In trying economic times, a number of charities and community projects have suffered from lack of support.  In spite of declining revenues from corporate and association meeting business, the Hilton Naples, however elected recently to provide over 100 room nights in support of a first-ever matchup between the Naples Gators youth football team and Deion Sander's The Truth youth teams from Dallas, Texas.  It seems Deion Sanders and the coach of the Naples Gators had met and shared common philosophies and goals, so a match was arranged.  Then, the planning got underway to bring two Dallas youth teams to Naples.  Hilton Naples...[Read More]


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Naples Zoo is in the midst of its Lions, Tigers and Bears 09 summer extravaganza.  The lions include two South African lion cubs that now reside at Naples Zoo and that will eventurally participate in the Association for Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan.  For their big first birthday celebration this past Sunday they were treated to special lion-friendly ice cakes, frozen with milk and beef blood.  Zoo guests watched the cubs tear into their ice cakes during the Meet the Keeper presentation at their exhibit in Lagoon Loop.  I happened to go by the zoo last week and spent...[Read More]


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I headed out to Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary the other day to get a peak at the blooming ghost orchid.  The Super Ghost, a rare multi-bloom specimen of an endangered species, is blooming for the third consecutive summer since it was discovered.  Since the sanctuary let me know that buds were visible, I worked with area hotels and restaurants to put together some pretty wonderful rates, values, packages and deals.  If you're planning a visit to Naples or Everglades City between now and the end of August, be sure to check out our Web page with ghost orchid specials.  The sanctuary...[Read More]


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The annual wackfest, an insanely good party with terrific music, by the way, known as Spammy Jammy is ON for the evening of June 27 at Little Bar in the village of Goodland on Marco Island.  In short, visitors and Islanders dress up in pajamas and honor sculptures made from last year's hurricane food supply of Spam.  Can you say...Spamapple in the shape of a pineapple, or Spamela Anderson in the shape of, well, you know.  But to more eloquently explain the raison d'etre of this bacchanal, I turn to the immortal words of head Spammer himself, Little Bar owner Ray...[Read More]


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Took a tour of the rapidly growing Naples Botanical Garden this week with several other CVB staff members.  This long awaited gem is evolving into a world class attraction.  Known as the "Gardens With Latitude,"  Naples Botanical Garden will feature gardens of the 26th parallel, North and South, including gardens of Florida, the Caribbean, Brazil and Asia, along with an interactive Children's Garden.  The garden will also feature the world's first public collection of all registered plumeria species, over 300 cultivars along with future registered cultivars.  Plumeria is a genus of seven or eight species native to the tropical and...[Read More]


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I love the taste of salt, but that's not all there is to like at Naples' new downtown restaurant Sea Salt. Chef Fabrizio Aielli, who had a large following with his three Washington D.C. restaurants, brought his talents to Naples and developed Sea Salt as a new concept restaurant and market. The restaurant made an almost instant splash with a postive review in Gourmet just weeks after opening. Three distinctive salts are served upon arrival, which you can mix with olive oil for bread dipping or sprinkle on your entree. I went for lunch the other day...[Read More]


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One of the best things about Naples Zoo is that for a relatively small zoo at 52-acres, the animal habitats are all very spacious, allowing the animals plenty of room to explore.  The zoo hit a major home run with the opening this past weekend of Black Bear Hammock, the larest black bear exhibit at any American Association of Zoos & Aquariums accredited zoo east of the Mississippi.  At Naples Zoo, the two resident black bears can wander between a natural habitat and a back yard habitat, designed to educate zoo visitors about what happens when bears wander...[Read More]


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Every year in mid-May during Tourism Week our visitors bureau sponsors the Paradise Coast Tourism Star Awards to recognize the true heroes of hospitality in our destination. Today's event was our best one ever, with close to 200 people in attendance. Click to read our press release identifying the winners. Perhaps there is a winner this year from your favorite hotel, resort or attraction. Be sure to congratulate the winners if you are served by them in the future!