Museum of Military Memorabilia Things To Do

On the heels of the sweltering, downtown Bonita Springs July 4^th parade I thought it would be in everyone’s best interest to be taken on an air conditioned adventure this month. What immediately sprang to mind was the Museum of Military Memorabilia which is located at the Naples Municipal Airport in Naples, Florida. Years ago I saw a presentation for this museum and had yet to make it to take a tour.

The museum is easy to get to and it’s open to the general pubic at no charge, but donations are greatly appreciated. This is an inexpensive outing. Parking is even free!

The collection is placed in display cases in the concourse and also in a dedicated room. That is also where you can locate a museum docent. On the day of my visit the docent was Kathy Macumber, a southwest Florida resident who authored the book “The Forgotten Generation of WWII” which is still available in eBook on Amazon.

At my request, Kathy gladly showed me her favorite items on display and it helped me sort through this vast collection of memorabilia. How ever would I know that what looked like a grass hula skirt was relevant to the war because it was made of shredded parachute cord? Other favorites included items known as “trench art” which were trinkets or useful items such as ash trays or salt and pepper shakers made while passing the time in the trench and putting to use spent shell casings and metal fragments.

Standard military equipment including, uniforms, weapons, badges and medals are arranged throughout the exhibit. There are several display cases arranged by specific war such as Desert Storm, the Vietnam War and the Korean War in addition to World War I & II displays. Plus, there are great time-specific pieces on display such as newspapers and magazines. Even more special are the letters and diaries documenting the life and times of those from the period.

The museum has acquired many of their ten-thousand plus items by donation and they are always accepting more to help rotate the inventory on display. Kathy told me that the white nurse uniform was sealed in a trunk since WWII and the whole trunk was donated by the family of the service member. She also added that the service member was still able to fit into the uniform. Many donations are from veterans or family members who would like to have the items properly preserved, cared for and displayed for future generations to appreciate.

If you’d like to learn a little about American history and the brave men and women who fought for our freedoms visit the museum at the Naples Municipal Airport. While you’re walking the concourse remember that before private planes whizzed in and out of there it was a WWII Army Air Forces Training Base called the Naples Army Airfield.

To learn more about the museum, visit their website www.museum-mm.org and be sure to sign up for their electronic newsletter so you will know about upcoming special events and feature displays for holidays and remembrances.

Happy trails … and air conditioned museums.

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Special to Southwest Spotlight

Koreshan State Park & Historic Site

Whether you live in or have visited the Bonita Springs-Estero area chances are that you’ve driven through the intersection at Corkscrew Road and US 41 multiple times without really giving the Koreshan Historic State Park much thought. Sadly, I’ll share that in the nearly thirty years that I’ve lived in SWFL I’ve only been in the park a hand full of times. With the recent run of outstanding weather I took the opportunity for a weekday tour of Koreshan, again. My little dog, Dill, was my company for the excursion. FYI, pets are permitted in this park but they’re not permitted inside the Planetary Court buildings.

Koreshan State Historic Site has a mix of things to do on its 200 acre site. Besides touring the historic structure exhibits, there is a watercraft launch on the Estero River with on-site canoe rental, picnic areas, playground, nature trails and a sixty acre camp ground. I’d take one for the team on any one of those activities, except camping as my appreciation for camping will likely never surpass my appreciation for sleeping indoors and using a blow dryer in the morning.Koreshan is a state park so there is a small fee to enter but it’s worth it whether you take a self-guided brochure tour or one of the daily tours at 10 or 2. The good news is that Koreshan has a large staff of snowbird volunteers during the winter months so you’ll likely be able to speak with helpful docents at many of the exhibits and structures.

The nature trail remains my favorite mostly because it’s uncommon for this area. It’s a primitive trail that runs along the Estero River and through native, old growth trees and huge stands of bamboo said to have been originally brought from the Edison Estate. There are informational plaques along the way which identify trees and plants. The trail isn’t the smoothest terrain but it’s mostly shaded and a great place to picnic, especially at one of the river overlooks. We were able to see all sorts of critters, birds and butterflies on our one hour walk along the bank.

