Southwest Florida
All telephone numbers in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Naples, and Marco Island are now in area code 239. Boca Grande and Charlotte County phone numbers remain in area code 941.
Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa, 400 S. Collier Blvd. (tel. 239/394-2511; www.marcoislandmarriott.com), undergoes the final phase of its extensive renovation during the summer and fall of 2006. The resort will renovate the South Tower guestrooms, retail areas, and the Quinn's Pool area.
Naples Grande Resort & Club, 475 Seagate Dr. (tel. 888/422-6177; www.naplesgranderesort.com), formerly the Registry Resort & Club, now features a newly renovated lobby, a new restaurant and additional ballroom space. Sister property Edgewater Beach Hotel & Club, 1901 Gulf Shore Blvd. (tel. 888/325-7711; www.edgewaternaples.com), is also undergoing renovations, with new lobby and redesigned pool and courtyard areas along with new bedding and linens.
Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort, 560 S. Collier Blvd. (tel. 239/394-5000; www.hilton.com), has completed an expansive upgrade featuring floor-to-ceiling windows in the main entrance lobby and a revamped menu at the Paradise Café. Guestroom and penthouse renovations round out the $15 million project.
Stephen Letterman, noted coastal researcher popularly known as "Dr. Beach," has included Collier County's pristine Barefoot Beach, 2 Barefoot Beach Blvd. (tel. 239/353-0404), in his top ten list of America's Best Beaches for 2006. The beach, located just above the city of Naples, features a wild upland preserve, a coastal estuary system open for canoe paddling and a wide expanse of white sand beach. Barefoot Beach is well-loved by both residents and visitors for its peace and quiet, natural beauty, excellent shelling and abundant wildlife.
Florida National Panther Wildlife Refuge, SR 29 (www.floridapanther.org), recently opened two public hiking trails within the refuge -- the first public access to the refuge in its 16 years of existence. The wheelchair accessible Leslie M. Duncan Memorial Trail is .3 miles with a raised, shell-paved trail bed. An additional unimproved loop trail winds 1.3 miles through the refuge.
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette Rd. (tel. 239/262-5409; www.napleszoo.com), has just released 12 new alligators into its alligator pond habitat and added three African red river hogs to the African Oasis area.
Sea Excursions, 705 E. Elkcam Circle (tel. 239/642/6400; www.seaexcursions.com), is offering a new "dolphin experience" cruise aboard the Dolphin Explorer. Lead by a dolphin researcher, passengers participate in the Sea Excursions Dolphin Citizen Science Project to identify and track the movements of resident dolphins around Marco Island.
The Tampa Bay Area
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, 3000 E. Busch Blvd. (tel. 888/800-5447; www.buschgardens.com), has premiered Pirates 4-D, a swashbuckling 4-D comedy adventure starring Leslie Nielsen with multi-sensory theater effects. The park is also introducing an "Anytime" offer for vacationers to come and go as they please with the purchase of any one day ticket.
Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave. (tel. 813/935-8552; www.lowryparkzoo.com), welcomed its first African elephant calf in 2006. The zoo also recently introduced a rare African shoebill stork, an African safari tram-style tour, and a new dining option.
The Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), 4801 E. Fowler Ave. (tel. 813/987-6100; www.mosi.org), gets gross in 2006 with "Animal Grossology", based upon the popular Grossology book series written by Sylvia Branzei. The exhibit introduces some of the slimiest, stinkiest and downright yuckiest creatures on earth!
Orlando and the Theme Parks
Walt Disney World has introduced the ultra-convenient Disney's Magical Express, which provides complimentary shuttle service between Orlando International Airport and any Disney-owned resort. Not only will the shuttle service bring you to your hotel, it will deliver your baggage straight from the plane to your room, allowing you to bypass luggage claim!
