Travel Experts and Consumers Give Southwest Florida's Paradise Coast High Marks on Numerous "Best" Lists and Reader Polls

Naples, Fla. (April 20, 2012) ? Travel experts, online travel site users and magazine editors and readers have consistently given high rankings and praise to Florida's Paradise Coast, which includesNaples, Marco Island and the Everglades.  Here is a list of some of these prestigious rankings.

Southern Living
April 2010 Top Ten Secret Beaches of the South

#3 Keewaydin Island

 

Eight glorious miles of nearly footprint-free sands lie hidden on this tiny tropical island between Marco Island and Naples. The bay side grows lush with the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. It's hard to imagine you're just a few miles west of the traffic on I-75.
There's no bridge, so you'll need a boat to anchor at the calmer bay side. Keewaydin's few visitors gravitate to its southern tip, where a quarter-mile path through sea oats, palms, and pines leads to the beach. Pack a picnic or find the Burger Barge, which pulls up on the sand to serve hot sandwiches with ice-cold sodas and beer.Join locals for day trips or to dance in the sand at the annual boat party, held the second Saturday in May. http://www.southernliving.com/travel/secluded-beach-vacations-00400000067039/page3.html

Smithsonian magazine 2012
The 20 Best Small Towns in America

From the Berkshires to the Cascades, we've crunched the numbers and pulled a list some of the most interesting spots around the country

There are lists of the best places to get a job, retire, ski, golf and fall in love, best places lists for almost everything. We think any best place worth traveling to should have one quality above others: culture.

To help create our list, we asked the geographic information systems company Esri to search its data bases for high concentrations of museums, historic sites, botanic gardens, resident orchestras, art galleries and other cultural assets common to big cities. But we focused on towns with populations less than 25,000, so travelers could experience what might be called enlightened good times in an unhurried, charming setting. We also tried to select towns ranging across the lower 48.

There is, we think, something encouraging about finding culture in small-town America. Fabled overseas locales, world-class metropolises?you expect to be inspired when you go there. But to have your horizon shifted in a town of 6,000 by an unheralded gem of a painting or a song belted out from a band shell on a starry summer night, that's special. It reinforces the truth that big cities and grand institutions per se don't produce creative works; individuals do. And being reminded of that is fun.
9. Naples, FL

World-class music, design to die for and palm trees: What's not to like?

Even when it's snowing somewhere up north, around the historic Naples pier they're catching mackerel, opening beach umbrellas and looking for treasure in the surf. Grandkids are building sand castles, pelicans are squawking and the Gulf of Mexico is smooth as far as the eye can see.

Travelers have been coming to this small town on the edge of the Everglades ever since the late 19th century, when you could reach it only by boat and there was just one place to stay, the steeple-topped Naples Hotel, connected to the pier by a track with a cart for moving steamer trunks. Back then the visitors were chiefly sportsmen drawn to the abundant fish and game of southwest Florida's cypress swamps.

Once the Orange Blossom Express train reached Naples in 1927, followed a year later by the opening of the cross-peninsula highway system the Tamiami Trail, sun-seekers arrived in boaters and bloomers, many of them Methodists from the Midwest who thought the drinking started too soon after Sunday church service in West Palm Beach. So when the snow flew, say, in Cincinnati, they decamped to winter retreats in Naples with wide sleeping porches, pine plank floors and whirring ceiling fans. Palm Cottage near the pier is a sterling example of classic Florida vacation cottage architecture. Built in 1895 for the publisher of the Louisville Courier-Journal, it is now headquarters of the busy Naples Historical Society, which sponsors walking tours through the town's winsome historic district and bougainvillea-lined back alleyways.

Sure, Naples (pop. 19,500) has malls and high-rise condos. Touristy development has taken over bayside docks where fishermen used to haul in giant grouper and tarpon. Traffic clogs the ritzy Fifth Avenue South shopping and restaurant district.

If most of the folks you meet are over 65, in Naples old age looks pretty golden. Ask a duffer with a fishing pole how he likes his martinis and he'll tell you the third one's always beautiful (Methodists notwithstanding).

A fair percentage of the snowbirds are retired executives with cultural expectations and the means to pursue them. So the town has an astonishing concentration of deeply rooted cultural institutions like the Naples Zoo, located in a tropical garden founded in 1919 by botanist Henry Nehrling; the Naples Players, a community theater now in its 59th season; and the almost-as-venerable Naples Art Association, at the Von Liebig Art Center in Cambier Park.

"A group of people wanted this little winter paradise to have the same cultural features as Northern cities do," says Kathleen van Bergen, CEO of the Naples Philharmonic. 

The Phil, born 30 years ago of an amateur group on nearby Marco Island, is a renowned orchestra with a state-of-the-art concert hall visited by the likes of Kathleen Battle and Itzhak Perlman. From September to May, it holds 400 events: classical and chamber music performances; concerts by pop stars; galas; Broadway musicals; and lifelong learning programs, along with appearances by the Sarasota Opera and Miami Ballet. Bronze sculpture by the Spanish artist Manolo Vald&eacutes and massive art glass by Dale Chihuly spill over into the lobby from galleries in the adjoining Naples Museum of Art. Its chiefly modernist collection got a new star in 2010: Dawn's Forest, Louise Nevelson's last and largest work of environmental art.

Dozens of art galleries line Third Street South, just a few blocks from the designated Design District. Meanwhile, at the Naples pier, there's bound to be someone at an easel, with a palette provided by the Gulf of Mexico?all sky blue, sand white and aquamarine. -- SS
Read more: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/The-20-Best-Small-Towns-in-America.html#ixzz27bSvgSFd

   Market Watch
Wall Street Journal

10 best places to retire in the U.S.

Cities in Florida and Texas top editors' list

 Where are the best places to retire in the U.S.? According to John Brady, founder of TopRetirements.com, the absolute best cities and towns for older Americans have good weather, access to health care, low property taxes, and a certain "wow" factor. Throw in access to adult education, cultural activities, job opportunities for older Americans, low housing costs and income-tax rates, low crime rate, and good walkability and livability ? and you get a list of both well-known and lesser-known cities and towns that retirees might fancy. Take a look at 10 remarkable retirement spots.

