Our Favorite Time of the Year in Southwest Florida

The next six weeks are one of our favorite times of the year here in Southwest Florida. Tourist season is winding down, kids are back in school, and winter residents won't start flocking in until October. The down time from all the hustle and bustle is always welcome. And, we have the Labor Day weekend to enjoy too.

Like most people who live in Florida, we are avid outdoor enthusiasts. Boating, fishing, trekking. You name it and we jump at the chance to enjoy the beauty of our area. We usually head up to St. Petersburg for the last big weekend of the summer. There's always something happening at Vinoy Park downtown by the Pier and we invariably take a day and head out to Ft. De Soto. It is the largest park in Pinellas County and consists of five interconnected islands offering fine beaches, nature trails, camping and much more. We love it because we can pull the boat up on the back side of Mullet Key and spend the whole day doing whatever makes us happy.

We have a similar situation at home in Bonita Springs. We're 15 minutes away from Lover's Key State Park. In fact, we share the same stretch of the Gulf as our community's private island just across New Pass to the south. The area is a haven for wildlife as the islands and their waters are home to West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, roseate spoonbills and bald eagles. It's a great place for shelling, swimming, and fishing and is without a doubt our favorite place to watch Southwest Florida's breathtaking sunsets.

While all areas of Florida have an abundance of natural beauty and surroundings, we must admit that living further south has one more distinct advantage in our opinion. The Everglades. We're basically 30 minutes from experiencing its wonders by boat, car or on foot. It is truly one of our country's national treasures and has to be experienced to be appreciated.

Depending on our mood and the weather, we can drive over to the Fakahatchee Strand State Park or pull the boat down to Goodland and head out into the Ten Thousand Islands. So, whether we're in the mood to go shark hunting, spend the afternoon on a deserted beach or go looking for ghost orchids, all are just a day trip away. You can rest assured that during this time of the year, we'll find time to do them all.