This park is a fascinating glimpse into the past of early Florida. The Koreshan members must have been as tough as nails homestead in this part of undeveloped Florida. Just imagine the muggy heat and uncontrolled mosquito population that they dealt with. They were fearless pioneers and innovators who receive little credit for their hand in developing the gap between Naples and Fort Myers, Florida. They produced electricity for the area in addition to operating many for-profit businesses such as a lumber mill, cement works, boat works, general store, bakery and printing facility.

Membership to the Koreshan Unity eventually dwindled and the remaining Koreshans donated the land to the State of Florida in 1961. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

When you visit I suggest you bring water and snacks because the heat and extra walking can easily sneak up on you. The parking area and walking paths to and around the historic buildings are smooth, crushed shell but it is a lot of outdoor walking time.

The park is open daily plus there are special events planned January through March such as afternoon teas, concerts, art shows, the popular “Ghost Walk”, vintage car show, antique engine show and more. Event details can be located at www.FloridaStateParks.org/Koreshan under events or you can call 239-992-0311.

Happy Trails and Boardwalks!

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Special to Southwest Spotlight

Estero Bay Preserve State Park

Did you know that, besides Koreshan State Historic Site, there’s another great state parked tucked away in Estero? Not many people do. Estero Bay Preserve State Park is located west of US 41 at the end of Broadway. It’s particularly easy to get to and really isn’t a huge commitment of time, money or mileage as the park is about 15-20 minutes from most locations in Bonita Springs, Estero or South Fort Myers.

That’s living proof that even when you think you’re ready for Mother Nature, your body will play cruel tricks on you. Never daunted I’ve been back a couple of times since and definitely had better experiences.This park has more or less been my nemesis. Even though I plan my hikes early, wear light clothing, sunscreen, hat, stayed hydrated and such … occasionally bad things happened. While I’m the first to remind everyone to take only pictures and leave only footprints, I ended up breaking that rule the first time I hiked this trail. I took only photos but I ended up leaving my breakfast.

Depending on which time of the year you visit, this park offers a variety of terrain and several miles of hiking trails. The last time I visited the park the trails closer to the Broadway Scrub parking area were sandy with less vegetation so walking was more strenuous than usual. During rainier times of the year there can be mud and standing water when you’re closer to the bay in the salt flats.

The wildlife also varies depending upon what time of the year or even what time of the day you plan your visit so it’s always worth it to go more than once. There’s also a black board up front where guests chronicle their wildlife sightings so you know what to be on the lookout for. Gopher Tortoises are usually rambling around by the entry of the park. Their burrows are scattered amongst the palmetto at the edges of the trail.

This park is popular for birders and it is also listed as a Great Florida Birding Trail. Chances are you’ll actually see the nesting bald eagle this time of the year. I’ll point out that some of the trails near the eagle get closed while nesting, too. The trail to the river, for example, is an out and back during eagle nesting. Other times of the year the trail will continue along the Estero River to the salt flats and lead to herds of fiddler crabs. The damp salt flats are also a great place to see the tracks and foot prints of all sorts of critters; raccoon, deer, wild hogs and more.

If you’re thinking of visiting Estero Bay Preserve State Park, don’t forget to bring along man’s best friend. The park is pet friendly, as long as your pet is on lead and you pick up after it. You’re bound to run into more than one pooch on the trail especially if you visit on the weekend.

Happy Trails and Boardwalks!

For more info: www.FloridaStateParks.org/EsteroBay

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Special to Southwest Spotlight

Echo Global Farm | Thing to Do

For you a northern folk who may not realize it, southwest Florida has entered our version of spring as far as gardening and farming is concerned. It’s finally cool enough to plant our gardens without the seedlings instantly melted by the blazing sun or being pelted to death by rain. With the recent, welcomed weather change I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to visit ECHO Global Farm to learn more about gardening locally and more about the organization itself.

