If you’re looking for something exciting for the whole family to enjoy in Southwest Florida, look no further than an Everglades airboat excursion. Suitable for all ages, these rides offer a great balance of information on how the complex Everglades ecosystem works, thrills, a few splashes, and a chance to see alligators, raccoons, birds, and other wildlife.

We’ve put together a list of our five favorite Everglades tour companies where you can get the ride of your life:

1. WOOTENS

Wooten’s has the distinction of being one of the longest-running airboat tour operators in the western Everglades. Since opening in the 1950’s it has grown into an extensive nature attraction that also offers tours of its animal sanctuary. Wooten’s is home to a Florida panther, tigers, lions, otters, and more than 100 alligators. Experience animal demonstrations, swamp buggy tours, a gift shop, and kayak rentals and tours. You can opt for public or private swamp buggy and airboat rides or a combo package with both tours.

2. JUNGLE ERV’S

Jungle Erv’s offers guests access to private sanctuary land, accessible to no other visitors. Book a Wilderness Airboat Tour or Mangrove Canopy Airboat Tour, or a combination of both. Your tickets get you free admission to an alligator show and boardwalk trail. The boardwalk travels through a raccoon sanctuary, gator slough, mangrove forest, and manatee lookout point.

3. EVERGLADES CITY AIRBOAT TOURS

Operated by a third-generation airboat tour guide, this tour instills pride in guests by keeping tours small—a maximum of six people per boat—and personalized. Guides can communicate with their passengers via two-way headphones. The one-hour narrated tour takes you through tight mangrove tunnels and narrow creeks that the bigger boats can’t navigate properly.

4. CAPTAIN JACK’S AIRBOAT TOURS

With its Total Everglades Combo, you get to tour mangroves and grasslands by airboat, ride aboard a big-wheeled and elevated swamp buggy, visit Captain Jack’s animal sanctuary, see a free alligator show, or even hug a baby alligator for an Instagram post. Home to rescued wildlife, the animal sanctuary houses snakes, turtles, crocodiles, alligators, river otters, and big cats.

4. CAPTAIN MITCH’S AIRBOAT TOURS

A descendant of pioneers in the airboat business, Captain Mitch offers a private tour in a six-seater boat. The business, he likes to boast, is “redneck owned and operated.” During a one-hour tour, learn about the Everglades ecosystem while exploring hardwood tree hammocks, cattail sloughs, and habitat for numerous animals including gators, snakes, bobcats, and bald eagles.

CALL THE WALTER TEAM TODAY FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. PH# 239-821-0994

Southwest Florida is in many ways the crowning jewel of the Sunshine State. The subtropical weather means 365 days of boating, golfing, fishing, paddling, hiking, and Everglades activities, not to mention a wealth of great restaurants, cultural activities, shopping, and the Arts. The beaches here are consistently top-rated among the best in the US, with great swimming and some of the best shelling in the entire world. Can you tell we love it here? It’s why, when we’re not traveling, we call it home!

Naples, Florida is consistently rated as one of America’s Best Vacation Spots, Best Places to Retire, and Best Place to Raise Your Kids, and if you think one place can’t have all this, you’ve probably never been to Naples. This is one city in the US that’s almost as much fun to visit as it is to live here — we loved it so much we chose to make it our forever home many years ago.

As visitors, you’ll be tempted to spend all your time at the tourist hotspots. But there are so many things to do in Naples Florida than what you’ll find in the brochures. So here’s your complete Naples Visitors Guide for when you want to hang where the locals do, visit some lesser known spots in season, or when you come back for second, third, and fourth visit.

Located on southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast at the edge of the Everglades, Naples has palm tree-lined avenues and a glitzy reputation. But the city also has a small-town feel and wears its affluence and easy island style in equal measure, making it a great destination for those seeking a romantic or luxury getaway, family vacation, Everglades adventure, or chill beach vibe. And please check out Sunny Marco Island.

The 280 average days of sunshine is great for year round golf, but there are so many other things to do in Naples as well, making it a favorite destination for couples and families. 

Shopping in Naples Florida is truly an Olympic sport, and yes the beaches are really all that. It’s a restaurant powerhouse, and home to the arts and endless outdoor activities, including some of the best fishing in Florida.  

Honestly, there’s so much to see and do, your biggest decision may be where to begin.

Call the Walter Team today and let us help you with your search in Naples and Marco Island Florida.  PH# 239-821-0994

BUSY MARCO ISLAND SEASON

If you have ever planned a vacation to southwest Florida, you probably planned it when you and your family had some time off.  Most American families get Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter off.  Those just happen to be the 3 busiest holidays and weeks of the year on Marco Island and Naples, Florida.

Eco-tour operators, hotels, restaurants and local businesses all rely on “Season” which typically runs from Thanksgiving through Easter on Marco Island and peaks during the middle of March.  The population of Marco Island is around 15,000 full-time residents and that will almost quadruple to 55,000 people during March and April.  …but why?  There are 2 big reasons:

1) Spring Break:
Every elementary and high school up north have a different week that they have spring break vacation on.  So eco-tour operators, restaurants, shops and businesses will be extremely busy for at least 6 weeks from the beginning of March through the middle of April.  Easter also plays an important role as it’s on a different date every year, so that can also shorten up or lengthen the tail-end of busy season in April.  Usually around April 23rd, all the spring breakers have headed north to go back to school and Marco Island returns to normal.

