http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/ 2010-08-06T17:11:29+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com.com http://www.paradisecoast.com/images/shell/media_header.jpg text/html 2010-08-06T21:08:04+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=126 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary's now famous "super" ghost orchid is in bloom for the third time this year.  The plant produced an early season blossom in March, followed by 14 flowers in late June and July, and now, yet another flower along with at least four more buds.  The buds open in succession, so there should be blooms visible for the next three weeks.  The epiphytic plant has no leaves, so is barely visible until the amazing white flowers appear.  This particular ghost orchid is growing at a height of about 45 feet up on a large, old bald cypress tree.  A spotting scope is needed to see the plant in detail.  There is a spotting scope available on the boardwalk.  Photographers should bring a very long lens to get a close up image.  Many area attractions, hotels and restaurants have specials available for ghost orchid lovers.  Visit www.paradisecoast.com/ghostorchid to review those offers, and by all means, head out to Corkscrew to catch a glimpse of this rare, endangered flower.  text/html 2010-03-10T16:03:41+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=124 It's not every day that we are able to show the unique aspects of our destination to the editor of a publication as prestigious as National Geographic Traveler, but this was indeed the case the third weekend in February.  Last year I noticed that NGT editor Keith Bellows was on the list of speakers for the Imagine Solutions Conference, a new annual event that brings some of the best and brightest minds in the world to Naples to inspire local leaders.  I contacted Mr. Bellows and suggested he take some time to explore our area prior to his speaking engagement.  He was able to check out the impressive Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center and cruise on the Dolphin Explorer, the only marine mammal scientific survey project funded by tourism. The survey crew on board Dolphin Explorer is conducting the 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project, a scientific survey of our resident bottlenose dolphin population.  Paying guests on two daily cruises serve as citizen scientists.   It turns out that Mr. Bellows is passionate about opportunities for children to have meaningful and educational experiences in the outdoors, especially those that combine fun with science.  One six-year old girl on our trip participated in the Dolphin Challenge for kids, and she carried her survey clipboard with her for the entire three hour cruise, recording 18 dolphin sightings.  At the end of the trip, naturalist Kent Morse realized he had photographed a new dolphin, one not previously recorded in the survey logs.  This young Dolphin Explorer passenger was given the honor of naming the new dolphin.  And so, Waffles is now part of the survey population.  Who knows, maybe she had waffles for breakfast that day, or perhaps waffles is her favorite food.  Children are often given the opportunity to name newly spotted dolphin.  On our trip, we were able to observe Syndney and her young calf Ging Ging (named by a visiting Chinese family).  Ging Ging was born during our especially severe cold snap in January, and it was wonderful to see that he was active and playful, despite the harsh conditions at his birth.  Every Dolphin Explorer cruise stops for some beach walking and shelling on Keewaydin Island and on the day of our trip we had the eight-mile expanse of beach to ourselves.  Also joining us that day was Canadian travel writer Paul Knowles, who enjoyed learning about this one-of-a-kind attraction, not to mention putting his feet in the sand.  The Dolphin Explorer sails twice daily, most often from Marco River Marina.  text/html 2010-02-24T22:02:54+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=123 The annual Naples Winter Wine Festival celebrated its 10th year in style the last weekend in January, raising more than $8 million for children's charities in Collier County.  The annual festival, recognized as the richest charity wine auction in the country, provides memorable experiences for festival attendees in return for their generous philanthropic spirit.  I was fortunate to be a press liaison for the vintner dinner held at the Pelican Bay penthouse home of trustees Ron and Barbara Balser, co-hosted by Jerry and Adria Starkey.  The theme was Beyond the Blue Horizon, inspired in part by the Balser's impressive Picasso collection, in honor of the artist's blue period.  Their elegant home still felt comfortable, even though everywhere you looked was yet another fabulous work of art.  Chef Bill Telepan, one of New York's rising chef's, turned out some innovative dishes including a stew prepared with scallop, shrimp and sea urchin.  Chef Telepan was relaxed in the kitchen, and chatted amiably about his West side restaurant.  He gave me his card and encouraged a visit on my next trip to New York.  As guests were called to the dinner table, set up on the elongated patio overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, blue smoke swirled at ground level, leaving guests to feel as if they were drifting on clouds.  The decor was produced by Rufino Hernandez and his colleagues at Garden District in Naples.  Wines were by Araujo Estate Wines.  A few weeks after that experience, I was in New York to meet with travel writers and editors, and decided to check out Telepan.  After a long day of trudging through snow and slush in Manhattan, my colleagues and I had a delicious dinner.  I tried a rather unusual yet delicious appetizer, Egg in a Hole, consisting of slow-poached egg, spinach, hen-of-the-woods mushroom & toasted garlic.  That was followed by an entree of wild striped bass.  Unlike the wine festival's vintner dinners, my meal at Telepan was not followed by an opportunity to bid high and often - that will be left to the generous attendees at next year's 11th Naples Winter Wine Festival!   text/html 2009-11-02T19:11:06+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=122 Painter Jo-Ann Sanborn noticed a lot of empty storefronts at the Esplanade shopping, dining and condominium community where she lives on Marco Island.  So, in a flash of brilliance, she wondered if it would be possible to turn those depressing, empty storefronts into colorful artist studios.  Thanks to the cooperative agreement worked out between The Art League Marco Island Center for the Arts, the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts and Lutgert Companies, her dream has become reality!  The Artist Colony at the Esplanade is open and it really brightens up this center.  