The walking tour of the fifty-five acre facility takes about ninety minutes and doesn’t nearly do it justice to what the organization has to offer. The grounds are exceptional and the demonstrations of various types of farming in different environmental scenarios are outstanding and innovative. Repurposing what one already has or recycling what some would consider trash into useful garden equipment and growing containers is demonstrated in nearly every part of the facility. There are even structures built which simulate, for example, a Haitian school or an average home so that visitors can understand what shelter is like in developing countries located in Central America, the Caribbean and Africa. It is humbling and will really put your first-world problems into perspective.Let me first start by saying that the short space allotted this column isn’t nearly going to cover some of the outstanding things that ECHO accomplishes. The most abbreviated description I can come up with is that it is a living, breathing agricultural research facility, world community garden, educational center and humanitarian project incubator. In short, ECHO is basically an extension agent for tropical agriculture. It promotes sustainable farming techniques, grows nutritional plants and provides technical support all over the world in their mission to help the poor help themselves. Simply put, they teach people how to grow food and the fill bellies of the hungry.

ECHO has quite a wide reach to those in need. It sends out over four-thousand seed packets a year to network contacts in over one hundred, seventy-five countries. These seeds aren’t just any seeds; they’ve been researched, studied and tested to perform specifically for the climate and geography in that particular area. The goal is for the farmer or family to be successful and continue to provide food well beyond that first seed packet.

The next time you’re looking for something interesting to do take a tour of ECHO. When you’re there, stop in their on-site store. They stock a variety of seed packets, many books on gardening and agriculture plus they have one of the largest selections of tropical and sub-tropical fruit trees in the area.

ECHO wants southwest Florida gardeners to succeed, too, so ask lots of questions and sign up for a few of the tours. Be sure to get there early because there are space limits and tours fill up quickly. They don’t take reservations but you can organize a group tour if you have a larger posse or an organization outing. It would be a great family tour and a way to show your kids that food actually comes from some place besides Publix or a drive through window.

If you’d like to learn more about ECHO or to donate, visit their website: www.ECHOnet.org. Tour schedules and times are listed.

Happy Trails and Boardwalks!

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Special to Southwest Spotlight

Ding Darling Refuge on Sanibel Island

Whether you’re visiting southwest Florida or you’re a local entertaining winter visitors J.N. (Ding) Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a park to keep on your list of things to do. You’ll actually be able to check a couple boxes off of your to-do list because you’ll also be out on Sanibel Island and we all know how drawn tourists are to Sanibel.

For some reason it took me twenty-eight years to get out there. I always figured that there would school field trip to chaperone but that opportunity never materialized. I decided to choose a random Sunday to shuttle my pooch, Dill, out to the island to check it out. My fingers were crossed that dogs were permitted, which turned out to be the case as long as they’re on lead or in the car.

Ding Darling is a flexible park that fits everybody and every family. If you find yourself entertaining folks with mobility issues or those with small children or infants, everyone can easily get around to the sights without even leaving the car. You can do as much or as little as you choose at this park.

There is an excellent visitor center with friendly, helpful staff that can help you decide what to do. You can drive your own car along wildlife drive or opt for a shuttle tram tour with a guide who explains the flora and fauna along the way.

On my expedition I chose to pick up a few brochures and a map at the visitors center and do my own thing which was to cruise wildlife drive. It’s recently been resurfaced so it’s about four miles of smooth one-way driving through the refuge and mangrove estuaries. When you see something interesting you just pull to the right and hop out to get a closer look. Along the drive there are even some placards with QR codes to get more information via smart phone.

We parked a few times and walked a few short trails just to stretch our legs. Along the way there is a great observation deck. It’s a two story structure with both stairs and a ramp so that visitors can literally get a bird’s eye view of the area. It even has built in binocular stands so you really watch the birds resting on sandbars in the bay. On my tour I was able to see flocks of different birds including Rosie Spoonbills and White Pelicans plus dozens of other types of water fowl like ducks, herons and storks. You’ll enjoy it even if you’re not into bird watching as they’ve placed pictures of the birds with the name of their species and other details so you can learn more.

The cost to enter the refuge is $5.00 for a car, 2.00 for a bike or 1.00 for a pedestrian. The best deal for locals or potential repeat visitors is to spring for the $12.00 for an annual pass. Keep in mind that the park is closed on Fridays so the wildlife can rest. You can stay updated and see other visitor’s adventures on at www.Facebook.com/DingDarlingRefuge

One last thing, don’t forget that you’re also crossing a toll bridge so you’ll need a couple of extra bucks and to allow plenty of extra time to get onto and off of the island especially during winter months. It’s a popular place and it operates on “island time”.

