Beaches, Culture and Baseball
With more than 250 species of birds, over 100 miles of beaches and five major league baseball teams that spend their spring training days here every March, Southwest Florida spans a diverse range of attractions for visitors. That’s not to mention superb fishing, boating, golf, shopping, museums, theater and arts. Stretching from the Everglades in the south to the shores of Lake Okeechobee in the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the west and SarasotaBradenton in the north, the region retains a reputation for adventure and privilege.
ARTS AND CULTURE
Think of Southwest Florida and images of splendid beaches immediately come to mind. However, the region has a strong tradition of arts and culture told in its architecture, galleries, museums and theaters.
In Naples, art galleries line downtown streets, where you will also find free exhibitions at the von Liebig Art Center and lively performances at Sugden Community Theatre and Gulfshore Playhouse. Artis– Naples brings still more performance arts and is home to the Miami City Ballet and the world-class Baker Museum of Art. Yearround, the region hosts art shows including downtown’s prestigious Naples National Art Festival in February and the Stay in May Festival in April/May.
In the past couple of years, neighboring Bonita Springs has leaped onto the arts bandwagon with the expansion of the Center for the Arts to a second campus with performing arts and a new film center, which hosts an annual international film festival. In summer 2016, the Southwest Florida Performing Arts Center opened with a celebrity-chef restaurant and a slate of nationally known comedians, bands, musicals and dance groups.
The art scene in Fort Myers centers around its historic downtown River District, where Art Walk takes place the first Friday of the month and Music Walk the third Friday. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and Arcade Theatre, home to the nationally acclaimed Florida Rep, occupy separate historic buildings with distinctive period architecture. A handful of art galleries completes downtown’s artistic landscape. Watch as Alliance for the Arts turns Fort Myers’ royal palm-lined McGregor Boulevard into a pedestrian-friendly art district of its own.
Downtown Punta Gorda’s riverfront architecture recalls the boom years of the late 19th century with Victorian mansions, handsome government buildings and colorful vernacular homes. Browse the
galleries of the Visual Arts Center (VAC), which hosts the Peace River National Art Festival in March.
Sarasota arguably holds the loftiest reputation for the arts in these parts, stemming from the influence of the Ringling family, whose circus wintered here. The Ringlings exerted an Italianate influence on local architecture and the arts, culminating in the Ca’ d’Zan mansion on The Ringling grounds. Seeded with John Ringling’s own collection of Rubens and baroque art, The Ringling’s art museum collection covers 500 years of European art and specializes in late-medieval and Renaissance Italian works. In 2016, it debuted the Center for Asian Art to showcase revolving exhibits of its Asian collection.
The complex’s Asolo Repertory Theatre contributes to Sarasota’s rich theatrical tradition, which ranges from new plays at the Florida Studio Theatre to Broadway shows at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation to resemble a scallop shell.
Taking up residence in a restored historic high school, the Ringling College of Art + Design’s Sarasota Museum of Art is expected to open in mid-2018. For a driving tour of other architectural gems, including examples of the vaunted Sarasota School of Architecture, pick up a copy of the Tour Sarasota Architecture Guide at visitors’ centers. Galleries fill the Sarasota– Bradenton area, which boasts two artists’ colonies—Towles Court near downtown Sarasota and Village of the Arts in Bradenton. The colonies and downtown Sarasota schedule monthly gallery walks where you can meet the artists.
ATTRACTIONS
Most of the attractions in Southwest Florida are outdoor venues or learning centers, which educate and inform visitors about the region’s bountiful nature and wildlife.
Take Naples, for instance, where the most visited attractions include the Naples Botanical Garden and Naples Zoo. The garden, which opened a new visitors’ component with a café in 2014, showcases subtropical vegetation in settings that reflect the culture of Brazil, the Caribbean, Asia and Florida. The zoo began as botanical gardens in 1919 and today is home to wild animals from around the world. In 2016 it debuted a special Florida panther exhibit to house a local cat blinded by a shotgun blast.
