Originally named San Marco Island by Spanish explorers, Marco Island is a city in Collier County, Florida.  Marco is an island on the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Southwest Florida.  It is the largest Barrier Island within Southwest Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands and it is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Area.  The population was 12,879 as of the  2000 census. Marco has approximately six miles of beach and over 100 miles of waterways within its 24 square miles.

Di Julio’s

5422 Rattlesnake Hammock Road, Naples

239.775.2886

When I first moved to Naples, I spoke with my neighbor, a real Italian, and asked him to recommend a good Italian restaurant.  He said, go to Di Julio’s.  I question him further and he told me it’s a favorite for locals.   It is family owned and has authentically prepared Italian meals.   After he gave me directions we drove to the restaurant  located in a shopping mall off of Rattlesnake Hammock Road.

Once inside we noticed the inside of the restaurant decor dated back to the eighties, but the character made me chuckle.  Brought back some old memories…The hostess sat us at a table in the middle of the restaurant, and lucky we got a seat as this place was packed.

I ordered a bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce, the house salad a gin and tonic.   My wife ordered the chicken parmesan, house salad and a glass of chianti.   When the house salad arrived I was pleasantly surprised to discover it was a great salad. They had julienned the lettuce, added several fresh vegetables, olives, croutons and their secret creamy Italian dressing.  For dessert, the cannoli’s rock.

I must say..the spaghetti sauce is some of  the best I’ve had.   Its easy to find Italian food, but this is a bold statement,  they have some of  the best Italian food I’ve eaten.  “We took a quart of meat sauce to go.” 26ZSVZTYG8TN

We are providing some information about some of our favorite restaurants in Naples.

Our first one is Bonefish Grill located at the Naples Bay Resort featuring indoor and outdoor dining. While waiting for your table you can relax outside in a lounge area overlooking  the dock or inside at their comfortable bar.   The quality of service and attention to detail is appreciated.  It is noticed in the chilled salad and desert plates and the choice of sauces for preparation of your fish.  Martini’s are well under ten dollars.  My favorite dish….sea bass melts in your mouth.  The key lime pie was one of the best we’ve found.  Served on a chilled plate with graham cracker crust, spiced with pecans, yum.

• Eat Well to Live Well
  We pride ourselves in offering market-fresh specialties that allow guests the flexibility they need to eat well and live well. Fresh fish and seafood are the staples of our menu not only because they taste great, but because of their unique health benefits. Powerhouses of important vitamins, minerals and proteins, fresh fish and seafood make it easy to eat right without sacrificing taste...
• Fish for Your Health
  It feels good to eat well, but even better when the food is delicious! Fish and seafood offer the best of both worlds – well-rounded nutrition and great taste. And at Bonefish Grill, we are proud to offer a wide range of options for every seafood lover. Experts suggest eating fish and seafood a few times per week to truly take advantage of their health benefits...
• Healthful and Helpful: Tips from the Bonefish Grill Kitchen
  Anyone can prepare a delicious and satisfying fish or seafood meal by just following a few easy steps. When it comes to preparing fish and seafood, we believe in celebrating market-fresh foods with a simple approach in the kitchen. From our signature wood-grilled technique to simple pan-searing, a range of cooking methods can be used...
• Healthy Recipes from the Bonefish Grill Kitchen
  Check out some healthy recipes from our kitchen...

During my last trip to Naples I was driving towards Marco Island and found a placed called Isle of Capri. We found the Isle of Capri Marina and rented a pontoon boat for half a day. The price was a little steep but compared with boat ownership, it was a bargain.   After you fill out all the paper work, there are instructions on how to operate the boat and a map with some directions showing various locations in the area to visit.

When renting these pontoon boats you might feel a little intimidated if you don’t have boat experience. It’s really very easy once you get the hang of it.  So…after all the instructions we set off down the canal around all the ocean front homes on our way to Keewaydin Island. The navigation map provided by the marina was hard to read at first, but we soon mastered it and continued between the red and green navigation markers. Once you understand which side of the boat they belong on, you’re well on your way.  The map explains all of this and is a great quick reference guide.

We finally floated into the beach on Keewaydin Island. We pulled the front of the boat on shore and set the anchor. It was a pleasurable  35 minutes to navigate there. The water was like a sheet of blue glass with beautiful sandy beaches and sunshine all the way.

The beach at Keewaydin Island has few visitors and plenty of shelling. I would suggest a cooler with something to drink and plenty of sandwiches.

On the way back you can stop at Snook Inn on Marco Island for a cold beverage or a fantastic grouper sandwich. They have a dock in front of the restaurant where you can tie up your boat.  Snook Inn  has a lot of character.  They feature live local music and a salad bar with barrels of crunchy pickles and fresh bread.

So…if your in the area this is a must do for anyone who loves the outdoors, boats and plenty of sunshine.  Check out the Isle of Capri Marina website for further information.  If the navigation markers confuse you, do a little research on the Coast Guard website to learn how to navigate the waterways.

NPVKXZBUJZAN

Settling in a grand and lavish vacation home is a luxury you deserve after your years of hard work and dedication, and Sunny Naples Rentals offers you the chance to do precisely that with its luxurious condominiums, villas, and resort-style vacation homes located in the magnificence of Naples, Florida or on beautiful Marco Island. Imagine yourself comfortably reclining on your beach-front deck only a few small steps from the blue, translucent Gulf of Mexico. Imagine the sumptuous feel of sand between your toes as you walk along the beach that beckons you from your window. Think of the satisfaction and sheer euphoria that attends long evenings spent under the cover of palms, breathing the sea-salted air. Or consider the elegance to be enjoyed within the well-appointed restaurants and shopping district that offer some of the finest dining and most glamorous shopping in the country. This is the grandeur and beauty that Southwest Florida offers you. Our website covers all properties from Fort Myers to Everglade City. Join today !

We are offering one of the best deals on the Internet today.  You can list your vacation rentals property for FREE for 12 months.

We are offering this great deal to populate our website.

NEAPOLITAN HOME WATCH provides comprehensive home inspection services for your condominium, single-family residence or any type of real estate in the Southwest Florida area. Let us watch your residence while you’re away and rest assured that your property is in the best of hands. We are a full service Property Management company providing basic house sitting to fully maintaining all aspects of your home. We guarantee the best service in Naples, Florida.

We offer weekly visits or bi-weekly visits depending on your needs. If you require some special arrangement, let us know and we can work out the details. We can provide digital photographs of any damage or provide a digital record for your insurance company.

Our fees are based on our client’s individual needs and what type of schedule they require. We will take care of your property like it was our own.

We do not require that you sign a contract. We provide our services on a month-to-month basis and you are under no obligation to continue with our services. If you have any questions feel free to contact me and I look forward to working with you.

We specialize in the following :

* Single Family Home Leasing & Property Management

* Condo, Townhouse, Duplexes

* Multi-family, Apartments

* Home Watch & Concierge Services

* Furnished Properties

When in Naples  take time to visit our Art Galleries.  We have over 100  in the Naples area, along with performances at the Philharmonic Center and Naples Dinner Theatre.

The greater Naples area has some fantastic boat tours, that feature cruising Naples Bay and viewing the wonderful sunsets. There are several companies offering boat tours at the Naples Dock or near Tin City.  You will not be disappointed with any of these cruises as they all offer great views of the bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

Shopping is first class in Naples and we have some of the best shopping in Southwest Florida. The Waterside Shops and Village at Venetian Bay offer some great deals.  You must visit the 5th avenue shops and all the great restaurants located there.

Welcome to Sunny Naples Visitor Guide. Below we have listed some of the places that might be of interest when you visit Naples, Florida. We hope this information will be of help to you in planning your next vacation. If you have any places you would like to see listed here send me an email with a link to the information and I will review it.