3. Naples, Fla.

Naples has plenty to offer retirees, especially the more well-to-do. This city of just 21,000 is a place for people who want to live in a more affluent and sophisticated community. "There is a wealthy aura to it, with a downtown featuring high-end shops, luxury hotels, great restaurants and a vibrant arts scene," Brady said. Among the positives: It's an extremely walkable place to live; you can easily walk from downtown to the beach through lovely neighborhoods. Plus, the crime rate is well below the national average. And Naples claims it has more golf holes per capita than any other town in the country. Plus, there's access to world-class health-care facilities. On the downside, home prices, at about $250,000, are higher than the national average, though, as Brady noted, that's half what homes cost in Naples five years ago. Also, there's no college nearby, and those who lean left politically might be in the minority. Lastly, summers here are oppressively hot and humid, traffic is intense and only going to get worse, and everyone seems rich (the median income is $65,010, which is $20,274 more than the median for Florida).

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-best-places-to-retire-in-the-us-2012-02-29

Florida Travel Life magazine
2011 Top 15 Secret Islands in Florida
We'll share our secret spots if you promise not to tell. Traveling under the radar, we find these unexpected gems ? surprising even the most avid island hopper ? that are perfect for a weekend getaway!

Marco Island

On the edge of the Florida Everglades ? perfect for resort lovers with a wild side.
by Patricia Letakis
http://www.floridatravellife.com/articles/secret-island-getaway-marco-island
THE ISLAND: The first hint you're on the edge of the Everglades is the yellow road sign with a silhouette of the Florida panther. Most Marco Island residents admit they've never seen Florida's endangered cats that roam the swamp covering the southwest tip of the state. So the idea of an encounter with a cousin of the cougar quickly fades once you've driven over the bridge onto the six-mile-long tropical island. Here, sea-grape trees pruned into boxy hedges pair up with deep-purple bougainvillea to adorn entrances to high-rise resorts and condominiums. Side streets are lined with canals, and the homes here sport mailboxes resembling manatees and seahorses. Kitschy faux pink flamingos on someone's lawn are a throwback to Old Florida.

PLAY: Head into the Ten Thousand Islands with tour guide Brian Scuderi, who leads a small caravan of WaveRunners through the Everglades' mangrove maze. (Book at the beach shack in front of the resort, marcoislandwatersports.com.) Keep an eye out for dolphin fins breaching the surface. As you pass Kice Island, search the tall snags for the American bald eagle that proudly guards its nest. Ospreys, ibis, snowy egrets, blue herons, great white herons and an occasional roseate spoonbill are among the bird sightings. Don't be surprised if brown pelicans in a V formation fly above the open water. As you weave into narrow passageways, the personal watercraft turns the dark-green waters into a rushing, foamy, riverlike waterscape. Stand-up paddle boarding is another way to play ? and it's quite the rage. Jill Massura, down from Michigan, couldn't get enough. "It's great for your arms, shoulders ? in fact the whole body," she says as her husband books the boards for yet another day of fun on the Gulf's placid water. The island's surf shop, Jetset Surf Shop (jetsetsurfshop.com), delivers boards directly to you.

SUNDAY: Visit Goodland, a spit of land connected to Marco Island. Funky restaurants like the Little Bar (littlebarrestaurant.com) with its 1924 Mohler pipe organ on display and Old Marco Lodge Crab House (oldmarcolodge.com) where boaters dock and dine under umbrellas for a view of Goodland Bay compete with Stan's Idle Hour (stansidlehour.net). Eighty-something Stan Gober entertains a motley crowd, ranging from bandana bikers to Gucci socialites, at this irresistible dive that bears his name. Toe-tap to live music as you down a glass or two of Stan's buzzard punch and dine on fried soft-shell crabs with sweet-potato fries.

BEST TIME TO GO: Marco Island throws a rousing music festival on Oct. 29: Marco Island 2nd Annual Beach Music Festival (marcoislandbeachmusicfestival.com). The sands in front of the Marriott serve as battleground for local eateries participating in the "Best Burger in Paradise" competition. Aromas of fresh-off-the-grill burgers include those from the Crazy Flamingo (thecrazyflamingo.com) with patties tucked between slices of garlic bread to CJ's on the Bay's (cjsonthebay.com) Angus beef stuffed with foie-gras butter. After dark, Jimmy Buffett fans wave their arms and sing "fins to the left, fins to the right" as bands like the Land Sharks get the party started. (With petitions to recruit Buffett, the singer just may make a surprise appearance.) Fireworks over the Gulf wrap the night. paradisecoast.com, marcoislandmarriott.com

8 Best Florida Beaches

With about 1,200 miles of coastline, Florida is a year-round escape for many on the East Coast. Plus, the diversity of the shores?from family-friendly to party hardy?helps draw a variety of travelers. When making your decision about where to go, you should consider two general rules of Floridian geography: One, the farther south you head, the warmer, more tropical weather you'll encounter. And two, Gulf Coast water is usually calmer and warmer than the Atlantic Ocean. With those two tips (and our descriptions), you're ready to pick your next Florida beach vacation.
# 3 Naples


Why Go: Swelling with golf courses, gourmet eateries, and boutique shops, Naples is Florida's upscale Gulf-side destination. The luxury resorts and costly extracurricular activities make a Naples vacation quite expensive. But luckily, the gorgeous sandy beaches that first attracted visitors to the area are free.

Naples Travel Tips

Named after the coastal Italian city, Naples is known for its laid-back ambience, quiet luxury and world-class golf. Though Florida's version doesn't have the history, the sights, or the artwork of its namesake, its extravagance mimics that of European waterholes along the Mediterranean. With gently lapping waves on the white sand beaches of southern Florida's Gulf Coast, America's Napoli qualifies as one of the most relaxing and romantic beach destinations in the States. High-end restaurants and first-class hotels await those who retreat from the shore. Party animals and young families will probably want to seek another beach because Naples doesn't have the distractions (Oops, we mean, attractions) you are looking for. Relaxation is the name of the game here, so leave the tots with your parents or the keg at the frat house, pick up your special someone and venture down to Florida's city of love.