The Collier County system of museums occupies five unique venues in Marco Island, Naples, Everglades City and Immokalee—all of them family-friendly. The Naples Depot Museum unveils a restoration of its 1947 tavern car in February 2017. The town’s most family-friendly museum, Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, sits next to every kid’s favorite, the Sun-n-Fun Lagoon water park in North Naples.
Naples is known, too, for its superlative golfing opportunities. Besides playing lush, natural golf courses, adults and kids alike can get their game on at various golf schools and programs in the area.
In Fort Myers, the Southwest Florida Museum of History dwells in a former-life train depot. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates, one of Southwest Florida’s finest historic treasures, offers guided and selfguided tours and recently debuted a special family audio tour and petting zoo events. Families should not miss the nearby handson Imaginarium Science Center.
New on Fort Myers Beach, the Mound House, under development for several years and the town’s oldest standing structure, opened a cultural museum in late 2015 examining the Calusa, who built a shell mound on the property. Go inside and take a peek.
For families in Sarasota, the canopy boardwalk in the new Children’s Rainforest Garden at Marie Selby Gardens is a don’tmiss. Other family musts include the circus museums at The Ringling, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium and Sarasota Jungle Gardens.
Bradenton’s history dates back to Hernando de Soto, and a national historic site recalls his first landfall. The South Florida Museum and Parker Manatee Aquarium nicely displays de Soto-related exhibits, plus prehistoric animal recreations and an aquarium starring Snooty the manatee. Manatee Village Historic Park gathers the town’s history in an oak-framed park setting.
Bradenton’s Cortez community retains its feel of an Old Florida fishing village with a working waterfront and maritime museum. A number of charter boats depart from the docks to take you deep-sea or back-bay fishing.
Head east of town for a little extreme adventure at TreeUmph!, an aerial obstacle course with zip lines.
BEACHES & OUTDOOR GEMS
You will find no nature-deficit disorder in Southwest Florida, where the great outdoors ranges from gorgeous, award-winning beaches to the raw wilderness of the Everglades ecosystem. Around Naples and Everglades City, a number of state and federal parks and preserves safeguard fragile Everglade habitats—home to myriad birds and fish, deer, Florida panthers, bobcats, manatees, alligators, crocodiles, turtles and river otters. Big Cypress National Preserve, the most massive of the public lands, provides inimitable opportunities for recreation among wildlife. Everglades National Park and Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge protect the seas and wetlands of the so-called River of Grass.
Beach glamour begins in Marco Island and Naples with award-winning strands that cover the gamut from the municipal beach and its historic fishing pier to the wild Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.
What do travelers, and particularly families, find so endearing about local beaches? The soft, white sand, gently sloping sea bottom and tot-friendly waves win raves. Certain beach destinations, furthermore, have reputations for distinctive characteristics, such as the seashell overload on Sanibel and Captiva islands and sharks’ teeth findings in Venice. The best shelling beaches around Sanibel include Bowman’s Beach and offshore Cayo Costa, which is accessible only by boat. A number of charters will take you there to collect shells. In Venice, head to the fishing pier at Brohard Beach or to Caspersen Beach to sift for sharks’ teeth in the sand.
Other superlative beach qualities: Captiva Island and Lovers Key State Park are often listed in the most romantic category; in Sarasota, Siesta Key’s sand is famously soft and blindingly white, so don’t forget to pack the shades.
ENTERTAINMENT
The nightlife scene in Naples—particularly downtown and in North Naples—gets continually livelier these days as young couples and families move in. Hit the live theaters around Fifth Avenue South, then stay to party at late-night clubs downtown. Or take in a show at Artis–Naples in North Naples and later head to the clubs and pubs in the Mercato shopping and entertainment district. You can do both dinner and a movie at its Silverspot Cinema or at the Paragon Theaters at The Pavilion across the street. North Naples also has its own comedy clubrestaurant complex.
For quirky spectator sport entertainment, you can’t beat the Swamp Buggy Races held three times each winter. It involves big-tired Everglade vehicles, lots of mud, and a festival queen who ends up in the deepest mud hole.
East of town in Immokalee, the Seminole Casino Hotel hosts gaming and big-name entertainment. To the north, Bonita Springs is building a reputation for comedy, live music dining, performing arts and indie films. It is also home to a greyhound racetrack.
