I was born in Naples, I've lived almost every year of my life here since Nixon was President. The…read morehouse I grew up in backs up to Goodlette Road, and I'm old enough to remember the trains rolling behind our house frequently and learned how to count by the number of cars on the trains. I also remember when Goodlette Road stopped at Pine Ridge, and there were these strange concrete pilings at the corner of both roads and where the train tracks continued north past Pine Ridge Road. We never really knew their meaning or their purpose when we were kids because there was nothing there to explain what they were. I only learned about their meaning over the past 20 years. As Naples has grown over the past 5 decades, I know I'm not the only one who has forgotten about Plot N the thousands of times I've driven by it in my lifetime. I'm ashamed to say it. I won't forget now, and I'm definitely going to be telling more people about it. Today, I finally took some time to come back here and pay my respects to these forgotten souls. I was pleasantly surprised to see a dedicated plaque from a local Boy Scout Troop explaining the history and significance of Plot N. There are 8 new, beautiful markers that say "Rest In Peace" on each one. The entire area looks well managed with new landscaping. The Troop who rededicated this plot needs to be commended for preserving and honoring these original Neapolitans who richly deserve to be remembered. I hope they put another sign on the opposite side of the post that faces the parking lot for South Street so more people would be aware of what is there. I'd bet 99% of people who shop in this plaza have no idea of the significance of this little strip of land. If you've lived in Naples for a significant amount of time, I'd recommend everyone take a moment to visit.

Plot N is a quirky part of Naples history. At the corner of Pine Ridge and Goodlette-Frank roads…read moreare four concrete posts that are the site of 8 graves. A map from 1944 that plots out where graves are located has this spot labeled as labeled 'Plot N 8 Negro Graves Unmarked'. In the 1930's Naples was home to less than 3,000 people. Most of the people who came to Naples were wealthy snowbirds from the north. Only a few people lived here year round. It is believed that the people buried here were involved in the building of the railroad. Naples like all of Florida was segregated. African-Americans of the time worked as laborers laying the railroad tracks, logging, farming and domestic work. A train used to run where Goodlette-Frank road is today which is why it is thought that the people buried here had something to do with the railroad. It is believed that people who are buried were possibly killed while working on the railroad. With no permanent records it is unlikely that the mystery of who is buried here will ever be solved. Another site listed as plot W was paved over before any examination for graves was ever done. Plot B is the Rosemary Cemetery which has a wrought iron fence around it and is in the parking lot of a CVS. The city restored that site in the mid nineties. Paved over and lost graves is not an unusual story in Florida. As cities grew they weren't always precise in moving graves before building. Unless someone can find documentation or do ground penetrating radar, how many people are here and who they were will remain a secret.

While driving through the Florida Everglades, I saw a large Bigfoot statue on the side of the road…read more We drove by it without thinking too much of it but I couldn't just pass up the photo opportunity so we made the first U-turn I could make and backtracked to check out this funky, little place. Let's be honest here. It is a tourist trap through and through but if you don't like Bigfoot, you obviously have no joy in life. Just keep driving bub. Now, I'm not a local but I know plenty about the Skunk Ape. Bigfoot's smelly cousin basically. I've seen the interesting pictures (some are more believable than others) and I usually stay away from any story that starts with "It was a very dark night and I was stumbling home from the bar... But hey, I've seen the Patterson Gimlin Film and you cannot convince me that that is a man in a monkey suit. You can see the muscles of that creature move while it walks! But I digress, back to the Skunk Ape HQ. We stopped for three things: to snoop, to poop, and to shop for a souvenir (can't think of another oop, damn). The gift store has quite the selection of Skunk Ape and Bigfoot memorabilia to look through - t-shirts, stickers, mugs, stuffies, and a very oddly illustrated book about Goldilocks and the Three Squatches. The bathroom had some interesting articles clipped out from local newspapers about sightings in the area and even a flier for an upcoming Bigfoot hoedown. There was another one about Bigfoot stealing someone's girlfriend. Interesting. There is a small reptile zoo that you have to pay extra for and we decided to skip it and get back on the road. This place is also a rustic campsite, so if you are really serious about meeting the big, stinky fella, that is probably the best way to it. Just make sure you don't become the big guy's next hostage or snack, whatever those things decide to do with us. I've seen Harry and the Henderson's - I bet that camping trip would be tight. Anyways, I bought a sticker to put on my cooler. Oh, and yes we did snap a few pictures of that statue. Maybe one day I will drag the family back here and we will go hollering for some Squatches. Who knows, I might just get some pictures and video and you will all say - Hey, that's the guy that wrote the Yelp review about the Skunk Ape that one time... Yeah, that would be pretty rad.

Wonderful place to visit!…read more This place is a fun road side stop! Tons of things to look outside as well as inside! The gift shop is well stocked with assorted wear and trinkets. Plus there's a reptile museum inside! The outside has a huge skunk ape plus there's a giant panther and gator to see! Definitely a must stop road side attraction!

Homage to the Sun is a sculpture located in downtown Naples in front of the City Hall. The piece…read morewas constructed of brushed aluminum by artist Wayne Hook. It was given to the city in 1979 in honor of Harry F. Montgomery, a resident of Kansas City Missouri and Naples, Florida. Situated in a fountain, the sculpture looks like a person with their arms stretched up to the sun. Homage to the Sun caught my eye when I was walking around Cambier Park across the street. I love the idea of this sculpture honoring the sun as we are all sun worshippers in Florida. The large size of the sculpture makes it a stand out. More outdoor art works can be found steps away in Cambier Park and adorning the outside of the Naples Arts Association that sits on the edge of the park. You can do a self guided art work in this beautiful corner of downtown Naples.

