Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
ABOUT US
GREETINGS, VISITORS
CONTENTS
Major events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,11
Climate & Critters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Shopping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,16
Performing Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Local Language. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Attractions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Day Trips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Beaches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32,33
Fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Boating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Spring Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Gardening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
State Parks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Libraries/Parks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Nature Centers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Museums . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Golf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
ABOUT US
Publisher
Mei-Mei Chan
Vice President / Advertising Sales
Nancy M. Solliday
Vice President/ Executive Editor
Cindy McCurry-Ross
Specialty Publications General Manager
Kathryn Robinson Kinsey
Specialty Publications Team Coordinator
Dennis Wright
News Director
Wendy Fullerton
Consumer Experience Director
Mark Bickel
IN PRINT
ONLINE
} swflparentchild.com: Read
tips and helpful hints for all
parents. Check out the latest
photo galleries and videos about
Southwest Florida parents and
children.
ON THE GO
} news-press.com/mobile: Get
SOCIAL MEDIA
} news-press.com/share: Upload
your photos and videos
WEBCAMS
Check out the views of
the Gulf of Mexico by clicking
on our beach cams at
news-press.com/webcams. You
can look at people walking on
the beach or watch the sunset
from our camera located at the
Lani Kai on Fort Myers Beach.
MAJOR EVENTS
THINGS TO DO
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
READING FESTIVAL
If youve never attended this annual
festival, you are missing out on a
fantastic day for the entire family. The
free festival is March 21 in Harborside
Event Center and Centennial Park.
For info, go to readfest.org. The event
includes childrens books and authors,
childrens craft tent and storytelling
sessions.
RIVERDALE KIWANIS
MEDIEVAL FAIRE
Hear ye, Lords and Ladies, come one
and all each January to Lakes Park in
south Fort Myers to jest and joust at
this annual fundraiser benefiting the
Kiwanis charitable works for children.
Minstrels, maidens and jesters entertain
while the crowds thrill to see noble
knights joust on horseback. Visit
medieval-faire.com.
MANGOMANIA
In July, join the people of Pine Island
as they celebrate their quintessential
cash crop at their annual tropical fruit
fair thats so big they have to hold it off
island at the German-American Social
Club in Cape Coral. Enjoy live bands
while participating in mango cooking,
costuming and eating contests. For
more info and to purchase tickets, visit
floridascreativecoast.com.
MAJOR EVENTS
OKTOBERFEST
At the German-American Social Club
in Cape Coral, this two-weekend event
draws about 30,000 festivalgoers each
year. Oktoberfest, which will celebrate
its 30th year in 2015, features food, live
music, games and delectable brews. Many
celebrate their own heritage, as Southwest
Florida is home to a substantial German
heritage population, but the festivities
include events enjoyable to everyone.
Children enjoy the carnival rides and
participants get silly during the group
chicken dance while attendees sample
bratwurst and other tasty German fare. For
information, go to capecoraloktoberfest.
com.
SAND SCULPTING
Locals create art from sand year-round
on Fort Myers Beach, but in late November
renowned sand sculptors transform the
powdery white stuff into large, intricate
sculptures with such careful detailing
they look like they belong in a gallery. Its
all part of the American Sand-Sculpting
Championships. The event at Wyndham
Garden attracts an estimated 70,000100,000 people a year who marvel at the
sculptures while listening to live music.
sandsculptingfestival.com.
MORE TO DO
Check out Gulf Coasting in
The News-Press every Friday and
gulfcoastinglive.com
for more listings.
CLIMATE
CRITTER MANUAL
103
26
FACT
Water temps impact the
common snook. Adult snook can
go belly up when water temps
drop below 55 degrees.
HURRICANE APP
Download our
free hurricane app at
news-press.com/hurricanehub
TOWNS
661,115
Residents in Lee
County in 2012,
according to
census estimates.
19.1%
County residents
claiming Hispanic
origins, less than
the state.
63,839
Roughly, number
of vets who lived
here between
2009 and 2013.
19,600,311
State
population,
up 2.6 percent.
GENERAL KNOWLEDGE
SHOPPING
SHOP SAVVY
1,200,000
Square footage for Coconut Point
mall when it opened
1,700,000
Square footage for Gulf Coast
Town Center when it opened
SHOPPING
SHOPPING VENUES
} Edison Mall: Cleveland Avenue and Colonial Boulevard, Fort
Myers, 939-1933
SHOWSTOPPING FUN
outhwest Floridians
shine on stage and
theyre outstanding at
organizing and hosting
productions that mesmerize
the audience.
MOVIE THEATERS
... Or grab a tub of popcorn, a cup of ice-cold soda and sit back.