Downtown Fort Myers has the hottest nightlife and special events scene in town. Fort Myers is also home to two Major League Baseball stadiums that host the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox during spring training. Come summer, the
Fort Myers Miracle take to the field. The Tampa Bay Rays train in Port Charlotte to the north, and off-season, the Charlotte Stone Crabs bat the ball around.
The Sarasota-Bradenton area is home to two spring training teams as well—the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles, plus summer’s Bradenton Marauders.
Much of Sarasota’s entertainment and nightlife is of a higher brow ilk, with a reputation for fine theater, symphony and opera. Downtown Sarasota sparks at night with sophisticated clubs, and Siesta Key has a beachy party atmosphere in the village.
Don’t miss the beach clubs of Bradenton Beach for more laid-back entertainment options. Bradenton’s Manatee Performing Arts Center infuses energy into downtown, as does its dynamic Riverwalk, the venue for December’s long-running blues festival.
LGBT SCENE
Although the Southwest Florida region does not aggressively promote itself as an LGBT destination, it is overall gay-friendly given its arts scenes and chic beaches. In Fort Myers, relatively secluded Bunche Beach is a favorite for the gay community as well as bird-lovers. The city has its share of bars frequented by the LGBT crowd.
Sarasota perhaps has the most to offer LGBT visitors in this region, starting with its robust theater, opera, ballet, film, and even circus calendar. For alternative entertainment, there are drag and cabaret-style burlesque shows, plus a gay and gay-friendly choral group called Diversity: The Voices of Sarasota. The series OUT@AsoloRep partners with LGBT organizations for award-winning theater and education.
Sarasota’s Harvey Milk Festival features live music, performance arts, contemporary theater, film, and political activism for three days in mid-May. In its eighth year in 2017, it is hosting 10 bands downtown at Five Points Park. The annual Sarasota Pride festival takes place in October, also downtown, with LGBT organizations’ exhibits, live music, food and arts.
Sarasota also boasts a number of gayfriendly bars. Plus, on the first Thursday of every month, different bars and restaurants throughout Sarasota host G2H2: Gay Guy Happy Hour; L2H2: Lesbian Lady Happy Hour takes place every third Thursday.
ROAD TRIPS
Head east of Naples along Tamiami Trail (Highway 41) to immerse yourself in the region’s wild side and Old Florida culture. For glimpses of wildlife, try W.J. Janes Memorial Scenic Drive in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park or Loop Road in Big Cypress National Preserve. Backroad Route 92 takes you from 41 to the timestilled fishing community and seafood restaurants of Goodland.
Views along the Sanibel Causeway and Captiva Drive star in many commercials, but all of the coast’s islands promise glimpses of sea and local color. The drive through Bonita Beach, Lovers Key and Fort Myers Beach and another from Lido Key through Anna Maria Island in Sarasota and Bradenton are particularly representative of island life.
From Fort Myers, head east along Route 80 to visit the historic small towns of riverside Alva and Labelle, and lakeside Clewiston. Glimpse the region’s rural, agricultural personality along the way. Or plan a trip to Pine Island to the northwest. Its four communities are known for exotic fruit farming, ancient Calusa shell mounds, an artists’ village and fishing.
In the Port Charlotte area, a road trip to Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island scores for historic intrigue and lovely beaches. To its north, Sarasota lays claim to a number of small organic and other farms you can visit. Look for the 2016 Agriculture Guide of Florida’s Gulf Coast. Cross the Manatee River from Bradenton to reach the historic attractions of Palmetto, a riverside beauty also known for its agricultural heritage.
SHOPPING
If you’re looking for unique buys, there’s plenty of that in Southwest Florida.
In the Everglades territory, visit the Big Cypress Gallery in Ochopee, home to Clyde Butcher, whose large-format art photography captures the Everglades and other natural treasures. (He also has a gallery and studio in Venice.)
In Naples, art galleries fill the downtown Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South districts. At the latter, buy your designer labels at Marissa Collections. Other popular outdoor shopping venues include The Village Shops of Venetian Bay, Waterside Shops and Mercato. On a budget? Look for like-new castoffs in the area’s consignment shops.
