subject: Southwest Florida from A To C [print this page] Southwest Florida from A To C Southwest Florida from A To C
A
Animals of all sorts, many of them quite peculiar, make their homes in the Naples Floridaarea. The anole, a ubiquitous lizard that scampers about gardens, driveways and the occasional living room, is harmless and eats bugs, so don't squash it. The manatee, a gentle sea cow on the endangered species list, feeds in our warm waters, particularly around the Florida Power & Light Co. plant on the Caloosahatchee River east of Fort Myers. Manatee zones established in the river require boaters, the lumbering manatee's only enemy, to slow down. And alligators are plentiful, often visible sunbathing on a cushy golf green, lying stump-like in lakes and roadside canals, and, come spring, on the move looking for love. It's illegal to feed them (because they lose their fear of man and become dangerous) and it's always advisable to steer clear of them, especially in the summer when momma gators fiercely defend their nests, eggs and hatchlings.
B
Beaches and boating are big deals year-round in this region. Shell-laden beaches draw millions of visitors each year to Sanibel Island, where you can also see specimens in the Bailey Matthews Shell Museum. Among other popular beaches are Lovers' Key, just south of Fort Myers Beach and the only beach where dogs are allowed; Sarasota's Siesta Key public beach, an eight-mile expanse of pure white crystal; Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area in north Collier County; and Marco Island's Tigertail Beach. Nearly 100,000 boats roam the waters of Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Sarasota and Manatee counties, which means there's a whole lot of fishing, water-skiing and nature watching going on. Beware the area's one curse: lots of shallow water. Get a chart and use it. They don't call the channel at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee "Miserable Mile" for nothing.
C
Concert halls bring stars to earth. The Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts and the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers provide venues for all sorts of celebrities and shows. The Phil, which has its own symphony orchestra, is the west coast home for the famed Miami Ballet. In Sarasota, the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall has hosted such luminaries as Luciano Pavarotti, Leonard Bernstein, Bob Dylan, the Chicago Symphony, Vladimir Horowitz and a very long list of Broadway, children's and family shows. And TECO Arena in Estero, built primarily for the East Coast hockey league team, the Everblades, has hosted concerts by Elton John and Sting.
