENWAY

This 2.5-mile shared-use path through a 140-acre Gordon River Greenway Park in the heart of Naples is a mix of silky pavement, mulch, and boardwalk winding through a mixture of palm trees, pine flatwoods, and scrubland. The trail is interspersed with elevated boardwalk sections over wetlands. Access points with parking, bike racks, restrooms, benches, and drinking fountains make the trail doable for most ages and abilities.

JANES SCENIC DRIVE/WEST MAIN TRAIL

Janes Scenic Drive through Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park qualifies as off-roading even though it is accessible by car. The 12-mile (one-way) dirt road provides access to off-road trails—elevated tram roads once used for logging. The trail (also known as West Main Trail) passes through the bald cypress stands, swamps, and prairies. Wildlife sightings are common. The flora is rich with native species of orchids and bromeliads. Fakahatchee Strand is west of Copeland on S.R. 29.

LOVERS KEY STATE PARK

More than five miles of unique, off-road trails wend through native landscapes and to serene canals and lagoons that are favorite grazing spots for manatee and shorebirds. Bikers and walkers can see all types of wildlife along their trek. A tram transports visitors to within 800

feet of the beach and The Discovery Center is open Wednesday through Friday until 1 p.m. 8700 Estero Blvd., Bonita Springs

MARCO ISLAND

Marco Island occupies 12.1 square miles of land, making it the perfect size to explore on two wheels. Wide, shared-use paths take cyclists past historic sites, shopping centers, and community destinations. The elevation of Marco Island is zero feet, though steepish elevations will be encountered in older neighborhoods built atop Calusa shell mounds.

RICH KING MEMORIAL GREENWAY

Rich King Memorial Greenway offers a paved, north-south, three-mile route along the east side of Naples. There is no designated parking lot; visitors park in area commercial or church lots. Trail end points are located at Ra lesnake Hammock Road and Radio Road (C.R. 856).

Collier Preserve Trails colliergov.net

RULES OF THE ROAD FOR BICYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS

1. Be prepared to share the road courteously. In Florida, cyclists on roadways or bike lanes are considered vehicles by state law and must follow the same rules.

2. Obey all traffic laws, including stopping at STOP signs or red lights.

3. Ride in the same direction as other traffic—on the road and on the sidewalk.

4. Stay alert. Don’t wear headphones or earbuds.

5. Be predictable. Don’t swerve in and out of traffic. Be sure to use hand signals.

6. Do not ride more than two abreast. As a courtesy, allow motorists to pass when they are lined up behind you.

7. Be visible. Wear bright colors and make sure your bike has front and rear lights.

8. Wear a helmet. Helmets must be worn until the age of 16, by state law.

9. Light up. Lamps must be used on bikes after sunset.

SPORTS & ATHLETICS

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS A PARADISE FOR SPORTS AND RECREATION— ON LAND OR SEA—FOR PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS

REGIONAL PARKS

AND RECREATION CENTERS

Collier and Lee counties are home to dozens of neighborhood, community, and regional parks. For the biggest variety of activities, regional parks and community parks with recreation centers feature varying amenities: disc golf courses, aquatic playgrounds, horse trails, and more. More information: collierparks.com

COLLIER COUNTY

BIG CORKSCREW ISLAND

REGIONAL PARK

The county’s largest park with the largest playground is also its newest. The $51 million, 150-acre park Big Corkscrew Island Regional

Park near the Collier Fairgrounds opened in 2023. The hand-built playground includes slides, cable bridges, zip lines, climbing stations, ramps, and therapeutic swings. Get competitive on its pickleball, tennis, and basketball courts or softball and multi-purpose fields. Take your fitness journey outdoors at the innovative National Fitness Campaign Court, where a range of invigorating workouts can be tracked with an accompanying app. When you’ve worked up a sweat, make a splash at the 8,686 square-foot aquatic complex. The watery wonderland features waterslides, family and toddler pools, a competition pool with diving boards, and a party pavilion.

EAGLE LAKES COMMUNITY PARK

This East Naples facility includes an aquatic complex, fitness center, community center, 2.5-mile nature trail, 1-mile paved path, and lighted courts and fields for basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, and football.

GOLDEN GATE COMMUNITY PARK

A dog park and boat ramp are among the amenities at this park, which also boasts a fitness center, aquatic park, paved fitness trail, and numerous lighted facilities including tennis and racquetball courts.

NORTH COLLIER REGIONAL PARK

The highlights here are the state-of-the-art Sun-N-Fun Lagoon, exhibit hall, and Can U Dig It playground. It also includes a fitness center,

boardwalk, walking trails, and soccer field.

PARADISE COAST SPORTS COMPLEX

The world-class Paradise Coast Sports Complex—one of the largest in the nation— was designed to fulfill the needs of local and out-of-town athletes, with amenities for weekend gatherings and special events. New phases are continually opening at the 180-acre complex in East Naples. It will ultimately feature 21 turf fields: 10 Olympic fields for soccer, football, and lacrosse, and six baseball and five softball/youth baseball diamonds. The final Olympic field is opening this year. More information: playparadisecoast.com

LEE COUNTY

ESTERO, NORTH FORT MYERS, VETERANS (LEHIGH), AND WA-KE HATCHEE (SOUTH FORT MYERS) PARKS AND RECREATION CENTERS: The fitness centers in each of these four county parks offer a full lineup of indoor programs and classes. Outdoors amenities are just as extensive. There is some variation from park to park, including which options are lighted, but mostly they have:

• Paved and natural exercise paths

• Fields and courts for basketball, baseball, softball, football, soccer, tennis, racquetball, pickleball, and sand volleyball

• Disc golf courses

• Off-leash dog parks

• Fishing at Estero and Veterans parks

• Skate park, cricket field, and splash pad at Veterans Park

LAKES REGIONAL PARK: Created around an old limestone rock quarry, this park in Fort Myers is popular with families for its bike and kayak rentals, many playgrounds, rentable pavilions, and other amenities. Miniature train rides, decorated for the holidays, are a specialty of the Railroad Museum of Southwest Florida. More information: leegov.com

CAPE CORAL

CAPE CORAL SPORTS COMPLEX

The largest of Cape Coral’s athletic complexes,

this 52-acre park has five soccer fields, five softball fields, four baseball fields plus three concession stands, a playground, and picnic shelters. It is the home of the Cape Coral Youth Soccer Association for ages 4 to 16 and league baseball for ages 13 to 18. It also houses adult men’s softball leagues and hosts tournaments throughout the year.

OTHER CAPE CORAL RECREATIONAL AMENITIES

The City of Cape Coral has 53 fields at 11 athletic complexes where weekly league competitions and regional, state, and national tournaments take place. And there’s a lot more to come. In 2018, Cape Coral voters approved a $60 million expansion and upgrade of the city’s parks and recreation amenities that are expected to be completed by 2022.

THE FACTORY AT PARADISE COAST SPORTS COMPLEX

JETBLUE PARK

The city’s athletic division offers youth and adult sports, including basketball, football, baseball, and tennis. A number of other organizations for all ages, ranging from soccer and cheerleading to BMX motocross, also use the facilities. Here are a few specialty centers:

EAGLE SKATE PARK

Next door to the William “Bill” Austen Youth Center, this is one of the largest skate facilities between Miami and Tampa, featuring nearly 27,000 square feet of ramps, rails, street obstacles, and a bowl.

STRAUSSER BMX SPORTS COMPLEX

BMX racers have converged on this popular motocross track for state and national BMX races since 1977. In addition to a lighted BMX track, three lighted softball fields, and a playground, the park is adjacent to a boat ramp to access freshwater lakes and canals.

WILLIAM “BILL” AUSTEN YOUTH CENTER

With a large rec center and after-school programs, this is a great place for kids ages 8 to 18 to play computer games and sports, get help with homework, learn martial arts, or attend a dance. More information: capecoral.net

CANOE/KAYAK/PADDLE SPORTS

Southwest Florida is overflowing with natural beauty often best seen from its picturesque coasts and endless waterways. Grab your binoculars and long-focus lens or your fishing gear. And don’t forget your life vest, sun protection, and plenty of water. It’s the Sunshine State, after all. Here are key paddling locations. For more suggestions, see “Beach Time” and “Get Outdoors.”

