Things To Do In SW Florida

The beaches of southwest Florida are some of the most beautiful in the country. But if you’re traveling with pets, you may be wondering where you and your dog can enjoy the beach together.  If you’re searching for a good place to enjoy the surf with your dog, check out one of our picks for the best dog-friendly beaches in Southwest Florida.

Things to know about the dog-friendly beaches in Southwest Florida

Most dog-friendly beaches in Southwest Florida require your dog to be on a leash, except for Bonita Beach Dog Park. It’s important that you research the specific requirements for bringing your dog to the beach for any of the beaches you will visit. It’s also important to be prepared, bring everything you need for your dog. Most important of all be sure to pick up after your dog. Taking care of the beaches will ensure they continue to be dog-friendly. Here are some great tips for taking your dog to the beach.

Bonita Beach Dog Park

Located on a strip of beach on the edge of Lover’s Key State Park in Fort Myers Beach , the Bonita Beach Dog Park is a leash-free beach park. Here dogs roam free and play with each other. It’s so much fun to go for pets and their owners. There is even a doggie shower station to rinse the sand off your dog before leaving! Take into account that this doggy beach is subject to incoming and outgoing tides. Depending on the time and dayo you might have to wade through water during high tide. read more

Whether you’re planning a family getaway or a weekend staycation, the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village has everything you’ll need to enjoy a family vacation in Cape Coral. Since we are locals we often go to the hotel for dinner at Marker 92 or just for a walk along the beautiful marina.  The area is gorgeous, surrounded with beautiful mangrove forests and great waterfront views. 

Great Location

The Westin Cape Coral is the only luxury hotel in Cape Coral, it is just 13 miles from downtown Fort Myers and steps away from some of the best restaurants in the area, most of them great water views .  That means you can enjoy a private retreat at the Westin with all the conveniences of the city.

Located on the Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral, the resort’s grounds offer amazing water views. From the resort, you can view the clear blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Caloosahatchee River and Tarpon Point Marina. From enjoying the panoramic views of the serene water from the comfort of our room or walking around the resort to take in the scenery up close, there was never a time when we didn’t have something beautiful to look at during our stay. read more

Stand up paddle boarding is not just one of the best full body workouts, it’s also a great way to enjoy the water.  Southwest Florida is a fantastic place for paddleboarding with lots of options to enjoy the beautiful beaches and estuaries and view nature from the water.

Best places for paddle boarding in Southwest Florida

Paddleboarding is a great way to explore Southwest Florida from the water. Whether you’re doing it for the first time or you’ve already fallen in love with paddle boarding.

The Caloosa Blueway Paddling Trail is a great place to start with over 190 miles of marked paddling trail you’re sure to find your favorite spots for paddleboarding in Southwest Florida. Just grab a  Caloosa Blueway Paddling Trail map here to find all of the launch locations across Fort Myers, Pine Island, Sanibel and Estero.

Lover’s Key State Park is a great place for paddling. Arrive there early in the morning and avoid windy days so there are no waves.

Tapon Bay in Sanibel is also a great spot for paddling. Located in the J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Reserve there are two launch sites.  Commodore Creek Kayak Trail is a very peaceful paddling trail along the mangrove forest with tranquil waters ideal for novice read more

Southwest Florida is the perfect vacation destination and when it comes to vacationing the Pink Shell Resort and Marina has everything you need for an amazing beach vacation.  The Pink Shell Resort has always been one of our favorite family-friendly resorts and we were so excited to learn that now the Pink Shell Resort is making vacationing in paradise, or anywhere in the world easier and more affordable with the Pink Shell Vacation Club.

Why We Love the Pink Shell Resort

We have always been big fans of the Pink Shell Resort, it’s one of our favorite family-friendly resorts in the area.  This beautiful full-service resort is located on Estero Island, surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Matanzas Pass on the other.

The Pink Shell Resort and Marina has a privileged beach-front location on a quiet stretch of the island only a 5-minute walk from Bowdich Point Park and just blocks away from countless restaurants.  The 12-acre resort has a private beach and it is also home to a full-service marina, two restaurants, a fabulous kid-friendly pool and a splash area for smaller kids as well as a more private pool for relaxing. read more

We recently had the opportunity to try Roy’s new Global Tasting Menu inspired in the flavors of Japan.Global Tasting Menu inspired in the flavors of Japan. This 3-course prix fixe menu offers a choice of one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert and it’s the perfect opportunity to try something new and different and it’s a great option for a date night or for celebrating a special occasion.

This Global Tasting Menu is influenced by Roy’s Japanese heritage. In the restaurant’s unmistakable fusion style Japanese flavors and ingredients are creatively and playfully combined to provide a bold and exciting dining experience.

Start with a choice of Hamachi sashimi with greapefruit, jalapeño, and ponzu gel or short rib and mushroom dim sum served over warm caramelized onion soy jus. Ths shashimi was fresh and the combination of the sweet tanginess of the grapefruit with the jalapeño really complimented the subtle flavor of the fish.

The entree offers a selection of either a 14oz Mongolian glazed porkchop or Togarashi spiced seared salmon. The salmon was fresh and cooked to perfection served over a bed of greens which contained a delicious blend of Honshimeji mushrooms and edamame in a Nori vinaigrette. read more