2022 Fall Newcomers Guide
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1504028
NORTH PORT NORTH PORT 2022 2022 SUN News Media CALL US FOR YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS 941-426-9572 adno=3859827-1 Voted Best Insurance Agency 14 Years in a Row NEWCOMERS GUIDE TO PARADISE 18 FILE PHOTO The Ca' d'Zan or "House of John," on the Ringling campus. The Venetian Gothic residence was the winter home of the American circus owner, developer and art collector John Ringling and his wife Mable. The campus also is home to the John & Mable Museum of Art, the Ringling Circus Museum and the Historic Asolo Theater. SARASOTA This city was once the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus and offers a blend of culture, fine dining, pristine beaches and shopping opportunities. Attractions include the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Ca' d'Zan Mansion and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. St. Armand's Circle, Burns Square and Main Street downtown are popular shopping spots. NORTH FORT MYERS North Fort Myers is on the Caloosahatchee River and has a blend of town and country. There are plenty of restaurants and shops as well as nature trails and rural attractions such as the Rosy Tomorrows Heritage Farm. It's also home to The Shell Factory, the world's largest collection of shells and coral. BOCA GRANDE Boca Grande is an affluent residential community and resort town on Gasparilla Island. It is highlighted by a circa-1890 lighthouse and has a walking- and biking-friendly downtown small shops and restaurants. he Gasparilla Inn, with its three croquet lawns, is the centerpiece. Boca Grande has long been an elite retreat for business leaders, politicans and movie stars, including Katherine Hepburn. FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach is on Estero Island which has beaches, hotels, restaurants and shops. This includes a pedestrian-friendly shopping and dining district called Times Square. Remnants of the native Calusa culture can be seen at the Mound House where there are archaeological exhibits. The Matanzas Pass Bridge connects the island to the mainland. BABCOCK RANCH Babcock Ranch is a solar-powered com- munity in southeastern Charlotte County and northeastern Lee County. It also is a regional outdoor adventure destination because of its trails, lakes and eco-tours. The community has a charter school, restaurants, a lakeside boardwalk and a band shell for live entertainment. FILE PHOTO The light house on Gasparilla Island is a popular attraction. SHUTTERSTOCK Times Square in Fort Myers Beach, considered the heart of Estero Island's downtown with shops, restaurants and the Fort Myers Beach Pier.