LEE COUNTY

GREAT CALUSA BLUEWAY

It’s not called the Great Calusa Blueway for nothing. All-encompassing paddling trails meander 190 miles through Lee County coastal waters and inland up the Caloosahatchee River and its many mangrove-lined tributaries. Trail maps and well-marked signage on the water

guide beginners and avid paddlers on various-length excursions. Access points, outfitters, and guided tours are available throughout. The options are unlimited, as are the plant and wildlife viewing. Maps and more information: visitfortmyers.com

CAPE CORAL: The 120-square-mile peninsular city is home to 400 miles of canals that link to the Caloosahatchee River to the south and east and Matlacha Pass to the west. Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve is one major launch point with various amenities. More information: capecoral.net

Tarpon Bay and J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge: Located on the northern tip of Sanibel Island, Tarpon Bay was named by Canoe & Kayak one of the nation’s top 10 places to paddle. Tidal flats and sunset tours are rich with wading birds and chances to see dolphins and manatees. The famed habitat is home to more than 245 species of birds. The 6,400-acre J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is named for the conservationist and Pulitzer Prize–winning editorial cartoonist who persuaded President Harry Truman to create the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge Act in 1945. More information: dingdarlingsociety.org or tarponbayexplorers.com

COLLIER COUNTY

PARADISE COAST BLUEWAY

This network of paddling routes in Collier County is led by GPS waypoints and will have future phases of development. The Ten Thousand Islands route begins in Everglades City and ends in the village of Goodland on Marco Island. The next two phases will extend north in the Gordon Pass area through Rookery Bay and then up the Gordon River and along the coast to connect with Lee County’s 190-mile Great Calusa Blueway. More information: paradisecoast.com

Sugden Regional Park: Home to one of Collier County’s only freshwater beaches, this park in east Naples is centered around 60-acre Lake Avalon. It is best known for water skiing and sailing, including classes for able-bodied and special-needs students. Additionally, paddle sports and other amenities are popular family attractions. More information: collierparks.com

Ten Thousand Islands: The endless number of passes and islets through this maze of mangroves and keys only makes it feel like they number 10,000; the actual count is somewhere in the hundreds. By water is the only way to access these almost-entirely uninhabited

spits of land off the most southwestern edge of Florida. Fishing and birdwatching opportunities are everywhere. For more advanced paddlers, research the many multiday options on the 99-mile Everglades Wilderness Waterway. More information: fws.gov

COURT SPORTS

Whether it’s tennis or its young cousin, pickleball—the fast-growing, badminton-like sport—Southwest Florida has got it, day and night.

TENNIS

Lee and Collier counties have dozens of parks with hundreds of courts. Most are lighted and have lightning-warning systems. Some have clay courts open to the public (with a membership or court fee). Many include shorter 60- and 36-foot varieties to help kids learn the game in a comfortable setting. An array of associations and organizations offer lessons, organize leagues, and provide support. They’re a great place to start:

• Lee County Community Tennis Association: leecountytennis.com

• USTA Florida: ustaflorida.com

PICKLEBALL

In case you haven’t heard, young and old alike love this fast-paced paddle sport that owes plenty of its surging popularity to Southwest Florida. East Naples Community Park and its 58 pickleball courts has been the only home to the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships. More parks are adding pickleball courts—sometimes new, sometimes converted tennis courts. Play is also held indoors. Here’s more information:

• USA Pickleball Association: usapa.org

• US Open Pickleball Championships: usopenpickleballchampionship.com

• Collier County Parks: collierparks.com

• Lee County Parks: leegov.com

BASEBALL/SOFTBALL

Whatever your age or skill level, there is a rec league or travel circuit on a diamond near you. Many facilities have wall-to-wall games and tournaments scheduled, so check before going. Here are some associations that organize leagues and teams and oversee facilities:

LEE COUNTY

Various softball leagues play across the county’s array of facilities, including CenturyLink Sports Complex, which has four softball fields next to Hammond Stadium, the spring training home of the Minnesota Twins. More information: More information: leegov.com

CAPE CORAL ATHLETICS

Men’s, women’s, co-ed, 45-plus, 50-plus, and church softball leagues play at the Cape Coral Sports Complex or 15-acre Northwest Complex. More information: More information: capecoral.net

YOUTH SPORTS

For Little League, Pop Warner Football, youth soccer, lacrosse, track, Swim Florida, and other youth sports organizations, this list is fairly comprehensive: leegov.com/parks/athletics/ youth-sports You can also find many Cape Coral–based organizations through the Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department: capecoral.net.

COLLIER COUNTY

SENIOR SOFTBALL

Formed in 1991, the league has more than 250 members ages 50 and up in three divisions. Games are held at North Collier Regional Park and Veterans Community Park in Naples. More information: colliercountyseniorsoftball.org

SUPER 60 SOFTBALL

The co-ed league for men 60 and older and women 50 and older plays at North Collier Regional Park through the winter. There are five outfielders and five infielders, no stealing or sliding, and other senior-friendly rules. More information: colliercountysuper60softball.org

YOUTH SPORTS

Visit the websites for county parks or YMCA or the specific program you are looking for, such as Little League, Pop Warner Football and Cheer, golf, hockey, running, and others.

ICE SKATING

Don’t look so surprised. Southwest Florida is heavily populated with plenty of Midwestern converts, fed straight down I-75 from coldweather states. Sometimes they bring their quaint accents and love of winter sports with them.

FORT MYERS SKATIUM

Group and private lessons, figure skating instruction, youth and adult hockey leagues, open public skating, and private group bookings all are available at the public facility. There’s food, rentals, gear, and equipment as well. More information: fmskatium.org

HERTZ ARENA

Located in Estero in southern Lee County, the 7,200-seat arena—when set up for hockey—has been home to the Florida Everblades of the East Coast Hockey League since the team and facility were created in 1998. The arena’s recreational rink hosts adult and youth hockey, figure skating, lessons, public skating, parties, and more. More information: skateeverblades.com

SPECTATOR SPORTS

For much of this century Southwest Florida has ranked No. 1 in the nation for golf holes per capita. Naturally, professional golf tournaments are a popular spectator draw—but there are other options too. Lee County is also home to two Major League Baseball teams for Spring Training, NCAA Division-I Florida Gulf Coast University, minor league baseball and ice hockey teams, and more. And they mostly have a strong history of winning.

USTA FLORIDA

BASEBALL

The American League’s Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins have both spent their springs in Fort Myers for more than 25 years.

The Red Sox, winners of nine World Series and spring tenants in Fort Myers since 1993, showcase their talent at the 10,823-seat JetBlue Park in south Fort Myers. More information: mlb.com/redsox

The Twins play at 7,500-seat Hammond Stadium at CenturyLink Sports Complex in south Fort Myers. They won the last of their three World Series titles in 1991 in their first season after moving their spring home to Fort Myers. Hammond stadium underwent an expansion and major renovations in 2015. More information: mlb.com/twins

FORT MYERS MIGHTY MUSSELS

The Class-A Advanced baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins also makes its home at Hammond Stadium. Along with perennial success in the High-A Florida State League, the Mighty Mussels games are known for affordable prices and fan-friendly promotions, including themed events and take-your-dog-tothe-park games. More information: milb.com/ fort-myers

ROY HOBBS BASEBALL

The adult amateur baseball league—played in various age brackets across America, Canada, and the Caribbean—has held the Roy Hobbs World Series in Fort Myers for more than 25

years. More than 4,000 players on 240 teams compete in 20-plus divisions each year at Terry Park, Hammond Stadium, and JetBlue Park. More information: royhobbs.com

GOLF

Southwest Florida can boast a professional golf trifecta, with the best on the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, and PGA Tour Champions competing every winter in Naples. Tiburón Golf Club, designed by World Golf Hall of Famer Greg Norman, is home to both the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship in November and his 24-player QBE Shootout in December. The Champions circuit’s Chubb Classic has played in Naples for 33 years.

More information:

• PGA Tour: qbeshootout.com

• LPGA Tour: cmegrouptourchampionship.com

• Champions: pgatour.com/champions/ tournaments/chubb-classic.html

HOCKEY

Florida Everblades: Founded in 1998, the Everblades have been a dominant team in the minor-league East Coast Hockey League from the outset, reaching the Kelly Cup Finals four times. The Blades, an affiliate of the Nashville

Predators of the National Hockey League, have long been a popular draw in 7,181-seat Hertz Arena in Estero in south Lee County. More information: floridaeverblades.com

COLLEGE SPORTS

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

FGCU opened as Florida’s twelfth public university in 1997. In 2013—its second season competing as a full member of NCAA D-I— FGCU rose to national acclaim as the only No. 15 seed ever to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The March Madness fame is one of many successes across FGCU’s 15 sports that have made the Eagles one of the nation’s premier mid-sized athletics programs. FGCU’s athletics centerpiece is the 4,633-seat Alico Arena. More information: fgcuathletics.com

FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN STATE COLLEGE

The former community college trumpeted its return to junior college athletics participation with the opening of 3,500-seat, $28 million Suncoast Credit Union Arena on its Fort Myers campus in 2016. The Buccaneers already have become legitimate national title contenders in multiple sports. More information: fswbucs.com

FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY

MIGHTY MUSSEL MAN

HIT THE LINKS: FORE THE LOVE OF GOLF

Thanks to the golf course—and real estate—boom of the 1980s, ’90s, and early 2000, Southwest Florida for years has been able to claim No. 1 status in the nation for golf holes per capita. With some communities featuring two and, in some cases, three 18-hole courses, Collier and Lee counties together boast well more than 150 courses.

