Life In Bonita Springs

Wicked Dolphin Rum Tour | 225/365 Things to Do

Did you know that there is an alcohol distiller here in Southwest Florida?  ot too far from Bonita Springs is Wicked Dolphin Rum located in Cape Coral, Florida. Not only can you purchase Wicked Dolphin Rum but you can tour the rum distillery. 

The crew at Wicked Dolphin will take you through the steps of how they source our ingredients, cook, ferment, distill, in our distillery plant then off to the ‘barrel room’ where they will show you how the rum gets its unique color and taste. On this tour, you will also see how they come up with different flavors and bottle the award-winning Wicked Dolphin Rum!

After the tour, they take you to our tasting room where you can sample different rums that Wicked Dolphin offers and some new ones we are working on.

Tours are available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – You can call or reserve a spot on the Wicked Dolphin Tour  or log in online.  Their official site is www.WickedDolphinRum.com.  If you’re looking for fun things to do near Bonita Springs drive to Cape Coral and take the rum tour!

Please note: During the hot Florida summers, you can expect the temperatures in the Distillery and Barrel Room to match the outside temperatures. The Distillery is air conditioned but with the heat coming from the equipment  it can still be pretty warm. The Tasting Room, however, is fully air conditioned and cool. Please dress comfortably.

Historic Smallwood Store of Chokoloskee | 224/365 Things to Do

The Historic Smallwood Store is located on Chokoloskee Island near Everglades City in Southwest Florida. It is a historic store established in 1906 by Ted Smallwood. Ninety percent of the original goods remain in the store that now operates as a museum. They also have a great selection of local books and a souvenir -  gift shop.

The Smallwood Store also operates boat tours out of the museum for tours of the 10,000 Islands. The tours offer chances of seeing lots of wildlife, beautiful sunsets, or even fishing trips. The store is open daily year round and has a small admission fee. The Smallwood Store is located at 360 Mamie St., Chokoloskee, FL.

If you’re looking for fun things to do near Naples, Florida consider a trip to Chokoloskee Island.

Other articles from Melinda include:

Day Trip to Immokalee Farmer’s Market | 222/365 Things to Do

Visit Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area 55/365

Shore Fishing at Delnor-Wiggins Pass Naples | 188/365 Things to Do

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About the author: Melinda Cochran is photographer and Southwest Florida resident. You can find more of her images at: https://www.facebook.com/journeythroughmyeyes/.  If you know of a great place for Melinda to capture wildlife in action send a message in the comments section of this post.

Lion’s Pride Park | 223/365 Things to Do

Lions Pride Park is the fenced in playground area behind Riverside Park in Bonita Springs, Florida. My boys refer to this park as the nature playground because it has huge oak trees that shade the entire area. It is very pretty and keeps the area cooler.

There are logs for balance beams, hills with slides and large rocks for climbing these are great features that you do not find at most parks.

It allows the kids to use their imagination while outdoors. In addition to those items there is your typical playground with a climbing wall, slides and different fun things to play. There is seating and tables too if you want to take a break or have a snack or lunch at Lion’s Pride Park.

We love this playground because it always turns into an adventure and a nature hunt! If you are looking for fun things to do with kids in Bonita Springs this is a great stop and it’s free. Parking is accessible from Pennsylvania Ave across the street from the Lion’s Club.

Day Trip to Immokalee Farmer’s Market | 222/365 Things to Do

If you are looking for fresh produce, fresh eggs, plus fun odds and ends the Immokalee Farmer’s Market is the place to go. You can buy just a few items or cases of items whatever you need. The Immokalee Farmer’s Market has lots of colorful stalls with smells of the freshest of fruit and vegetables you can find. They are open 7 days a week and have a great variety of items year round.

If you are trying to eat healthy this is the place to come as the prices are the best around and there is a large variety. You may even want to haggle a bit if that is your thing.

The Immokalee Farmer’s Market is located at 424 New Market Rd E, Immokalee, FL 34142 Approximately 45 minutes from Bonita Springs, Florida and makes a great day trip if you are looking for things to do. You can also visit Ave Maria or The Sanctuary while you are in the area.

Here are a few other things to do near Immokalee Florida:

Visit Ave Maria & Tour the Oratory 9/365 

Visit the Ghost Orchid at Corkscrew Sanctuary Naples | 187/365 Things to Do

Visit Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area 55/365

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About the author: Melinda Cochran is photographer and Southwest Florida resident. You can find more of her images at: https://www.facebook.com/journeythroughmyeyes/.  If you know of a great place for Melinda to capture wildlife in action send a message in the comments section of this post.

Rocket Fizz is in Naples Florida! | 221/365 Things to Do

If you have kids they probably know this already but there is a Rocket Fizz in Naples, Florida!  I’ve passed it a few times and the other day when we were going to Costco I had Jerry pull in so I could take a photo and get a surprise for him.  Everyone familiar with Rocket Fizz knows that they have on eof the largest collections of classic candies but they also have a huge collection of exotic sodas. That’s Pop for you Ohio people. 

