Life In Bonita Springs

Grab a Bite at Tijuana Flats | 355/365 Things to Do

One of the few places our gang can agree on eating when we are all together is Tijuana Flats.  It’s across the street from Pelican Landing near the Brooks Medical Center.

The reason why it’s a gang favorite is because of so many diners and the fact that it’s an economical choice when there are 10-15 of us getting together. From simple chips and salsa to ‘salad for the girls’ and beef burritos for the boys everyone is happy. Plus there is a salsa bar so everyone gets to personalize their meal and the level of hotness.

When dining outside Tijuana Flats is pet friendly, too.  We’ve even made an event of getting a bite to eat and then hitting up the playground and splash pad in the Brooks.

Read also: Where to Get Killer Nachos in Bonita Springs Florida

and The Commons Club at The Brooks Splash Pad

Christmas Eve Service Riverside Park | 354/365 Things to Do

The Springs of Bonita Church is the local “outdoor church” that holds Sunday service weekly at 9:30 a.m. at Riverside Park in Downtown Bonita Springs.  The Springs also hosts the annual Christmas Eve service annually at the Bandshell at Riverside Park.

The Springs service is non-denominational and all are welcome. Chairs are provided.There are typically 1,000 plus attendees.  For future events and to confirm the times follow the page of the church, here: Springs of Bonita Church

Dolce Rita Bonita Springs | 353/365 Things to Do

So Jerry and I thought we’d hit Seed to Table to pick up eggplant for his egg parm recipe.  Melinda had taken photos and they looked soooo good.  Since they’ve only been open a few days it was a total zoo in the parking lot so we drove right on by and ended up at the Publix at Bonita Grande near Worthington and Quail West.

Read also: Seed To Table Oaks Farms Naples | 349/365 Things to Do

Well, two interesting things happened – first I met a group member from the Bonita Springs Estero Community Forum in the checkout line and second we had a great pizza at Dolce Rita’s.

Dolce Rita’s is located at the north end of the same Publix is located in.  It’s described in google as a strip-mall outpost offering thin-crust pizzas, pasta & other Italian meals in a casual setting.

We ordered a veggie pizza with an addition of eggplant and it was delish.  We polished off 1/2 of a huge pie and took the rest of it home.    Breakfast! 

If you go, Dolce Rita’s is a casual restaurant and I believe there was wine and beer. We’re not drinkers so I am not sure about other adult beverages.  They also serve desert but we hadn’t budgeted room in our bellies so we have saved that for another day.

Fort Myers Beach New Years Eve | 352/365 Things to Do

Fort Myers Beach New Year’s Eve celebration is the place to be if you are looking for a fun filled night. There are tons or restaurants and bars on the beach to grab a meal, have a drink, or enjoy live music there will also be live music around Time Square on Fort Myers Beach.

The ball drops at midnight followed by a firework display from the pier. The Matanzas Pass Bridge will close at 11:45 pm and will only reopen for cars exiting the beach until 1:15am.

Consider taking the trolley or an uber as parking is limited on the beach and there is always a large crowd. Paid parking lots close to Times Square are located at Lynn Hall Park, on Old San Carlos Blvd., under the Matanzas Pass Bridge, and across & next to the Lani Kai Resort (info from Fort Myers Beach.org)

This will be a great a great way to end 2019 and bring in 2020. This event is certainly one of the fun things to do!

Celebration Park New Year’s Eve | 351/365 Things to Do

Celebration Park Naples is a waterfront bar and food truck park in Naples, Florida. This year they are hosting a New Year’s Eve celebration with live music all night long, a toast at midnight, free samples, games, and tons of food trucks!

The New Year’s party will start at 7:00pm and ends around 1:00am.

This is a great alternative to the normal New Year’s Eve parties or fireworks at the pier. Celebration Park is kid and pet friendly so it is going to be a great event for all.  If you are looking for fun things to do to ring in the new year, consider attending Celebration Park.

Music Walk Downtown Fort Myers | 350/365 Things to Do

The third Friday of the month is the Music Walk in Downtown Fort Myers, Florida. On the third Friday from 6:00pm -10:00pm the sounds of local musicians play all around first street.  They close the street down to cars so it's much safer and even kid friendly.

All the restaurants and many of the shops are open during the music walk so you can grab something to eat or do some shopping while enjoying the live music.  The music walk is guaranteed to have something for everyone to enjoy no matter the age.  If you are looking for fun things to do in Fort Myers consider attending the music walk.