Happy Trails and Boardwalks!

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Special to Southwest Spotlight

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Naples

A mere fifteen miles from I-75 exit 111 is one of the greatest nature preserves in Florida; the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The forest at Corkscrew is the largest remaining old growth Bald Cypress forests in North America. You might have quickly read over that without really appreciating what that means especially Southwest Florida. The forest at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a special place and so very rare that it represents less than 2% of the cypress forest that was once known. The preservation of this stand of five-hundred year old trees has conserved quite a special area for naturists, both novice and experienced, to see a sliver of what old Florida was before the logging companies tore through in the 1940-50’s.

Audubon volunteers are a valuable asset to the sanctuary and often help visitors locate and identify the plants and animals along the way. I’ve been to the boardwalk when telescopes were trained on particular species of birds and small signs were on the boardwalk railings telling visitors which animal, bird or flowers were just a few steps away.There’s about thirteen-thousand acres that make up Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. It’s a marvel of history, nature preserve and an education outpost. One of the most notable features is the two mile wooden boardwalk which has been carefully woven through the cypress preserve. This boardwalk takes visitors into the belly of the forest, through the swamp, across prairies and within inches of some of the most spectacular plants and animals of the Everglades.

It’s not uncommon to see any number of the over two-hundred plus species of birds plus dozens of reptiles and mammals. It is not possible to visit and not see something remarkable. You’re probably even guaranteed a gator sighting. If you visit at the right time of the year you may even be blessed to lay your eyes on the famous “super ghost orchid”.

On my last visit, summer was on the way so there were brilliant, red swamp hibiscus and button bush in blossom everywhere. The flowers had attracted many varieties of butterflies, including hundreds of the rare Ruddy Daggerwing. Butterflies were everywhere we looked and even landing on us. The water in the ponds was still low from the long, dry winter so fishing was good for a few of the resident alligators and a fine collection of wading birds.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a place that everyone in the family can enjoy. The elevated boardwalk is mostly in the shade so it’s cooler than you may imagine, even with summer temperatures returning. There are plenty of benches for rest along the way especially near the ponds so you can watch the birds feeding and the alligators and turtles sun.

When your boardwalk tour is complete be sure to visit the gift shop to cool off and pick up books about Florida nature. There is also the swamp theater you can visit both before and after the boardwalk tour. It is a fifteen minute presentation of the daily and annual cycles of the swamp complete with bird, reptile and predator sounds so you’ll recognize what you hear in the sanctuary.

The facility is open daily so it will be easy for you to find time to visit. To learn more about Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, visit: www.corkscrew.audubon.org. Happy trails … and boardwalks!

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*Special to Southwest Spotlight*

Clam Pass Naples Florida - Things to Do

The traffic on the roads is thinning and it’s possible to actually enjoy a meal out without waiting for a table. To that end I thought it would be fun to help you plan a day-cation so you can unwind from “season” without leaving town. Jackie at Zing Patio Furniture in Naples recommended that I write about Clam Pass Park and Boardwalk. I took her up on the recommendation since I really don’t get to a lot of beaches unless there’s a paddleboard under me.

Clam Pass Park is one of the few parks in the areas with an extensive board walk from parking lot to shoreline. Not to worry, there is a complementary shuttle service if you prefer not to walk. I thought this would make a great day getaway because the boardwalk is fairly long and offers both a physical and mental disconnect from the real world as you walk through a portion of the thirty-five acre mangrove estuary.I honestly don’t recall ever visiting the park so with a fresh set of eyes I rolled out for a tour on one of the blustery days we had in April. A front was rolling through so the skies are moody but it was still a great time. This park isn’t pet friendly so Dill, the fearless Minpin stayed home.

At the trail entry there is a gazebo for guests to wait in shade for the next shuttle. My choice was to walk out the three quarter of a mile boardwalk. I decided to ride the shuttle on the return, as I have not fully developed a tolerant relationship with flip flops.

Most of the boardwalk is shaded by black, red and white mangrove trees. Along the way a bridge crosses over Clam Bay and offers views of the high rises in Pelican Bay and Gulf Shore. I was out in the morning and passed dozens of dedicated walkers in addition to beach goers and guests from the nearby Waldorf Astoria hotel.

