Life In Bonita Springs

Visit Winter at Clearwater Marine Aquarium | 215/365 Things to Do

Did you know just about two hours from Bonita Springs lives a famous movie star?  Going to see her is a great day trip from Bonita Springs, Florida and a great place to take with the family. Clearwater Marine Aquarium is home to Winter the dolphin from the movie Dolphin Tale. Winter is a bottlenose dolphin who was found in a crab trap on the coast of a Florida beach she was rescued but unfortunately lost her tail. The Marine care at the aquarium took Winter in and care for her daily needs while helping her learn to swim without a tail.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium is not your typical aquarium, people travel from all over just to see Winter and witness this miracle. The aquarium’s mission exists to rescue marine animals, rehabilitate them from sickness or injury and release them back into their natural habitats. Injured animals are treated on-site in the world-class marine hospital.

Also at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium there is a large stingray touch tank which my boys loved. The upper level is called Dolphin Terrace. It has different tanks and swimming areas for the animals and shows. The volunteers at the aquarium took the time to talk to the kids about the different things they do and answered tons of questions. In addition to the dolphins upstairs there are sea turtles and sea otters.

Clearwater Marine Aquarium was not only a fun trip for our family but it also was very educational for everyone! If you’re looking for fun things to do with kids you should definitely put the aquarium on your lists.

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About the Author - Jenna Hatfield is a life-long resident of Bonita Springs, Florida and mother of two boys.

Tropical Storm & Hurricane Hobbies | 214/365 Things to Do

If you’re new to the Bonita Springs area and this is your first summer here you are learning about our “tropical waves”.  From June through September it rains … a lot. Ask me how fun it is to show Bonita Springs real estate during a summer storm.  Summer is our hurricane season and while we don’t get a large amount of hurricanes we get the tropical waves, tropical depressions and tropical storms that keep us indoors. 

A good tropical depression can cause it to rain for days so we have something fun for you to do.  In the age of faces in phones and video games we’ve gone full circle and started putting jigsaw puzzles together again. Just like back in the old days. It started when we took a trip in June 2019 and bought a puzzle in Mount Rushmore. When we got the puzzle back to Bonita Springs we learned that everyone who came into the house ended up around the dining room table working on the puzzle for a little bit.

Puzzles are expensive; usually starting at about $20. Instead of purchasing a new puzzle at Target at Coconut Point Mall I stopped into the Goodwill store in Springs Plaza where Winn Dixie is located. We found a huge selection of puzzles priced from $1.99 plus many other board games.

If you’re looking for fun things to do, especially with kids during the rainy season swing into one of the many thrift stores in the area and pick up a puzzle and invite a few folks over. It’s a very affordable good time and you’d be surprised at the great conversations you’ll have around the kitchen table.

Maguro Sushi & Steakhouse Naples | 213/365 Things to Do

Maguro Sushi and Steakhouse is a hibachi and sushi restaurant located in Naples, Florida. The decor in Maguro really set the mood for a great dining experience with blue lighting everywhere. In addition to hibachi they also have a regular dining area where you can get freshly made sushi and different entrees.

Maguro is my childrens absolute favorite place to dine. If you have kids you know that dining out with them is not always fun but at Maguro you basically get dinner and a show! It’s definitely a great place to stop if you’re looking for fun things to do with kids.

We have found Maguro to be the freshest hibachi in the area and always recommend them to anyone who wants hibachi. They also always have coupons in the Valpak that may be mailed to your house if you’re a local.  You can also search the Valpak site by zip code to find one.

Maguro Sushi and Steakhouse is located at 895 Wiggins Pass Rd., Unit 6 Naples, FL 34110.

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About the Author - Jenna Hatfield is a life-long resident of Bonita Springs, Florida and mother of two boys.

Bonita Springs High School Scrimmage Games | 212/365 Things to Do

Bonita Springs High School kicks off the fall football season in the summer with practices and a few scrimmage games.  Bonita Springs High School is only two years into being open so the classes only consist of freshmen and sophomore grades.

They’ve slowly built the curriculum and sports department and it’s been impressive to watch. 

This fall 92019) the Bull Sharks will have a full schedule of games but you can catch a scrimmage before then, if you’re looking for fun things to do with kids. 

Just visit the Bonita Springs High School Facebook page to learn more.

Here's a photo of our family at a scrimmage game from the first year!

Compare Beaches Barefoot Beach vs Lake Erie | 211/365 Things to Do

Fort Myers Beach VS Lake Erie on the same exact day in December. I think we all would prefer our Florida beaches over Lakeview Park Beach in Lorain, Ohio on a cold December Day. We just thought we’d remind you of how great our SWFL beaches are in the event you’re in the doldrums of the dog days of summer. Believe it or not many people forget to go to the beach so this is your friendly reminder to take time to get to Bonita Beach or Barefoot Beach. We enjoy taking the kids out to the beach. They enjoy looking for shells, fishing and even playing in the waves. There are many beaches in the area that we like to visit. Here are a few: Sanibel Island Beach Fort Myers Beach Lover’s Key Beach Bonita Beach _______________________________ Angela Griffith is a wife and mother of two small children. She is also Realtor living in the Heitmans area of Bonita Springs Florida.

PBR – Professional Bull Riders at Hertz Arena | 210/365 Things to Do

Took Madison to see the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) at the Hertz Area this past weekend.

The PBR was established back in 1992. There was a small group of 21 riders who begin this sport. They each contributed about $1,000 each.

