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Six awesome locations we recommend for kayaking and canoeing in Southwest Florida

Six awesome locations we recommend for kayaking and canoeing in Southwest Florida

Mark H. Bickel and Chad Gillis | Naples Daily News

Let’s have a paddle pow-wow.

And let’s admit, there’s no better place to do that than right here in Southwest Florida, a place some people might cal a paddler’s paradise.

Now that the weather is starting to become more “seasonal friendly” the next few months might be the best time to enjoy gliding in the water.

Why is Southwest Florida considered a great place to put a kayak or canoe in the water?

Warm, shallow waterways litter the coast, from small creeks and rivers on the mainland side to the open Gulf.

You can fish, ogle at the plethora of exotic birds, scan the horizon for dolphins or simply soak in the sun.

And paddling is a great way to get some exercise, all while enjoying a landscape people travel from across the world to see.

From the interior cypress swamps to the bays and beaches, water and small boats just go together here.

Here are our best places to paddle. Enjoy!

Cape Romano
Located at the northern edge of Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Cape Romano is a popular destination for both day-trips and overnight adventures.

There are five more places to kayak in Southwest Florida. Read the full story on naplesnews.com.

Looking for a home with easy access to the outdoor recreation of Southwest Florida? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.

Go take a hike: CREW Trust has plenty of events coming up

Go take a hike: CREW Trust has plenty of events coming up

Liz Freeman | Naples Daily News

Antsy to enjoy a slight dip in the temperature?

The CREW Trust has a slew of programs to be outdoors.

Officially the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed Land & Water Trust, it’s the charitable organization that manages the 70,000-acre preserve with trails spanning 40 miles for exploration.

Here are program offerings starting in October. Each has a specific address and price. All events are outdoors. Space is limited so advance registration is required. To register, visit CREW Trust’s Eventbrite page: crewtrust.eventbrite.com

October is just around the corner

  • Wet Walk: Beginner, Oct. 1: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. CREW Flint Pen Strand Trails, Pinewoods Parking Lot, 16470 Harrell Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. $10 for members, $15 for non-members
  • Bug Watch, Oct. 3: 7:45 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. CREW Marsh Trails, 4600 Corkscrew Road, Immokalee, FL 34142. $15 for members, $20 for non-members
  • Wet Walk: Advanced, Oct. 8: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. CREW Flint Pen Strand Trails, Pinewoods Parking Lot, 16470 Harrell Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. $10 for members, $15 for non-members
  • Fall Blooms at Sunset, Oct. 25: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CREW Cypress Dome Trails, 3980 Corkscrew Road, Immokalee, FL 34142. $15 for members, $20 for non-members

Find out what’s happening in November on news-press.com.

Visiting Chokoloskee, a town of historical significance with stories to tell

Visiting Chokoloskee, a town of historical significance with stories to tell

J. Kyle Foster | Naples Daily News

Way down south and east in Collier County, Florida, in The Everglades, is a town called Chokoloskee that until 1955 could only be accessed by boat. It’s worth the drive to explore this old Florida area with its rich history.

But first, how do you pronounce the name and what does it mean? Pronounced chuk-uh-lus-kee, the name comes from the Seminole-Creek chuku meaning house and liski meaning old, according to the book “Florida Place Names.” Other interpretations are just “home.”

Home for centuries to Calusa Indians, Chokoloskee was “settled” in the 1870s by European travelers. The Calusa were known for their shell mounds, which were places to toss out shells of oyster and conch the Calusa used for food and sometimes built into tools. These mounds built up the islands of Chokoloskee and parts of Marco Island, providing higher ground as protection from hurricanes that hit the area often.

In 1955, a causeway was built to connect Chokoloskee with the mainland. That was replaced with the Chokoloskee Bridge in August 2018 to meet modern standards with increased width and height, according to Fort Myers-based Kelly Brothers, which built the bridge.

Read more – History, tradition, and mystery entrenched in Chokoloskee on naplesnews.com.

Hoffmanns to redevelop their Old Corkscrew Golf Club and golf course in Lee County

Hoffmanns to redevelop their Old Corkscrew Golf Club and golf course in Lee County

Laura Layden | Naples Daily News

The high-flying Hoffmanns are at it again.

The family is in the early stages of planning a new golf development near Estero, said Rachel Berkowitz, a vice president for marketing and communications at the Hoffmann Family of Cos.

The Naples-based company already owns the land.

The Hoffmanns have chosen renowned golf course architect Kyle Phillips to design a heathland-style course for a new, high-end, golf-only private club that will replace the Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Lee County, according to Berkowitz.

Property records show the family acquired the semi-private, stand-alone club — at 17320 Corkscrew Rd. — for $14.5 million, including its 18-hole golf course, in April 2022.

At the same time, the Hoffmanns also bought the Cottages at Old Corkscrew Golf Club for $4.5 million, in a separate transaction, bringing the total price to $19 million, according to county records.

The deal was announced in the fall of 2021.

Get the rest of the story on news-press.com.

Are you looking for a home in the Naples, Florida area? Contact David at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.