Be sure to add this to your list of stops on your next visit to Marco Island.  You can visit the working artist's in their studio spaces Wednesday 11am-7pm; Thursday 11am-8pm; Friday 11am-7pm; and Saturday 10am-4pm.  Call 239-775-6345 for more information.  text/html 2009-09-09T14:09:13+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=121 Too many times when environmental concerns run up against the rights of land owners and developers, with government regulators somewhere in between, all sides wind up in court. Solutions may be poor compromises that end up infringing on land owner’s rights and ultimately not really benefitting water quality, endangered species and land preservation. With the creation of the progressive Florida Panther Protection Program in Collier County, there is actual hope that a reasonable, science-based plan will be enacted that provides incentives to land owners and real hope for the Florida panther. The program is the brain child and legacy of the late Paul J. Marinelli, the former president and CEO of the Barron Collier Companies. It aims to create two wildlife corridors, one each in the southern and northern portions of Collier County that will preserve pathways for adult panthers to roam. Adult male panthers need several hundred miles of territory to roam. When too many cats are living in close proximity they fight to the death. With only about 100 of the cats remaining in the wild, there is also concern that without enough roaming habitat, genetic problems will appear that could doom the species to extinction. Both landowners and environmental advocates realized development plans were not going to allow enough roaming room for panthers. Instead of waiting for government to tell them what they could and couldn’t do, the two sides came to the table to begin working on real world solutions. The program will provide landowners with incentives for agricultural use. Those agricultural lands will then provide a buffer from development. The wildlife corridors will be designed to run through existing preservation lands and agricultural lands, and will be designed to be an attractive travel path for panthers. I recently attended a presentation on the program, and it was heartening to see representatives from Florida Audubon, Florida Wildlife Federation and the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge sitting alongside private land owners, communicating effectively to the audience about the progress they have made so far. Instead of vilifying each other, they have reached the point where they can all respect each other’s point of view. Refreshing, to say the least, and perhaps this could prove to be a model other communities might be able to follow in search of effective preservation and wildlife protection solutions.  text/html 2009-08-04T19:08:00+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=120 In trying economic times, a number of charities and community projects have suffered from lack of support.  In spite of declining revenues from corporate and association meeting business, the Hilton Naples, however elected recently to provide over 100 room nights in support of a first-ever matchup between the Naples Gators youth football team and Deion Sander's The Truth youth teams from Dallas, Texas.  It seems Deion Sanders and the coach of the Naples Gators had met and shared common philosophies and goals, so a match was arranged.  Then, the planning got underway to bring two Dallas youth teams to Naples.  Hilton Naples and its resident Shula's Steak House didn't hesitate to step up with not only rooms, but a VIP reception and dinner for all at Shula's.  The management team saw that this program put kids on the road to success.  Hotel general manager Clark Hill said "Personally, seeing the faces of the kids light up as they enjoyed the property was amazing and that alone was worth the effort on the part of the Hilton Naples and Shula’s Steak House, Naples."  Oh, and the restaurant manager pointed out that Deion said their BBQ shrimp was the best he has ever had.  Way to go, Hilton Naples and Shula's!  text/html 2009-07-20T19:07:40+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=119 Naples Zoo is in the midst of its Lions, Tigers and Bears 09 summer extravaganza.  The lions include two South African lion cubs that now reside at Naples Zoo and that will eventurally participate in the Association for Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan.  For their big first birthday celebration this past Sunday they were treated to special lion-friendly ice cakes, frozen with milk and beef blood.  Zoo guests watched the cubs tear into their ice cakes during the Meet the Keeper presentation at their exhibit in Lagoon Loop.  I happened to go by the zoo last week and spent some time watching these two.  They are brother and sister and can reside together for several years until they reach breeding age.  The boy is just starting to get his mane and the girl is showing signs of growing into a beauty to rival that of Nala's.  You can still see their spots, which will fade as they continue to mature.  They're still playful and have a cute fuzzy appearance.  Over at Black Bear Hammock, the smaller female bear was quite inqisitive, checking out the railroad crossing and all of us looking at her through a pane of glass.  A beautiful white tiger with blue eyes is currently on display in the bamboo jungle tiger exhibit.  The zoo's Malaysian tigers are taking a break from exhibit life but will return soon.  Be sure to visit www.napleszoo.org for coupons and information on show times before your next visit.  text/html 2009-07-17T20:07:29+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=118 I headed out to Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary the other day to get a peak at the blooming ghost orchid.  The Super Ghost, a rare multi-bloom specimen of an endangered species, is blooming for the third consecutive summer since it was discovered.  Since the sanctuary let me know that buds were visible, I worked with area hotels and restaurants to put together some pretty wonderful rates, values, packages and deals.  If you're planning a visit to Naples or Everglades City between now and the end of August, be sure to check out our Web page with ghost orchid specials.  The sanctuary has a spotting scope on the boardwalk most days between about 9 am and 5 pm.  If you go earlier or stay later, be sure to bring a pair of binoculars.  To get a photo you'll need a very powerful telephoto lens and tripod.  I saw three beautiful blossoms and lots more buds, so this bloom episode will be continuing for quite some time.  text/html 2009-06-23T16:06:47+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=117 The annual wackfest, an insanely good party with terrific music, by the way, known as Spammy Jammy is ON for the evening of June 27 at Little Bar in the village of Goodland on Marco Island.  