The majority of the links are private, though many open their doors to the public during the summer and outside of the prime winter months—when the local population mushrooms with seasonal residents and the links are in high demand. Many communities have healthy reciprocal programs with other clubs. If you’re not a member or homeowner in a community club, you might want to make nice with someone who has memberships to expand

your opportunities to experience great golf. Here are some of Southwest Florida’s best courses, including some that take outside play:

COLLIER COUNTY

CALUSA PINES GOLF CLUB

• Where: 2000 Calusa Pines Drive, Naples

• Par/yardage: 72/7,267

• Designers: Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry

• Of Note: Calusa Pines is routinely Southwest Florida’s top-ranked course on various national course lists. It is unforge able partly for its 185-yard, par-3 sixteenth hole, which plays from an elevated tee box that is colloquially dubbed the highest point in Collier County. This very private course is celebrated for its impeccable

design and conditions, as well as its idyllic se ing free of any homes on or around the property.

EAGLE CREEK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

• Where: 11 Cypress View Drive, Naples

• Par/yardage: 72/6,909

• Designer: Larry Packard

• Of Note: Larry Packard is considered to be the father of the double dogleg. encountered on Eagle Creek’s #11 and #15 holes. A choice of six sets of tees offers a competitive round for any level of playing ability.

LELY RESORT (FLAMINGO ISLAND)

• Where: 8004 Lely Resort Blvd., Naples

• Par/yardage: 72/7,095

EAGLE CREEK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

• Designer: Robert Trent Jones Sr.

• Of Note: The oldest of three courses in Lely Resort—and one of two open to the public— Flamingo Island has been named a Top 50 Resort Course by Golf World magazine. The course, which opened in 1989, is the more challenging of the two public-play courses. The second is the more welcoming Mustang course, designed by Lee Trevino. The private Classics course, designed by Gary Player, was host to the PGA Tour Champions Chubb Classic in 2019.

NAPLES NATIONAL GOLF CLUB

• Where: 9325 Collier Blvd., Naples

• Par/yardage: 72/7,045

• Designers: Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry

• Of Note: A private course devoid of homes and known for its meticulously manicured grounds, Naples National also draws national acclaim for an artful design that incorporates natural topography. Playing surfaces blend delicately with waste areas and mature stands of pine and cypress trees. The annual Terra Cotta Invitational is a premier national amateur tournament.

PANTHER RUN GOLF CLUB

• Where: 6005 Anthem Parkway, Ave Maria

• Par/yardage: 72/7,532

• Designer: Gordon Lewis

• Of Note: Courses that welcome the public in Collier County aren’t the easiest to find, making this semi-private course worth the drive to rural Ave Maria for multiple reasons. With ample former agricultural land to work with, Lewis made sure to include all the length anyone could need. He also had fun with the design, throwing in elements such as a classic “Redan” green— sloping away from the entrance—to augment excellent conditioning and amenities.

THE QUARRY

• Where: 8950 Weathered Stone Drive, Naples

• Par/yardage: 72/7,316

• Designers: Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry

• Of Note: An old limestone rock quarry makes a spectacular visual setting around which to build a golf course. A saltwater-tolerant turf grass, known as paspalum, also offers environmental benefits and is just as inviting as Bermuda. Look into the reciprocal program for this private course.

TIBURÓN GOLF CLUB

• Where: 2620 Tiburón Drive, Naples

• Par/yardage: 72/7,382 (Gold Course), 72/6,949 (Black Course)

• Designer: Greg Norman

• Of Note: Both courses are part of The RitzCarlton Golf Resort but do take outside play. The longer Gold Course is home to the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship and Norman’s 24-player QBE Shootout PGA Tour team event. But the Black Course may be tougher, with more forced carries and tighter lines on equally firm, fast fairways.

TPC TREVISO BAY

• Where: 9800 Treviso Bay Blvd., Naples

• Par/yardage: 72/7,367

• Designers: Arthur Hills and Hal Sutton

• Of Note: Part of the PGA Tour’s network of Tournament Players Club courses, Treviso Bay was built with capacity to host professional golfers in mind. A members’ course also open

to outside play, Treviso Bay is lined with a Hills signature design element: endless humps, bumps, and nobs that frame the fairways and guard the green complexes.

TWINEAGLES (TALON COURSE)

• Where: 11330 Twineagles Blvd., Naples

• Par/yardage: 72/7,193 (Talon Course), 71/7,634 (Eagle Course)

• Designers: Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus

II (Talon), Steve Smyers and Patrick Andrews (Eagle)

• Of Note: Perhaps the best-liked course in Southwest Florida among PGA Tour veterans themselves, the Talon Course has hosted the 50-and-over tour’s Chubb Classic the most times (12) in its 32 installments in Collier County. TwinEagles also has a second course, the 7,634-yard Eagle Course, and Dr. Jim Suttie’s Golf Academy.

TIBURÓN GOLF CLUB

VALENCIA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

• Where: 1725 Double Eagle Trail, Naples

• Par/yardage: 72/7,145

• Designers: Gordon Lewis (Drew Rogers, 2018)

• Of Note: Even rarer than courses open to the public in Naples are daily-fee facilities. Renovated in 2018, Valencia is inviting, affordable, well-maintained, and as hard as you want it to be from different lengths. Ample practice grounds are another attraction.

LEE COUNTY

CORAL OAKS GOLF COURSE

• Where: 1800 N.W. 28th Ave., Cape Coral

• Par/yardage: 72/6,623

• Designer: Arthur Hills

• Of Note: Don’t overlook this municipal course just because it doesn’t have the deep superintendent budget of its private cousins. The course, which opened in 1988, is well-maintained and well-designed. And unlike many of its restricted-access peers, it wasn’t laid between vast swaths of homes to maximize real-estate views.

CYPRESS LAKE COUNTRY CLUB

• Where: 6767 Winkler Road, Fort Myers

• Par/yardage: 72/7,032

• Designers: Dick Wilson (Ron Garl, 2001)

• Of Note: Established in 1959 in an area once widely known for its acres of gladiolus fields, Cypress Lake underwent a major renovation in 2001. But it maintained the original character from one of the most prominent architects of his era. Late LPGA Tour founding member Patty Berg was a founding member of the private course that features no homes within its boundaries and is still walkable.

EASTWOOD GOLF COURSE

• Where: 4600 Bruce Herd Lane, Fort Myers

• Par/yardage: 72/7,129

• Designers: Robert Von Hagge and Bruce Devlin

• Of Note: One of two municipal courses in Fort Myers, Eastwood was ranked among Golf Digest’s top 100 public facilities in the U.S. after its opening 1977, until a star designation system was implemented in 1996 due to the overwhelming growth of public courses. It’s still a great place to play and, without homes on the property, a fun afternoon. Ample practice areas are an added draw.

FIDDLESTICKS COUNTRY CLUB (LONG MEAN)

• Where: 15391 Canongate Drive, Fort Myers

• Par/yardage: 72/7,077

• Designer: Ron Garl

• Of Note: The harder of Fiddlesticks’ two original courses has long been known as one of the

best in Southwest Florida—if you get on. After opening in 1983, the private course was renovated in 2005 by its original designer, Ron Garl, and has maintained its elite and coveted appeal. The second course, the former Wee Friendly, was just renovated to 6,645 yards and renamed Loch Ness thanks in part to newly created lakes and inlets.

FORT MYERS COUNTRY CLUB

• Where: 3591 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers

• Par/yardage: 70/6,780

• Designers: Donald Ross (Steve Smyers, 2014)

• Of Note: Southwest Florida’s oldest course, by far, was built in 1917, an era when American golf architecture royalty Donald Ross laid tracks down all across the state. The municipal course still belongs to the city, welcomes walkers, has no homes inside its boundaries, and was given a major upgrade and renovation in 2014. Some hole lengths were changed to modernize them, but “The Fort” retained Ross’ classic domed greens and short-game demands. The annual Yuengling Open, with no gallery ropes and a nice list of champions going back more than 50 years, is a local favorite.

MAGNOLIA LANDING

• Where: 3501 Avenida Del Vera, North Fort Myers

• Par/yardage: 72/7,265

• Designer: Gordon Lewis

• Of Note: Southwest Florida’s most-prolific course architect doesn’t get the credit he deserves thanks partly to a high number of designs sometimes constricted by real estate demands. But this immaculate, semi-private layout—which opened in 2007 at the end of a course construction boom—is a fun, fast run addition to the Naples designer’s roster.

OLD CORKSCREW GOLF CLUB

• Where: 17320 Corkscrew Road, Estero

• Par/yardage: 72/7,393

• Designer: Jack Nicklaus

• Of Note: This beautiful, remote, nationally ranked course can always be counted on to leave competitors shaking their heads at its difficulty. That’s even when it’s regularly hosting highly skilled players in USGA and FSGA events. The fairways have tons of run and the massive greens are misleadingly punitive because of

how undulating and segmented they are, à la the beloved Augusta National. The good news: The course takes outside play, so bring your best.

RAPTOR BAY GOLF CLUB

• Where: 23001 Coconut Point Resort Drive, Bonita Springs

• Par/yardage: 71/6,461

• Designer: Raymond Floyd

• Of Note: Paired with the adjacent Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa overlooking Estero Bay, Raptor Bay takes public play and is a very friendly resort course. Welcoming fairways and massive green complexes—British Open style that you can bump and run or play on the ground from well off the green—keep frustration levels low and the pace enjoyable. Excellent conditions, great practice areas, and magnificent, near-shore ecology provide even more reason to visit.