You can find an good old fashioned Pepsi made with sugar instead of corn syrup. It’s glorious, if you haven’t tried it.  You youngsters just don't understand how yucky corn syrup is.  The sugar Pepsi tastes just like it tasted when we were kids.  I also scored a cane sugar orange soda.  We don’t drink a lot of soda in our house so it was a treat. Jerry was totally surprised with a real sugar soda and I’m sure we’ll go back for more, soon. 

You can follow the local Naples, Florida  Rocket Fizz store on their Facebook page, here: 

https://www.facebook.com/RocketFizzNaplesFL

The address of Rocket Fizz is 6270 Naples Blvd Unit 6, Naples, FL 34109.

Visit the Holocaust Museum Naples | 220/365 Things to Do

In just a few short weeks (Aug 2019) the Holocaust Museum and Cohen Education Center is moving a few miles north in Naples, Florida. We’ve seen a few news stories on the new facility and want to make sure that the locals visit as soon as it opens. 

If you’ve not been to the old location we can share that there is an enormous collection of photos, historical documents, artifacts and more.  We can never forget!  The mission of the Holocaust Museum:

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  Displaying artifacts and photographs which tell the individual stories within the larger history of the Holocaust;
• Providing Educational programs and activities to students at all grade levels;
• Presenting general public programs and exhibits that highlight elements of our collection and stories related to the Holocaust and other genocides;

Years ago one of my trips to the museum I was met by a helpful docent who walked through the museum with us. Towards the end of the tour there was a tattered, black and white photo of children on the wall.  The docent stopped us in front the photo and pointed at a tiny face and said, see her?  That was me. I will never forget that day, that lady, that moment. I will never forget the Holocaust and the Cohen Center’s goal is to continue awareness and educate.  Student groups visit the Museum, or attend programs at their schools conducted by our Education Department, often accompanied by Holocaust Survivors and Liberators telling their personal stories.

As of August 21 2019 the museum is being relocated to 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Naples, FL 34110.  The official website of the museum is www.holocaustmuseumswfl.org

Movie Night in Cambier Park Naples | 219/365 Things to Do

There are fun things to do in the summer!  Tonight is family movie night 8/9/2019 in Cambier Park in Downtown Naples, Florida. 

A lot like the Bonita Springs movie night, Cambier Park movie night is bring your own chair or blanket and grab some of your favorite foods to-go from some of the 5th avenue restaurants. Enjoy a picnic in the park while you watch the movie.  Have fun!

If you'd like to keep tabs on future movie nights or downtown Naples, Florida events follow the Official 5th Ave Facebook Page here: 

https://www.facebook.com/5thAveSo/

Visit Sanibel Island Lighthouse & Beach | 218/365 Things to Do

Southwest Florida has a little bit of a boating (non-shipping) community so we don’t have the lighthouses that the east coast has.  Besides the community of Lighthouse Bay one of the real lighthouses is the Sanibel Lighthouse, of course positioned on Sanibel Island.   

Today is National Lighthouse Day so we’d thought we’d point out Southwest Florida’s favorite lighthouse and remind you to visit the island in the summer when you’re not challenged by tourist traffic.

There are several things to do on Sanibel that we can suggest while you’re out there:

• Stargaze on the Sanibel Causeway | 196/365 Things to Do

• Fishing the Sanibel Island Causeway 140/365 Things to Do

• Bonita Spring to Sanibel Day Trip | Things to Do

Don’t forget to take toll cash for the bridge. There is a charge to cross the bridge over the river that separates Sanibel Island from Fort Myers.   Enjoy!

Playground at Centennial Park Fort Myers | 217/365 Things to Do

Summer is winding down and there are only a few dog days of summer, free days for kids left. If you’re looking for fun things to do with them until you turn them over to the daily grind of school consider a trip to downtown Fort Myers River District and visit Centennial Park. There are swing sets and a playground on site.  Centennial Park itself sits on the Caloosahatchee River and offers open space to play plus there is a walking path that runs along side the river headed east. 

When you’re done playing and walking you can grab a slice of pizza at DHOP the Downtown House of Pizza.  Read also: Grab a Slice at DHOP Fort Myers River District | 190/365 Things to Do

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates are just around the corner so if you’re up for a touristy detour you can stop at those places or just drive the scenic McGregor Parkway and see why Fort Myers has earned the nick name “The City of Palms”.

Get Oysters at The Fish House Bonita Springs | 216/365 Things to Do

August 5th is National Oyster Day so those of you who are living in the area of Bonita Springs and Bonita Beach can stop at the Fish House on Bonita Beach Road and get a platter of oysters on the half shell. 

Back in the day my boating friends were totally into stopping by Fish House, tying up at the dock and getting a pitcher of beer and a platter of oysters.

My thought always was … have have enough money to not eat those slimy little buggers but to each their own. The Fish House also has the standard favorites on the menu including a pretty good fried lobster and a fried shrimp basket.

If you go remember that parking is tight in the parking lot and there is additional parking just east of the Fish House on the other side of the 3 story building.  It’s just a short walk to Fish House from the overflow parking.