In short, visitors and Islanders dress up in pajamas and honor sculptures made from last year's hurricane food supply of Spam.  Can you say...Spamapple in the shape of a pineapple, or Spamela Anderson in the shape of, well, you know.  But to more eloquently explain the raison d'etre of this bacchanal, I turn to the immortal words of head Spammer himself, Little Bar owner Ray Bozicnik...It has been scientifically proven that it is necessary to avoid the destructive forces of nature through more than just physical means.  After much research and study, our panel of highly trained experts has determined that more than atmospheric conditions preclude the voracious appetites of Hurricanes.  The phenomenon is similar to the volcanic islands of Hawaii with the Goddess of Fire, Pele.   It is Pele's sister Goddess, Laka Ulaulekeaha La'ama'ama'a, the most spirited Goddess of tree, sea and knee shaking that is the Goddess of Hurricanes. How do Goodlanders honor the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Goddess?  Why with the Spammy Jammy of course.  Dressed in their favorite pajama formal wear, every June travelers from near and far congregate at Little Bar Restaurant bearing gifts aplenty of delicious cuisine, inspired art, and cunning architecture crafted from the unmistakable pink delicacy, Spam.  Area restaurants send their finest creations for our professional division, while celebrity judges put their best Spam knowledge to the test while choosing the finest entry’s to be set before the Goddess’s feet in hopes of appeasing her. It is our duty to appease and amuse the Goddess.  Communities on the barrier islands of Collier County, nay the entire West coast of Florida, depend on our ability to humor Laka La'ama'ama'a. If she is pleased, she will spare us ruinous damage, and allow us to continue to enjoy the bountiful blessings that these islands afford us. Please join us Saturday June 27th, 2009 from 6pm to 1am for this year’s Spammy Jammy at the Little Bar Restaurant in Goodland.  Entertainment provided by talented musicians Merrill from 6pm-9pm and The Raiford Starke Band from 9pm-1am.  Judging begins at 8:30 pm, results read around 11pm-between heats of the Toilet Paper Races. Be sure to call for reservations if you want a table for dinner - 239-394-5663. text/html 2009-06-11T13:06:07+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=116 Took a tour of the rapidly growing Naples Botanical Garden this week with several other CVB staff members.  This long awaited gem is evolving into a world class attraction.  Known as the "Gardens With Latitude,"  Naples Botanical Garden will feature gardens of the 26th parallel, North and South, including gardens of Florida, the Caribbean, Brazil and Asia, along with an interactive Children's Garden.  The garden will also feature the world's first public collection of all registered plumeria species, over 300 cultivars along with future registered cultivars.  Plumeria is a genus of seven or eight species native to the tropical and subtropical Americas.  They come in yellow, white, pink, red, and rainbow.  Most people know them from visits to Hawaii, where they are used to make flower leis.  Having lived in Hawaii for six years, I have made more than my share of plumeria leis!  The garden property also features Florida preserve lands with hiking trails and a birding tower.  Some special highlights include a Roberto Burle Marx mosaic wall that will be the centerpiece of the Brazilian Garden.  The 7 by 18 foot work is the only monumental mural of Burle Marx's work in the United States.  Remember to include Naples Botanical Garden in your plans for visits after November of this year.  This spot will truly be the new jewel in east Naples.  text/html 2009-06-02T18:06:18+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=115 I love the taste of salt, but that's not all there is to like at Naples' new downtown restaurant Sea Salt. Chef Fabrizio Aielli, who had a large following with his three Washington D.C. restaurants, brought his talents to Naples and developed Sea Salt as a new concept restaurant and market. The restaurant made an almost instant splash with a postive review in Gourmet just weeks after opening. Three distinctive salts are served upon arrival, which you can mix with olive oil for bread dipping or sprinkle on your entree. I went for lunch the other day and had the arugula and spinach salad topped with grilled swordfish. My colleague Debi had the "bunless sliders," a creative combo of crab cakes sandwiched in between seared scallops. The menu is filled with taste treats created from organic produce, fresh seafood and other quality ingredients like Kobe beef. This summer Flamenco guitarist Cougar performs Thursdays and Saturdays from 7-10 p.m. You'll find Sea Salt in the center of the Third Street South historic district. text/html 2009-05-26T17:05:08+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=114 One of the best things about Naples Zoo is that for a relatively small zoo at 52-acres, the animal habitats are all very spacious, allowing the animals plenty of room to explore.  The zoo hit a major home run with the opening this past weekend of Black Bear Hammock, the larest black bear exhibit at any American Association of Zoos & Aquariums accredited zoo east of the Mississippi.  At Naples Zoo, the two resident black bears can wander between a natural habitat and a back yard habitat, designed to educate zoo visitors about what happens when bears wander into human territory.  So far, the bears seem to prefer the backyard habitat and have been enjoying watching the humans on the other side of a glass viewing area, not to mention the picnic table and kiddie pool!  With the addition of the bears, the zoo now has completed what they needed to adopt the slogan, Lions, Tigers and Bears 09!  Oh my! Make sure to plan time for a zoo visit the next time you're in Naples!  text/html 2009-05-13T21:05:10+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=113 Every year in mid-May during Tourism Week our visitors bureau sponsors the Paradise Coast Tourism Star Awards to recognize the true heroes of hospitality in our destination. Today's event was our best one ever, with close to 200 people in attendance. Click to read our press release identifying the winners. Perhaps there is a winner this year from your favorite hotel, resort or attraction. Be sure to congratulate the winners if you are served by them in the future! text/html 2009-03-18T18:03:36+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=90 Ghost orchids have kept us in the news in recent years, but now, there's another orchid species making headlines.  