How To Save Money in Naples

• Choose a hotel Naples' hotels are normally cheaper than its resorts and, with so many public beaches, it should be easy to find a hotel that's near the shoreline.
• Or a rental If your stay is more than a weekend getaway and you brought the kids, think about renting a house (maid service not included). Note that most homes, however, are set away from the beach.
• Go natural Although most visitors spend their time cloistered at resorts or on the greens, Naples has many natural sights to experience, which are free to explore.

Naples Dining

Some say that Naples has the best cuisine of Florida's western shore. And quality doesn't come cheap. It should come as no surprise that this city by the water has a hankering for seafood; menus are filled with shrimp dishes and large stone crab claws. Those looking for something a little less damaging to the wallet will find a handful of chains dotting the area, as well. You'll find the largest selection of restaurants in Old Naples.
http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Best_Florida_Beaches/


Visit Island Escapes for all of your vacation rental needs! www.iEscapeAway.com 239-642-0000

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Marco Review Magazine Dining Guide

The Marco Review can help you decide which of our many wonderful restaurants is the perfect fit for you

     

RESTAURANTS

Marco Island has an amazing array of dining establishments.  From old fashioned ice cream parlors to exquisite beachfront fine dining, from sports bars to Sushi bars, and from hometown diners to sophisticated seafood restaurants, the choice is yours. 

Our Dining Guide features ALL of Marco's many restaurants and includes their name, address, map reference, telephone number, type of fare, if they provide entertainment and an approximation of the average cost per person without beverage.  It is available in our page-turning on-line magazine

The Marco Review has visited all of the many restaurants who advertise with us and is happy to recommend each and every one of them to you.   Our Restaurant Review offers short reviews of each of them.  See below for a list of our featured restaurants by category so that you can easily find exactly the type of fare you're looking for.
RESTAURANT REVIEW

ON THE WATER

THE BLUE HERON - Recently rated "extraordinary to perfection for food" by Zagat surveyors, The Blue Heron has been serving the highest quality food using only the freshest ingredients available for 37 years. The intimate setting overlooking Johnson Bay provides for unforgettable sunsets and makes it apparent why The Blue Heron is frequently voted "most romantic". Serving a wide variety of individually prepared dishes, including fresh seafood, rack of lamb, duck, veal and more, the Lobster Thermador reigns as the signature dish. All main courses are accompanied by their delightful "spreads & breads", soup of the day, salad, vegetables, dessert and tea or coffee. 3 course light menu available 5-7pm, 5.31.12 thru' 10.31.12. Open Monday-Saturday from 5pm.  Closed for annual vacation the month of August and first three weeks of September. www.the-blue-heron.com. 387 Capri Boulevard, Isles of Capri, Naples. Map 4 (3) 239.394.6248

CAMELLIA STREET GRILL  Waterside casual dining featuring freshly prepared Mediterranean fused with Southern style cuisine.  Indoor and outdoor seating on the banks of the beautiful Barron River.  Vegetarian, fresh blue crabs and fish dishes are a specialty and everything is cooked to order. Serving lunch and dinner seven days.  Gather around the fire pit and savor a glass of wine under the stars while you enjoy live music and dancing beside the river. Classic old-time country music Friday and Saturday evenings and jazz, blues oldies and 60s & 70s Wednesday evenings and all day Sunday. Come by boat and moor at their new dock or they'll pick you up from Everglades City Airport.  Serving lunch and dinner seven days in season. Please call ahead to check spring hours and entertainment  schedule.  Closing for summer May 15th. 202 Camellia Street, Everglades City. 239-695-2003.  CLOSED FROM MAY1ST FOR SUMMER - REOPENNING OCTOBER 2012.  See article in our Features Section and Tasty Bites in our winter 2012 e-magazine

CAPRI FISH HOUSE RESTAURANT - Fresh Florida seafood is the specialty in this casual restaurant where every seat has an amazing sunset water view.  Outside seating also available in the waterside chickee bar which looks out directly onto Capri's beautiful Johnson Bay. In addition to the seafood, the varied menu also features pasta, steak, chicken, veal, bouillabaisse, jambalaya and a variety of salads as well as a children's menu. Live entertainment. Sunday breakfast buffet from 9-11am and  "all-you-can-eat" lunch/dinner buffet from 11:30-5:30pm.  Call for breakfast schedule. Early bird specials from 4-5:45pm Mon-Sat. Private and large parties welcome, major credit cards accepted.. .www.caprifishhouse.com, 203 Capri Blvd., Isle of Capri (just 3 miles from Marco).

Map 4 (5)  389-5555  see article in our Features Section and See "Tasty Bites" in our current e-magazine

LITTLE BAR -  Located right on the water in the quaint fishing village of Goodland, Little Bar, a  local tradition for over 30 years, continues to serve consistently good seafood and steaks in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Varied menu. Fresh Seafood including Grouper, Soft Shell Crab, Steaks, and Prime Rib, luncheon and dinner specialties, as well  as traditional waterfront fare, available daily. Open seven days at 11:30, dinner service begins at 5. Attitude Adjustment 3-6 in the full service bar. Eat indoors, on the screened lanai or in the casual, leafy surroundings of the waterside patios. The Best Live Entertainment.  Friend them on Facebook. Un-opened July, August and parts of September. Please call to avoid disappointment.   www.LittleBarRestaurant.com. Goodland. Map 4 (14)  See article in our winter 2011 page-turning e-magazine.   Friend us on Facebook  394-5663  

MANGO'S DOCKSIDE BISTRO - the guys you know and love from Chefs' Express in Olde Marco have relocated to a beautiful 260 seat waterside setting at the Esplanade (where Guy Harvey's used to be).  The decor is tropical and fun with two large aquariums, outside seating with an amazing view of Smokehouse Bay,and Marco's only on the water sushi bar.  Serving creative breakfasts, lunches and dinners, take-out and catering seven days.  Lilly B's Specialty Market & Delicatessen, just next door, offers pre-packaged appetizers, entrees and desserts to go as well as some casual seating.  www.mangosdocksidebistro.com. The Esplanade, 760 N Collier Blvd. Map 4 (15) 239.393.2433  See "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine

MARCO ISLAND PRINCESS - Marco's on the water lunch and dinner dining experience! Help yourself to a delightful lunch or dinner, while enjoying the sights of Marco by water or a spectacular Gulf sunset.  The "Marco Island Princess" accommodates 149 passengers and offers a full service bar.  The cruise leaves Rose Marco River Marina. Reservations Recommended. See article in our winter 2011 e-magazine. 642-5415   Map 4 (16). www.sunshinetoursmarcoisland.com 

OLD MARCO LODGE CRAB HOUSE - One of Collier County's most picturesque waterfront restuarants offering panoramic views of the Marco River and Goodland Bay from its large outside deck or air conditioned restaurant and lounge.  Built in 1869 by W D Collier as his family home on Marco, it was moved to its present location in 1965.  The extensive menu offers a wide variety of shellfish and seafood.  Live entertainment and happy hour 3-6pm.  Come by boat or car.  Open seven days 11:30am-close in season. www.oldmarcolodge.com.  401 Papaya St, Goodland.  642-7227  See "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine

PARADISE CAF? Enjoy our extensive Breakfast Buffet served 7-11am, Lunch and Dinner overlooking Marco's Beautiful Beach. Don't miss the renowned all-you-can-eat Seafood Buffet every Friday night featuring the freshest fish, snow crab, oysters, and sushi. Every Saturday night they offer Italian Buffet featuring fresh soup and salad bar, chef pasta station, chicken piccata, veal scaloppini, assorted breads and desserts.   Open daily. Casual attire. Open to non-hotel residents.  560 S Collier Blvd. Map 4 (21)  642-2181

SALE E PEPE -- Overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, Sale e Pepe offers authentic Italian cuisine complemented by surroundings of aged stone, marble floors and hand-painted frescoes. Enjoy this ultimate dining experience in relaxed casual settings in the Dining Room, The Saletta or alfresco on The Terrace. Chef Giuliano Matarese presents the finest cuisine of his southern Italian homeland by combining the familiar taste of fresh ingredients with exotic herbs and spices. Enjoy the 3-Course Special menu with menu selections for every palate.  Accolades for Sale e Pepe include the AAA Four Diamond Award for Dining, as well

as Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Daily Happy Hour offers 2 for 1 drinks and bar bites menu.   Located at Marco Beach Ocean Resort, 480 S. Collier Boulevard. 

Map 4 (24).  393-1600  www.sale-e-pepe.com   see article in our Features Section

SNOOK INN - A Marco Island landmark for more than 30 years.  Outdoor and indoor casual dining overlooking the beautiful Marco River.  Enjoy their famous salad bar and a wide variety of seafood, steaks, sandwiches and continental specialties as you watch dolphin, manatee and the boating activities. Live entertainment daily at the chickee bar. All you can eat dinners available thru 10.30.12 on  Mon-Fri (including the world famous seafood buffet on Thurs & Fri.) and Happy Hour at the Chickee Bar with 1/2 price drinks 4-6pm Mon-Fri and 10pm-close 7 days. Come by car or boat, docks available.  Complimentary transportation provided to and from your island residence. 1215 Bald Eagle Drive.  Map 4 (29).  394-3313  www.snookinn.com See "Tasty Bites" in our current e-magazine

SUNSET GRILLE - Marco's only sports beach bar, offering indoor and outdoor dining over-looking the Gulf of Mexico.  The  wide ranging menu includes burgers, wings, steaks, seafood and pasta.  Enjoy a spectacular gulf sunset from any seat.  Daily happy hour.  Play  NTN Trivia.  TVs -  ESPN's College Game Plan, pool tables, shuffleboard and more.  900 South Collier Blvd., in the Apollo condominiums - 1/2 mile south of the Hilton. 

Map 4 (31).  89-0509  www.sunsetgrill.easylocalshopping.co See "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine

TRIAD SEAFOOD CAFE & MARKET - This rustic family owned and operated restaurant in the heart of Everglades City serves the freshest of seafood on a deck over the beautiful Barron River.  The view is spectacular. They also serve beer and wine and their key lime pies and sauces are homemade. "All-u-can eat" stone crabs fresh from local boats (when available) are cooked on the premises. Call for details of early bird specials.  Open seven days, 10:30am-5pm in season - closed for a lot of the summer so please call first. Located in Everglades City behind the school on the Barron River. www.triadseafoodmarketcafe.com. 239-695-2662  See "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine

ISLAND CHIC

ARTURO'S - The Art of Fine Italian Food & Fun. Soon to be celebrating their 15th anniversary, Arturo's has won the hearts and palates of many local and international guests and continues to receive numerous accolades, which include Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, Zagat 2009 and SW Florida's Choice Award for Best Italian Restaurant 2008- 2010.  Although famous for their signature stuffed pork chop, the menu includes a wide selection of seafood, chicken, veal and homemade pastas and a diverse, affordable wine list.  Don't miss their summer "Get Happy" hour with half price drinks on domestic beer, house wines and well liquor only - excludes bottled wine - on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 5-7pm.   Serving dinner from 5pm daily.  www.arturosmarcoisland.com.  Reservations suggested. 844 Bald Eagle Drive.   Map 4 (1).  239-642-0550  See "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine

CAFE DE MARCO - Nestled in the charm of Olde Marco, one of the island's finest seafood restaurants is celebrating 29 years of culinary excellence. This intimate bistro offers award winning seafood and other continental specialties, contemporary decor and outstanding service for a truly satisfying evening out. Voted best seafood on Marco since 1983.  Twilight specials at $14.95, 5-5:45pm and 29th Anniversary Dinner Packages at $27 (3 course meals plus wine) - call for details and hours available. Both values not available on holidays.  Reservations suggested. www.cafedemarco.com. 244 Palm Street,  Olde Marco.  Map 4 (4) 239-394-62622    www.cafedemarco.com.  See "Tasty Bites" in our current e-magazine