Like I said this is a great park if you want to stay local yet feel like you’re on a vacation. The park is full service and offers optional concessions which include beach equipment chair and chaise lounger rentals, paddleboards, kayaks, sand toys for kids, plus food and drink service. There are even restroom facilities on site. You could literally show up at this beach with little more than a swim suit and enjoy a full day of relaxation at the beach.

A few tips for when you visit:

· Bring a little cash to park. The park does have an eight dollar entry fee if you don’t have a Collier County beach pass parking sticker.

· Everyone wants kids to stay safe when swimming so when you get to the gazebo pick up a complementary loaner life vest for your child.

· Pets in the park and bicycles on the boardwalk are prohibited.

· There are complementary beach wheelchairs at the concession for those who may have mobility challenges.

· No live shelling (on any of our beaches).

· The Conservancy offers guided nature tours which run December through April so put that on your list of things to do with house guests next winter.

Happy Trails!

Galt Preserve Pine Island Florida

When I learned that Galt Preserve was cutting the ribbon and opening the trails to the public I decided to organize a girls daycation. Dill, my fearless pooch, was left behind and my one year old granddaughter, Madison, did her best to fill his tiny shoes, Madison’s mom, came to supervise us both. 

A trip to the Galt Preserve in St. James City, Florida is like a great escape in more ways than one. St. James City is on Pine Island. There’s only one way to get to Pine Island on wheels and that’s by driving through Matlacha which serves as an effervescent threshold to the past. Once you cross the Matlacha draw bridge and pass artists cottages you’re on your way to a slower paced Pine Island without a single traffic light and very few franchise based businesses. With exception of the couple of restaurants and the Winn Dixie, Pine Island is mostly mom and pop businesses. It’s reminiscent of Bonita Springs 30 years ago.

We decided to go to Galt Preserve early and catch the speakers who cut the ribbon and then we toured a few of the trails and look-outs. This preserve is labor of love for both conservations and locals who saw the importance of preserving a part of the island for nature while still allowing people to have access to the property. The movement began with members of the Galt Island homeowner association donating the initial funds to secure the first portion of the land. In total, 265 acres was eventually preserved with the assistance of Conservation 2020, the Calusa Land Trust and a Florida Communities Trust grant.

The Galt Preserve offers hiking, bird watching, nature photography and fishing. There are about 2.5 miles of walking trails which are a mixture mowed prairie paths, raised mulch paths and wood-like boardwalks over marsh areas prone to hold water during the rainy season. Parts of this park are ADA compliant with a section of smooth, asphalt paths from parking to one of the lake front look-outs and the restroom facilities. There are also a couple of covered picnic areas so you can pack a lunch to enjoy on site, too.

This park is great for the bird watchers and photographers because of the many types of birds that can be spotted on site. The stars of the show are a nesting pair of eagles that can be easily seen both in the nest and in flight, if you’re patient and keep a watchful eye.

Galt preserve is not only family friendly, its pet friendly, too. Dogs on lead are permitted. We actually ran into a few dogs, including a service dog in training, while on the trail. Madison was able to test the dog’s patience with a complimentary dental exam. A true field study passed by all parties involved.

If you don’t pack a lunch for the preserve be sure to treat yourself to dinner at one of the many locally owned waterfront seafood restaurants before you leave the island. We happened to have stopped at a restaurant called The Waterfront and enjoyed fresh grouper before we headed back to Bonita Springs and the bustle of tourist season on the mainland.

Galt Preserve is located at 3661 Stringfellow Road, St. James City, Florida on Pine Island. You can learn more at www.conservation2020.org. Happy trails and boardwalks!

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Special to Southwest Spotlight

Bonita Springs Home Sales Statistics Nov 2014

Welcome back, Florida snowbirds. If you’re just arriving and beginning your quest to buy or sell your Florida real estate, here’s the latest and greatest happing in the Bonita Springs home sales arena.  You will notice that nearly 77% of our home sales occur under the $400K price point and the 200-400K price point is outselling the 200K and under price point (for the 6th month) because the bottom is selling off and prices are going up.  Excluding manufactured homes and time shares, there are only 12 homes or condos under $100,000 for sale in all of Bonita Springs and Estero Florida. The 100K and under price range is all but gone.

