C'MON is the Newest Kid Friendly Thing To Do in Naples

Yet another exciting family and kid friendly thing to do in Naples Florida!  The Golisano Children's Musuem of Naples, referred to as C'MON, is now open!

No doubt about it, when children play, they learn. C'MON is going to be a place where families can engage and explore new discoveries, making learning fun!  Nestled in next to the North Collier Regional Park and Sun N Fun Lagoon Water Park, the new Children's Museum is a welcome addition to the many kid friendly offerings Naples already features.

A couple of fun exhibits I can't wait to experience when my niece & nephew arrive for Spring Break:

• The Four Seasons ~ gives kids an opportunity to interact with the four sasons and engage in the fun activities each season brings
• The Farm & Market ~ experience life aas a farmer and understand how food gets from the farm to the market
• Journey Through The Everglades ~ explore the sights, sounds and smells of the Florida Everglades by experiencing a day in life of this unique ecosystem

Looking at pictures of the two story sprawling Banyan Tree nestled among the exhibits reminds me of the hours climbing trees as a kid but this one has a prize at the top - the tree house meant to inspire children's imagination as well as body coordinations. Brings back prized childhood memories!

Exhibits were created to meet Florida’s Sunshine State curriculum standards, and all are accessible for individuals with developmental, hearing, physical, social/emotional and visual challenges.

C'MON is closed on Mondays and open for General Admission from 10am-5pm Tuesday through Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sunday.  Admission is $10 for children over the age of 1, adults & grandparents.  C'MON is located approximately 7.5 miles from the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel.

Art Festival in Naples Florida

This weekend boasts one of our newest annual art festival in Naples Florida.  Head on over to Mercato this weekend to enjoy their Fine Arts Festival.  This festival in Naples is hosted down the main street of the prestigious Mercato Shopping in Naples.  This festival was ranked #75 in the U.S. by Sunshine Artist Magazine. 100 artists from around the country showcase paintings, jewelry, ceramics, sculptures, outdoor art and fine collectibles. Hours are from 10am to 5pm. Suggested $5 donation.

Mercato is located 3.5 miles north of the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel.

Honor the Free Press at the Hilton Naples Hotel

The Marine Corps League of Naples annually honors a journalist as a way to emphasize the importance of a free press in America, something U.S. Marines have fought to preserve for more than 200 years.

The annual observance was the idea of Michael Trephan, a member and former Public Information Officer of the Marine Corps League of Naples, ET Brisson Detachment #063. Trephan is a former member of the working press and a current member of the Naples Press Club.

Trephan: “One of the most important parts of our country and who we are as a democracy, is a free press.”

The Hilton Naples Hotel is proud to host this year's Free Press Day, honoring Lt. Col. Francis J "Bing" West, Marine Combat Veteran, Author and former Asst. Director of Defense.

Please RSVP by Friday, March 2, 2012

Shellabrating & the Sanibel Stoop

With so many wonderful festivals and things to do in Naples, I don't always write about happenings outside of our immediate area - there are simply too many local events in Naples, Marco Island and The Everglades to talk about.  Personally, I have found shelling on remote beaches like 32nd Avenue in Naples to be quite a treasure-hunt so would think twice before heading to other cities to look for shells. 

The Sanibel Stoop

However, Sanibel Island has a reputation to be the most spectacular shelling beach in the known Universe. The Sanibel week-long Shellabration provides a wonderful day-trip for visitors in the area.  Shellabration! 2012 is an island wide "Shellabration" of the 75th Anniversary of the Shell Fair & Show. 

Sanibel locals boasts a socially correct posture for shell-seeking aka the Sanibel Stoop, which feature one doubled over at a perfect 90-degree curve in which the posterior is the highest point facing the sky. 

The 75th Annual Sanibel Shell Show & Fair will take place beginning March 1 and run through March 3rd.

Getting to the Hilton Naples Hotel Has Never Been Easier

If you are planning a vacation in Naples Florida, the best bet is to fly into Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) which is located 28 miles from the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel. Many airlines have expanded the number of flights to Fort Myers which makes booking fairly easy. Then - rent a car. It is a straight easy drive into Naples and parking at the Hilton Naples is complimentary.

A great tool provided by RSW is the direct flight chart.  All you need to do is look for the city you are departing from and you can confirm which airlines have direct flights from your desired location. 

Another easy alternative is to fly into the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL) or Miami International  Both are easily accessible to Naples - less than a 90 minute drive via I-75 to Naples.

The Hilton Naples has partnered with a few airlines to bring further value when you fly in and stay at the Hilton Naples by March 31, 2012.  Click on the links below to find out more:

• Take off on your next reward flight faster with Hilton HHonors™ and US Airways. Sign up for this offer to earn triple Dividend Miles when you book and complete a stay at the Hilton Naples by March 31, 2012
• Earn Double American Airlines AAdvantage® Miles Toward Your Next Flight Award when you book and complete a stay at the Hilton Naples by March 31, 2012.
• Earn Double Aeroplan Miles for your next getaway when you book and complete a stay by March 31, 2012 at the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel

Also good news for our visitors close to Hartford/Bradley and Providence, RI airports - Southwest Airlines began non-stop flight service from both of these airports directly to RSW!

Getting to the Hilton Naples has never been easier!  Book your Hilton Naples hotel reservation and relax in the Florida Sunshine!

Naples Botanical Garden Exhibit

Lots of great things going on at the Naples Botanical Garden these days and the weather provides a perfect atmosphere to visit!
ZIMSCULPT, an exhibition of Zimbabwean stone sculptures just opened and is now showing through April 22nd at the Naples Botanical Garden. Each piece on exhibit is entirely unique with sculptors finding inspiration in the shape of the rock and is created free-form.
In addition to the sculptures, a Zimbabwean artist will be on-site carving in the Garden daily.

The Naples Botanical Garden is open daily from 9am to 5pm.

Fishing in Naples & Nearby Chokoloskee on National TV



Photo courtesy: The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB

Fishing in Naples and Nearby Chokoloskee is truly an angler’s paradise.  The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB worked with George Poveromo and his crew to bring about a national television broadcast featuring our fishing in our destination.  George Poveromo’s World of SaltWater Fishing, a national television fishing show on the NBC Sports Channel, features an episode about fishing for multiple species of fish from Chokoloskee in the Florida Everglades.
Upcoming Viewing Schedule:
  * Friday, February 24 – 2:30 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
  * Featured airing: Saturday, February 25 – 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time)
  * Encore Performances: Saturday, May 26 – 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time)

An excerpt from GeorgePoveromo.com:
CHOKOLOSKEE, FLORIDA EVERGLADES – For catching a wide variety of inshore, saltwater gamefish within the 10,000 Islands region of southwest Florida’s Paradise Coast, the tiny city of Chokoloskee is in the heart of it all. In this thrilling episode, Poveromo brings down his Mako 2201 Inshore skiff – the Shallow-Water MARC, and is joined by Captain Brian Sanders, a third-generation Chokoloskee fishing veteran. Poveromo and Sanders fish various points and holes for snook and redfish and then anchor over an offshore rock pile to catch seatrout. On the way back in, they even score a tripletail! This episode vividly illustrates just how good the action can be here, along with how to successfully keep track of game fish based on tides, and catch them using the most effective rigs, baits and techniques. If you’re looking for some short cuts in learning how to catch more fish around Chokoloskee Island, this episode is just what the doctor ordered!

Visit the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel Website for more information about fishing in Naples Florida and surrounding areas as well as making a hotel reservations.