RISTORANTE DA VINCI'S - Experience the charm of Italy without the jet lag!  Sophisticated taste blends into a family atmosphere where each guest will feel at home while enjoying signature dishes and carefully selected wines.  The marble interior is RISTORANTE DA VINCI'S (continued)  complemented by mosaics, a mural of Leonardo Da Vinci's artwork and a full indoor/outdoor bar. Enjoy sushi prepared from the freshest ingredients before your eyes.  Lunch and dinner are served daily and the bar, with its wood-burning pizza oven, stays open late.  Don't miss DJ night, Friday and Saturday from 10pm, playing sounds from the 80s, 90s and modern day.  New "Quiet Room", with conference facilities, available for private groups and parties. 599 S Collier Blvd, Marco Walk, across from the Hilton Hotel.  Map 4 (9). 389-1888  www.ristorantedavinci.com  see article in our Features Section  and see article in our winter 2011 page-turning e-magazine.

ISLAND CAF? - An intimate fine-dining restaurant offering creative and classic cuisine from around the world. The Island Café offers a constantly changing menu showcasing the chef's versatility, using the freshest ingredients from area markets.  There is a large choice of appetizers, soups and salads, entrees, and desserts as well as nightly specials, a children's menu and special value priced options for early diners.    Reservations are suggested.  Open for dinner from 5pm.  See article in our winter 2011 page-turning e-magazine  918 N. Collier Blvd. Map 4 (11).  394-7578   www.theislandcafe.com

KONRAD'S SEAFOOD & GRILLE ROOM - An Island favorite for excellent cuisine and friendly service in a casually elegant atmosphere.  The famous gourmet salad bar is beyond compare and Konrad's is also noted for its fresh seafood, fresh fish, pasta, Bavarian dishes and chef's specials.  Dinner is served seven days 5-10pm in season  with sunset specials between 5-6pm. Lite menu served in lounge from 5pm until closing. Lounge and courtyard seating with smoking permitted in the courtyard.  Complimentary Valet Parking.  Visit our website at www.konradsrestaurant.com.   599 S. Collier Blvd. Marco Walk, across from the Hilton Hotel. Map 4 (12).

642-3332  www.konradsrestaurant.com  See "Tasty Bites" in our current e-magazine

SANDCASTLES RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - At Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa, with nightly live entertainment and Happy Hour is the ideal place to stop before experiencing the Resort's award winning Sandcastles restaurant where you'll savor our Chef's tantalizing Caribbean inspired menu. Dressy casual attire.  Open to non-residents. 560 S. Collier Blvd. Map 4 (26).   642-2181

SASSO'S INTERNATIONAL CUISINE & SEAFOOD - An unforgettable experience with gourmet dining at reasonable prices.  The menu features the finest meats and freshest fish and seafood prepared to perfection.  Twilight specials and a casual bar menu are also available.  Children are welcome and all guests are made to feel at home in the private villa which features Venetian chandeliers, beautiful artwork and fountains in a park view setting.  A variety of dining areas include the starfish room, private booths and the piazza.  Full bar and great wine list, nightly happy hour in bar and regular live entertainment. Serving dinner from 5pm.   Reservations suggested.  Across the street from the  hotels, 961 Winterberry Drive.  Map 4 (27).   Call for reservations: 239-393-4960    www.sassos.com   See "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine

ISLAND CASUAL

CAPT. BRIEN'S SEAFOOD & RAW BAR - Where the New England Seafood is flown in daily, and the native fish is fresh off the boats from local fishing fleets.  Everything is prepared from scratch and cooked to order, even the batters and sauces are made fresh daily.   Open for lunch and dinner seven days. Raw bar and late night menu during Comedy Club hours Thursday-Sunday. Indoor/outdoor dining, free valet parking and curbside takeout. Marco Walk Plaza, 599 S Collier Blvd. Map 4 (6).  389-6900  www.captbriens.com.  See

"Tasty Bites" in our current e-magazine

COCOMO'S -  Casual dining at its best!  Relax while your kids play in our game room.  Come and get a taste of what the Island is talking about.  Marco's finest menu with the best variety. Serving Grouper, Ahi Tuna, (Tuna  Nachos are a local favorite) Steaks, Salads, Chicken lettuce wraps, Falafal and Hummus, Marco's best Grouper sandwich and many other great items.  Don't forget the Cocomo Bread. Happy hour 3-6 daily - come check out our happy hour new appetizer specials!  $399 Margaritas and $199 16oz  domestic drafts all day everyday. Serving Lunch Mon-Fri from 11:30-4:00 and Dinner nightly 4:00-11:00.  Ask about our daily  specials, our summer drinks specials and our whole tempura fried snapper!  945 N. Collier Blvd (between McDonald's and Bald Eagle in Sunset Plaza)   Map 4 (8).  394-3600 www.cocomosgrill.com  see article in our Features Section and "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine

HOOTS -   -   Everything is made from scratch (including the wheat, white, rye and raisin bread, which is baked fresh every morning). It's where the local's go!  To go orders available.  Offering the same menu at their other location at the Shops at Eagle Creek,(at 41 & 951, next to Lowe's, 304-4644, open seven days 7am-2pm). Serving dinner on Marco from December 1st, Mon-Fri 3-8pm.  Open November: everyday 7am-2pm.  From Dec 1st: Mon-Fri 7am-8pm, Sat-Sun 7am-2pm. 563 Elkcam Circle (opposite Main Post Office).  Map 4 (10)

239-394-4644  See article in our winter 2011 page-turning e-magazine. 394-4644

MARGARITA'S  - Serving authentic Mexican cuisine for lunch, dinner and take-out. Margarita's promise is to serve the best Mexican food on the island or it's free! Visit their website at www.margaritasontheisland.com to see their  wide ranging menu.  Outside seating on patio and inside seating in newly remodelled and extended restaurant and bar.  Also visit their newly opened sister restaurant at 8971 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, 34108.   Marco Town Center Mall, 1069 N Collier Blvd.  Map 4 (17).  For take-out call 394-6555.  See article in our winter 2011 page-turning e-magazine. www.margaritasontheisland.com

