Naples Florida advice please

F

Ferg

New member
My wife and I are taking our 25 down for a couple of weeks in early February, and we're completely unfamiliar with there. We mostly just want to enjoy some warm weather, eat at some nice restaurants and explore the general vicinity.

Is it reasonable to be able to take her out on the gulf and take a 5 hour cruise to other nice places.

Suggestions and advice are much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ferg
 
We live in Naples and we take our 23 CC (venture) out in the Gulf regularly .Watch the weather anything out of the northwest can be quite a ride . There's lots to do great restaurants on the water Marco Island and off course the 10,000 Islands going down toward the Keys . Send me a pm and we can meet up Jim
 
It's OK in the Gulf, but keep an eye on the weather. If bad weather there's always the ICW and Charlotte Harbor. Everglades City and the Ten Thousand Island area is south of Naples by about 35 nautical miles, with lots of places to duck into along the coast if the weather goes bad. I took my CD-22 along that coast to the Keys in 2005, and south-to-north from Key Largo again in about 2013. Take lots of BUG SPRAY!
 
Guyz,

I dropped off my 26 Venture in Goodland in October for my stay on Marco
starting next week. New to this part of FL*, anxious to fish the 10,000, cruise,
tip a few day timers then wrestle a 'gator. I'll be around a couple + months for
the fun stuff. Maybe longer to haunt this site.

If you want to connect with the C-Brats 'bad boy' (according to several here),
respond or send a PM.

Aye.

* born an hour or so north a lifetime ago
 
We were in Naples several years ago, cruising in our sailboat. We left from there to go to the Keys. Marcos Isle was great, the first time I saw a horseshoe crab.

Here's a few things I remember. First, it's right next to the Everglades, which we toured by car. I now wish we could take the 25 back there because the ocean side of the Everglades is wonderful. Try and cruise them. And make sure you tour the land side of the Everglades.

Next, the moorings and even the docks were in thin water. This may not be a concern for you but we were in a West Coast boat, draft 6'.

I also remember the harbor patrol gave us a hard time because we were cruisers. He kept telling us what we were doing wrong, etc., etc. They were not fond of cruisers. Have your current registration for the boat AND dinghy.

Finally, on our trip down to the Dry Tortugas we kept dodging crab pots. They must of set millions of them. Glad I had a line cutter on the prop shaft but felt sorry for the pot owners.

Boris
 
We boat in Charlotte Harbor and no help but it is stone crab season . Delicious If in a car, Peace river Seafood is by Punta Gorda airport and I75
 
Naples/Marco area is beautiful. Ferg/Foggy, I advise taking up Jim's (Jennykatz) kind offer to PM him re options, he lives there and knows all the ins and outs and is a very reasonable and experienced fellow C-Brat.
Be aware as you go down towards the Everglades it's very lonely; there is not much VHF radio reach and no cellphone service; it's not like Clearwater. I'd have a rented EPIRB from USBOAT or at least a PLB. Expect the usual northern Artic blast once a week or so to last for 3 days of Small Craft Adv conditions and be prepared.
I don't advise going to the Dry Tortugas in a C-Dory (even mine) based on a Fast Ferry trip there last Dec and a Seaplane trip earlier this month. Boris says there are 'millions' of lobster pot lines, but I say there are '10 million' and with typical wind waves you can't see the floats in the whitecaps.
Much more importantly, there is nothing much to see or do once you're there for 8 hours of snorkeling/fort tour. The huge cat pass ferry and 2 seaplanes are virtually next to you in the small harbor, no privacy at all.
You guys can take the Marco Island ferry to Key West ($164), then the Seaplane (highly recommended, $327 half day) or Freedom Ferry ($189 all day) to Dry Tortugas and check it out yourself.
Exploring the Keys by boat is much more interesting, even if you limit yourself to off the path beach bars that don't serve alcohol til 8am and do allow large wet dogs and sailors.
Key West is golden if you happen to be retired DoD. NAS marina transient slips are $1/ft, 2BR clean mobile homes on Trumbo Point for $70/night, 3 BR cottage with screened porch $120/night, Ft Zach annex beach right next to state park free, 10% discount at tony Stock Island Marina Village, etc etc. we'll be back every year!
Happy Boating and Happy New Year!
John
 
Going north to the South end of Sanibel Island is the Sanibel Marina. Beautiful spot and nice and clean with a great restaurant. Wonderful island to bicycle. Bike lanes the entire length of the island. You can also rent a car for cheap within walking distance at a little gas station. Huge outlet mall (wife may like) on the mainland side of the Sanibel bridge.

North of Sanibel island and attached by a bridge is South Seas Plantation and marina on Captiva Island which is absolutely beautiful with tons of dolphin and manatees inside the marina (not cheap but worth it for a night).

North from there is Cabbage Key, a small island historical restaurant with a few cabins, which I have always loved. Stop by for lunch or anchor out and dinghy in for dinner. It's right off the ICW.

You are going to LOVE it down there and I'm sure you will return.
 
From South Seas Resort you can take one of their trollies to Captiva. Cool little town with some nice restaurants and the bar/restaurant on the end (Gulf side) is where everyone goes to watch the sunsets.
 
I don't know how far north you are going but Marina Jacks Marina in downtown Sarasota is fantastic. Tons of great restaurants within walking distance. Cool place!
 
Crow's Nest in Venice is a really cool place too with a great restaurant at the marina. They have free loner bicycles so you can explore.

Careful of the tide when docking. It can kick your butt.
 
I just found out that I'm doing a two week cruise down there in them middle of May so I've been doing some research.

Not far south of you is a really cool place (never been but heard about) in Everglade City up the Barron River. They say dock away from the air-boat rental place (loud). Couple of good restaurants close also.

http://www.evergladesisle.com/

Another cool place that I have spent some time is Salty Sam's in Ft Myers. Fun place with good food. http://www.saltysamsmarina.com/home
 
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