Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
Popular magazine Reader’s Digest highlighted several South Florida beaches in a February article titled “15 Best Beaches in Florida Locals Want to Keep Secret.”
One Collier County beach made the cut: Tigertail Beach on Marco Island.
What did Reader’s Digest say about Tigertail Beach?
Best for: Swimming and bird-watching
After you park your car and start walking toward the water ahead of you, you might ask yourself: Is this the beach? It certainly is “a beach,” but what you see from the parking lot is actually just a huge lagoon, full of birds and tidal pools. And yes, plenty of people set up camp right there! But if you walk just a few minutes past the lagoon (sometimes, depending on the tide, you’ll have to wade through), you’ll get to the real star: three miles of soft, wide sand, fiddler crabs and beautiful migratory shorebirds.
The author, Liz Zack, also recommends watching the sunset and then
grabbing a bite to eat at Sami’s, a local favorite that serves Italian dishes.
What other Southwest Florida beaches were included?
- Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel
- Boca Grande, Gasparilla Island
- Turner Beach, Captiva
- Lover’s Key State Park, near Fort Myers Beach
How Reader’s Digest chose its ‘Best Florida Beaches’
Read the full article with photos on naplesnews.com.
Contact David to find your new home in southwest Florida. at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Laura Layden | Naples Daily News
There’s a long way to go, but plans to rebuild the Naples Pier continue to move forward.
City Council heard an update on the multimillion-dollar project Tuesday, with the design plans now virtually 100% complete.
The pier, destroyed by Hurricane Ian, will be built stronger and taller, with new features, including more shaded areas and more seating to take in the Gulf views.
Here’s more to know from the brief update, shared at a workshop:
What’s the next step?
The city is developing the bid documents to meet the guidelines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, to ensure the project qualifies for reimbursement. The reimbursement could be as high as 90% for the eligible parts of construction tied to Ian.
Based on the latest estimates from the engineers, the project could cost up to $22.5 million, with contingencies.
More information can be found here: naplesgov.com/parksrec/page/naples-pier-approved-design
Read the full post on naplesnews.com.
Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086 to find your home in Naples, southwest Florida.
Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
Last September, Hurricane Ian became the sixth hurricane to destroy the historic Naples Pier. Since then, city officials have been working to redesign the iconic beach fixture so locals and visitors can enjoy it again.
Right now, city officials and a design firm are completing 100% design plans, which will include every detail about the new pier’s structure, materials, and features.
The new $20 million Naples Pier won’t look exactly the same as it did before Ian hit Southwest Florida on Sept. 28, 2022. To make sure the pier is strong enough to withstand another storm, designers have changed a few things about the structure.
Here’s what’s new about the Naples Pier design:
Moving concessions
Before Hurricane Ian, the Naples Pier had offshore concession stands. Originally city officials and designers planned to keep the concessions over the water, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency said that might be an issue for insurance providers.
The new design now features onshore concessions at the start of the pier.
Shaded areas and benches
The new design includes additional shaded areas along the pier. The two middle structures that used to be concessions stands will be covered areas for locals and visitors to escape the Southwest Florida sun.
Designers have also added 16 bump-out benches for people to take in the gorgeous gulf views.
Taller and sturdier
Naples Pier will be three feet taller this time along with a larger and more elevated end structure for fishermen and people taking in the view.
Read more about improved accessibility and the timeline for construction and completion.
NOTE: The Naples Pier is an iconic landmark in Naples that was originally built in 1888. Since this time, the pier has been rebuilt after hurricanes in 1910, 1926, 1944, and 1960. In 2015 the pier was reconstructed, and then soon after in 2017 Hurricane Irma damaged the structure. —naplesgov.com
In 2022, Hurricane Ian caused extensive damage to the Naples pier.
Fall in love with southwest Florida. To find a home in the Naples area, contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Mark H. Bickel | Ricardo Rolón
Naples Daily News
With another snowbird and tourist season about to begin in Southwest Florida, here’s a look from our drone at one of the region’s most popular parks, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples.
The video was produced by Naples Daily News drone pilot Ricardo Rolon in July. The drone traveled along the shoreline approximately 1.5 miles from the tip of Wiggins Pass and south past the state park, and into where private condominiums begin. Rolon said he flew the drone at a maximum altitude of 375 feet, but primarily stayed between 100-200 feet of altitude.
You are getting a view of the beach during quieter times. In the coming weeks the park and the beach will be filled with visitors and locals who will be there to soak up the sun and enjoy the amazing views.
The video also provides a view of the beach area nine months after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida, with only a few indications of that storm’s aftermath.
Read more and watch the video of Delnor-Wiggins State Park on naplesnews.com.
Find a home in southwest Florida. Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Mark H. Bickel | Naples Daily News
As far as feathers in the cap go for Naples hotels and resorts getting national and international recognition, it’s getting a little crowded.
Yes, it might be time for a new cap after the latest accolade.
The Naples Grande Beach Resort and LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort have been recognized by Condé Nast Traveler’s as two of its Top-15 resorts in Florida based on results of its annual Reader’s Choice Awards. The list was revealed on Thursday (Oct. 5).
According to a press release: “More than 520,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted responses rating their travel experiences across the globe to offer a comprehensive look at the places they eagerly anticipate revisiting. The Readers’ Choice Awards, with their unparalleled legacy as the travel industry’s longest-running and most prestigious accolades, remain the ultimate symbol and acknowledgment of excellence within the travel sector.”
Read the full article on naplesnews.com.
Find a home in the Naples, Florida area! Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Ritz-Carlton, Naples, slammed by Ian, reopens bigger, better, on Vanderbilt Beach
Laura Layden | Naples Daily News
The Ritz-Carlton Resort, Naples quietly reopened to resort guests last week, giving them the first peek at its major transformation.
Now, locals can see and experience the same.
On Monday, the Ritz rolled out the welcome mat to the community – and all visitors. The transformation includes several new restaurants, and a new lobby bar, with a champagne tasting menu, and “elevated light bites,” such a caviar and wagyu truffle sliders.
The world-renowned resort took a beating from Hurricane Ian, forcing it to close for more than nine months, and to lay off nearly 600 employees.
The coastal property on Vanderbilt Beach remained open in the midst of a multimillion-dollar renovation, until Ian hit in September, swamping it with water and sand, and lashing it with high winds.
Upgrades to the resort include the new Vanderbilt Tower, with an expansive new club lounge and more than 70 more spacious club-level guest rooms.
Read more about the Ritz Carlton and the club-level experience.
Find a home in the Naples, Florida area! Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