NACHO MAMA'S - With indoor and shaded outdoor seating, this restaurant offers a wide menu of Tex-Mex and American dishes and a fun atmosphere.  Open 11am-1am 7 days, (kitchen open ?til midnight). Two great happy hours  daily: 3-5pm & 10pm-close (except on nights with entertainment), entertainment Thurs thru' Sat nights and ladies' nite on Thursdays.  599 S. Collier Blvd. Marco Walk, across from the Hilton Hotel  Map 4 (19).  389-2222

See "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine

O'DONOGHUE'S - You can tell by the accents of the staff that Marco's newest Irish Pub is the real McCoy! Specialties like Irish sausage wrapped in puff pastry, Shepherd's Pie, Irish Stew and even Irish style chips with curry sauce will be bound to bring back memories for any one who hails from across the Atlantic Ocean. Live Irish entertainment Fri-Sat and Sunday afternoon Seisiuns (traditional Irish music sessions where you're invited to bring your instrument and join in the fun), and live sporting events from around the world, including NFL Sundays from 1pm.  Complimentary taxi service available.  Happy Hour 4-6pm. Open for lunch Mon-Fri11:30 to 2:30 and for dinner 4-9pm 7 days - summer hours may vary so please call first.  Call for entertainment schedule or visit us at www.odonoghuesbarandgrill.com. and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.  969 N Collier Blvd in Royal Palm Plaza. Map 4 (20).  389-0032  see article in our Features Section and see article in our winter 2011 page-turning e-magazine.

Guy and Lisa's PHILLYGRILLE No reservations are necessary at Marco's newest casual grille where well respected local chef Guy Verdi employs his fine dining skills to take conventional deli fare to new heights. House-roasted turkey and corned beef creations rub shoulders with seared Ahi tuna, lobster salad and inventive vegetable dishes and your "build your own" 8oz prime ground chuck burger can be complimented by a choice of unusual sides such as Gruyére cheese, onion jam and roasted crimini mushrooms. Open for lunch 11am-2pm and dinner 5pm-close. Closed Sundays.  Take out available. www.philly-grille.com, See article in our winter 2011 page-turning e-magazine. 1000 N. Collier Blvd, #15. Heritage Square Shopping Plaza. Map 4 (23).  239-394-2221

THE SAND BAR - Marco's ultimate sports bar is "Where the Locals Go".  Over 25 years of Great Food, Great Prices and Great Fun. The portions are generous and they are famous for their Fish Sandwich and 1/2 Price Pizza on Tuesdays. Catch your favorite game on one of the 40 TVs, including several 55" Hi Def  flat screens, 11 satellites with convenient portable wireless table speakers! Pool tables, arcades, Wii Bowling, juke box and kid's games available. Open every day with a full service bar and restaurant from 7am-2am, serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Late Night. Great Happy Hour Drink and Food Specials 3-6pm and 10pm to close. No reservations needed. ATM on site. All major credit cards accepted. Take out and children's menu available. Come see why they've been around so long! See article in our Features Section  and "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine642-3625 www.sandbarmarco.com   826 E Elkcam Circle. Map 4 (25).

STONEWALLS AMERICAN BISTRO & CAFE  - - One of Marco's newest and most innovative restaurants. Stonewalls serves fine food,  ... fast.  Start the day well with their freshly baked breakfast pastries or an omelet. Sample the delicious soups and chowders which are all made from scratch or try the giant baked potatoes, fresh salads, sandwiches, gourmet flatbread pizzas, wraps or burritos - all healthy alternatives to conventional fast food. Fresh fruit smoothies, authentic gelato and LavAzza Italian coffee complete the tasty lineup and look out for their popular daily chef's specials.  www.marcostonewalls.com. 551 S Collier Blvd., across from Surf Club and between the Marriott and Hilton Hotels.  Map 4 (30).  239-389-1995  see article in our Features Section and "Tasty Bites" in our current e-magazine

SUSIE'S DINER - For 26 years Susie's Diner has been serving Marco Islanders with great tasting and good value breakfasts and lunches.  They were voted "best breakfast" on Marco Island for five years running.  They offer great daily lunch specials.  Reservations for large parties accepted.  Marco Town Center Mall. Map 4 (32). 642-6633  see article in our Features Section and "Tasty Bites" in our winter e-magazine and in our current e-magazine

TOKYO INN - Your favorite Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar.  Tempura, seafood, traditional Japanese cuisine prepared before your eyes. Japanese hot and cold Sake and beer.  Takeout can be ordered by fax, 642-1897.  1825 San Marco Road, Shops of Marco.  Map 4 (35).  642-3999  See "Tasty Bites" in our current e-magazine

PREPARED FOOD, ICE CREAM AND TAKE-OUT

BEEBE'S ICE CREAM - Located in Marco Walk close to the Movie Theater, Beebe's has new owners, a new fresh look, new seating and now also serves specialty coffees and Italian pastries and desserts.  Open Sunday-Thursday 1-11pm, Friday & Saturday 1-12pm 599 S Collier Blvd. Map 4 (2) www.beebesicecream.com 239-642-9800  See "Tasty Bites" in our current e-magazine

THE CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY - Marco's oldest ice cream parlor offers a huge selection of ice creams, yogurts and 24 flavors of authentic low fat Italian Gelato (all made in house), as well as handmade chocolates, truffles, luxury boxed and novelty chocolates, and, the house specialty, succulent chocolate strawberries.  Now also serving soft serve ice cream.  937 N Collier Blvd. Map 4 (7) 394-5999  See "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine

ITALIAN DELI & MARKET - Real New York style pizza, sandwiches and deli.  By popular demand now serving pizza by the slice during the day.  Eat in or take out.  www.marcoislanditaliandeli.com 247 N Collier Blvd.