RIVER HALL COUNTRY CLUB

• Where: 3500 River Hall Parkway, Alva

• Par/yardage: 72/7,124

• Designer: Davis Love III

• Of Note: Love embraced the gimmick-free style of golf course architecture from icons C.B. Macdonald, Seth Raynor, and others from

a century ago in designing this course. Great conditions and a great setting in rural Alva combine to make this one of the area’s mustvisit semi-private courses.

VERANDAH GOLF CLUB (OLD ORANGE)

• Where: 12201 River Village Way, Fort Myers

• Par/yardage: 72/7,118

• Designer: Bob Cupp

• Of Note: Beautiful but challenging, this picturesque layout offers views of the Orange River. Massive live oaks, dripping with Spanish moss, further set the scene for a pastoral afternoon on a special piece of property. It’s high praise that Verandah’s second course, the 7,214-yard Whispering Oak, is just as well-regarded but still draws second notice despite its esteemed architects: Jack Nicklaus and his son, Jack II.

VERANDAH GOLF CLUB

TPC TREVISO BAY

FABULOUS FINDS

WHETHER YOU’RE A LOCAL LOOKING FOR A LITTLE RETAIL THERAPY OR A VISITOR IN SEARCH OF A MEMORABLE FIND, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. FROM CLASSIC MALLS AND OUTLETS TO OPEN-AIR LIFESTYLE CENTERS AND SPECIALTY BOUTIQUES, THE AREA HAS IT ALL

COLLIER COUNTY

GREATER NAPLES

COASTLAND CENTER MALL

1900 Tamiami Trail N., Naples coastlandcenter.com

Coastland Center—Naples’ only indoor shopping center—lets you beat the heat while perusing goods at anchors Dillard’s, JC Penney, and Macy’s. This longtime Tamiami Trail landmark with 100 shops and restaurants is home to favorites Hollister, Old Navy, Forever 21, Aéropostale, and Champs Sports.

FIFTH AVENUE SOUTH

Downtown Naples fifthavenuesouth.com

Naples’ historic business district is home to more than 40 restaurants, cafés, and sweets shops, as well as a dazzling collection of galleries, jewelry boutiques, and clothing shops. Here you’ll discover Alice Simone, Arabesque of Naples stationer, Giggle Moon children’s wear, Marilyn’s hat emporium, Lovejoy Antiques, Port Royal Jewelers, Provident Jewelry, and Bluemercury. Hungry shoppers don’t need to leave the avenue to please their palates. The delectable dining choices include Sails, Brambles English Tearoom, The French Brasserie Rustique, Molto Trattoria, BiCE Ristorante, and a whole lot more.

GALLERIA SHOPPES AT VANDERBILT 2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples shopvanderbilt.com

A Mediterranean-style setting provides a

relaxing vibe at Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt, where visitors discover unique stores like Zazou, Kathryn’s Collection, and Kay’s on the Beach, plus upscale consignment shops True Fashionistas and Designer Divas. It is also home to health and beauty outlets and services for makeup, body sculpting, European wax, nails, and nutrition. Grab a bite at Flaco’s Mexican Restaurant, Mojo Thai & Sushi Bar, and Mystic Lobster Roll Co. If fresh flowers, baked goods, and honey are on your shopping list, the Galleria Shoppes hosts a year-round, pet-friendly farmers market.

MERCATO 9118 Strada Place, Naples experiencemercato.com

Perfect for a date night, Mercato is home to more than a dozen places to eat and drink and special community events. It is also home to perennial favorites J. Crew, Nordstrom Rack, and Tommy Bahama, featuring luxurious and casual clothing that matches Southwest Florida’s weather and way of life. This lifestyle center also holds unexpected finds, such as East West Fine Art, Cariloha Bamboo eco-friendly home store, Paper Source, Sur La Table, and Yoga Lab.

FIFTH AVENUE SOUTH

NAPLES DESIGN DISTRICT

Central Naples naplesdesigndistrict.com

The Naples Design District—spanning 10 blocks from Fifth Avenue South to Seventh Avenue North, and the east side of U.S. 41 to Goodlette-Frank Road—is a regional destination with 40 businesses offering an eclectic mix of artwork, furnishings and antiques, interior and architectural design services, home accents, lighting, wine, food, and culture.

THIRD STREET SOUTH

Downtown Naples thirdstreetsouth.com

Head to downtown’s Third Street South for fashions from Marissa Collections, a luxury boutique for men and women. From surfer threads to classic looks, there are endless options on Third Street South, including Maus & Hoffman, J.McLaughlin, John Craig Clothier, Carter & Finley, and Lilly Pulitzer. This sophisticated destination for art, antiques, home and garden decor, gourmet food and wine, and jewelry boasts award-winning dining at Campiello Ristorante & Bar, Barbatella, Sea Salt, Jane’s Garden Café on Third, Ridgway Bar & Grill, and The Continental.

TIN CITY WATERFRONT SHOPS

1200 Fifth Ave. S., Naples tincityofnaples.com

Tin City—a kitschy, fun-filled destination for the whole family, and for your Northern visitors— is a collection of colorful, tin-roofed Old Florida buildings on the Gordon River. A former oysterand clam-processing plant, it is home to more than 30 locally owned shops, restaurants, and water-based adventures and boat rides.

THE VILLAGE

SHOPS ON VENETIAN BAY

4200 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples venetianvillage.com

More than 45 shops and restaurants are set in the old-world ambience of The Village Shops on Venetian Bay, a waterfront destination. Meander through upscale shops A Horse of a Different Color, Wildflower, Talbots, Teruzzi menswear, Sara Campbell, Spice & Tea Exchange, and Sukie’s Wine Shop. You’ll also find names you

know, including J.McLaughlin, Jean-Pierre Klifa, and WM Phelps Custom Jewelers.

WATERSIDE SHOPS

5415 Tamiami Trail N., Naples watersideshops.com

At the south end of Pelican Bay, Waterside Shops is home to 60 shops and restaurants— anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue—curated for affluent shoppers. Highlights include Carolina Herrera, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Rolex, Hermès, L’Occitane, and Johnny Was. Many other popular stores offer something for everyone in the family, including Anthropologie, Apple, Gucci, J. Jill, Pottery Barn, Lilly Pulitzer, Williams-Sonoma, and Tesla.

MARCO ISLAND

MARCO WALK PLAZA

599 S. Collier Blvd., Marco Island marcowalkplaza.com

This open-air plaza with fine restaurants and small boutiques on the south end of the island is walking distance from major resorts and hotels, offering a collection of specialty shops, such as Chico’s and Beach Daisy—popular for women’s clothing and accessories—as well as salons, spas, and dining options that are anything but ordinary. Convenient parking with free valet service and covered walkways invite you to explore what’s around every corner.

THE ESPLANADE SHOPPES

AT MARCO ISLAND

760 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island esplanadeshoppesatmarcoisland.com

Arrive by car or boat to The Esplanade Shoppes, an Italian-style village of upscale shops, specialty stores, fine dining, luxury residences, and a 77-slip marina on the northern tip of Marco Island. Stroll around its lush landscaping, fountains, courtyard, and waterfront loggias while browsing for resort wear or boating apparel, shoes, fishing gear, and souvenirs.

LEE COUNTY

CAPE CORAL

CAPE HARBOUR

5828 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral capeharbor.net

Cape Harbour, at the southern tip of Cape Coral, is a luxury waterfront residential and yachting community with a full-service marina and popular dining and shopping opportunities, including Harbour View Gallery, Islands Gift Shop, and Scentiments Handbags & Apparel, featuring upscale resort wear, including Peruvian cottons, linens, and silks.

CORALWOOD SHOPPING CENTER

2301 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral woolbright.net

This conveniently located center is home to more than 23 retailers, restaurants, and services, including Bealls Outlet, HomeGoods, Ulta Beauty, and Hobby Lobby. Shoppers can grab a bite at a restaurant or café, take in a movie at Marquee Cinemas, work out at LA Fitness, or pick up what they need at budget grocer Aldi.

THE VILLAGE SHOPS ON VENETIAN BAY

NORTHPOINT SHOPPING CENTER

1811-1847 N.E. Pine Island Road, Cape Coral

Cape Coral’s massive Northpoint Shopping Center on Pine Island Road is where you’ll find any number of big brands you know.

THE SHOPS AT SURFSIDE

2354 Surfside Blvd., Cape Coral

Featured shops here include Belk, HomeGoods, Dollar Tree, Starbucks, and Woody’s Waterside Grill. This is home to a weekly farmers market each Tuesday.

SOUTH

CAPE DOWNTOWN CAPE CORAL

S.E. 47th Terrace, Cape Coral

The historic commercial hub of Cape Coral, this pedestrian-friendly district is home to yearround community events, locally owned shops, and 60 eateries, pubs, and cafés. South Cape is the pulse of the city’s nightlife.