Southwest Florida has plenty of screens showing Hollywoods latest.
LEE COUNTY
} AMC Merchants Crossing 16:
15201 North Cleveland Ave., N. Fort
Myers; 995-9303; amctheatres.com
} Marquee Cinemas-Coralwood
10: Coralwood Mall, 2301 Del
Prado Blvd., Cape Coral; 458-2543;
marqueecinemas.com
} Regal Coconut Point Stadium
16: 8021 Cinema Way, Coconut
Point Mall, Estero; 498-8109;
regmovies.com
} Regal Gulf Coast Stadium 16
and IMAX: 10028 Gulf Center
Dr., San Carlos Park; 454-6228;
regmovies.com
} Beach Theater: 6425 Estero
Blvd., Fort Myers Beach; 765-9000;
fmbtheater.com
} Regal Bell Tower Stadium 20:
13499 Bell Tower Drive, S. Fort
Myers; 437-2020; regmovies.com
} Island Cinema: 535 Tarpon
Bay Road, Sanibel; 472-1701;
islandcinema.com
} Prado Stadium 12: 25251
Chamber of Commerce Drive,
Bonita Springs; 992-0128;
pradostadium12.com
COLLIER COUNTY
} Silverspot Cinema Restaurant
& Lounge at The Mercato: 9118
Strada Place, Naples; 592-0300;
silverspot.net
} Regal Hollywood Stadium
20-Naples: 6006 Hollywood Dr.,
Naples; 597-9494; regmovies.com
} Pavilion Cinema: 833 Vanderbilt
Beach Road, Naples; 596-0008;
under renovations at press time.
} B&B Naples Towne Centre 6:
3855 Tamiami Trail East, Naples;
774-4800; bbtheatres.com
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
} Regal Town Center 16:
1441 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte;
941-623-0111; regmovies.com
AREA THEATERS
} Arcade Theatre: 2267 First St., downtown Fort
Myers, home of Florida Repertory Theatre. 332-4488
or floridarep.org
} Artis Naples: 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples.
597-1900 or artisnaples.org
} Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall: 8099
College Parkway, south Fort Myers. 481-4849 or
bbmannpah.com
} BIG Arts: 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Island.
395-0900 or bigarts.org
} Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre and Off
Broadway Palm Theatre: 1380 Colonial Blvd.,
Fort Myers. 941-278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com
} Center for the Arts Bonita: 26100 Old 41 Rd,
Bonita Springs, FL 34135. 239.495.8989
or www.artcenterbonita.org
} Cultural Park Theatre: 528 Cultural Park
Blvd., Cape Coral. Home of Cultural Park Theatre
Company. 772-5862 or culturalparktheater.com
} Firehouse Cultural Center: 241 N. Bridge St.,
LaBelle. Home of the Firehouse Players.
863-675-3066 or firehouseculturalcenter.com
} The Laboratory Theater of Florida:
1634 Woodford Ave., Fort Myers. 218-0481
or laboratorytheaterflorida.com
} Ned Foulds Theater: Alliance for the Arts building,
10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 939-2787 or
artinlee.org
} G&L Theatre at The Community School of
Naples: 13275 Livingston Road, Naples. Home of
TheatreZone. 888-966-3352 or theatrezone.net
} Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center: 2301 First St.,
Fort Myers. 337-1933 or sbdac.com
} Marco Island Players Theatre: located in Town
Center Shopping Complex, 1055 N. Collier Blvd.,
Marco Island. 642-7270 or themarcoplayers.com
} The Norris Center: Located in Cambier
Park, 755 Eighth Ave. S., downtown Naples.
Home of Gulfshore Playhouse. 261-7529 or
gulfshoreplayhouse.org
} Old School House Theater: 2200 Periwinkle Way,
Sanibel. 472-6862 or bigarts.org
} Seminole Gulf Railway Dinner Train Theater:
Based at Colonial Station, off Colonial Boulevard
and Metro Parkway in Fort Myers. Murder mysteries
are performed on a train. 275-8487 or semgulf.com
} Theatre Lab: In FGCUs Arts Complex, 10501
FGCU Blvd. S., San Carlos Park. Shows are performed
by university students. 590-7268
} Ghostbird Theatre Company: at the Sidney &
Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers.
333-1933 or ghostbirdtheatrecompany.org
} Cultural Center of Charlotte County: 2280
Aaron St., Port Charlotte. 941-625-4175 or
theculturalcenter.com
LOCAL LANGUAGE
VIS,TORS GUIDE 2015
Love bugs
ATTRACTIONS
ALLIGATOR TO ZOO
BAILEY-MATTHEWS
Shell Museum: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily,
except major holidays. $11, adults; $5,
ages 5-16; free, children 4 and younger.