Numerous Cyclopogon elatus orchids, last spotted in Miami in 1961, were found this week in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park by a group of scientists assisting with an annual slough survey.  This brings to 46 the number of native orchid species found growing at Fakahatchee Strand, further solidifying its place as the Native Orchid Capital of the USA.  Read more about it in the Naples Daily News March 18, 2009 story, http://tinyurl.com/cuark7   text/html 2009-02-23T17:02:10+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=89 When I was a kid everybody watched Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.  Marlin Perkins always sent Jim Fowler into the danger zone to capture or approach all kinds of ornery wild animals.  Jim Fowler recently appeared as the guest of honor at the Naples Zoo ZOObilee celebration, which was also the 40th anniversary of the zoo and the 90th anniversary of the Caribbean Gardens location where the zoo is located.  Prior to his talk before the crowd, the zoo folks played some clips of the old Wild Kingdom show.  I had forgotten how totally crazy these guys were in terms of their exploits encountering wild beasts!  Jim Fowler walks with a limp and a cane now, but he was adamant about informing everyone that it wasn't due to an animal encounter - just an old football inury and knee surgery gone wrong.  The evening was a delight and raised money for the spectacular new Black Bear Hammock, which will be the largest black bear zoo exhibit east of the Mississippi when it opens this spring.  If you'd like to contribute to the cause, visit the Naples Zoo Web site for information.  text/html 2009-02-23T17:02:55+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=88 I recently escorted a travel writer and photographer team from Southern Lving magazine into the Gulf Coast Everglades.  They are working on an Everglades story that includes our western Everglades, along with the main entrance to the national park in Homestead plus the Big Cypress Seminole reservation.  It was one of those almost heartbreakingly beautiful days - clear blue sky, a few white clouds, water in shades of green and blue, and the blinding white of the sands on Mormon Key where we stopped to have lunch and explore the island and beach.  We were on the "Grand Tour,"  from Everglades Area Tours that includes a motor boat excursion of the islands, followed by a trip into a back country creek off the Chatham River for some excellent paddling.  We were transported in the motorized Yak Attack shuttle, then got into our kayaks for an excellent afternoon of paddling and kayak fishing in the creek.  I caught a seatrout and our travel writer friend caught her first-ever snook, from a kayak no less!  There were so many tricolored herons at this location, we could have named it TriColor Creek.  On the way back we encountered a pod of dolphin with several babies in the Lopez River.  It was a spectacular day, which ended up back at JT's Island Grill  & Gallery on Chokoloskee - the new home base for Everglades Area Tours.  text/html 2009-02-03T15:02:00+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=87 We're lucky here in that there are so many great hotels and resorts to choose from for a quick weekend escape close to home.  I live near Southwest Florida International Airport in south Ft. Myers.  My family and I escaped to Marco Island for some beautiful beach views and relaxation this weekend.  I treated myself to a wonderful facial at The Spa at Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort.  It just opened in December and it's really a beautiful facility.  The therapists are all excellent.  They gave me some great advice on how to better balance my skin and I emerged glowing to say the least.  They offer a full menu of theraputic and pampering massages, body treatments, facials and salon services.  Check out their new Web site, www.thespahiltonmarcoisland.com.  text/html 2009-01-16T22:01:13+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=86 I haven't even had a chance to dine there yet, and already the new Sea Salt restaurant on Third Street South has garnered a rave review in Gourmet magazine.  Chef Fabrizio Aielli and his wife Ingrid were stars of the DC dining scene.  We are certainly fortunate to be the new home base for this talented team!  Aielli was one of the featured celebrity chefs for the 2005 Naples Winter Wine Festival.  Sea Salt is a departure from Aielli's previous restaurants and focuses on our fresh seafood and local produce as well as some hearty meat dishes.  You can read the review here...http://www.gourmet.com/restaurants/2008/12/first-taste-sea-salt.  text/html 2009-01-16T20:01:47+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=85 Naples Tomato, located on the east side of US41 north of Old 41 and south of Bonita Beach Road, continues to offer great food, wine and service.  This restaurant has a great success story, not only surviving, but thriving, in a depressed economy.  Within the past year the restaurant doubled in size, added a full liquor license (try the muddled fresh blueberry martini), and expanded the by-the-glass tasting options in its Wine Lounge.  This was the first restaurant in Florida to install an Enomatic system, offering 1, 3 and 6 oz pours of wine from climate controlled bottle stations.  Patrons use a debit card to sample and savor vintages from 48 bottle stations.  They also just added 6 selections of single malt Scotch if you're craving a true taste of the highlands.  Owner Jack Serfass has hit on a successful formula, apparently, that includes delicious food made with fresh regional and imported ingredients, excellent service, a popular wine club, special wine dinner events, and a rotating selection for sampling in the wine lounge.  If you haven't been, it's worth a visit.  Ask to be added to "The List," their great e-newsletter that is often filled with great special offers.  text/html 2009-01-16T20:01:40+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=83 I had the pleasure last evening of meeting Bruce Nichols, publisher of Naples Wine News, a very informative e-newsletter about fine wine and where to find it in Naples.  Bruce is a tireless volunteer with the Naples Winter Wine Festival.  As a public relations volunteer for the festival, I arranged a dinner meeting at Naples Tomato - home to the Wine Lounge and its self-serve Enomatic wine pouring system - between myself, wine/food/travel journalist Ron Kapon, Bruce and Dawn Montecalvo, executive director for the festival and its charitable foundation.  Bruce and Dawn provided lots of information, in between bites of stone crab ravioli, about how the auction lots, vintners and celebrity chefs are selected and how the auction and festival run so successfully.  