We went to this event on 11.21.10 and went again today (11.18.12). It is still just as good, and…read moreperhaps even better. We tried Pastrami on Rye ($3), Prime Rib Sliders ($2), Shrimp cocktail with lots of shrimp ($2), 4 yummy BBQ ribs ($3), and maybe some other stuff, then proceeded to waddle home. This year there were only locally owned "mom & pop" restaurants allowed to participate and that proved to be a big plus.This continues to be the best "taste" event in the area that we have been able to find. Burp.

Taste of Bonita is one of the biggest events in the area. It welcomes back the seasonal residents…read moreand introduces them to new restaurants and brings them back in touch with old favorites. The festival is usually the 3rd Sunday in November and is hosted by Bonita Springs Rotary Noon. The official website is www.TasteOfBonita.com

Such a great community event! Truly loved seeing the local vendors, restaurants, musicians and…read morecommunity members come together for this inaugural event. I hope this continues into the future.

It took a bit of research to find the name and details because this lovely sculpture doesn't have a…read morecaption or explanation nearby. Maybe there's one inside City Hall? Nonetheless, this sculpture is "Moons of the Galaxy." The artwork is about fifteen feet tall and is a multi-layered piece, almost an obelisk (and you know I love obelisks https://www.yelp.com/collection/_qW015GIAUpX1-YLYabLoQ). It is brightly colored and impossible to miss as you head east on Bonita Beach Road. The online caption reads, "Since the dawn of time earth's moon has lit up our nights and created a sense of wonder in humankind. Luckily, the city of Bonita Springs has been fortunate to acquire a moon to call its own. Currently on display at Bonita City Hall, "Moons of the Galaxy", is one of the latest creations from Pinellas County artist, Clayton Swartz. The towering metallic sculpture was approved by the Art in Public Places Board (APPB), to be featured as a permanent fixture to highlight the city's commitment to the arts and beautification of the community." [Review 19276 overall - 1625 in Florida - 246 of 2023.]

The River District in downtown Fort Myers has an old southern town comfort feel. Kinda like a one…read morecop town with a heavy artsy historic influence. My visit to this area (on First Street) I came here with a buddy and went to the Ford's Garage restaurant which was a perfect addition to the district with it's 1920s theme. This River District is an easy walkable area with corporate businesses, arts & cultural and restaurants.

We love Fort Myers. It is where you go when you want to live a college lifestyle again. Great…read moremusic, friendly people, reasonable parking rates. Constant events especially by the waterfront.

I aged in reverse immediately after drinking a small sip. It tastes terrible but the experience was…read moreworth more than 5 stars!

This gets five stars for being one of the strangest finds on my travels. Ever since Ponce de Leon…read moreset out to find the fabled Fountain of Youth 500 years ago, Florida has been awash in dozens of bodies of water that claim to be the fabled waters. The people of Punta Gorda think they have the right artesian well. In 1926 the residents raised enough money to build a fountain to tap into the aquifer below it. The green tiled fountain has tiles of ships on all four sides in honor of Ponce de Leon. For years people drank from the fountain and regaled each other with tales of the waters healing properties. In its prime the tap on the fountain had to be replaced every six months because it kept wearing out. The same water was used to fill the pool at the Hotel Punta Gorda. In 1974 Congress passed the Clean Water Act. In the 1980's the EPA finally got around to testing the fountain and found that the water was contaminated. Artesian water is low oxygen which brings out the radon. After determining that the water was radioactive officials tried to shut the fountain down but were stymied by the resistance of local residents. The radium limit on water is 5 picoCuries per liter and the water in the fountain was almost twice that, clocking in at 9.2 picoCuries per liter. The water is also high in magnesium which is good for your health and is a mineral many people are deficient in and in sulfur which makes it smell like rotten eggs. The health department slapped a warning on the side of the fountain and things have been pretty quiet for the past 15 years although some people still show up with empty gallon jugs to take the water with them. The radioactivity and smell was enough to deter me from trying the water.

The Whispering Giant Calostimucu is an art piece carved from a 20 foot Enterolobium Cyclocarpum…read moretree known as the elephant ear or monkey pod tree. The tree is said to be similar to mahogany. The piece was commissioned in 1974 by Fred Babcock who owned the Holiday Inn. He discovered the tree damaged by lightning on his land in 1973 and he had seen Hungarian artist Peter Wolf Toth's work in Georgia. Toth had experienced repression in his native country and was shuttled among various refuge camps. When he immigrated to Ohio he became interested in Native American culture because he saw a parallel in the way they were treated and what he experienced. Toth traveled the country over 20 years and donated at least one work in each state and two in Canada. His first carving was a stone Native American head in a cliff in La Jolla California in 1972. After that he switched from stone to wood. His last carving was number 58 in May of 1988 in Haleiwa, Hawaii. The collection of large works is called the Trail of Whispering Giants. According to Toth "The statue is not just to honor Native Americans; it's to represent all people who have suffered injustices." The carving took three months to make and it sits in front of the historic A.C. Freeman House. It originally resided in front of the Best Western, previously the Holiday Inn until Hurricane Charley in 2004 damaged much of the hotel. The carving includes the emerging dream of a dying bison on it's back coming out of the top and eagle with a broken wing meant to represent the prejudice and injustice Native people have faced. The sculpture also features the faces of a Native American man and woman. It was Toth's tenth piece and the only one to feature two faces. The artwork was first dedicated in 1974. It was rededicated on January 20, 2006 and a time capsule was buried at the base.

This piece of public art for display is really cool! Directions tell you to pull into the parking…read morelot behind the Italian restaurant and if you can't find it the artwork is on the corner by the road in front of the yellow house behind the restaurant.