3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
395-2233 orshellmuseum.org.
CAPTIVA CRUISES
BOATING EXCURSIONS
Cruises depart daily from South Sea
Island Resort and McCarthys Marina
on Captiva Island and include an
out-island luncheon excursion, sunset
cruises and wildlife watching tours. Call
472-5300 or captivacruises.com.
SHELL FACTORY
AND NATURE PARK
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. One of Floridas
oldest attractions features shells,
Christmas decorations and more than
350 animals in the nature park. Daily.
$12 adults, $10 seniors, $8 children age
4-12, free for age 3 and younger. 2787
North Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers.
Call 995-2141 or shellfactory.com
EVERGLADES
WONDER GARDENS
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Features botanical
gardens, live Florida animals, including
IMAGINARIUM
SCIENCE CENTER
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday;
noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Monday
except for national holidays. $12, adults;
$8, children 3-12; $10, seniors; free for
younger than 3 and members. 2000
Cranford Ave., Fort Myers. 321-7420 or
imaginariumfortmyers.com.
NAPLES BOTANICAL
GARDEN
The 170-acre site features six gardens
landscaped and cultivated to represent
different areas of the world. The garden
is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. General
admission is $14.95 for adults, $9.95
for children 4-14 and free for children
under 3 and for members. 4820
Bayshore Drive, Naples. 643-7275 or
naplesgarden.org.
DAY TRIPS
VIS,TORS GUIDE 2015
ALL IN
A DAYS WORK
} Audubon of Floridas Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary:
Open 365 days a year 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. An 11,000-acre
natural ecosystem. $12, adults; $6, full-time college
students; $6, Audubon members; $4, students ages 6-18;
free, children under 6. 375 Sanctuary Road, Exit 111 off
Interstate 75 (Immokalee Road), Naples. 348-9151 or
corkscrew.audubon.org.
} Captain Bobs Excellent Adventure Travel to the
Everglades: The half-day adventures take you on a
one-hour ride on a small airboat in the swamps and an
interactive reptile show. 888 847-9074 for reservations or
excellentadventure.org.
} Orange Jeep Tours: Visitors get the chance to glimpse
rare animal species, discover local history and folklore
and have while enjoying a 90 minutes narrated jeep tour.
Daily safaris depart the Ave Maria Town Center, 5076
Annunciation Circle, Ave Maria. Call 434-5337. $35 adults,
$25 children age 12 and younger. Orangejeeptours.com
} Solomons Castle: Artist and sculptor Howard Solomon
built his castle and constructed a replica of a 60-foot 16th
century Spanish galleon. Its in the moat. The castle, at
4585 Solomon Road in Ona in Hardee County, is closed
Mondays and in July, August and September. Hours are
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $10 for adults and $4 for children
younger than 12. No credit cards. If you get lost, call 863494-6077. solomonscastle.org
156
Approximate distance in driving miles
from Fort Myers to Miami
204
Approximate distance to Orlando
138
Approximate distance to Tampa
TO SEE ALLIGATORS
A little bit of looking into neighborhood canals or
the ditches along appropriately named Alligator
Alley (Interstate 75 between Naples and Miami) will
occasionally offer a sighting. If you want to see many
alligators, try the Big Cypress National Preserve Oasis
Visitor Center along U.S. 41, 50 miles east of Naples.
The center is open from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., every day
but Christmas.
DINING
CULINARY DELIGHTS
Visit ou
3007 C
CALL 239.561.
24 | VISITORS GUIDE 2015
THE DIAMOND
$249,900 2,200 SQ. FT. LIVING AREA
But dont worry, weve seen it all. SWFL Parent & Child magazine has expert advice to help you along the way.
Well even offer up suggestions on family fun events, travel destinations and great places to take the kids out to eat.
You know, things you can do in your SPARE time.
facebook.com/swflparentchild
twitter.com/swflparentchild
pinterest.com/swflparentchild
BEACHES
LEE COUNTY
} 1. Turner Beach, Captiva
Directions: Go across the Sanibel
Causeway to the four-way stop. Turn right
on Periwinkle Way. Turn right on Tarpon
Bay Road. Turn left on Sanibel-Captiva
Road. Follow the road to Blind Pass Bridge.
The beach is on the left after crossing the
bridge to Captiva.
Parking is $3 an hour.
Sanibel
Directions: Go across the Sanibel
Causeway to the four-way stop. Turn right
on Periwinkle Way. Turn left on Casa Ybel
Road. Turn left on West Gulf Drive. Turn
left on Algiers Lane.
Parking is $2 an hour.
Bonita Beach
Directions: Take Estero Boulevard south
across Big Hickory Pass to Bonita Beach.