Click the link if you'd like to sign up to receive Naples Wine News. text/html 2009-01-08T20:01:29+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=80 Rod Wiley brings his considerable photographic talent to Del-Nor Wiggins Pass State Park this year as the new Resident Artist at the park located on the Gulf north of downtown Naples.  Mr. Wiley has lived in Southwest Florida for more than 25 years and has canvassed all of the wildlife areas including Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, the Everglades, Del-Nor Wiggins and many more parks and preserves watching for birds and unique plant life.  His photographic skills have been on display in The Florida Naturalist, Audubon Magazine and Gulfshore Life Magazine.  His amazing images of the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary ghost orchid in bloom are available for sale at the sanctuary's gift shop.  His Web sites, www.rjwileyphoto.com and www.adayintheswamp.com contain amazing collections of wildlife and nature photos from our region.  Congratulations Rod and best wishes for a beautiful year at Del-Nor Wiggins. text/html 2008-12-18T21:12:39+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=77 We now have 12 hotels in Collier County that have been designated as Green Lodgings by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  There's quite a variety, with a small B&B in Everglades City, two resorts on Marco Island and several hotels and resorts in Naples.  Each of the "green" hotels has a Green Team - everyone is pictured here.  They have formed a new committee to assist other hotels in the Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades region to gain their designation from the state, and to brainstorm about new ways to conserve energy.  Congratulations to all twelve!  Ivey House B&B, Hilton Naples, Bellasera Hotel, Hawthorn Suites, Inn at Pelican Bay, DoubleTree Guest Suites, Naples Grande Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort, Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort and Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club.  text/html 2008-12-04T15:12:27+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=76 If you have nature and animal lovers on your gift list, consider shopping this season online with Friends of the Florida Panther for gift items like T-Shirts, Caps, Mugs and more.  Or, you might consider buying a gift membership to help support all of the efforts to support this severely endangered species, with field research, biology, education and conservation programs.  The next time you are in the area, be sure to visit the public hiking trails at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.  The trail entrance is located on State Road 29 just north of I-75/Alligator Alley. text/html 2008-12-02T21:12:28+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=75 Interested in kayaking?  New to the area and don't know where to paddle?  Plan on attending the Paradise Coast Paddlers Christmas party this Thursday, December 4 at 7 pm at the Boston Beer Garden on Immokalee Road.  Here's a message from club president Mike Devlin: Immokolee Rd & Airport Rd. in the Rain Tree Shopping Center. We eat drink & be merry.  Every year is a good year. If you are new to the club or have never been on one of our kayak trips PLEASE try to make it. We will have our own section and a video or two on one of the many TV's. This is a great time to meet great people -some folks kayak only -some kayak & bird - some kayak & fish - some kayak & just enjoy the scenery. EVERYONE WELCOME!   text/html 2008-11-19T16:11:46+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=73 The Collier County Commission has approved purchase of the 2,511-acre Pepper Ranch on the shores of Lake Trafford in Immokalee as part of Conservation Collier.  When I first moved permanently to the area in 2001, I took a tour of the ranch with Gene Hearn, one of the long-time family owners.  We saw Osceola turkey, wild boar, deer and more birds than I could count.  At that time he had a dream of creating an eco tour on the property, which is an amazing example of old Florida wilderness prior to the development days, but there were too many obstacles in the way at that time.  Now with the Conservation Collier purchase, work will begin to recommend a management plan that will determine the future public access to the site.  Some of the possibilities include horseback riding and hunting but that remains to be seen.  This is truly one of the most beautiful pieces of land in our state.  Not only is it spectacular to look at, it holds great significance as part of the Corkscrew Swamp watershed.  See comments on that from Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary director Ed Carlton.  http://audubonoffloridanews.org/?cat=13 text/html 2008-11-06T20:11:40+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=72 What’s dark brown, cat-like and has a cameo appearance in the DreamWorks animated film “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa?” You’re right — the fosa, formerly spelled fossa, which is the largest mammalian carnivore on the island of Madagascar. Less than 40 of these rare creatures are found in the U.S., with only two residing in the southeastern U.S. at the newest exhibit in the Naples Zoo. The Naples Zoo welcomes visitors to view the two predators at its newest exhibit: The Fosa: Madagascar’s Legendary Carnivore. As agile as squirrels in a tree, the fosas can jump to natural oak trees and vertical poles, run along an elevated catwalk, play on the ropes, and climb through custom structures.The exhibit includes naturalistic rockwork, a glass viewing area and interactive displays. As “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” hits theaters on November 7, children will likely be viewing the first Madagascar animated film again, which prominently features the fosa’s raids on the lemur colony. What could be better than following that up with a visit to Naples Zoo to see the fosas live? Visitors to Naples Zoo are invited to see the fosas up close and personal in Naples, as well as the ring tailed, red ruff and brown lemurs that reside across the zoo in separate exhibits – well out of reach of the fosas! The lemurs live on several cage-free islands within a large lake at the zoo. The Primate Expedition Cruise takes zoo guests to view the many primates living on these islands. Each primate species has its own island home.  text/html 2008-11-04T16:11:16+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=71 Marriott Golf has named The Rookery at Marco course as the "Marriott Golf Property of the Year."  The award is based on  performance excellence in categories including golf sales, round improvements, program development, personnel development, leadership and more.  