We watched about 30 different bull riders in the ring. Each ride completely different from the other. The bull riders each get a chance on the back of a bucking bull.  They are all looking to stay on the bull for 8 seconds. Only a hand full of the cowboys were able to make the 8 seconds mark and each ride was nail biting.

I learned that there are 4 judges total, there are 2 judged that only judge the rider, and the other 2 judges are only to judge the bull. Each judge is allowed 25 points totaling a score of 100 if everything goes flawless.

Madison age 5, really enjoyed watching the bull riders. She was amazed by their balance, how high the bulls “jumped” and the amount of riders there were.

Once the event was over, we headed around back to show Madison a little of the back end. She was able to meet the horses that were assisting with herding the bulls, as well as see some of the bulls up close as they were loading them up to go back to the pastures.

There were 5 of us who attended and we all were very impressed with the show. My favorite part is the entertaining bull fighter. He kept us all entertained with his swanky moves and kept us laughing with his jokes.

We sat in row 18, out of 21 and still had an amazing seat in the arena. With Hertz Area being a little on the smaller side there is no bad seat in the house!  Hertz arena is located in Estero, Florida across the street from Grandezza and beside Tidewater.  If you’re looking for fun things to do in Estero be sure to purchase tickets for the PBR’s next show!

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Angela Griffith is a wife and mother of two small children.  She is also Realtor living in the Heitmans area of Bonita Springs Florida.

Take a Class at Yoga Lab Naples or Fort Myers | 209/365 Things to Do

Looking for connection, community or just a good sweat? Consider taking a yoga class at the Yoga Lab!  The Yoga Lab is open 7 days a week and is offering scheduled classes that vary from 6:30am to 7:15pm.

Yoga Lab truly has something for any yogi. Offering multiple ways to practice [Aug 2019] $20 Drop-In, 30 Days For $30, Class Cards (10 classes for $160 or 20 classes for $280) active for 1 year from date of purchase, to the lowest unlimited membership in town, including mat and towel rental, 20% off the boutique and savings on workshops for $99. This studio leads amazing life skills trainings including 28 Days to a Personal Revolution and RYS 200-HR Teacher Training program. Full schedule is available online at www.letsexperiment.com or on their app powered by MINDBODY available in your App Store. Check in online or as you arrive, they make it simple. Whether you’re a local, seasonal, or visiting for a few days, stop in for an unforgettable experience, where the focus is inclusion, conversation and connection.

Yoga Lab Naples located at 9123 Strada Place  #7115 and Yoga Lab Estero 10952 Eagle Village Dr Suite 450D Fort Myers FL.  If you’re looking for fun things to do meet me at Yoga Lab!

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About the author:

Christine Salmons is a southwest Florida resident and a teacher at Yoga Lab

Gun-N-Hoses Pipes & Drums at Mission BBQ | 208/365 Things to Do

If you’re looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening with patriots or if you’re a fan of pipes and drum bands this will be right up your alley.  The local pipes and drums group, The Guns-N-Hoses, makes periodic appearances (and fund raises) at Mission BBQ in Fort Myers. 

Mission Barbecue is a great restaurant and has a little something for everything on the menu. It’s a restaurant created by patriots for patriots. You can read their story here: Mission Barbecue

The next appearance on Aug 12, 2019 will help kick off the Red Hometown Hero Cup Fundraiser! Come listen to these patriots play! All funds raised through the Red Hometown Hero Cups sales will be donated to Guns-N-Hoses Pipes & Drums, IAFF Local 1826 Good & Welfare Fund, Lee County Sheriff's Office Fallen Hero Fund.

If you miss this event with Guns and Hoses be sure to check their Facebook page Guns and Hoses Band

Spot Roseate Spoonbills in Bonita | 207/365 Things to Do

In the summer the Rosies come around. The Roseate Spoonbills are the bright pink birds more commonly mistaken for a Flamingo. We do have a Flamingo or two in the area but most of the pink birds spotted in the Bonita Springs area are Roseate Spoonbills.

The Rosies like marsh areas and mangroves. I’ve seen them inland in communities such as Hawthorne and Sandy Hollow but I’ve spotted them more easily on the coast near Lover’s Key at Dog Beach and in the back bay intracoastal waterway and bay areas.  The photo of the birds above was from a paddleboard in New Pass near Pelican Landing’s private beach island looking north. 

Visit Babcock Ranch | 206/365 Things to Do

Babcock Ranch is a solar powered modern technological town of the future located in Charlotte County Florida. Sustainability is at the core of everything they develop.

Babcock Ranch plans on being a big city with a small footprint. When Babcock Ranch is complete, it will include 19,500 homes and 6,000,000 ft.² of commercial space. Even with all of this building 80% of the land will remain a preserve.

A day trip to the town gives you access to a number of amenities and fun things to do. In the main Founders Square there is a band shell for live entertainment, Curry Creek Outfitters for bike rentals or kayak rentals to use on Lake Babcock, a marketplace, a splash pad for the kids, walking and biking trails and a beautiful lakeside restaurant called Table and Tap. After some appetizers or a meal, finish it off with dessert at Square Scoops, the neighborhood ice cream shop.

There are currently nineteen furnished model homes to tour. If you enjoy looking at model homes or touring new real estate make a day trip to see Babcock Ranch homes for sale.

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About the author – Crissy Hardin is a resident of Southwest Florida in the city of Bonita Springs where she and her husband are raising their twin daughters