TARPON POINT MARINA VILLAGE SHOPS

5971 Silver King Blvd., Cape Coral tarponpoint.com

Tarpon Point is a resort-style waterfront community and residents and visitors head to the Marina Village Shops for boutique shops and casual dining.

ESTERO

COCONUT POINT

23106 Fashion Drive, Estero simon.com/mall/coconut-point

Coconut Point is a picturesque outdoor mall featuring more than 140 stores including Dillard’s, Apple, DSW Shoe Warehouse, J. Jill, Loft, Lilly Pulitzer, Aveda, and Barnes & Noble, as well as restaurants surrounding several acres of lakes with a boardwalk. You’ll also discover little gems like Naples Soap Company, GameSpot, COCO Art Gallery, and Everything But Water. Before a show at the 16-screen Hollywood Theaters, indulge at Amfora Mediterranean Restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, South Fork Grille, or Ted’s Montana Grill, or grab a quick bite at a fast-casual eatery.

MIROMAR DESIGN CENTER

10800 Corkscrew Road, Estero miromardesigncenter.com

Miromar Design Center is a one-stop design destination for inspiration at 45 home furnishing and design stores representing hundreds of brands. Sign up for a professional consultation at the center or peruse fabrics, flooring, furnishings, lighting, accessories, wallpaper, window treatments, and closet organization systems with your licensed design professional.

MIROMAR OUTLETS

10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero miromaroutlets.com

Miromar Outlets’ store directory is music to discount shoppers’ ears: Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Columbia Sportswear, Nike, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH, and Under Armour. There are more than 140 designer and brandname outlets for the home and everyone in the family. Sweets-lovers also make regular treks to patronize Norman Love Confections and Le Macaron French Pastries.

GREATER FORT MYERS AREA

BELL TOWER

Daniels Parkway and U.S. 41, Fort Myers

belltowerfl.com

A long-time go-to for fashion, beauty, and meeting up with friends, the Bell Tower underwent a comprehensive redevelopment to modernize the 343,000-square-foot destination with updated architecture, storefronts, and lighting. Families are drawn for Dave & Buster’s, holiday and community events, and the Regal Stadium 20 cinema. There is plenty of shopping and dining opportunities, including Nordstrom Rack, Trader Rick’s “for the artful woman,” Talbots, children’s toys and clothing, and Ulta Beauty. Popular restaurants include Cantina Laredo, DaRuMa, Grimaldi’s Coal Brick-Oven Pizza, and Burntwood Tavern, among others.

EDISON MALL

4125 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers

shopedisonmall.com

A Fort Myers landmark, Edison Mall holds wellknown anchors Macy’s, Dillard’s, and JC Penney, as well as American Eagle Outfitters, GameStop, GNC Nutritional Center, Spencer’s Gifts, and Pandora, specialty stores, hair salons, and a food court.

FORT MYERS RIVER DISTRICT

Downtown Fort Myers

myriverdistrict.com

Put on your walking shoes to explore the shopping opportunities that await in downtown Fort Myers. The River District is home to art and eye candy galore, beginning with Arts for ACT Gallery and The Franklin Shops. Hunt for great finds at Blue: A Goodwill Boutique on

NAPLES DESIGN DISTRICT

First Street, Joe’s Record Exchange, Market Earth, DAAS Co-op Art, and Seed and Bean. For antiques and home decor, the River District and surrounding neighborhoods have several interesting shops, including Remedies Parlor, Timeless, Another Time, and Rust Never Sleeps Architectural Salvage.

GANNON’S ANTIQUES AND ART

16521 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers gannonsantiques.com

If you like to go on treasure hunts, you’ll feel right at home at Gannon’s Antiques and Art, home to an upscale collection of 100 vendors’ fine art, collectibles, decor, and furnishings.

GULF COAST TOWN CENTER

9903 Gulf Coast Main Street, Fort Myers gulfcoasttowncenter.com

This town center near the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University has more than 100 shops, a movie complex, spacious courtyards, restaurants, and nightlife. It is a magnet for anglers and outdoorsmen, with its sprawling Bass Pro Shops. Teens like Ron Jon Surf Shop and Marshalls, while big-box favorites like Ross, PetCo, and Joann Fabrics and Crafts maintain loyal shoppers.

PINE ISLAND/MATLACHA

Pine Island Road, Between Cape Coral and Pine Island pineislandchamber.org

This small island (pronounced Mat-luh-SHAY) is located due west of Cape Coral across a small bridge spanning from the mainland to Pine Island. Matlacha is an artist’s paradise, dotted with whimsical shops and galleries, seafood markets, waterside restaurants, and a waterfront community park. Find bohemian beach threads, art, and special gifts.

SANIBEL ISLAND.

OLDE SANIBEL SHOPPES

630 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

TAHITIAN GARDENS

1975–2019 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

THE VILLAGE SHOPS

2340 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel shoponsanibel.com

DINING

BLUE MARTINI

239-591-2583

Mercato, 9114 Strada Place, #12105, Naples naples.bluemartini.com

BRICKTOP’S 239-596-9112

5555 Tamiami Trail N., Naples bricktops.com/naples

BURNTWOOD TAVERN

239-631-6921

Mercato, 9110 Strada Place, #6135, Naples burntwoodtavern.com/naples

THE CAVE BISTRO & WINE BAR

239-513-0095

2343 Vanderbilt Beach Road, #604, Naples thecavenaples.com

COOPER’S HAWK WINERY & RESTAURANT

239-449-1700

11905 Tamiami Trail N., Naples chwinery.com

DISTRICT

1200 Central Ave., Ste. 105, Naples districtnaples.com

FUSE GASTROBAR

239-455-4585

2500 Tamiami Trail N., #114, Naples fusegastrobar.com

THE HAMPTON SOCIAL

239-202-2038

Mercato, 9114 Strada Place, #12110, Naples thehamptonsocial.com/naples

KC AMERICAN BISTRO

239-566-2371

885 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples kcamericanbistro.com

KAREEM’S LEBANESE KITCHEN

239-315-4167

4270 Tamiami Trail E., Naples kareemskitchen.com

NAPLES LAKE PARK DINER

239-228-6351

944 Seventh Ave. N., Naples thelakeparkdiner.com

LAMORAGA INTERNATIONAL CUISINE & TAPAS

239-331-3669

3936 Tamiami Trail N., Naples lamoragarestaurant.com

MEDITERRANO

239-261-7498

336 13th Ave. S., Naples mediterrano-naples.com

LAMORAGA

Delicious Deli Grab & Go Foods, Imported & American Artisan Cheese. Fresh Local & Cold Water Seafood, European-Style Bakery, Farm Fresh Produce & Organic Produce, Fresh Made Juice Bar, Great Selection of Gluten Free, Organic, Vegan, & Gourmet Products. 239.261.7157 |

Orde r Online for Same Day Pic k Up & Delivery!

NOSH ON NAPLES BAY

239-384-9208

1490 Fifth Ave. S., Ste. 101, Naples noshonnaplesbay.com

THE PEWTER MUG NORTH 239-347-4092

14700 Tamiami Trail N., #14, Naples pewtermugnorth.com

RIDGWAY BAR & GRILL

239-262-5500

1300 Third St. S., Naples ridgwaybarandgrill.com

SEASONS 52

239-594-8852

8930 Tamiami Trail N., Naples seasons52.com

SIMIT FRESH MEDITERRANEAN

239-331-4477

1230 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples simitfresh.com

THE 239 NAPLES

239-631-1902

Mercato, 9108 Strada Place, Naples the239naples.com

TOMMY BAHAMA RESTAURANT

239-643-6889

1220 Third St. S., Naples tommybahama.com/restaurants

WARREN AMERICAN WHISKEY KITCHEN

239-330-2611

111 10th St. S., Naples the239naples.com

ASIANS

NAMBA RAMEN & SUSHI

239-592-4992

8847 Tamiami Trail N., Naples nambanaples.com

ZEN ASIAN BBQ

239-260-7037

10823 Tamiami Trail N., Naples eatatzen.com

BAKERIES AND SWEETSS

MENCHIE’S FROZEN YOGURT

239-572-8936

6355 Naples Blvd., Ste. 4-B, Naples menchies.com

NORMAN LOVE CONFECTIONS

239-687-7215

3747 Tamiami Trail N., Naples normanloveconfections.com

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES

239-294-2484

1410 Pine Ridge Road, Ste. 9, Naples nothingbundtcakes.com

TONY’S OFF THIRD

239-262-7999

1300 Third St. S., Naples tonysoffthird.com

VAMPIRE PENGUIN

SALTED SNOW & DESSERTS

844-844-7669 (SNOW)

2355 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Ste. 142, Naples vampirepenguinswfl.com