239-394-9493  See "Tasty Bites" in our season e-magazine

LILLY B'S SPECIALTY MARKET & DELICATESSEN - Recently opened just next door to it's sister restaurant, Mango's, Marco's newest deli offers pre-packaged appetizers, entrees, pastries and desserts to be enjoyed to go or in their casual waterside seating area.   Specializing in gluten free products it also offers fresh produce and gourmet treats.  www.mangosdocksidebistro.com. The Esplanade, 760 N Collier Blvd. Map 4 (13) 239.393.2433

See "Tasty Bites" in our current e-magazine

MICHELBOB'S ON MARCO - Winner of "Best Ribs in America" and numerous national and international "Best" Awards.  This is the take out  version of the world famous restaurant in Naples.  Featuring imported baby back ribs from Denmark and BBQ chicken. Closed for vacation first two weeks of June and all of September. See article in our page-turning e-magazine. 915 North Collier Blvd. Map 4 (18).  394-0302  www.michelbobs.com

PARADISE SEAFOOD & GOURMET MARKET - Known as the ?Island's Best'! We bring you fresh seafood, including Florida Stone Crabs from local waters and around the world. Chef Scott Young and his team prepare incredible gourmet fare to eat, heat or cook at home.  From our tasty dips and spreads, to our homemade chowders and bisques, unique side dishes and our freshly prepared entrees, such as our own Seafood en papillote and fresh lobster ravioli, we have something for everyone. Open 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday, call for Sunday hours.   712 Bald Eagle Dr (same plaza as Porky's Restaurant).  Map 4 (22). 394-3686  www.paradiseseafoodmarco.com  see article in our Features Section and see article in our winter 2011 page-turning e-magazine.

SIMPLY CUPCAKES OF OLDE MARCO Your favorite cupcake shop is now your favorite coffee house!  Come enjoy authentic espresso, cappuccino, and of course, freshly baked, delicious cupcakes.  Free WiFi and Pet Friendly!  Open at 11 AM, until each cupcake has found a home.  Please call for hours and selections.    174 Royal Palm Drive. Map 4 (28) 239-776-4078  See "Tasty Bites" in our winter e-magazine

SWEET ANNIE'S  - Serving ice cream the "old fashioned" way, at a sit-down soda fountain, since 1986, Sweet Annie's recently came under new ownership but it will retain its old fashioned feel, offering a great selection of nostalgic candies. 692 Bald Eagle Dr. Map 4 (33)  642-7180

Visit us for all of your vacation rental needs at www.iEscapeAway.com
Island Escapes of SWFL
239-642-0000

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Earn Easy Money for your Referral

Earn Easy Money for your Referral!!!

Island Escapes of SWFL is a vacation rental company offering beautiful vacation rental homes and condos
in Southwest Florida.
We offer properties in Naples, Marco Island, and Cape Coral.
 We have exclusive contracts with several large International Tour Operators that keep us busy year round.

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What a great way to earn quick and easy money with a very reputable company!

Please feel free to call or email us anytime with questions.

                      Cassie DuQuet      www.iEscapeAway.com   

239-642-0000
 

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Journey to the Heart of the Everglades

Journey to the Heart of the Everglades

 By Barbara Beckley

member Society of American Travel Writers

   Clutching onto vines and the bark of old-growth cypress trees damp with humidity, I inched my way over rotting tree trunks and through shoulder-high ferns - trying to stay on the muddy ground - rather than slosh through the knee-deep water.
 Sunlight filtered through the tangle of tree branches above and shimmered off the water in a nearby clearing. The scene reminded me of an enchanted forest - and perhaps it was.
 I was deep inside the Everglades; walking in the dense undergrowth of the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, the largest tropical swamp in the world.  My naturalist guide, Cindy Hackney, and I had left any sign of a path far behind. Cindy trusted her instincts to take us to her favorite spot - where the wild orchids grow. She was wading through the shadowy water with glee, reveling in its coolness. "Nothing to be afraid of," she assured me. "The water is too shallow for alligators." The water's fine for water moccasins - however, but they only swim when they're hungry, she added.  
 
"I've found one!" she called out, motioning for me to slosh on over. She'd spotted a rare Ghost Orchid (dendrophylax lindenii) - made famous by the Hollywood movie Adaptation - clinging to the side of a mossy tree trunk. Two bridal-white blooms dangled in mid-air from the plant's leafless root system - flaunting their creamy luster to thrill the Giant Sphinx moth, the plant's pollinator, and occasional visitors who venture into their remote world.
It had been a long, soggy trek to get here - at the edge of the Fakahatchee Central Slough - the deepest slough in Florida and home to North America's largest concentration and variety of wild orchids. It seemed unbelievable that the sophisticated city of Naples - with its lively restaurants and designer shops - was only a few miles to the west.
I was thrilled to be here. Not so much that I'm an orchid enthusiast, as a huge fan of the Florida Everglades.
 Orchids aren't the only exotic flora we encountered. Throughout our trek, endangered Florida Royal Palms towered overhead and bright red bromeliads clung to the trunks of cabbage palms (Florida's state tree).
 
While we didn't see them - highly endangered Florida panthers, river otters, black bears and deer use the same paths we did, according to Cindy.  Not to worry, though. These critters are smaller than their counterparts elsewhere in the U.S., due to the tropical climate, she explained.

Before spotting the orchids, we had stopped to eat our sandwiches in a drier part of the strand, when Cindy touched my sleeve. Across the clearing, a large white tail deer had come out of the forest and was watching us. We also spotted a raccoon and I noted its elongated toes. A tropical adaptation, Cindy said.

 In another part of the slough, we gingerly stepped around a sleeping water moccasin coiled up on the path. And I barely had time to admire a harmless baby Black Racer snake before it zipped into the bush.
 The Florida Everglades are unique - the only ecosystem of its kind in the world. Cindy organized our day trip to follow the water that creates the Everglades as it flows ? ever so slowly - from the interior of southwest Florida into the Gulf of Mexico.
 We began at 7:30 a.m. on the dry pine uplands east of Naples, and then took an airboat ride on Lake Tafford (the headwaters of the Everglades on the West Coast of Florida) into the wildlife-rich Corkscrew Swamp. Skimming across the water through tunnels of swamp hibiscus covered with huge pink flowers, and acres of spindly, green vegetation nicknamed "gater flags," we saw Osprey, herons and turtles.

