Shopping in Naples at Village Nights on Thursday!

It's the First Thursday of November so The Village on Venetian Bay is hosting their Village Nights.  This month they are featuring live music, waterfront dining and of course, shopping in Naples!  Guests of the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel can check out a complimentary bicycle and take the short ride to The Village on Venetian Bay.  Also check out M Waterfront Grille:  You can enjoy Happy Hour everyday from 4-6 p.m. including ½ off all cocktails at the M Lounge.

Halloween Weekend in Naples Florida

Check out the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel activities calendar for more information on things to do in Naples Florida this Halloween Weekend.

What is the Best Way to Arrive in Naples?

Naples Florida is experiencing glorious weather these days!  For the past 15 years I've lived here, November & December have always been my favorite times of year.  Not only is the weather fantastic, there are so many events and festivals going on ~ this weekend alone there are four awesome festivals in the area (see blogpost from October 24th).  Hotel rates are also at off-peak pricing so it makes for a great time of year to get away and experience a beach vacation!

So what is the best way to arrive in Naples? 

If you are flying, your best bet is to fly into Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Located 28 miles to the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel, many airlines have expanded the number of direct flights to RSW which has made getting to Naples fairly easy. Then - rent a car. It is a straight easy drive into Naples.  Big bonus:  Parking at the Hilton Naples is complimentary.  

Coming from overseas?  RSW has also added some non-stop international flights to Dusseldorf, Germany arnd Aalborg, Denmark.  Wanting to visit from Canada?  Montreal & Toronto have direct flights into RSW.

From Miami or Ft. Lauderdale airports it’s a 2 hour drive via I-75 (Alligator Alley) to Naples. The Tamiami Trail is a 2-lane National Scenic Byway connecting Miami with Naples and will bring you to the front driveway of the Hilton Naples. This road goes through the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve ~ it can be a lot longer but the scenery is well worth it if you have patience and are not in a hurry.

A great tool I provide to all our prospective guests is the direct flight list available from Southwest Florida International Airport - it is a great resource arranged by nonstop flights available for each city.

I'd love to welcome you to the Hilton  Naples so you can experience this most happiest time of the year in Naples Florida!

Hilton Naples Florida Festival Rate for This Weekend!

The last weekend of October is a BUSY in Naples! There are actually four major festivals in Naples going on, so there are plenty of great choices of things for you to see and do.

The first annual Florida Panther Festival pre-festival field trips, Friday, October 28; the first annual Florida Panther Festival, Saturday October 29 at North Collier Regional Park; the second annual Stone Crab Festival on the Old Naples Waterfront downtown Naples October 29-30; the Marco Island Beach Music Festival Saturday, October 29; and the Swamp Buggy Races Fall Classic October 29-30.

The Hilton Naples Florida Hotel is offering a very low room rate of $109 for anyone who books the Florida Festival Rate directly - don't delay as we only have a few rooms remaining at this great hotel rate!

Shula's Oktoberfest Beer & Burger Tasting!

Strap on your lederhosen & join us for Shula's Oktoberfest Beer & Burger Tasting! Get ready to sample 5 distinct European beers. You can't get any better than Shula's for burgers crafted from our signature Black Angus Beef!

Sampling of 5 beers and mini burger trios!

Wednesday, October 28, 2011, 5:30-7:30PM

$20 Advance or $25 At The Door ~ Click here to purchase tickets in advance to the best Happy Hour in Naples Florida!

Everything's Happening at Shula's Steak House Naples

Free Festival in Naples Florida

Our very first annual Florida Panther Festival in Naples Florida will be held on Saturday October 29th ~ and the best news is that it is a Free Festival !!!

Learn about the endangered Florida panther, its habitat and the issues facing the species’ survival through activities including fun and educational activities for children, presentations on panther tracking telemetry, talks with panther biologists and research capture team members, an interactive hike, demonstration livestock pen, and information about living in panther territory in the Living with Wildlife Pavilion at the first annual Florida Panther Festival. The Festival will also include live music from the bands Frontline Bluegrass and the Bugtussle Ramblers, arts and crafts, and food vendors.

Take advantage of the optional field trips into panther territory which are available on Friday, October 28 – various fees apply to field trips. A variety of field trips are available into areas in southwest Florida where panthers roam.