CASUALS

BAMBU TROPICAL

BAR & GRILLE

239-649-5800

Bayfront Inn, 1221 Fifth Ave. S., Naples bayfrontinnnaples.com

COSMOS RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA

239-262-8181

536 Tamiami Trail N., Naples cosmospizzanaples.com

THE CRUST

239-244-8488

8004 Trail Blvd., Naples thecrustpizza.net

DYLAN’S DRAFT HOUSE

239-300-0192

1258 Airport-Pulling Road N., Naples dylansdrafthouse.com

EJ’S BAYFRONT CAFE

239-353-4444

469 Bayfront Place, Naples

EJ’S MERIDIAN CAFE

239-438-1186

3375 Pine Ridge Road, Naples ejsbayfrontcafe.com

FIRST WATCH

Three Collier County locations firstwatch.com

THE HANGOUT BY TWO GUYS

239-384-9072

2360 Pine Ridge Road, Naples hangoutnaples.com

JASON’S DELI

239-593-9499

2700 lmmokalee Road, Naples jasonsdeli.com

THE LOCAL

239-596-3276

5323 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples thelocalnaples.com

MEL’S DINER

239-643-9898

3650 Tamiami Trail N., Naples 239-455-4242

12035 Collier Blvd., Naples melsdiners.com

NARRATIVE COFFEE ROASTERS

239-631-2061

Mercato, 9106 Strada Place, #4105, Naples 239-234-6496

1103 Central Avenue, Naples narrativecoffeeroasters.com

RIVERWALK AT TIN CITY

239-263-2734

1200 Fifth Ave. S., Naples riverwalktincity.com

SAM SNEAD’S TAVERN AT LELY RESORT 239-793-6623

8004 Lely Resort Blvd., Naples samsneadslely.com

SEED TO TABLE 239-310-7333

4835 Immokalee Road, Naples seedtotablemarket.com

SUNBURST CAFÉ

239-263-3123

2340 Pine Ridge Road, Naples sunburstnaples.com

TEXAS ROADHOUSE

239-417-1111

6815 Collier Blvd., Naples texasroadhouse.com

THREE60 MARKET AND WINE SHOP

239-732-7331

2891 Bayview Drive, Naples 239-307-1500

8100 Trail Blvd., Naples three60market.com

YARD HOUSE

239-263-3773

4251 Tamiami Trail N., Naples yardhouse.com

CUBAN S

FERNANDEZ THE BULL

CUBAN CAFE

239-653-9097

3375 Pine Ridge Road, Naples 239-254-9855

1201 Piper Blvd., Unit 10, Naples fernandezthebull.com

RUMBA CUBAN CAFÉ 239-659-2996

1265 Airport-Pulling Road S., Naples rumbacubancafe.com

SANDY’S CUBAN CAFE

239-331-8204

1383 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples sandyscubancafenaples.com

FRENCHS

BLEU PROVENCE

239-261-8239

1234 Eighth St. S., Naples bleuprovencenaples.com

TONY’S OFF THIRD

MICHAEL CARONCHI

CAFÉ NORMANDIE NAPLES

239-261-0977

3756 Tamiami Trail N., Naples cafenormandienaples.com

CHEZ BOËT

239-643-6177

755 12th Ave. S., Naples chezboetnaples.com

ESCARGOT 41

239-793-5000

4351 Tamiami Trail N., Naples escargot41.com

THE FRENCH BRASSERIE RUSTIQUE

239-315-4019

365 Fifth Ave. S., Naples thefrenchnaples.com

LE COLONIAL NAPLES

239- 372-9700

457 5th Ave S, Naples lecolonial.com/naples

GREEKS

MYKONOS KUZINA

239-325-8502

13510 Tamiami Trail N., Naples mykonoskuzina.com

PELAGOS CAFE

239-263-2996

4951 Tamiami Trail N., Naples

INDIANS

21 SPICES BY CHEF ASIF

239-919-8830

4270 Tamiami Trail E., Ste. 21, Naples 21spicesdining.com

LE INDYA

239-591-5156

975 Pine Ridge Road, Naples leindya.com

ITALIANS

ALDOS ITALIAN TABLE & BAR

239-659-2536

4820 Davis Blvd., Naples aldosnaples.com

AMORE RISTORANTE

239-643-2201

4681 Ninth St. N., Naples amoreristorante.com

BARBATELLA

239-263-1955

1290 Third St. S., Naples aielligroup.com

BAR TULIA

239-288-7606

462 Fifth Ave. S., Naples 239-438-1031

Mercato, 9118 Strada Place, Ste. 8150, Naples bartulia.com

BICE RISTORANTE

239-262-4044

300 Fifth Ave. S., Naples bice-naples.com

BRIO ITALIAN GRILLE

239-593-5319

5505 Tamiami Trail N., Ste. J1, Naples brioitalian.com

CAMPIELLO RISTORANTE & BAR

239-435-1166

1177 Third St. S., Naples campiellonaples.com

CASA NERI

239-963-9060

382 Fifth Ave. S., Naples casanerinaples.com

LE COLONIAL

GRAPPINO

239-331-4325

90 Ninth St. N., Naples aielligroup.com

MINO

239-302-5990

1100 Sixth Ave. S., Ste. 1, Naples minofl.com

MIRAMARE RISTORANTE

239-430-6273

4236 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples miramarenaples.com

MOLTO TRATTORIA

239-261-5853

368 Fifth Ave. S., Naples moltonaples.com

OSTERIA TULIA

239-213-2073

466 Fifth Ave. S., Naples osteriatulia.com

PARMESAN PETE’S ITALIAN KITCHEN

239-992-3663

7935 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples parmesanpetes.com

VERGINA

239-659-7008

700 Fifth Ave. S., Naples verginarestaurant.com

MEXICANS

FELIPE’S TAQUERIA

239-302-1444

4255 Tamiami Trail N., Naples 239-323-6619

2220 Logan Blvd. N., Naples felipestaqueria.com

K-RICO MEXICAN GRILL

239-316-7662

475 Bayfront Place, Naples kricosmexicangrill.com

ROCCO’S TACOS & TEQUILA BAR

239-500-8226

Mercato, 9123 Strada Place, Naples roccostacos.com

TACOS & TEQUILA CANTINA

Three Collier County locations

tacosandtequilanaples.com

TURCO TACO

239-331-4527

410 Ninth St. N., Naples 239-431-6682

1514 Immokalee Road, Naples theturcotaco.com

SEAFOODS

THE BAY HOUSE

239-591-3837

799 Walkerbilt Road, Naples bayhousenaples.com

BAYSIDE SEAFOOD GRILL & BAR

239-649-5552

4270 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples baysideseafoodgrillandbar.com

THE BOATHOUSE ON NAPLES BAY

239-643-2235

990 Broad Ave. S., Naples boathouseonnaplesbay.com

THE CLAW BAR

239-231-3912

Bellasera Hotel, 221 Ninth St. S., Naples theclawbar.com

DEEP LAGOON SEAFOOD

239-880-3337

8777 Tamiami Trail N., Naples 239-235-7497

760 North Collier Blvd. Ste. 105. Marco Island deeplagoon.com

GUMBO LIMBO AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, NAPLES 239-598-3300

280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples ritzcarlton.com

HOGFISH HARRY’S 239-776-7623

600 Neapolitan Way, Naples hogfishharrys.com

KEEWAYDIN’S ON FIFTH 239-262-5787

711 Fifth Ave. S., Naples keewaydins.com

M WATERFRONT GRILLE 239-263-4421

4300 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples mwaterfrontgrille.com

REAL SEAFOOD COMPANY— NAPLES 239-591-3523

8960 Fontana Del Sol Way, Naples realseafoodcorestaurant.com

SAILS RESTAURANT 239-360-2000

301 Fifth Ave. S., Naples sailsrestaurants.com

SEA SALT 239-434-7258

1186 Third St. S., Naples aielligroup.com

SWAN RIVER RESTAURANT + RAW BAR + FISH MARKET 239-403-7000

3741 Tamiami Trail N., Naples swanriverseafood.com

TRULUCK’S OCEAN’S FINEST SEAFOOD & CRAB 239-530-3131

698 Fourth Ave. S., Naples trulucks.com

THE TURTLE CLUB 239-592.6557

9225 Gulfshore Drive N., Naples turtleclubnaples.com

USS NEMO 239-261-6366

3745 Tamiami Trail N., Naples ussnemorestaurant.com

STEAKHOUSESS

ANDRE’S STEAK HOUSE 239-263-5851

2800 Tamiami Trail N., Naples andressteakhouse.com

THE CAPITAL GRILLE 239-254-0640

9005 Mercato Drive, Naples thecapitalgrille.com

DEEP LAGOON SEAFOOD

CHOPS CITY GRILL

239-262-4677

837 Fifth Ave. S., Naples chopscitygrill.com

THE CONTINENTAL

AMERICAN PROVISIONS & CRAFT BAR

239-659-0007

1205 Third St. S., Naples damicoscontinental.com

DORONA

239-529-2819

2110 Tamiami Trail N., Naples aielligroup.com

FLEMING’S PRIME

STEAKHOUSE & WINE BAR

239-598-2424

8985 Tamiami Trail N., Naples flemingssteakhouse.com

THE GRILL AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, NAPLES

239-598-6644

280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples ritzcarlton.com

OCEAN PRIME

239-430-0404

Inn on Fifth, 699 Fifth Ave. S., Naples ocean-prime.com

SHULA’S STEAKHOUSE

239-430-4999

5111 Tamiami Trail N., Naples shulasnaples.com

LEE COUNTY

ASIANS

DARUMA JAPANESE

STEAKHOUSE AND SUSHI LOUNGE

239-344-0037

Bell Tower, 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers darumarestaurant.com