The course is located within the Fiddler's Creek development in Naples just before you cross the bridge onto Marco Island.  The course utilizes lots of native Florida plant species in its landscaping, making it one of my favorites for its scenery and bird life.  I've seen the resident bald eagle and once while I was the cart driver for a golf writer evaluating the course, a red shouldered hawk flew right over my head with a baby alligator in its mouth!  text/html 2008-11-03T20:11:30+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=70 Every year about this time the bird population in Southwest Florida swells with species who make their winter homes and nests here in paradise.  Recently I've spotted quite a few wood storks foraging in canals and ponds alongside the Tamiami Trail, I-75 and Pine Ridge Road.  Let's hope this year that conditions are right to ensure a successful nesting season at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.  I saw in the Cedar Bay Yacht Club newsletter that Sandhill Cranes have arrived for their winter sojourn on Marco Island.  Keep an eye out for northern songbirds and many other species text/html 2008-10-29T19:10:48+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=69 Congratulations to the crew from the Dolphin Explorer, the wonderful cruise that allows passengers to serve as Citizen Scientists, assisting dolphin researchers with the ongoing 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project.  Capt. Chris Desmond was a featured speaker at this week's prestigious North American Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2008, telling other eco and sustainable tourism operators and destinations how to create and foster meaningful yet enjoyable ecotourism programs.  Currently the Dolphin Explorer runs cruises out of Marco Island, but in just a few weeks it will also begin offering trips out of the Port o Call marina in Naples, as they expand their area of study.  The project is a multi-year program to scientifically document the movement, activities and identities of our area's resident dolphin population.  text/html 2008-10-16T18:10:35+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=67 October is the favorite month of the year for a lot of Florida natives.  The weather starts to cool down, the fishing is great and October 15 is the start of the annual stone crab season.  That means our Southwest Florida seafood markets and restaurants have a steady supply of fresh stone crab claws just harvested from the Gulf of Mexico.  If you're a crab fan, it's hard to beat stone crab for a great appetizer or full blown crab claw extravaganza dinner.  My favorite is to go pick up several pounds of crab claws from one of the markets in Everglades City, along with a fresh smoked mullet, then head straight home for a feast, usually while standing at the kitchen counter.  A lot of our Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City restaurants have plenty of fresh stone crab claws on hand during the season, which lasts from October 15 to May 15.  Stone crab claws are considered Florida's renewable food resource.  Law dictates that only one large claw be harvested from each crab, which is then put alive back into the Gulf of Mexico.  The crabs regenerate the claw usually within about a year or so.  The claws are steamed immediately upon arriving at the dock, then put on ice.  Most people eat them cold.  Typical condiments include fresh lemon, a mustard dippng sauce or drawn butter.  Excuse me while I go whip up some mustard sauce! text/html 2008-10-15T17:10:58+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=66 You've probably heard of the Ryder Cup team golf competition.  Well, the Florida Gulf Coast counties that make up Florida's Golf Coast got together to promote the west side, and the best side, of Florida for golf play.  All the regions between Tampa and Naples/Marco Island sponsor a trip each year for golf writers, and so it evolved into the Writer Cup.  This year, the group features participants from around the world, with journalists from England, Scotland, China, Canada, the U.S. and Germany, and they got their start right here in Naples with a terrific stay at GreenLinks Golf Resort & Conference Center and a challening round at the Flamingo Island course.  As a relative beginner, I must say I held my own against two veteran golfers, who lucky for me were not at the pinnacle of their games.  In the interest of speeding up play I abandoned my feeble attempts at teeing off and played from the mid-points of fairways, except for the Par 3's.  I scored a 4 on the legendary Island Hole, and made it across the water with my trusty 7-iron from the tee.  I was humbed but not totally humiliated and I'm looking forward to a lot more practice before welcoming next year's Writer Cup group.  text/html 2008-09-24T18:09:46+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=65 I got a message from Ann-Kristin from Norway.  She and her husband are thinking of moving to the Naples, FL area and she inquired about a job application site.  The only regional site I've heard about is www.southwestfloridahelpwanted.com.  I just tried to visit the site to make sure it works, but my employer has all employment sites blocked from my browser, ha!  That's OK, I really like living and working here so no danger I'll be posting MY resume there!  Anyway, I hope that site works.  Another idea is to take a look at our Web site and review the various resorts, attractions and other businesses that are established in the area.  Another one to try is www.napleschamber.org for the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.  Or, just come on over for a vacation and bring a stack of resumes!  text/html 2008-09-18T21:09:13+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com Amber Coldren http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=64   A question I am always asked about is "How is the nightlife in Naples?". We have quite a few local establishments making a big effort to bring great entertainment to our destination. This weekend I’m going to check out the Rock-n-Roll Dueling Pianos at South Street City Oven & Grill. The show starts at 9pm and there is a $10 cover charge – as they put it, entertainment like this does not come cheap. I called South Street and they described the act as two piano players with a comedic flair who play off each other’s Rock-n-Roll music. Sounds like fun and I’ve already rounded up the girls for a night out. South Street has been open since January 2007 and is becoming quite the hot spot in town since they started throwing a great reggae party every Sunday night. text/html 2008-09-18T20:09:16+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com Amber Coldren http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=62 To get a unique view of Naples, I highly recommend exploring the Old Naples area via Segway.  