The Hilton Naples Florida Hotel is located 8 miles from the North Collier Regional Park and is centrally located to this and many other festivals in Naples.

Haunted Museum is a Kid Friendly Thing to Do in Naples

Free Family Day at the Naples Museum of Art on October 22 from 10am until 4pm!

Come in costume and join the Naples Museum of Art for a spooktacular time! Join the Mystical Training Academy and learn how to defend yourself against goblins, vampires and worse. Step into a world of dragons and faeries as you learn about these mystical creatures and their environment. Take a walk down Gypsy Alley and try your luck at a game of chance or palm reading. Enter the costume contest, get your face painted and create magical trinkets. All this and more awaits you at the Naples Museum of Art Free Family Day!


Admission is free for all ages. All activities and related programs are provided at no charge.
EVENTS OF THE DAY

• Mystical Training Academy
• Costume Contest
• Portrait Sketches by Jason Weber
• Interactive Magical Stories with Carrie Sue Ayvar
• Face Painting
• Hands-on Art Activities – Potions, Magical Charms
• Monster Munch Treats
• Pumpkin Decorating
• Haunted museum stations – Graveyard, vampire and werewolf hunter, spider lair
• Gypsy Alley
• Docent guided tours of the museum exhibitions, 11 am and 2 pm

The Naples Museum of Art is located less than a mile from the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel.

Hilton Naples Florida Wedding Photographer ~ Tonya Malay

Hilton Naples Florida Wedding Photographer ~
Tonya Malay Photography

Hilton Naples Florida Hotel announces that their Featured Wedding Photographer for the Fourth Quarter of 2011 is Tonya Malay, a local wedding photographer in Naples, Florida. Each quarter, the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel features a photographer who has done a remarkable job working in the Naples community. Whether the featured photographer has photographed a charity event, a beach wedding, a fundraiser or a corporate meeting, the key is that they demonstrated the talent to capture the experience and relayed that message through their images.



Tonya Malay

Tonya Malay has been photographing brides and grooms since 1993, specializing in wedding and sunset photography exclusively. Tonya has photographed over 1000 events and still approaches each wedding with enthusiasm, passion and commitment to excellence. Tonya’s work has been featured in several bridal magazines and her style includes fun, casual, and innovative images capturing the emotion, romance, and joy of your wedding day. To see her portfolio, sample albums, reviews from former brides and grooms, and her published works please visit her website at http://www.tonyamalay.com/.





Toys For Tots Amps Up Annual Campaign

The Annual Toys for Tots Campaign, driven by the Marine Corp League of Naples has several upcoming programs. 

3rd Annual Toys-4-Tots Motorcycle Dice Run will be held on Sunday, October 23, 2011 ~ Contact: John Marsh for more details ~ mailto:jcm2149@yahoo.com

"Tour de Tots" Bicycle Ride is a family oriented cycling & outdoor festival event on Saturday, November 5, 2011.  For more information, visit: www.pcrswf.com

Beginning November 26 through December 16th, Blue Martini teams up with Toys for Tots for their Annual Toy Drive ~ Donate an unwrapped toy at Blue Martini & Receive a complimentary cocktail.



The Marine Corps League of Naples lists several other events being held to gather over 25,000 toys that are distributed to over 7,000 Collier County underpriviledged children.  Click Here to see other great events to help benefit the Toys for Tots program.

Beginning on Friday, November 25th, Shula's Steak House Naples, located inside the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel, will feature a drop off box for Toys for Tots

Everglades Area Tours offers New Experience

Beginning November 1st, Everglades Area Tours is offering a new experience... The Fakahatchee Island Heritage Tour. Fakahatchee Island is an ancient Calusa Indian mitten that was settled by local Everglades's families in the late 1800's. Departing in a very comfortable powerboat from Everglades City/Chokoloskee Island, we travel through Everglades National Park through the "gates" to Fakahatchee Bay. Along the way, we expect to encounter dolphins, manatees and large numbers of wading birds. Learning about the rich heritage and culture of the area while standing amongst the remains of the old homes, cisterns and grave sites is quite an experience. The island also hosts numerous native and invasive species of plants including orchids, bromeliads and one of the largest "pencil trees" we have ever seen. This two-hour experience departs at 9:00am.