GINGER BISTRO

239-558-8865

2366 Surfside Blvd., C-101, Cape Coral 239-689-3113

4650 S. Cleveland Ave., #8, Fort Myers gingerbistrousa.com

KOMOON THAI SUSHI & CEVICHE

239-234-2442

3300 Bonita Beach Road, #101, Bonita Springs komoonthai.com

SPOONDRIFT ISLAND BOWLS

239-472-0875

2441 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel sanibelspoondrift.com

SUSHI-THAI OF NAPLES

239-992-5600

Prado at Spring Creek

25101 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs sushithaitoo.com

CASUALS

ALVA COUNTRY DINER

239-728-3366

21220 Palm Beach Blvd., Alva alvacountrydiner.com

ARTISAN EATERY

239-887-4844

8951 Daniels Parkway, Fort Myers artisaneatery.com

BURNTWOOD TAVERN

239-288-4068

Gulf Coast Town Center, 10035 Gulf Center Drive, #F100, Fort Myers

239-437-6046

Bell Tower Shops, 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers burntwoodtavern.com

CENO GRILLE

239-549-2366

1715 Cape Coral Parkway W., Cape Coral cenogrille.com

CRISTOF’S ON MCGREGOR

239-791-8473

10231 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers cristofsonmcgregor.com

EUROPEAN AMERICAN BAKERY CAFE

239-225-0450

12450 Metro Parkway, Fort Myers eabake.com

FARMERS MARKET

RESTAURANT

239-334-1687

2736 Edison Ave., Fort Myers farmersmarketrestaurant.com

FIRST WATCH

Six Lee County locations firstwatch.com

HARVEST & WISDOM

239-949-0749

Shangri-La Springs

27750 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs shangrilasprings.com/ harvestandwisdom

MCGREGOR CAFÉ

239-936-1771

4305 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers mcgregorcafe.com

MEL’S DINER

Three Lee County locations melsdiners.com

SKILLETS

Three Lee County locations skilletsrestaurants.com

SWEET BEAN CAFE

239-834-9541

13251 McGregor Blvd Suite 110, Fort Myers sweetbeanfl.com

TARPON LODGE

239-283-3999

13771 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia tarponlodge.com

THE OTHER SIDE BISTRO 239-992-7433

24630 U.S. 41, Bonita Springs othersidebistro.com

CUBANS

BEGONIA’S RESTAURANT & BAKERY

239-208-8243

2215 Winkler Ave., Fort Myers

IGUANA MIA

CUBAN RESTAURANT EL TROPICAL

239-772-8858

106 Hancock Bridge Parkway W., Cape Coral eltropical.business.site

LUIS BAKERY

239-673-7081

2708 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral luis-bakery-bar-grill.business.site

RINCON CUBANO OF CAPE CORAL

239-772-7790

958 Country Club Blvd., Cape Coral

FRENCHS

AZURE

239-288-4296

15301 McGregor Blvd., #1, Fort Myers azurefortmyers.com

BLANC

239-887-3139

13451 McGregor Blvd., #10, Fort Myers blancentertainment.com

C LEVEL RESTAURANT & COCKTAIL BAR

239-221-7046

4450 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs c-levelbar.com

GREEKS

NOMIKI’S PLAKKA GREEK RESTAURANT

239-433-5659

Bridge Plaza

12901 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers

INDIANS

INDIA PALACE

239-932-5100

3300 Bonita Beach Road S.E., Bonita Springs indiapalacebonitasprings.com

MASALA MANTRA INDIAN BISTRO

239-540-6300

4518 Del Prado Blvd. S., Cape Coral masalaamantra.com

PASSAGE TO INDIA

239-513-0024

975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Bonita Springs thetasteofbangladesh.com

ITALIANS

BUON APPETITO CAFÈ

239-433-0117

6314-D Corporate Court, Fort Myers restaurantftmyers.com

CAPONE’S COAL FIRED PIZZA

239-337-2625

2225 First St., Fort Myers caponescoalfiredpizza.com

DEROMO’S GOURMET MARKET & RESTAURANT

239-325-3583

26811 S. Bay Drive, Ste. 140 & 148, Bonita Springs deromos.com

ENZO’S RISTORANTE ITALIANO & BAR

239-992-5555

4351 Bonita Beach Road S.W., Bonita Springs enzosofbonita.com

GRIMALDI’S PIZZERIA

239-432-9767

Bell Tower 13499 S. Cleveland Ave., Ste. 201, Fort Myers grimaldispizzeria.com

GUSTO CUCINA ITALIANA

239-458-5900

229 Del Prado Blvd. N., Ste. 15, Cape Coral gustocucinaitaliana.com

LA FONTANELLA

RISTORANTE

239-237-2143

7050 Winkler Road, Ste. 112

Fort Myers

239-498-6808

24600 S Tamiami Trail, Ste. 204 Bonita Springs lafontanellahospitality.com

NICE GUYS PIZZA AND BEER 239-549-7542

1404 Cape Coral Parkway E., Cape Coral niceguyspizza.com

PETAR’S RESTAURANT

239-249-4064

Center of Bonita Springs

3300 Bonita Beach Road S.W., #120, Bonita Springs petarsrestaurant.com

PI THEORY PIZZA

239-257-1715

159 Hancock Bridge Parkway, Cape Coral pitheorypizzamenu.com

RISTORANTE FABIO

239-656-5727

4150 Hancock Bridge Parkway, North Fort Myers ristorantefabio.com

SAGE ON 47th

239-542-0200

1015 S.E. 47th Terrace, Cape Coral sageon47th.com

TRATTORIA CIAO 239-471-0033

823 S.E. 47th Terrace, Cape Coral tratciao.com

MEXICANS

3 PEPPER BURRITO COMPANY Seven Lee County locations 3pepperburrito.com

CABOS CANTINA 239-332-2226

2226 First St., Fort Myers caboscantinafl.com

CANTINA LAREDO

239-415-4424

5200 Big Pine Way, Fort Myers cantinalaredo.com

CARNICERIA MONTERREY

239-939-6992

11530 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers 239-369-3294

1505 Gretchen Ave. S., Lehigh Acres carniceriamonterrey.com

IGUANA MIA

239-949-2001

28051 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs 239-945-3181

1027 E. Cape Coral Parkway, Cape Coral 239-362-0705

4329 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers iguanamia.com

THE VERANDA

SABOR A MEXICO

239-997-9995

13121 N. Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers saboramexicofortmyers.com

TACO WORKS

239-237-2504

12731 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers tacoworksfl.com

TACOS SAN MIGUEL II

239-645-7854

1404 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral tacossanmiguel.com

TAQUERIA

SAN JULIAN

239-936-0037

11601 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers

TORTILLERIA LA RANCHERITA

239-498-4633

26751 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs

SEAFOODS

COLDWATER OYSTER MARKET

239-220-5918

5611 Six Mile Commercial Court, Fort Myers coldwateroystermarket.com

DEEP LAGOON SEAFOOD

239-689-5474

14040 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers deeplagoon.com

DIXIE FISH COMPANY

239-233-8837

714 Fishermans Wharf, Fort Myers Beach dixiefishfmb.com

DOC FORD’S RUM BAR & GRILL

239-472-8311

2500 Island Inn Road, Sanibel 239-765-9660

708 Fishermans Wharf, Fort Myers Beach docfords.com

FISH TALE GRILL BY MERRICK SEAFOOD 239-257-3167

1229 S.E. 47th Terrace, Cape Coral bestseafoodcapecoral.com

FRESH CATCH BISTRO

239-488-2400

4761 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach freshcatchbistro.com

LOBSTER LADY SEAFOOD MARKET & BISTRO

239-471-0136

1715 Cape Coral Parkway, Cape Coral lobsterladyseafood.com

PINCHERS

Five Lee County locations pinchersusa.com

PRAWNBROKER RESTAURANT & FISH MARKET

239-489-2226

13451-16 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers prawnbrokerfortmyers.com

TARPON LODGE RESTAURANT 239-283-3999

13771 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia tarponlodge.com

THE TIMBERS RESTAURANT & FISH MARKET

239-395-2722

703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel Island

timbersofsanibel.com

TWISTED LOBSTER 239-800-2879

1341 Del Prado Blvd. S., Ste. 1, Cape Coral twistedlobster.com

UPSCALES

A TABLE APART 239-221-8540

4295 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs atableapart.com

ANGELINA’S RISTORANTE 239-390-3187

24041 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs angelinasofbonitasprings.com

ARIANA RISTORANTE ITALIANO

239-772-8000

1529 SE 15th Terrace, Cape Coral ariani.com

THE BOHEMIAN RESTAURANT

239-451-9619

27975 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs thebohemianbonita.com

CONNOR’S STEAK & SEAFOOD 239-267-2677

10076 Gulf Center DrIve, Fort Myers connorsrestaurant.com

THE FIRESTONE GRILL ROOM

239-334-3473

2224 Bay St., Fort Myers firestonefl.com

HAROLD’S 239-849-0622

15250 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers haroldscuisine.com

THE MELTING POT 239-481-1717

13251 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers meltingpot.com/fort-myers-fl

OLD CAPTIVA HOUSE 239-472-5161, ext. 4 ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa, 15951 Captiva Drive, Captiva tween-waters.com

THE ROADHOUSE CAFÉ 239-415-4375

15660 San Carlos Blvd., Ste. 280, Fort Myers roadhousecafefl.com

THE VERANDA 239-332-2065

2122 Second St., Fort Myers verandarestaurant.com

OLD CAPTIVA HOUSE

CALENDAR OF ANNUAL EVENTS

JANUARY COLLIER COUNTY

The Naples Winter Wine Festival is one of the top 10 arts and entertainment events for wealthy Americans, according to the Luxury Institute, based on its exclusivity, quality, and prestige. (Packages run from $17,500-$40,000.)

