Southwest Getaways 2008 - (Page 5) southwest getaways Water Fun in Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands Recent Openings in Naples, Marco Island & The Everglades New at The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel Kayak Þshing. Photo courtesy of the Charlotte Harbour & the Gulf Islands CVB. Spend the summer at full tilt at Cape CoralÕs Sun Splash Family Waterpark as you plunge down a trio of new slides from a staggering 56 feet in the air. If you dare, risk the Freefall Plus, where you begin in a tube and drop suddenly into the water. Or heed the quieter call of the great outdoors and check out the new, third phase of the Great Calusa Blueway, which sends paddlers up the Caloosahatchee River. The Blueway takes canoeists and kayakers through the areaÕs waters, following a course once used by Calusa Indians. Fort MyersÕ Lakes Regional Park got a bit greener last year, when thousands of indigenous shrubs and trees were planted throughout the grounds. Up next for the park is a botanical garden, which will complement the parkÕs gorgeous woodland walk. If youÕre in the mood for some pampering, head to Esterra Spa and Salon for a hot stone massage. Fort Myers BeachÕs new full-service day spa and salon, Esterra offers Salt Glow treatments, which will get you beach-ready in no time. Information at: Sun Splash Family Waterpark, 239-574-0557, www.sunsplashwaterpark.com; Great Calusa Blueway, 239-433-3855, www.greatcalusablueway.com; Lakes Regional Park, 239-432-2006, www.leeparks.org; Esterra Spa and Salon, 239-765-4772, www.esterraspa.com Lakes Regional Park. Ivey House in Everglades City. Get your kayak ready: April in Charlotte County means the sixth annual Charlotte Harbor Kayak & Wildlife Festival, a two-day event for paddlers and fans of the great outdoors, featuring kayak races, guided tours and more. For anglers, the festival offers a catch-and-release kayak Þshing competition. The popular festival has been selected a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society. Looking for someone else to chart the waters? The Charlotte Harbor Queen, a gloriously restored paddlewheel boat, is now offering sunset and dinner tours of the harbor. Or jump ship to Grande ToursÕ new ferry service to Don Pedro Island State Park, where youÕll Þnd eight miles of fabulous shelling on a beach so unspoiled youÕll think youÕve been cast away. ThereÕs no shortage of things to do in Charlotte County, and at FishermenÕs Village Waterfront Mall, Resort and Marina, much of the fun can be found under one roof. Want to bring some friends along? The Charlotte County Airport Authority has reopened to scheduled passenger service; the super-discount airline Skybus, which offers ßights from Columbus, Ohio, Boston and Greensboro, N.C., some for as low as $10 plus taxes, started serving the area in late 2007. Information at: Charlotte Harbor Queen Tours, chqueen.com; Grande Tours, 941-697-8825, www.grandetours.com; Fishermen’s Village, 800-639-0020, http://www.fishville.com; Skybus, www.skybus.com Bargain-hunting in Naples is easier since the Big Cypress Market Place recently opened its doors with 87,000 air-conditioned square feet of ßea market shopping, complete with a produce market and tiki bar. A corresponding event center brings antiques, home and garden shows to market as well. Drop your bags at the new Naples Bay Resort, a Five-Diamond luxury hotel set in NaplesÕ Fifth Avenue District (shopping the district just got more convenient with free trolley service on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as $5 valet parking). Or take in a Gulf view at The Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa, which unveils a new inÞnity-edge pool, updated rooms and a golf clubhouse after extensive renovations. Try your hand at Naples TomatoÕs Enomatic system − a self-service wine vending machine the popular restaurant installed in 2007. And now you can puddle-jump from Naples Municipal Airport to Key West in Yellow Air Taxi’s taxi-themed planes. If youÕre hoping to stay close to the Everglades, The Ivey House Bed and Breakfast in Everglades City is a comfortable place to unwind. Information at: Big Cypress Market Place, 239-262-3210, www.bigcypressmarketplace.com; Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa, 239-394-2511, www.marcoislandmarriott.com; Ivey House Bed and Breakfast, 239-695-3299, www.iveyhouse.com; Naples Bay Resort, 239-530-1199, www.naplesbayresort.com; Naples Tomato, 239-598-9800, www.naplestomato.com; Yellow Air Taxi, 888-935-5694, www.flyyellowtaxi.com. Southwest Getaways 5 http://www.sunsplashwaterpark.com http://www.greatcalusablueway.com http://www.leeparks.org http://www.esterraspa.com http://www.bigcypressmarketplace.com http://www.marcoislandmarriott.com http://www.chqueen.com http://www.iveyhouse.com http://www.grandetours.com http://www.naplesbayresort.com http://www.fishville.com http://www.naplestomato.com http://www.skybus.com http://www.yyellowtaxi.com
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