New
nature guide, wildlife refuge celebration, spa,
golf, fishing, Indian exhibit and dining offerings abound on southwest
Florida’s Lee Island Coast
LEE ISLAND COAST, FL (USA)
– New nature guide, additions at attractions and accommodations are all
indicators of the growing popularity of southwest Florida’s Lee Island Coast
as a vacation and meetings destination.
Known as “Florida’s Tropical Island Paradise,” the Lee Island Coast’s appeal to visitors from around the world is evident: 50 miles of unspoiled white-sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, renowned shelling, game fishing, kayaking, boating, and an impressive selection of eco- and heritage-based adventures.
Couples, families, and meetings attendees all enjoy the array of educational, historical, and natural attractions and recreational activities from which to choose. Quite simply, the Lee Island Coast offers a welcome change-of-pace from the been-there-and-done-that in Florida. Here are some noteworthy tourism items from the Lee Island Coast:
This 52-page guide educates Lee Island Coast visitors on the importance of environmental preservation and wildlife protection. Along with the educational and entertaining insights, facts and tips on how best to experience the many natural resources and wonders, the guide also features eco-based itineraries and a guide map. “Advancing our area’s resource protection and appreciation were two important objectives of the new Nature Guide,” said D.T. Minich, C.D.M.E., executive director of the Lee Island Coast Visitor & Convention Bureau. “It will enhance visitors’ experiences by educating them on the unique qualities of the Lee Island Coast and the important role they can play in protecting them.” To get a free copy of the nature guide, log onto www.LeeIslandCoast.com .
The
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on Sanibel Island has a
special week planned during “Ding” Darling Days in October to celebrate the
100th anniversary of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The system
includes more than 530 refuges and thousands of waterfowl production areas,
spanning nearly 94 million acres across the United States and its territories.
“Ding”
Darling (NWR) will celebrate from Oct. 12-18 with tours, wildlife and
environmental speakers and a play about Rachel Carson, the environmentalist who
led the banning of pesticides in the U.S. during the 1960s. She is the author of
“A Silent Spring.” The final day of the celebration is set aside for family
events, including canoe and kayak tours. For more information, access http://dingdarling.fws.gov
.
The new spa at Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers pays tribute to the spirit of the local Native American Indians, who lived along the Lee Island Coast until the mid-1700s. And, just as their lives revolved around the sea, so do the features of the new spa. From the Sea Escape Facial and Hand Treatment to “The Caloosa Experience,” where couples and groups can learn to perform their own treatments, guests feel the essence of the sea.
Another component is the “Couples Suite” for duos who wish to enjoy massages, facials, scrubs and wraps in the comfort of the same room. Also new is the “Las Piedra Calientes” hot stone massage, the Flexibility Studio for Yoga and Pilates and a new Relaxation Bistro.
One
popular returning experience is the resort’s BETAR musical and sound
relaxation system. For details, access www.sanibel-resort.com
.
Visitors to the Lee Island Coast can take advantage of what resident golfers enjoy yearly – discount golf cards. From May 1 - Oct. 31, holders of the 2003 Big Shot Card ($25) can obtain steep discounts at one of the many fine WCI golf communities in southwest Florida. Participating courses this year include: Raptor Bay, the Raymond Floyd designed course at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs, which is 18 holes and expanding to 27 holes. Or, you can take a shot at the 18-hole championship course at Solana in Fort Myers; Gulf Harbour Golf and Country Club in Fort Myers, offering a links style course of 6,706 yards, which will challenge golfers of all skill levels; and Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda, where two golf legends, Ron Garl and Mark McCumber, were given native Florida woodland as their canvas for the course.
Holders
of the Big Shot Card pay between $15 and $58 for a round of golf at these
courses. To purchase a card online before your next golfing vacation to
southwest Florida, access www.wcibigshot.com
.
With
several World Record fish and an impressive diversity in fishing opportunities,
the waters of the Lee Island Coast on the Gulf of Mexico have been selected by Field
& Stream magazine as among “America’s 25 hottest fishing spots.”
The country’s largest-circulation, special-interest magazine surveyed
its field editors for the May 2003 issue, asking them to choose the best angling
destinations. The distinguished list ranks Pine Island among other first-rate
fishing locations in such states as Montana, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana,
Georgia, Vermont, New York, Maine, Maryland, Wisconsin, Michigan, California,
and Washington. Pine Island was the
only Florida destination that earned a spot on the list.
The magazine reports of Pine Island Sound, “There are more famous names
in Florida fishing, but few spots offer a better combination of great fishing in
great scenery.”
A new exhibit, “Calusa: The Original Shell People,” has recently debuted at the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel Island. The exhibit makes the connection between the native Calusa Indian culture of southwest Florida, and the main theme of the shell museum, mollusks and their shells. The Calusas were proficient in taking advantage of the area’s natural resources, including shells. The artifacts are on permanent loan from the Florida Museum of Natural History and the exhibit showcases seashells used for food, tools and ornaments.
Genuinely unique décor, cuisine, and service have earned the Lee Island Coast seven spots on Florida Trend magazine’s “400 Best Places to Dine” list. The March edition of the publication honors the state’s best restaurants from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic. Florida Trend’s Restaurant Critic, Robert W. Tolf, has been compiling his lists since 1973. Top Lee Island Coast restaurants recognized include: Ariani Northern Italian Grill, Michel & Michele’s (French), Cape Coral; Mad Hatter (New American), Timbers Restaurant & Sanibel Grill (American), Sanibel Island; Prawnbroker (Seafood/steak), The Veranda (American), Fort Myers; and Roy’s Restaurant (Hawaiian Fusion), Bonita Springs.