The very best food and wine offerings come together in this weekend-long festival that includes vintner dinners with award-winning chefs and culminates with a live auction and grand tasting each January to raise money for the Naples Children & Education Foundation. (napleswinfestival.com)

Local musicians take to the Naples Botanical Garden’s performance stage overlooking the Water Garden for Music in the Garden on select Saturday afternoons from January through June (naplesgarden.org)

Cambier Park Bandshell Concerts Stroll over to Cambier Park for free concerts (suggested $5 donation per person) on select Sundays, 2 to 4 p.m., from January through April. Bands include Gulf Coast Big Band, Naples Concert Band, Naples Dixieland Jazz Band, Naples Jazz Society, and Stardust Memories Big Band. (naplesgov.com)

Find high-caliber artwork and meet the artists at outdoor arts fair juried and hosted by the Naples Art Institute from January through

April. These four-series fairs consistently rank among the top 10 best in the nation. Art in the Park presents world-class outdoor fairs featuring original works by 40 professional artists from all over the state while the two-day National Art Fair showcases the best of contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media in the United States. (naplesart.org)

The Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival is a favorite New Year’s tradition filled with Celtic vibes, Scottish and British specialty foods, and brews in downtown Fort Myers at Caloosa Sound Amphitheater. (cityftmyers.com)

For 34 years, the Cape Coral Parks and Recreation Department has hosted Tour De Cape—15-30-62-100-mile bike tours in the northwest and southwest regions of Cape Coral, as well as a 5K and mini rides for children. (tourdecape.net)

Art Walk happens the first Friday evening of each month and Music Walk is every third Friday evening in downtown Fort Myers. (myriverdistrict.com)

FEBRUARY COLLIER COUNTY

The annual Cars on Fifth Concours features more than 400 luxury vehiclesFerraris, Lamborghinis, Maserati’s Porsches, Corvettes, and more along Fifth Avenue South the first weekend of February to benefit St. Matthew’s House. (carsonfifth.com)

The Third Street South Farmer’s Market overflows with fresh produce, flowers, pastas, seafood, baked goods, prepared foods, jams, relishes, fresh-roasted coffee, and music. The pet-friendly market is open year-round each Saturday from 7:3011:30 a.m. (thirdstreetsouth.com)

LEE COUNTY

The prestigious, two-day Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is the signature event of Southwest Florida Children’s Charities, featuring uniquely themed vintner dinners held at private venues with acclaimed chefs throughout Southwest Florida and a grand tasting and live auction. (swflwinefest.org)

Everglades City is well known as an historic fishing village and notorious smuggling haven, but it is also synonymous with the annual Everglades Seafood Festival that takes over this iconic small town in a big way each February. For 50-plus years, the free festival has enticed visitors to imbibe in live music, fresh seafood, handmade crafts, and festivities. (evergladesseafoodfestival.org)

With 75-plus public and private golf courses, it’s no wonder that Naples draws a few high-profile tournaments. One of the most popular, the Chubb Classic—featuring the top golf talent from the year’s PGA Tour—is held at Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. (chubbclassic.com)

LEE COUNTY

ArtFest Fort Myers is a two-day outdoor art festival featuring the works of more than 200 juried artists in all mediums, lively entertainment, food trucks, children’s art activities, and live art demonstrations. (artfestfortmyers.com)

CALOOSAHATCHEE

CELTIC FESTIVAL

Several weeks of activities and events commemorating Thomas Alva Edison’s lifetime achievements and his 50 years as a seasonal Fort Myers resident unfold during the Edison Festival of Light, culminating with the Grand Parade of Light— named as the largest night parade in the Southeast. The Edison Festival has been a local tradition since 1938. (edisonfestival.org)

MARCH COLLIER COUNTY

The Naples Garden Club’s annual Naples Flower Show at the Naples Botanical Garden is a two-day event that includes a Garden Market, educational demonstrations, juried designs, and horticultural exhibits. It is one of the largest flower shows in Florida. (naplesgarden.org)

LEE COUNTY

Two dozen children’s, teen, and adult authors discuss their work and their process and celebrate books with readers of all ages during the annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival organized by the Lee County Library System held in downtown Fort Myers. (readfest.org)

Learn about exotic foods, sustainable living, innovative farming, and gardening during the four-day ECHO Global Food & Farm Festival each March. You can experience unique tours, tastings, cooking shows, and make-and-take workshops. (echonet.org)

The annual two-day Fort Myers Beach Lions Club Shrimp Festival is a 67-year tradition celebrating the local shrimp industry with a blessing of the fleet, plenty of “pink gold” (gulf shrimp), a shrimp crawl, crafts, and a parade. (fortmyersbeach.org)

For almost 90 years, the Sanibel Shell Festival has showcased live mollusks, shell arts and crafts, books, and more. (sanibelcommunityhouse.net)

APRIL

COLLIER COUNTY

Naples is the epicenter of the pickleball phenomenon, which is why it is dubbed the “Pickleball Capital of the World.” East Naples Community Park, with 64 courts, has hosted the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships since its inception. The event welcomes more than 20,000 enthusiasts and spectators and 3,000 players, ages 8 to 88, from around the world. Admission is free, but there is a parking fee. (usopenpickleballchampionship.com)

MAY LEE COUNTY

The Alliance for the Arts hosts uncensored fun during its Fringe Fort Myers performing arts festival with all performers chosen via a lottery system to create boundary-pushing theatre and live performances. The participating independent artists receive 100 percent of ticket sales. (artinlee.org)

The annual Fort Myers Film Festival kicks off with a red-carpet reception at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center with screenings and events at various Southwest Florida venues. (fortmyersfilmfestival.com)

OCTOBER COLLIER COUNTY

The weekend-long Stone Crab Festival tradition extols one of the region’s most famous delicacies—stone crab! Explore the Naples waterfront while noshing on this seasonal treat at Tin City Waterfront Shops. (stonecrabfestival.com)

The three-day Naples International Film Festival includes more than 50 films— narrative features, documentaries, and short filmsfrom around the world. Filmmakers and actors participate in post-screening Q&A’s and panel discussions. It has been named among MovieMaker magazine’s “Top 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World.” Screenings and events are held in Hayes Hall or the Norris Garden on the Artis—Naples campus or Paragon Theaters–Pavilion. (artisnaples.org)

NOVEMBER COLLIER COUNTY

The women’s professional golf tournament CME Group Tour Championship—the season-ending event of the LPGA Tour—plays out at Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. (cmegrouptourchampionship.com)

The Sounds of Jazz and Blues is Cape Coral’s premier musical event. It is held outside on the greens of Coral Oaks Golf Course. (capeconcerts.com)

Bring an appetite for fun to the annual Taste of the Beach, where local restaurants showcase their best appetizers, and seafood dishes. (fortmyersbeach.org)

SEPTEMBER

It’s Culinary Month in Southwest Floridaso it’s high time for Sizzle Dining. Featuring more than 95 participating restaurants, the regional event offers pre-fixe, two-course lunch and three-course dinner menus at special prices. (sizzledining.com)

DECEMBER

December ushers in a seasonal community favorite: decorated boats of all sizes wending along local waterways, spreading a subtropical, festive cheer. The Naples parade can be viewed from various restaurants on Naples Bay, Bayview Park, and Naples City Dock. (miacc. org/event) The Cape Coral Holiday Boat-ALong includes stage entertainment, local food trucks, crafts, a visit from Santa Claus, and the boat parade. (capecoral.gov)

For dates, admission prices, and other event details, be sure to visit each venue’s or organization’s website for the latest information.

FORT MYERS FILM FESTIVAL

STONE CRAB FESTIVAL

JOSE M. HORAK, DMD

PATRICK J. CARRIGAN, DMD

KURTIS P. HUSSEY, DMD

EDWARD A. SCHERDER, DMD, JD

ROBERT C. HEDGEPATH, DMD