Attractions/Shopping/Dining/Tours

Naples City Dock

880 12th Ave., Naples

239.213.3070 / craytoncove.com/citydock

Comments: Naples Dock has a variety of activities for water lovers and fishermen. Highly Recommended

Naples Cyclery

813 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples

239.566.0600 / naplescyclery.com

Naples Watersports

550 Port-O-Call Way, Naples

239.774.0479

Segway of Naples

1010 Sizth Ave., Naples

239.262.7300 / experience-naples.com

Naples Botancial Gardens

4820 bayshore Drive, Naples

239.643.7225 / naplesgarden.org

Comments: This is a great place to visit for everyone.

Naples Museum of Art

5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples

239.597.1900 / thephil.org

Comments: We love this Museum and visit every chance we get. It has an incredible Chihuly Glass Exhibit.

Seminole Casino Immokalee

506 S. First Street, Immokalee

800.218.0007

SHOPPING

Fifth Avenue South

Fifth Avenue South, Naples

239.435.3742 / fifthavenuesouth.com

Comments: Fifth Avenue has something for everyone. Amazing restaurants and shopping.

Wynn’s Market & Captain Jerry’s Seafood

141 Ninth Street N , Naples

239.261.7157 / wynnsonline.com

Comments: If you are entertaining at home or hosting a party pick up your ingredients at Wynn’s. Captain Jerry’s has the best all natural cooked Gulf shrimp. They pre-crack your stone crab, packed in crushed ice and fresh lemons. The bakery has the best fudge and turtle brownies.

Highly Recommended

Tin City

1200 Fifth Avenue S., Naples

239.262.4200 / tin-city.com

The Village on Venetian Bay

4200 Gulfshore Blvd., Naples

239.261.6100 / venetianvillage.com

Comments: Some of the best shopping in Naples.

Best of Everything

3652 Tamiami Trail N., Naples

Bestofeverythingnaples.com

DINING

Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House

698 Fourth Avenue S., Naples

239.530.3131 / trulucks.com

Comments:Piano Bar ambiance accompanied by Gulf access stone crab and seafood with a terrific wine selection. Highly Recommended

The Dock at Crayton Cove

845 12th Avenue S., Naples

239.263.9940 / dockcraytoncove.com

Comments: Open air Naples Dock dinning with happy hour Margarita specials and the best rock shrimp nachos. Highly Recommended

Snook Inn

1215 bald Eagle Drive, Marco Island

239.394.3313 / snookinn.com

Comments: Drive in or boat in to outdoor dinning Marco Island style featuring the best all you can eat salad bar with fat juicy pickles.

Highly Recommended

The Grill At The Ritz Carlton

280 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples

239.598.3300

Yabba Island Grill

711 Fifth Avenue S., Naples

239.417.6686

Comments: Great island cuisine paired with after hours night club. Signature rum drinks and Signature fish dishes.

Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub

457 Fifth Avenue S., Naples

239.649.5140 / paddymurphys.com

Di Julios

5422 Rattlesnake hammock Road, Naples

239.775.2886

Comment: A family owned, authentically prepared Italian meals. Don’t miss the house salad. Highly Recommended

Tommy Bahama’s Restaurant & Grill

1220 3rd Street S., Naples

239.643.6889

Comments: One of our favorites restaurants. Authentic island dinning. Every meal is a winner. Highly Recommended

Bonefish Grill

1500 5th Avenue S., Naples

bonefishgrill.com

TOURS

Naples Princess

550 Port-O-Call Way, Naples

239.649.2275 naplesprincesscruises.com

Sweet Liberty Catamaran Sailing

880 12th Avenue S., Naples

239.739.3525

Comments: We recommend this to everyone. We had a great time sailing through the bay.

Cruise Naples Sightseeing & Sunset Cruises

1200 Fifth Avenue, Naples

239.263.4949 / cruisenaplesflorida.com

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!