To the north in Bonita Springs, The Promenade at Bonita Bay made a remarkable comeback recently with anchor foodie market DeRomo’s. Coconut Point lays out a huge spread of big box stores and fashion boutiques.
Sanibel Island is known for its shell shops, nature art galleries and resort wear boutiques. For something entirely different, hit the Shell Factory & Nature Park in North Fort Myers, where an animal feature and family amusements enhance shopping for shells, jewelry and other Florida trinkets. In the past few years, the complex debuted a new zip line, playground and climbing wall.
In Punta Gorda, downtown and Fishermen’s Village present small, intimate shopping experiences. Hit Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island for a charming historic twist to your shopping.
St. Armands Circle is Sarasota’s most well-known address for upscale shopping in a landscaped outdoor setting. The new Mall at University Town Center has shifted focus to Sarasota’s eastern extremities. Farther yet to the east, the community of Lakewood Ranch is known for its delightful shops and restaurants on and around Main Street.
For genuine local souvenirs, head to the region’s artist villages—Matlacha on Pine Island off of Fort Myers, Towles Court in Sarasota, and Village of the Arts in Bradenton. Watch for news of art walk events in downtown Fort Myers, Punta Gorda and Sarasota.
Bargain-seekers head to the factory outlet malls: Naples Outlet Center, Miromar Outlets in Estero, Sanibel Outlets in Fort Myers and Ellenton Premium Outlets near Bradenton. Or check out the flea markets: Flamingo Island Flea Market in Bonita Springs, Fleamasters Fleamarket in Fort Myers, Sun Flea Market (with its own miniamusement park) in Port Charlotte, the Dome Flea & Farmers’ Market in Venice and Red Barn Flea Market in Bradenton.
SPAS
Most of the fine resorts in Southwest Florida boast full-service spas for resort and day guests. Throughout the region, you will also find a number of excellent stand-alone spas offering a variety of services from hair and nails to massage and even salt caves.
One of the region’s first, the Salt Cave in Naples specializes in treatments that take advantage of the healing powers of Himalayan pink salt, but also offers other New Age therapies such as electrotherapy, halotherapy and honey detox.
Off Fifth Avenue South, diVINE Spa gets highly rated by clients, who enjoy classic facials and massages plus more unusual services such as Pinot Noir Awakening, Wine Glow Rejuvenation and Couples Vino Oasis. The use of winemaking byproducts—skins, seeds and stems—makes the difference in such treatments and gives the spa its name.
On Marco Island, Rick’s Island Salon & Day Spa counts among the elegant establishments at The Esplanade. Its full range of services includes permanent makeup and therapeutic body massage.
Spada in Fort Myers lists a varied menu of services including microdermabrasion. Sanibel Day Spa has long been in the business of beautifying and relaxing islanders and visitors with full beauty services, wellness treatments, scrubs and massages. It specializes in services for bridal parties. On Fort Myers Beach, Esterra Spa & Salon is tops for everything from pedicures to hot bamboo massage.
Punta Gorda boasts a couple of fine spas. Serendipity Salon & Spa downtown specializes in skin and body treatments with peels, skin tightening, scrubs, cellulite treatments and facials plus salon services. One of the town’s oldest, Charles of the Village Salon & Spa at Fishermen’s Village restricts its services to facials, nails and hair.
A charming cottage setting makes the experience at Sirena Island Day Spa in Venice extra intimate. Mandala Medi Spa & Yoga Shala in south Sarasota offers Indonesian body treatments, massage and salon services, plus medical aesthetic services and yoga classes.
Downtown’s Pixie Dust adds a metaphysical twist with psychic readings, New Age gifts, massage, hot Himalayan salt stone massage, energy crystal massage and sound baths. At St. Armands Circle, The Met takes patrons up a dramatically sweeping staircase from a posh clothing store into a luxury setting. It offers full spa and beauty facilities and treatments, including wraps, massages, facials and spa lunch packages. The Pink Himalayan Sea Salt Body Polish with Hydrating Cocoon is signature.