There is parking in lots, on street and a parking garage.  The river front is only a block or so off so you can even take a walk to the Caloosahatchee River to watch the sun go down.

Read also: Fort Myers River Walk Path | 164/365 Things to Do

Seed To Table Oaks Farms Naples | 349/365 Things to Do

Seed to Table a much awaited 75,000 square-foot store opened Nov. 17 to the public in Naples on the corner of Immokalee Rd and Livingston in Naples, Florida. It’s a short drive from Bonita Springs. Seed to Table is a family owned business that has been producing vegetables for decades. Not only do they have 120 different types of fruits and vegetables they also have a bakery, a deli, restaurants, home made ice cream, home made pasta and sauce, fresh seafood, a nice butcher shop, and many many things to numerous to mention them all.

Throughout the store there is a lot of seating around so you can grab some fresh food and eat it there. They have a very large wine selection and even a bar for tasting. Spend some time with your kids at the children’s playground, cafe, aquarium or watch the live lobsters in the 600 gallon tank.

Seed to Table seems to have something for everyone. Open every day except Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving, the hours of operation, for now, are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. 4835 Immokalee Rd, Naples, FL 34110

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Three60Market Naples, Florida | 348/365 Things to Do

Sunday after a church, we decided to go to the Three60 Market. I was not familiar with that eatery, so I was excited to try a new restaurant. After arriving at the Three60Market, I noticed that there was additional parking across the street, which was helpful since this place seemed pretty popular.

We entered the Three60Market, received a menu, and were told to get in line and to order our food. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Sandwich and my friend ordered the Rebecca Sandwich. After ordering, we noticed that there was a large display of wine bottles for sale. The market not only prepares breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they additionally sell a variety of wine bottles.

After spending some time in the Market, I noticed some seating was located inside and additional seating was outside. So we went down stairs to sit outside by the water. There is something peaceful about sitting outside and eating lunch by the water. After a short while, the waiter brought us our food. My Grilled Chicken Sandwich had fresh mozzarella and was on a parmesan ciabatta roll. The Rebecca Sandwich was assembled with Brie, ham, granny smith apple, sprouts, and drizzled with balsamic vinegar and pesto olive oil. I loved my sandwich. Both sandwiches were delicious! Later on, we noticed a little tiki hut boat was anchored right where we were sitting, I believe that after lunch we could have gone for a ride. Maybe the next time.

All in all this was a fantastic experience. Next week when my aunt comes to town, I will take her to the Three60Market.The restaurant is located in Naples off the East Trail at 2891 Bayview Drive.

Ritz Carlton Naples Gingerbread House 347/365 Things to Do

The tradition of decorating Gingerbread Houses began in the early 1800s in Germany. Gingerbread Houses became popular after the Brothers Grim published their fairytale “Hansel and Gretel”. In this fairytale, the witch used a Gingerbread House to entice the children to come to visit her. As an annual event, every year the Ritz Carlton in Naples by the beach builds a life sized Gingerbread House to attract visitors from all over the world. The hotel displays the Gingerbread House one week after Thanksgiving until January 2, 2020.

Every year it is something fun to do with the family to get into the Christmas spirit. Their Gingerbread House is perfectly designed by their chefs and is made of 1200 Ginger bricks, 48 pounds of ginger, 294 pounds of honey, 464 egg, 756 pounds of flour, 60,000 pieces of candy, lots of love, and several other ingredients. The labor to create this Gingerbread House with the help of the Elves was approximately a 1000 hours. The Ritz’s chefs have truly created a master piece! If you have not seen their Gingerbread House, it is definitely worth a trip to the Ritz Carlton. While you are there, you can have lunch at the pool side cafe as well. It is truly a magical Christmas experience that I look forward to each year!

Florida Everblades Teddy Bear Toss | 346/365 Things to Do

The Florida Everblades hold one of the most fun events call the Teddy Bear Toss. This December the Florida Teddy Bear Toss is the 14th.  Get your tickets to the Florida Everblades Teddy Bear Toss game and bring a Teddy Bear to the game. Here’s how it works: When the Everblades score their first goal  throw a Teddy Bear or Stuffed Animal onto the ice!

The ice is totally covered with Teddy Bears and the bears get collected for local charities. It’s is amazing to see hundreds and hundreds of Teddy’s being thrown in the air and it’s for a good cause!  If you are looking for fun things to do, especially with kids, this would fit the bill!