Alligators were everywhere! They ducked under the airboat or turned tail and disappeared into the floating flora when we got close. Seeing these ancient reptiles happy in their habitat, they weren't scary at all. One gater had a water lily-like "lake lettuce" plant caught on its head - like a dainty Easter bonnet.
 
We watched green heron fledglings sitting on the edge of their nest and fuzzy purple gallinule chicks following their parents across the floating plants.
 Our adventure ended at East River, a secluded boat jump-off spot along the Tamiami Trail (Highway 41), where mangrove islets begin their march into the Gulf. As the sun set, we watched an endless stream of egrets, heron and ibis flying in from parts unknown, landing one-by-one in the thick mangroves to roost. By nightfall, the green mangroves had turned white - colored by thousands of drowsy birds. 


 I was ready for sleep, too. This had been 12 hours of non-stop amazement. I was tired, but thrilled to have fulfilled the dream of a lifetime - to experience the Florida Everglades from the inside out.
Numerous tour operators offer Everglades excursion of all types. For a personalized adventure like this, contact Everglades Day Safari Ecotour, 800-472-3069, www.ecosafari.com; and www.earthfoot.org, Western Everglades Tour with Roger Dykstra. 
Visit us for all of your Southwest Florida Vacation Rental Needs! www.iEscapeAway.com




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Beach Stewards enhance visitors' experiences, while making beach rules known

 

Beach Stewards enhance visitors' experiences, while making beach rules known

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Showing off their Marco Island Beach Stewards shirts, from left, are C.J. O'Connor and Debbie Roddy, coorrdinator of the city volunteer program.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Roger Lalonde/Staff (2) The orange shirts, Marco Island Beach Stewards, will be on the beach over the FouRth of July week to remind people of beach etiquette, ordinances and answer educational questions beachgoers might have. Stewards, from left, are Ferris Heindl, Marty and Debbie Roddy, Bernardo Bezos, Sue Purvis and C.J. O'Connor.

Photo by Mary Nelson

The city's Beach Advisory Committee first promoted the idea. Volunteers number 23 and more are welcome, said Nancy Richie, the city's liaison with the stewards, coordinated by Debbie Roddy.

After training, volunteers are on the beach two hours at a time on the weekends, They first appeared on Memorial Day weekend, but with Fourth of July ahead, they will begin their duties on Saturday, running through July 8.

In a friendly, conversational manner, the stewards make beach visitors aware of the ordinance and etiquette expected on Marco Island's Beach. They are armed with a packet of information on just about any question that might arise.

They remind visitors that non-service dogs, bicycles, and glass are not allowed on the beach. Our beach dunes and vegetation are important for storm protection so beachgoers need to stay out of these areas. Beach visitors are expected to respect the marked off areas for bird nesting and disposing of their trash in the proper receptacles. An item that most might not consider is holes in the sand. On the Fourth of July there will be a lot of families building sand castles, motes and trenches, and other types of creative art. Everyone is asked to level off the sand and fill in the holes, motes and trenches before they leave them, making them dangerous beach walking.

Particularly at this time of year when no lights (including flash lights, cell phones, hats with lights, lanterns) are allowed on the beach after 9 p.m. because of sea turtle nesting and hatching season.

These same holes that go unfilled can be a death trap for female sea turtles coming to lay eggs," Roddy said. "They also are troublesome for the tiny sea turtle hatchlings trying to get into the Gulf of Mexico as they always traverse the beach in the dark. Last year, several endangered sea turtle hatchlings came out of a nest, fell into a hole someone left on the beach and died trying to get to the Gulf."

How about red tide?

Volunteer steward Ken Quinn said. "Often people have no idea what red tide is. They see fish washed up and almost always think it has to be caused by red tide or some type of biohazard. They also ask about stuff that comes ashore."

Each volunteer has an information sheet called the Wrack Community. The Wrack is stuff cast ashore by the sea. Much of it once grew in the sea, like seaweeds and seagrass. These marine castaways foster protective dunes and allow assembly of a unique natural community that brings life to the beach. Various types of grasses, shells, salt corals and "snacks" for birds are shown with photos.

Often the stewards help identify shells found on the beach. They carry a two-page, colorful portfolio of tropical Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico shells. Another information sheet is called Shells 101 for the four types of shells found on the beach. Stewards will inform visitors that Collier County prohibits the taking of live shells and there is a hefty fine if anyone is caught with a live shell.

Some shells may look as if they are dead when found in the water, but they in fact have creatures living on or in them. Sand Dollars are live and popular to collect. It is recommended that all shells, including Sand Dollars, be collected above the high tide mark, not below it or in the water.

"Live shells need to be left alone so they can reproduce and be around for your children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren," Roddy said.

The volunteers receive a packet of information at training that includes Loggerhead Sea Turtle nesting and hatching information, why beach dunes are important, how to preserve the beach and wildlife for future generations and why the beach changes.

Volunteer stewards are not law enforcement. Their job is to educate people and assist with inquires. However, they will contact law enforcement if the need arises.

They also have contact numbers for Florida Wildlife Commission, Mary Nelson, sea turtle monitor and Conservancy of Southwest Florida Rehab Unit.

Steward C.J. O'Connor, "When I heard about it, I immediately want to do it. I started coming here in 1972 and moved here six years ago. I love the beach so much, I want to protect it."

"People already know the orange shirts," Marty Roddy said. "People learned quickly about no dos on the beach and no glass and they are getting better. The holiday coming up will add a lot more pressure from families and people on the beach for the fireworks.

To become a volunteer, call Nancy Richie at 389-5003 or email her at nrichie@cityofmarcoisland.com.

 Visit us for all of your vacation rental needs at www.iescapeaway.com

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