February 2003 .............

Naples is a charming town on the West coast, it was just a small town, until it was developed commercially as a resort area after 1974. It's sub-tropical location makes it a winter haven with temps 10 to 15 degrees warmer than the mid to upper part of Florida. Marco Island is just down the road, where we rented a pontoon boat with some friends, took picnic lunches, and went to a huge sand bar between the bay and the ocean, spend the day walking the beach, looking for shells and just relaxing.

We took a sightseeing trip on the Naples Princess, a large boat that takes you around to see some of the huge houses on the bay. The compound below, has two homes, an 8,500 Sq Ft guest house, and the main house with 26,000 Sq Ft.

If that house is a bit to large for you, see what you think of these

A fun place to go in Naples is Tin City, located on the Naples river, a shallow water port. There is no deep water port in Naples. Great resturants, lots of funky little shops, a good place to play tourist.

From Naples we visited the Barefoot Beach in Bonita Springs. We were told if you arrived early when the tide was still out you could find sand dollars. We arrived shortly after 8 AM, had to go way out in the water to find them, they were mostly under the sand, we learned to dig them out with our toes and flip them up so we could catch them and not have to go under water. Spent about 5 hours there, mostly in the water. Took home around 40 sand dollars and some other interesting shells. Fun place to spend time.

Our campground in Naples: Silver Lakes, beautiful, friendly, and as are all nice Florida Campgrounds, expensive. We paid $1500. a month, plus elect. Have since learned one can rent from lot owners at a bit lower price. www.slpoa.net The main site is www.silverlakesrv.com, however can't get it to open.

The park has a very nice golf course, plus large pool, and activities at the club house, pictured above. These little guys hang out in the park.

February 2003 & December 2005.............

Anna Maria Island: A seven mile slip of gulf sand balanced atop the crooked crab claw of North Longboat Key.It's located at southern entrance to Tampa Bay on the Gulf of Mexico, it's the barrier between the two. Access to the island can be achieved from the mainland (Bradenton), or from Longboat Key via the bridge over Longboat Pass. We spent a day at Bradenton Beach, a community located at the southern end of Anna Maria Island. We played in the surf until we were so tired we could hardly stand. The wave's weren't as bad for Dean because he is taller, however some of them even knocked him down .Laurel spent most of the time hanging onto him so she wouldn't fall. One thing that effects Florida beaches that we've never heard of is Red Tide. It's caused by several species of marine phytoplankton microscopic plant like cells that produce potent chemical toxins. The Florida Red Tide is caused by blooms of dinoflagellate that produces potent neurotoxins. These toxins cause extensive fish kill, contaminate shellfish and create severe respiratory irritation to humans. It produces a burning sensation of the eyes and nose and a chocking cough. We got into it once and it wasn't pleasant. After we left the beach Laurel's cough stuck around for a day or so, Dean's went away fairly quickly.

On Bradenton Beach be sure and visit the City Pier. - Photo on right.

On the Northeast corner of Anna Maria Island, overlooking Tampa Bay and the Skyway Bridge is the Rod & Reel Pier. We ate there and Laurel had a Grouper Ruben Sandwich, sounds awful, but it was wonderful.

	Anna Maria City Pier: Built in 1910, this 636 foot pier of pine and barnacles has withstood hurricanes in 1918, 1935, 1974, 1988 and 2001.This pier is South of the Rod & Reel Pier, it also has a restaurant, but we didn't eat there.
Bradenton Beach
Holmes Beach
	We stayed at Holiday Cove RV Resort in Cortez, FL. It's 3/4 miles from the beaches. We rode our bikes over the bridge to Bradenton Beach. On New Years Eve we walked across the bridge at midnight to watch fireworks on the beach. They also have a great ice cream shop that serves homemade Amish Ice Cream - you can get it in a chocolate covered waffle cone.
Holmes Beach

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