Turn right on Hickory Boulevard.
Parking is $2 an hour.
COLLIER COUNTY
Beach State Preserve, Bonita Springs
Directions: Take U.S. 41 south to Bonita
Beach Road. Turn right and go west to the
Lely Barefoot Beach guardhouse. Turn left.
Parking at the beach in $4 a day.
} 15. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park,
BEACHES
Naples
Directions: Take U.S. 41 south to 111th
Avenue. Turn right on 111th Avenue. After
the bridge, the road becomes Bluebill
Avenue. The beach is at the end of the road.
Parking is plentiful. Admission is $6 for
up to eight people in a car. For a single
person in a car, its $4. Admission on foot or
bike is $2. Age 6 and younger, no charge.
FISHING
FISHING
VIS,TORS GUIDE 2015
gone fishin
1885
730
Square miles in
Lake Okeechobee, the nations
mecca for warm-water bassing.
75
Miles from
Fort Myers east to
Lake Okeechobee.
FISHING
BOATING
VIS,TORS GUIDE 2015
GET YOUR
SEA LEGS
KAYAK
} Gulf Coast Kayak: 4120 Pine Island Road NW, Matlacha.
283-1125 or gulfcoastkayak.com.
} Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve: East end of Southeast
23rd Terrace, Cape Coral. 549-4606 or capecoral.net.
TAKE A TRIP
The annual Miami International Boat Show from Feb.
12-16 features millions of dollars worth of boats,
yachts and accessories from the worlds leading
marine manufacturers. The largest event in all of
boating, more than 100,000 enthusiasts are expected
to attend. More info at miamiboatshow.com.
SPRING TRAINING
TICKETS
} Boston Red Sox
334-4700,
redsox.com
} Minnesota Twins
800-33-TWINS,
twinsbaseball.com
FACT
Fort Myers has had more World Series-winning franchises train in it than
any other city in either Florida or Arizona. Five franchises have won it all
while training in Fort Myers: Athletics, Pirates, Royals, Twins and Red Sox.
GARDENING
GARDEN PROBLEMS?
or transplanted gardeners
especially those from up north
SW Floridas climate can be a
lesson in humility.
earthworm-rich loam.
Still, a Florida gardener can indeed
harvest produce and flowers all year
with the mastery of a few bottom-line
basics.
ZONE 10
50 DEGREES
STATE PARKS
VISITORS GUIDE 2015
PUBLIC PARKS
} Bonita Beach Park: 27954 Hickory Blvd.,
Bonita Springs; 949-4615
} Bowditch Point Regional Park: 50
Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach; 765-6794
} Bowmans Beach Regional Park: 1700
Bowmans Beach Road, Sanibel; 472-6397
} Buckingham Community Park
& Barkingham Dog Park: 9800
Buckingham Road, Fort Myers; 369-1521
} Caloosahatchee Regional Park: 18500
N. River Road, Alva; 694-0398
} Cape Coral Sports Complex:
1510 Sports Blvd., Cape Coral; 573-3128
} Centennial Park: 2000 W. First St., Fort
Myers; 321-7524
} Estero Community Park: 9200
Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero; 498-0415
LIBRARIES
} Bonita Springs Public Library:
26876 Pine Ave., Bonita Springs. 533-4860
} Lee County Library System
Bookmobile: 21100 Three Oaks Parkway,
Estero, 533-4440
} Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library:
921 S.W. 39th Terrace, Cape Coral,
533-4500
GETTING AROUND
NATURE CENTERS
BACK TO NATURE
} Sanibel-Captiva Conservation
Foundation: Four miles of trails and
nature center with touch tank and
wildlife cameras open Oct.-May 8:30
a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; June -Sept.,
8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. $5,
adults; free, children younger than 17.
3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
472-2329 or sccf.org.
} Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve:
Trail open daily dawn to dusk.
Interpretive center 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tuesday-Sunday. Guided walks at 9:30
a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily Jan.-March, at
9:30 a.m. Wednesdays from May-Oct.,
and at 9:30 a.m. daily in April. Parking
fee of $1 per hour or $5 maximum all
day. 7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers.
533-7550 or leeparks.org.
HOSPITALS
} Cape Coral Hospital: 636 Del Prado
Blvd., Cape Coral, 239-424-2000
MUSEUMS
SPRING BREAK
GOLF
WANT TO PLAY?
Grab a 9-iron, hop on a cart and see
why greens along the Gulf are some of
the most prestigious in the world.
Those brave enough to try the
courses during the hot and rainy
summer months can get good deals.
Drink plenty of water, wear a hat and
use sunscreen.
Area golf courses with a sampling
of their rates, which include carts, for
season: