PRIDELY ~ Southwest FL Edition

TOP 5 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Next International Trip

Whether it’s your first international trip or your fifth, traveling is all about discovering the unknown. It’s no surprise that there can be problems along the way. Extra planning and learning from these common travel mistakes can help you focus on enjoying your trip without worrying.

Mistake #1 is over-packing - too many packed items can be hard to organize and be uncomfortable to travel with. Mistake #2 is overspending - sticking to a realistic budget and leaving room for unexpected expenses is always best. Mistake #3 is not doing enough research - it’s always safe to do extra research when traveling abroad including weather, laws, and international costs. Mistake #4 is carrying valuables with you while exploring - pick pocketers are notorious for targeting tourists, so keep your valuables locked away safe in your hotel if possible. Most importantly, mistake #5 is not notifying your bank of your international travel plans - otherwise, your debit or credit card may be blocked due to “unusual activity” unfortunately if you don’t do this ahead of time.

Restaurants

Harold’s

Warm, casual venue featuring hearty, locally sourced meat & seafood & a large wine menu.

15250 S Tamiami Trail #107, Fort Myers, FL 33908

Phone: (239) 849-0622 | Web: haroldscuisine.com

Traders Restaurant on Sanibel

Quaint hybrid gift shop & eatery featuring American fare, live music & a full bar in cozy digs.

1551 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957

Phone: (239) 472-7242 | Web: traderssanibel.com

Sails Restaurant

Upscale European fare, seafood towers, wine & cocktails in elegant environs with an open kitchen.

301 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102

Phone: (239) 360-2000 | Web: www.sailsrestaurants.com

Send in a recommendation for your favorite restaurant to be added to our list. Be sure to mention why you think they are worthy of being featured and include a link to their website.

Have a restaurant you’d like us to feature?

Campiello

Ritzy landmark eatery draws locals with a chic vibe, refined Italian eats & a vast wine list.

1177 3rd St S, Naples, FL

Lazy Flamingo

Down-home sports pub offering beer-steamed seafood, a raw bar & ice-cold brews in an informal space.

1036 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL

Iguana Mia Mexican

Casual cantina with vibrant decor doling out familiar Mexican fare & margaritas.

28051 S Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL

Sea Salt

Modern seafood dishes with global salts & spices served in a hip, upscale space with patio seating.

1186 3rd St S, Naples, FL

Cocomo’s Grill

Laid-back island-themed eatery offering a varied menu from steaks to tuna tacos to falafel.

1069 N Collier Blvd #202, Marco Island, FL

Point 57 Kitchen

Chic setup for updated American fare, cocktails & wines, Sunday brunch, bar snacks & happy hour.

3522 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral, FL

Oasis Restaurant

Established American restaurant features casual meals in a simple venue, plus a pet-friendly patio.

2260 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Fort Myers, FL

Misto Bar & Grill

A blend of Italian & American fare, including meat, seafood & pasta, plus wine, in a relaxed space.

231 Del Prado Blvd S, Cape Coral, FL

Sale e Pepe

Beach Ocean Resort’s elegant dining room offers refined fromscratch Southern Italian fare & wines.

480 S Collier Blvd, Marco Island, FL

EVENTS

Jan 7-8

Cape Coral Art Festival & Marlet Place

The Cape Coral Arts Festival & Marketplace is Lee County’s largest Special Event. Featuring up to 300 artists, designers and makers of high quliaty, handmade original artwork. Come view and purchase original arts and crafts. Also available virtually. Learn more at www.capecoralfestival.com.

Feb 11-13

Everglades Seafood Festival

This free event in Florida’s Stone Crab Capitol packs ’em in for fresh seafood, country music, carnival rides, crafts booths — with an estimated 50,000 people expected to converge on this small town (population 500) for the three-day event. Learn more at floridarambler.com.

Feb 26-27

Swamp Cabbage Festival

Celebrating the Sabal Palm tree. Plenty of music, food, and fun for the whole family. Visit eventeny.com.

Mar 17

Fort Myers Beach St. Patricks Day Parade

The route will be from Santini Marina Plaza North on Estero Blvd. to the Church of the Ascension. This part of Estero Blvd. will be closed for approximately 1 hour starting at 9:45am. For more information including how to participate in the parade please contact Ray Murphy at 239-5918803. Details at fortmyersbeach.org.

Apr 23

Earth Day Festival

This year’s Earth Day Festival at the Conservancy will feature live animal encounters, boat tours, food trucks, Bioblitz nature walks, our brand new Learning Adventures Bus, fun exhibitors, and much more! Find us on Facebook for more info.

May 18-22

Fort Myers Beach International Film Festival

The six-day festival invites movie-goers to screen quality independent films and enjoy events designed to cultivate the spirit of visual creativity and harbor the talents of filmmakers. Independent films cater to a wide range of tastes and ages and span several genres. The Beach Theater is an intimate and welcoming venue for screenings. Audiences will enjoy independent features in a setting which offers not only quality viewing, but casual dining as well. Details at fmbifilmfest.com.

Jul 4

Bonita Springs Star Spangle Bonita

Bonita Springs Fire Department will be hosting the 4th of July Parade starting at 9am. They will be on Old 41 and begin at Rosemary and travel south to their fire station. Best viewing area will be the Riverside Park area and the surrounding areas. Beginning at 6pm, there will be thel “Star Spangled Bonita” celebration! There will be a children’s amusement area, live music and food trucks. At dusk there will be fireworks and laser light show! Entrance into the Star Spangled Bonita is free to the entire community! Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Learn more at www.bonitaspringsparade.com.

Jul 9

Naples Pride

A family-friendly event, Naples Pride features celebrity speakers, musicians, and entertainers. The drag performances are particularly memorable and are a great introduction into LGBTQ culture. When there are no live performances, a DJ keeps the party going. For the duration of the event, there are kids activities, food vendors, and exhibitors. Visit naplespride.org.

Sep 16-25

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest

The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest has enchanted the islands, beaches and neighborhoods of Fort Myers for eight years, inviting music lovers to enjoy

Most Profitable Blog Niches

Making money online with a blog has never been easier.

There are so many areas you can explore when developing content for a blog. Making a profit from doing this is definitely possible, but it is essential to make sure you are creating high-quality content to help you monetize. Here are some quick tips and ideas to help you get started.

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Digital Marketing

Don’t overestimate the value of digital marketing in today’s businesses.

SEO, email campaigns, social media, and influencer marketing are just some of the broad range of strategies used in digital marketing.

Blogging for Profit

There are many valuable ways to write and help people make money online.

Some of these blog topics include freelance writing, working as a virtual assistant, and even starting your own online business.

EVENTS

hundreds of free performances in intimate island venues showcasing some of country music’s best singer-songwriters. Visit www.island-hopperfest. visitfortmyers.com.

Sep 24-25

Naples Grape Festival

A series of community events — including parade and fireworks — are scheduled as a way for local residents to also celebrate the grape harvest. Learn more at naplesgrapefest.org.

Oct 14

FitMix Fest

A Fit-Chella, A unique festival experience where wellness, music, conversations, and food collide to create an immersive wellness experience right in the heart of Downtown! Plug in with wellness resources curated to provide you the opportunity to create a sustainable balanced mix. Details at eventbrite.com.

Nov 19

Naples Craft Beer Festival

Sample over 50+ craft beers and enjoy live music. Experience a celebration of the art of craft beer and premier Naples event. The 2022 Fest will feature a wide variety of beers from breweries across the country and world – all available for tasting.

Not to mention food served by local restaurants, whose talented chefs will compete for the People’s Choice and Grand Champion awards for best pairing. Adding even more local flavor, musical talent from the area will top off the festive atmosphere with some truly good vibes. For details, visit www. naplescraftbeerfest.com.

PRIDE-SWFL

PRIDE SWFL is the non profit organization that plans and produces Southwest Florida’s official LBGTQ+ Pride events each year. Providing the citizenry of Southwest Florida with a positive image of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and to create functions and events throughout the year promoting educational, civic, and cultural activities that further this goal and enrich the lives of our members and the entire Southwest Florida community. Web: prideswfl.com

SWFL HARMONY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The SWFLHCC exists to promote networking within the existing LGBTQ and LGBTQ friendly business and professional community, to promote business opportunities for chamber members, to promote Southwest Florida as a year-round LGBTQ and LGBTQ friendly tourist destination, to provide resources for our members and to provide outreach from our community to community organizations. Web: swflharmonychamber.wildapricot.org

VISUALITY

The mission of Visuality is to enhance and sustain the health and well-being of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer plus communities and our allies by providing activities, programs, educational events, and services that create community, empower community members, provide essential resources, advocate for civil and human rights; and embrace, promote and support our cultural diversity. We strive to end violence, harassment, and discrimination based on real or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or sexual expression. Web: www.visualityswfl.org

LGBT COMMUNITY FUND OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

A “multi-donor fund,” which is a giving circle that engages like-minded individuals and organizations to increase philanthropic support in Southwest Florida for the unique challenges and opportunities facing Southwest Florida’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community. Web: lgbtswfl.com | Phone: 239-274-5900

Health & Fitness

Online fitness classes have become more and more popular over time.

There are many areas of fitness content to include such as workout videos, fitness courses, and one-on-one training sessions.

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Finance & Investing

People are constantly seeking ways to manage their money better.

You can help people manage their money wisely in ways like saving for retirement or making the right investments.

Food Recipes

People love to learn about quick and easy meals and diets.

Getting creative with this is the fun part as you can put own twist on popular dishes or share innovative recipes.

Self Care

Now more than ever, people are tapped in to their mental wellness.

There are so many beneficial topics to create content on inlcuding routines, stress management, mindfulness, and journaling.

BAKERY

Amore Italian Market & Bakery 2

BOUTIQUE

Cimi Bikini Boutique 17

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Resilient Southwest Florida 1

DENTIST

Torrens Dental Care 3

DERMATOLOGY

Venice Avenue Dermatology 17

DINER

Mel’s Diner 3

EDUCATION

SPARK Hybrid Education Center 11

FITNESS HotWorx 17

FURNITURE

Collective Consignment 3

GLASS DOORS

Glass Design 13

HAIR SALON

Paige Leah 11

MASSAGE

Massage Heights back outside cover

OPTOMETRY

Snead Eye Group front cover

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Naples Outfitters back inside cover

REAL ESTATE

Rossman Realty Group 2

TILE & GROUT

Spot On 13

WEDDING PLANNING

Kelly McWilliams Event Planning 8-9