southwest florida vacation, travel and tourist guide

South Florida city guides - Naples, Marco Island, Everglades, Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Ft Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and Golden Gate Florida

Welcome to Southwest Florida

We're showcasing all that Southwest Florida has to offer right here. Make this web site your springboard for jumping into the Cities and Lifestyles that make up our paradise!

You'll find dining directories that provide locations and cuisine information. Our Sports and Outdoors sections offer detailed park and beach information -- directions, phone numbers and photos. Visitor Information sections includes helpful telephone numbers such as area transportation, road service, hospitals, and Chambers of Commerce, along with general area information, history and historical photos.

360-Degree PanImage Tours are available throughout our Southwest Florida websites -- NO PLUG-INS NEEDED! Just click and view -- here are just a few ---

Naples Downtown - offers information on Third Street South, Fifth Avenue, Crayton Cove, restaurants, eateries, shopping and more.

Hotel Escalante - Naples - an intimate, luxury hideaway reminiscent of an old-world Mediterranean villa, nestled in four acres of exotic tropical gardens and located as close to the beach as a beachfront hotel.

Looking for Photos??

Historical photo albums, wildlife, nature and scenery -- here are links to a sampling of what you will find throughout our Florida City Guides

Marco Island Historical Photo Album - An Everglades hunting camp in 1906, a Seminole Indian Village in the 1940's - see how Marco Island looked at the turn of the century.

Historical Swamp Buggy Photos -- Collier County's early development in the 1930's and 1940's was highlighted by the emergance of strange looking vehicles featuring huge balloon tires, gun racks, and usually sporting an unusual name like "Dirt Dobber or Tumblebug". These buggies were born out of necessity, as there was no effective way to penetrate the vast, boggy mire known as Collier county except for the versatile "Swamp Buggy".

Known as Swamp Buggies, Woods Buggies, and Hunting Buggies, these vehicles were used for everything from Sunday afternoon outings to hunting expeditions into the Everglades.

Our newest Southwest Florida Web Sites

Port of the Islands Marina
The Port of the Islands Marina is a boater's paradise with direct access not only to the Gulf of Mexico, but also to the Ten Thousand Islands, the famed backwaters of the Everglades. It is an angler's paradise where fishing adventures abound in a serene and tranquil setting and fishing limits are easily met.

The R. L. Bailey Realty, Inc. website www.naples-real-estate.com is your source for Naples and Southwest Florida Real Estate. Whether you are looking for an estate home in Port Royal, a waterfront vacation property on Marco Island, or a foreclosure in Golden Gate Estates, R. L. Bailey Realty can help you find what you are looking for. Their experience and expertise can guide you through the process of understanding Naples and southwest Florida from a real estate perspective. Visit our website www.naples-real-estate.com and find what you are looking for.

Allied Paver Systems Southwest Florida provides on time, high quality services to contractors and homeowners alike. Walkways, Driveways, Retaining Walls, Pool Decks, Paver Patios, Steps....and more.

St. Matthew's House - Naples, Florida - St. Matthew's House is a homeless shelter and soup kitchen with a recovery program. Our goal is to feed the hungry and to help people recover lives lost to addiction and homelessness.

Travel Writers' Tales - Travel Writers' Tales offers the discerning armchair traveler, as well as the active adventure seeker, glimpses into the excitement and mystery of worlds that lie beyond our horizons.

Fishing Marco Island - Marco Island boast some of the best year round Sportfishing in the world. Surrounded by water with the 10,000 Islands to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. Marco Island is located in southwest Florida just 10 miles south of Naples and 85 miles north of Key West.

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Southwest Florida Events

January and February, 2012 ~ Edison Festival of Light: - Fort Myers

February 2 & 3, 2012 Strolling Flower Show Bell Tower Shops
February 4, 2012 Antique Car Show Edison Ford Winter Estates- 10 A.M.- 2 P.M.
February 5, 2012 Mutt Strutt Sam Galloway Ford Dealership- 2 P.M.
February 10, 2012 Edison's Birthday Party Edison Ford Winter Estates
February 12, 2012 Junior Fun Run, Junior Parade & Junior Coronation Fort Myers River District 1 P.M., 2:30 P.M., 4:30 P.M.
February 17-19, 2012 Crafts On The River & Vintage Market Fort Myers River District 10 A.M. - 5 P.M.
February 18, 2012 Parade Party, 5k Run & Grand Parade Fort Myers River District Noon, 5:45 P.M., 7 P.M.
February 19, 2012 Hot Chili-Rods Classic Car Show Fort Myers River District 11 A.M. - 3 P.M.

February 3-5, 2012 ~ Everglades Seafood Festival
Live Music & Fresh Seafood - Everglades City

February 11, 2012 ~ The Annual Everglades Paddle-In

February 11-12, 2012 - Jammin in the Hammock 5th Annual Bluegrass Festival
Featuring Music Sat. & Sun. by:
The Wilson Family, Frontline, Kristi Morris & Jeff Kellogg, Sawgrass Drifters, Tomorrows News, The WholeTones
Saturday or Sunday only entry fee $15.00/Person Both days: $25.00/Person
Children 13 and under free (with paying adult)
Collier – Seminole State Park
20200 Tamiami Trail E. ~ Naples, Florida 34114
Location: U.S. 41, 8 miles East of Hwy 951 (Collier Blvd.)
For more information: 239-394-3397

February 11-12, 2012 ~ Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs Fine Arts & Crafts Festival
Promenade at Bonita Bay
Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 5 pm

February 17-19, 2012 ~ Edison Festival of Light Crafts on the River
Centennial Park, Edwards Drive - Fort Myers
Over 100 exhibitors Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

February 18-20, 2012 ~ Big Cypress Gallery Annual Presidents Day Weekend Swamp Walks.
Meet Clyde and Niki at their gallery and enjoy a swamp walk in their back yard. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy our backyard. Cost $50 per person. Special for this weekend, receive a $25 credit to use in the gallery after your walk.
Contact: 239-695-2428

February 21-24, 2012 ~ Marjory Stoneman Douglas Festival
105 W Broadway - Everglades City
Contact: 239-695-0008

March 3, 2012 ~ Art in the Park
Outdoor art fair on Park St. next to the von Liebig Art Center.

March 3 & 4, 2012 ~ Swamp Buggy Races
Florida Sports Park at Rattlesnake Hammock Rd and Collier Blvd.
Contact: 239-774-2701

March 10-11, 2012 ~ Center for the Arts of Bonita Springs Fine Arts & Crafts Festival
Promenade at Bonita Bay
Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 5 pm

March 2012 - Sanibel Music Festival
Every Tuesday and Saturday at 8pm during the month of March
Location: Sanibel Congregational Church, 2050 Periwinkle Way

March 16 & 17, 2012 ~ Sanibel Arts and Crafts Fair
Sanibel Community House and Park - 2173 Periwinkle Way

March 23-26, 2012 ~ Art Naples Contemporary Art Fair
More than 45 international art dealers and special exhibitions from Europe, Latin America, United States, Asia as well as leading Southwest Florida contemporary dealers representing over 1200 works of art by 300 artists spanning both 20th and 21st century.
Location: Naples International Pavilion ~ 4835 Immokalee Road
Contact: 239-949-5411 or info@ifae.com

March 24-25, 2012 ~ Downtown Naples Festival of the Arts
5th Avenue South ~ 10am to 5pm
Contact: 239-262-6517

April 7, 2012 ~ Art in the Park
Outdoor art fair on Park St. next to the von Liebig Art Center.