The new Omni at ChampionsGate (tel. 407/390-6664; www.omnihotels.com) offers luxurious accommodations, as well as a fabulous array of recreational activities. Nickelodeon Family Suites Resort by Holiday Inn (tel. 877/387-5437 or 407/387-5437; www.nickhotel.com), formerly Holiday Inn Family Suites, officially reopened in May 2005. A multimillion-dollar makeover has transformed the property to reflect a Nickelodeon theme throughout.
The Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld (tel. 800/327-6677 or 407/351-5555; www.renaissancehotels.com) gave their pool and outdoor recreational area a face-lift. The Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort (tel. 407/827-4000; www.hilton.com) has undergone a refurbishment, adding new lighting, carpeting, and furnishings, with more improvements on the way.
Acclaimed chef Todd English has opened Todd English's bluezoo (tel. 407/934-1111; www.toddenglish.com), and it's already the hippest hottest place to dine. The Portofino Bay Hotel's Bice! (tel. 407/503-3463; www.loewshotels.com/hotels/orlando_portofino_bay) is the area's newest upscale Italian restaurant, featuring family-style dining and authentic Italian fare.
Northwest Florida -- Opened in April 2006, the Vacation Therapy Spa at Ocean Walk Resort, 300 N. Atlantic Ave. (tel. 800/649-3566; www.vacationtherapyspa.com), offers guests massages, manicures and pedicures, body treatments, skin care and waxing treatments.Â
In January, the Hilton Daytona Beach Ocean Walk Village, 100 N. Atlantic Ave. (tel. 386/254-8200; www.daytonabeachoceanwalkvillage.hilton.com), celebrated its grand re-opening after undergoing a $20 million refurbishment program.
The Hilton Jacksonville Riverfront, 1201 Riverplace Blvd. (tel. 904/398-8800; www.cpjacksonville.com), converted to the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront in March, 2006. The property will undergo a $3 million renovation of their meeting space, public areas as well as guest rooms.
The Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, 225 E. Coast Line Dr. (tel. 904/588-1234; www.hyatt.com), has undergone an $11 million renovation refurbishing the lobby, all restaurants and bars, and the front desk. The rooftop health club and pool deck have complete renovations and both areas received new equipment.
The Jacksonville Marriott, 4670 Salisbury Rd. (tel. 904/296-2222; www.marriott.com), recently finished a multi-million dollar renovation of the entire hotel. The rooms now include new bedding with down comforters and pillows as well as 100% blackout curtains. Each room also has new furniture with modern hardware throughout the bathroom and sleeping area, including Bath & Body Works products.
The Radisson Riverwalk Hotel, 1515 Prudential Dr. (tel. 904/396-5100; www.radisson.com), is now a Wyndham hotel and in the process of receiving new restaurants, updated bathrooms as well as the installation of new technology throughout the hotel.
Daytona Beach got a new five star dining option with Rain Supper Club, 509 Seabreeze Blvd. (tel. 386/252-7246; www.rainsupperclub.com), the brainchild of Chef Stacey Slott, formerly of NYC's Russian Tea Room and 21 Club. Rain features gourmet fusion cuisine and a hip bar and lounge scene.
Learn to play golf like a pro thanks to Tee Time Entertainment's, (tel. 904/261-1497; www.teetimeentertainment.com), golf programs led by LPGA pros on some of Florida's best courses. Programs take place in a small group environment, with recognition dinners in world-class resorts and on-course golf instruction with course management.
The Panhandle
The Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, has completed its 10 year, $400 million redevelopment plan that includes new stores and restaurants, a new beachside condominium complex, the renovation of the Bayside Inn, and two new Marriott-branded properties. Also, extensively renovated by original course architect Tom Jackson, Sandestin's Baytowne Golf Club, twice hailed by Golf Digest's "Places to Play", has reopened.
After two years of ongoing recovery efforts, a completely restored Boardwalk and Pier on Pensacola Beach is expected to reopen this summer. Hooters, Bamboo Willie's and Alvin's Island gift shop are currently open, while other retail and restaurant spots will open in the fall.
[Editor's Note: To learn the latest on South Florida, read our recent online update on that part of the state.]
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