You can see the Bonita Springs real estate market has kept pace since the downturn. The units are likely higher than 180 for 2014 as some sales don’t get recorded until a few weeks after closing.  Expect that number to be higher in a few weeks.

We ran a slightly cash heavy real estate market this month.  We’re at about 63% cash transactions followed by 30% conventional mortgages.  Cash is still moving this real estate market upward.

So, how distressed is Bonita Springs Florida real estate sales?  Well, this is a look at current LISTINGS, actively for sale.  We have less than 4% distress homes in our market place. The prices have gone up so there are fewer short sales and there are only about 2.4% foreclosures.  So, if your dream is to buy a Florida foreclosure you only have a sliver of a chance to get one in your price range, banks are no longer entertaining low ball offers, there are multiple offers on foreclosures and they usually get listed a little under market price to generate a bidding war.  Go forth and get your foreclosure.

This is what the closed sale, real estate transaction for November looked like on December 6 2014.  The mad dash to close those foreclosures by the end of the year is on.   Wow, what a difference a month makes in this type of distressed property arena. 

If you have pointed questions about your own neighborhood or need advice purchasing or selling real estate in the Bonita Springs and Estero Florida area call Chris at 239-273-7430.  Chris is an accredited buyers agent, certified residential specialist and an accomplished strategist when it comes to buying and selling real estate in southwest Florida. To download the November 2014 market report graphs, Click Here

The Gordon River Greenway Naples

This month’s trip was inspired by the recommendation of Willie on The Bonita Springs Community Group on Facebook. As soon as he posted that The Gordon River Greenway was open I went to www.GordonRiverGreenway.org to verify that it was pet friendly. Minutes later l picked up a friend, loaded up my fearless Minpin Dill and we headed to Naples to scope it out.

Let me just say straight up front that this greenway gets a standing ovation for being user friendly and truly accessible for everyone. We chose to park at the south lot which is between the Zoo and the Conservancy on Goodlette-Frank Road. Be sure to drive all the way to the back, it’s a big lot.

We didn’t know what to expect so when we started out we were initially surprised by the width of the raised boardwalk bridge. It’s one of the widest boardwalk trails in SWFL, if not the widest. You might otherwise not notice because you’ll be distracted by the monkeys at the Zoo carrying on. This was officially our first nature walk with a chorus of monkeys.

After the bridge entry the trail widens to about twelve feet of smoothly paved asphalt. This is a perfect destination for runners, walkers and wheels. You name the wheels and you’ll see them on this trail; bikes, strollers, inline skaters, wheel chairs and skate boarders. This is the place for families to be able to go in a group. It’s clean, well-manicured and safe for all ages. Into the evening the paths are lit with LED streetlights and the bridges have under-rail LED rope lighting to illuminate the way.

For those of you with dogs this is a great location to walk them but an even better location to socialize them for training purposes. Dill is still working on his manners so there were plenty of passing dogs and owners to test his sitting and behaving abilities. This continues to be a work in progress for us.

There wasn’t a lot of wildlife to be seen given the newness of the trail and the time of day we went, which was mid-morning. The Gordon River Greenway is exactly the type of Boardwalk Park that is simply going to get better with time as the vegetation fills out and more wildlife moves back. We were able to see a variety of birds and butterflies plus on our way out I noticed a fiery Catesby’s lily that I had missed on the way in.

As we left we did run by the North parking lot just to check it out. Not far from the picnic tables there are some gorgeous pink and white lilies floating in the retention pond just waiting for you to take a picture so swing by before winter steals their water.

When you go, here are a few tips.

· Parking and entry is free.

· No motorized vehicles are permitted on the trail.

· This is a “pack your trash” out park so there are no garbage cans on the trail.

· Pack your dog poo, too, so don’t forget the bags.

· Bring water, there are no vending machines.

· There are several covered places to sit and benches along the way.

· Talk to people on the trail. They’re from all over the world and they so want to know more about Southwest Florida.

Happy trails and boardwalks!

*this article is special to Southwest Spotlight magazine, delivered to homes in Southwest Florida and available in lobbie and sitting areas of local businesses.