There are two companies that offer Segway tours in Naples.  One option is Naples Water and Land Tours which operates out of the Charter Club Resort.  The tour I recently experienced is part of the vast array of activities & services Naples Transportation, Tours and Event Planning (NTTEP) offers.  Our tour guide, Christina, is full of energy & fun.  The bad jokes start with her first sentence and they keep coming throughout the tour.  The tour itself lasts about 1 1/2 hours and is both entertaining &informative.  Seeing Naples via Segway gave me an opportunity to see some of the unique, smaller stores & cafe's in Old Naples that I wasn't aware of. text/html 2008-09-15T16:09:32+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=58 I had a call earlier from a travel writer seeking to confirm that Marco Island and the surrounding areas here were in fact untouched by any of the recent tropical storm and hurricane activity - and I'm happy to report that yes, the coast is clear.  Tropical Storm Fay brought us some rain in August but no problems, and we are enjoying beatiful weather right now.  As we get closer to October our temperatures will begin to drop a bit.  October and November are two of the favorite months for locals, since the temperature and humidity drops a bit and it is still relatively quiet here before the return of our seasonal residents and winter visitors.  The fishing is always great, too this time of the year.  text/html 2008-08-28T20:08:47+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=57 Audubon of Florida  announced today that the first of the season’s painted buntings, North America's most colorful songbirds, have returned to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary from their summer breeding grounds. The arrival of these brightly colored  blue, green and red birds, along with the Sanctuary’s rare Ghost Orchid, is providing visitors to Corkscrew with two very different, but equally spectacular viewing opportunities. My counterpart at Audubon of Florida, Timothy Grand, said, "Seeing either one of these sights, and especially both on the same day, is definitely a ‘whoa, that was cool’ experience.”   An adult male Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) is arguably the most distinctive songbird in North America, with the combination of a deep blue head, red underparts, a green back, and a red rump. While not as brightly colored as males, female Painted Buntings are also distinctive. The female has an overall greenish plumage which is more darkly colored above than below.  The number of painted buntings has shown a significant decline across its entire range during the past 35 years. The exact causes for painted bunting's decline are not known, but they are believed to include habitat loss particularly due to coastal development in its breeding range, cowbird parasitism, and trapping for the pet trade on its wintering grounds   The ghost orchid (Polyrrhiza lindenii) is an extremely rare, epiphytic orchid that grows without leaves on the trunks of trees in a small concentrated area of Southwest Florida. The plants are usually only visible to intrepid adventurers who must hike through hip deep water in the area’s cypress, pop ash and pond apple sloughs to reach them. The ghost orchid, preyed upon by poachers, was the subject of bestselling author Susan Orlean’s book The Orchid Thief and the subsequent movie Adaptation.  text/html 2008-08-28T16:08:05+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=55 Saltwater Sports, a local kayak outfitter, guide service and retail store, has won Sea Kayaker Magazine's Readers Choice Awards for Best Sea Kayak Outfitter, Southeast/Gulf Coast and Best Tour Operator, Southeast/Gulf Coast.  These awards run from 2008-2011, so Saltwater Sports holds this distinction for the next three years. The awards are determined by online survey votes from readers of the magazine and visitors to Sea Kayaker Magazine's Web site. There will be a big spread about it in the December issue of the magazine.  Congratulations to Chris Boland and everyone at Saltwater Sports!   text/html 2008-08-27T21:08:02+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=53 Snook season opens again September 1 on the Gulf Coast and in the Everglades.  That means if you catch one in "the slot" you can keep up to one per day per person.  A lot of anglers now practice catch and release with snook year round, but they are admittedly one of the best tasting saltwater fish around, and it is illegal to buy and sell it - so you either need to catch it yourself or make friends with an experienced fisherman, or woman.  The biggest one I've caught to date was a few years back during a family outing in the Everglades.  She put up quite a fight but we successfully released her.  That one was way over the allowable "keeper" size.  If you've never been snook fishing, it is pretty exciting, they strike hard and fight like mad and frequently run to the mangroves and snap you off, and their gill plates are sharp so they can slice through your line.  Best advice is to start with a good back country fishing guide.  Check out the ones we have listed here on the site.  text/html 2008-08-26T18:08:49+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com Amber Coldren http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=52   Juliana and I were invited by Gary Eichler, owner of Double R’s Manatee & Nature Tours, to do an afternoon sightseeing tour and to explore the Port of the Islands Resort & Marina. After our kayak tour we drove 20 minutes north to the Port of the Islands. I’ve heard great things about Port of the Islands over the years however never saw it first hand so it was an exciting day of first encounters for both Juliana and me. Double R’s tour itself is very relaxing and educational. We saw a manatee about 15 minutes into the tour. We stopped and waited for it to poke its head out of the water however this manatee was more intent on its food source then entertaining us. We kept on down the waterway and saw quite a few ospreys, a great blue heron and a great egret. It was an odd day since we did not see any dolphin on either tour which is not typical in this part of Florida. We stopped on one of the islands while our guide, Gerrick, entertained us with stories of the Calusa Indians and some of the Everglades more colorful pioneers. On the way back Gerrick & Captain Jim spotted a few more manatees however they must have been on strike against human interaction that day because these fellows didn’t want to entertain us either. Following this tour, Gary took us to see the Port of the Islands Resort hotel. The hotel impressed us from the moment we walked into the huge lobby. It had a fireplace and although I’m not too sure about architectural influences, it definitely felt Spanish-inspired to me. The pool & views looked so inviting that I definitely need to book a mini-“Staycation” and check into this hotel for a long weekend. text/html 2008-08-26T17:08:31+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com Amber Coldren http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=51   Being an eternal optimist sure paid off over the weekend. I was assigned to bring our German sales rep, Juliana, to experience a kayak tour in Chokoloskee. When I picked Juliana up at her hotel around 7am it was lightening & thundering as far south as I could see. I kept thinking to myself maybe we should come up with an alternate plan. However, after living in Naples for the past 12 years, I know the weather may seem very ominous in one place and be pure sunshine just a short distance away.   