Make a reservation for the Fakahatchee Island Heritage tour before November 30 and receive a 20% discount on an after-lunch Guided "Swamp Stomp" Walking Eco Tour or Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Eco Tour. Simply mention the Everglades Area Tours Newsletter when you make your reservation.


Reservations: 800-860-1472 ~ Information: 239-695-3633
To make online Reservations and check out the Website: www.EvergladesAreaTours.com

The Mad Hatter is Coming to Naples

Joining the many kid friendly things to do in Naples Florida is Movies On The Lawn at Mercato in Naples.  On Tuesday, November 1st at 7:00pm, Movies on The Lawn will feature the movie Alice in Wonderland starring Johnny Depp & Helena Bonham Carter.  Bring lawn chairs and be ready for The Mad Hatter!

Mercato Shopping in Naples is located just north of the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel

Holiday Shopping in Naples





Just in time for holiday shopping in Naples, almost 50 home party and gift vendors will sell their products and offer a bucket raffle of their favorite items as part of the 2nd annual Party of All Parties. Vendors selling make-up, jewelry, home, garden, food, pets, men’s and more include: Arbonne, Avon, BURN by Rocky Patel, Creative Memories, Dove Chocolates, Latasia Jewelry & Lingerie, Lia Sophia, Longaberger Baskets, Mary Kay, Naples Games & Puzzles, Pampered Chef, PartyLite, Premier Jewelry Designs, South Beach Ties, Tupperware and Willow House.

The $8 admission includes free wine, soft drinks, desserts, massages, facial treatments, Parties shopping tote, and access to the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center. The fundraiser for the Friends of Rookery Bay takes place on Sunday, Nov. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the center, 300 Tower Road in Naples. See the vendor list and bucket raffle items at rookerybay.org/partyofallparties. Follow the event on facebook.com/friendsofrookerybay.



Hunger & Homeless Coalition 4th Annual Dinner at the Hilton Naples

Welcome Home Hunger & Homeless Coalition 4th Annual Dinner will be held at the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel.  The mission of the Collier County Hunger & Homeless Coalition is to facilitate solutions to prevent and end hunger and homelessness by coordinating services in Collier County. The Hunger & Homeless Coalition is comprised of numerous local agencies, consumer advocates and volunteers working together to stabilize households and create a comprehensive system of care for Collier residents experiencing hunger and homelessness.  Get your tickets and more information by calling 239-263-9363.

Live Music in Naples

Come enjoy live music in Naples as Little Eddie & the Fat Fingers perform at the  Mercato Shopping area tonight, October 6th from 6 - 9 pm.  With their mix of Delta & Chicago Blues, Boogie Woogie and 50’s rock, The Mercato Nights Music Series is proud to present one of Naples’ best blues bands, Little Eddie & The Fat Fingers. Mercato Nights Music Series are held on the first Thursday of every month.

Moon Light Paddling in Naples Florida

Moon Light Paddle Event ~ Join Naples Marina & Excursions on October 11th 2011, for their 5th paddle event through the estuary and preserve on the Cocohatchee river to the beach. Take this opportunity to watch the sunset as you are paddling out and returning to watch the full moon and stars. 

You may also see manatees, dolphins and several diffrent kinds of birds as in The little Blue Heron, Great White Egret, Red Shoulder Hawks, and many more. The paddling tour departs at 6pm so please check in at the Naples Marina & Excursions 30 minutes before departure. Reservations are necessary - contact our Hilton Naples Concierge or call direct to the Marina at 239-592-1200.

Naples Marina & Excursions is located at 12345 Tamiami Trail; Naples, FL 34110 about 6.5 miles north of the Hilton Naples Florida Hotel

Celebrity Bartender Night With The Girls of Florida Weekly

Happy Hour in Naples Florida just keeps getting better!  Come out & join Shula's & the Hilton Naples Hotel as we host the Celebrity Bartender Night With The Girls of Florida Weekly.  The fun begins at 5:00 on Wednesday, October 5th and lasts all the way until 8:00PM


Join us at the Lobby Bar in the Hilton Naples & enjoy:
• Reduced Drink Prices

• Complimentary Hors d'oeuvres from Shula's

All tips will benefit The Shelter For Abused Women And Children