In any event, Juliana kept looking at me with a bit of concern as we drove through a downpour of rain, thunder & lightening into the Everglades. As we pulled into JT’s Island Grill & Gallery 40 minutes later, the sun miraculously appeared as we were greeted by Captain Charles. This was the first time I had the opportunity to experience the excursion offered by Everglades Kayak Tours. Wow – what a great tour! Our guide, Captain Jason blew us away with his knowledge of the area. He is a Certified Florida Master Naturalist and seems like he has lived in the area all his life although I found out he has only been studying the eco system of the Everglades area for the past six years – he must be a quick study! We paddled to an uninhabited part of the 10,000 Islands called Rabbit Key. We were the first people to visit the island since a particularly drenching storm called Faye passed us by earlier in the week. I know it is so cliché however every (storm) cloud does have a silver lining and ours was in the form of beautiful shells washed up on shore. I’m a shelling enthusiast and was really excited to discover the different specimens I’d never seen before – in particular the pink shells to be found all over the island. Captain Jason then led our caravan of kayaks through the water towards our home base. On the way back we spotted three roseate spoonbills searching the water for food. One of the birds flew overhead and I captured a very cool photo of the bird flying above me. One of the best features of being in the outdoors is that no matter how many times you return there will always be a new sight, sound or experience to be had. text/html 2008-08-08T21:08:30+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=43 If you've got kids between about 7 and 14 they are very likely to know what a fosa is. It's the Madagascar predator that preys on the lemurs in the movie Madagascar. In the movie they pronounce it foo-sah, but some say it should be pronounced foose, like goose. However you say it, we've got some here at Naples Zoo, only one of 14 U.S. zoos to have this rare creature. Our two fosa live in a swanky new exhibit with lots of ropes to swing on and things to climb. They are way over on the OTHER side of the zoo from the lemurs.The Naples Zoo lemurs live a nice tropical life, cage-free, on several islands in a large lake. All our primates are island dwellers, and you get a boat ride with your admission to check out their antics. So, get up to speed on your rare Madagascar fauna and visit the zoo here to see the fosa! text/html 2008-08-07T20:08:57+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=37 We've got a fantastic sightseeing boat cruise here that is way more than the average boat ride.  It's staffed by naturalists that are conducting a 5-year survey, the 10,000 Island Dolphin Project, of the residential bottlenose dolphin population residing in the waters around Marco Island and Naples.  The boat is called the Dolphin Explorer, and instead of being just a passenger, you get to be a dolphin explorer, too - a "citizen scientist," in effect.  Passengers can help in spotting dolphin, recording data for the log book and helping to identify known dolphin from photos of their dorsal fins.  When a new baby is spotted, passengers onboard get to name it.  Check out their listing on our site under Things to Do/Boating & Watersports. text/html 2008-08-07T19:08:06+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=36 In case you haven't seen the Sept/Oct. issue of AARP the Magazine, or heard the news on the Today Show or any of the other media programs that picked up the news, Naples/Marco Island was ranked at #10 on AARP's list of the Healthiest Hometowns.  We scored high for small town feel, great arts scene, golf and because residents get regular excercise, eat healthy, don't smoke much and we have a low cancer mortality rate.  Not mentioned, but true...we have a nice influx of younger people here now, more unique local restaurants and an interesting reggae, jazz and blues music thing going on at various local cafes and clubs.  So come for a visit, walk on the beach, kayak, go fishing, play some golf then flake out at the pool.  We've got health and happiness to share. text/html 2008-07-21T17:07:42+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=22 A rare ghost orchid started blooming at Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary just northeast of downtown Naples on June 23.  The plant, thought to be over 30 years old, was first discovered last year.  Maybe a storm knocked down a branch that previously hid it from view, who knows?  This specimen has been nicknamed the "super ghost" since, for the second summer in a row, it has produced multiple blossoms.  It had seven blooms visible last week but some heavy rain took its toll.  Now there are a few blossoms and several more buds, so there could be a few weeks of ghost orchid bloom viewing time left.  Some Naples area hotels are offering ghost orchid enthusiast rates if you want to come take a look.  Check out the offers at www.paradisecoast.com/ghostorchid.  The cool thing about this orchid is that it's visible from the boardwalk.  No need to hike through water to see it, which is usually the only way to catch a glimpse of this elusive critter.  It's kind of high up, about 45 feet on the trunk of a bald cypress, so bring binoculars or a really long camera lense.  The sanctuary has a spotting scope set up along the boardwalk.  text/html 2008-07-14T20:07:55+01:00 http://www.paradisecoast.com JoNell Modys http://www.paradisecoast.com/destination_diary/article.php?id=15 On behalf of our convention and visitors bureau, welcome to the Paradise Coast Destination Diary.  Hopefully you'll find information here that is a little bit different, more detailed and that will give you a peek at some of those off-the-beaten-path locations and experiences in Naples, Marco Island and the Gulf Coast Everglades!