2) Snowbirds:
Usually when the first big snow storm hits up north, retirees or people that have a secondary home on Marco Island and Naples, will stay 4-5 months to here to avoid the harsh winters up north.  November through April temperatures on Marco Island and Naples are very accommodating.  Usually in the 70’s with low humidity and very little rain.  You know season has begun when all the transport semi-trucks arrive with all the high end cars on them.

Call the Walter Team today for your perfect place here on Sunny Marco Island.  PH# 239-821-0994

Marco Island is as far southwest as you can go in Florida without plunking into the Everglades. It’s a sunny lush beautiful island with a massive network of canals and a laid back vibe The Ten Thousand Islands, small mangrove islands full of all types of native (and a few invasive) species, lie close to the sugar sandy beaches of Marco Island.

Marco itself is clean and quiet, and has breathtaking beaches with sand that feels like flour under your feet. Having said that we should also mention that there are a lot of small shells so footwear to protect your – well your foots – is recommended! Shelling on Marco Island is some of the best you will find all over the world.  Marco Island is a good place for people who like to relax, swim, enjoy nature and go boating or fishing, dining and shopping. So explore and enjoy the stunning sunny Island.

The local joke is that “Marco midnight” is at 9:00 p.m. That’s a ridiculous joke though – it’s more like 9:15.

The easiest way to get to Marco Island is to fly into Fort Myers (RSW) and don’t stop – rent a car and drive straight to Marco Island (about 45 minutes). Fort Myers provides a lot of hysterical Florida dumb criminal news and is the Spring training home of the Boston Red Sox. But, unless one or both of things intrigues you, skip it. (And if you want to see the Red Sox in Spring Training you can stay on Marco and be at JetBlue Park in less than an hour.)

Before you rent a car from the airport at Fort Myers spend some time looking for a good deal because prices can vary a lot. You will probably want a car anyway when you’re on the island but, if you don’t, there are a couple of car services that can get you there from RSW. Don’t plan to take a cab because it’s highly unlikely that there will be any. You might be able to get Lyft or Uber at least one way.

You can bicycle your way fairly easily around the island when you get here or take a local taxi that has a flat fee of $6 no matter where you want to go on the island. (If you bicycle, please wear a helmet, there are a lot of car and bike collisions and the cyclists never win.) There’s also a Hertz office at the Marriott on the island and an Enterprise office that sometimes has good short-term rental deals.

So in short come to sunny Marco Island and enjoy all this Island paradise has to offer.  Then call the Walter Team to look at properties for sale.  The Walter Team will help you find the perfect place on the island to call home.  It is our honor to help you in our Sunny Island Paradise.  Call us today Ph# 239-821-0994.

In Marco Island, the summers are sunny, breezy, rainy, hot, quiet, and very relaxing. Marco Island winters are short, comfortable, windy, and mostly sunny clear. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 56°F to 91°F and is rarely below 45°F or above 94°F.  In other words Marco Island weather is perfect and one of the reasons we call it paradise.

The Marco Island Summers  lasts for 4.4 months, from May 21 to October 2, with an average daily high temperature above 88°F. The hottest day of the year is August 7, with an average high of 91°F and low of 76°F.

The Marco Island Winters lasts for 2.6 months, from December 9 to February 27, with an average daily high temperature below 77°F. The coldest day of the year is January 17, with an average low of 56°F and high of 74°F.

Please call the Walter Team today to discover our beautiful tropical island with perfect weather so we can help you find the perfect piece of heaven on earth to own.  It will be our honor to work for you.  PH# 239-821-0994.

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAPPENINGS

HOLIDAY ON THE BAY VENETIAN VILLAGE

November 30, 2019 – December 24, 2019

Enjoy a festive snow show and take delight in holiday entertainment including complimentary photos with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, Dickens Period Carolers, dance group performances and extraordinary shopping and dining all evening.

WINTER SIZZLE SWFL RESTAURANT WEEK

December 2, 2019 – December 15, 2019

From Marco Island to Cape Coral and everywhere tasty in-between, Sizzle SWFL Restaurant Week is a semi-annual charity driven promotion that celebrates dining out at an affordable price in both Lee and Collier Counties.

7TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY STROOL

December 6 – December 21, 2019

Your whole family is invited to a holiday extravaganza. Experience thousands of twinkling lights, visit with Santa, roast up some s’mores, listen to live music, skate on an “ice” rink, and watch holiday movie classics.

NAPLES CHRISTMAS BOAT PARADE

December 14, 2019

Pick your spot along Naples Bay to enjoy the colorful and sparkly annual Christmas Boat Parade on Naples Bay. The parade may be viewed from Landings Park, Bayview Park, the Pinchers and Riverwalk restaurants at Tin City, Kelly’s Fish House, The Boat House Restaurant, or Naples City Dock.

NEW YEARS EVE FIREWORKS

December 31, 2019

Find a spot anywhere along Naples Beach for the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks, blasting off from Naples.

FORT MYERS BEACH NEW YEARS CELEBRATION

December 31, 2019

An all-day event of live music, happy hours, and celebrations all leading up to the big event. Watch the ball drop at midnight and enjoy the fireworks afterwards.

MARCO ISLAND

Closed Sales

During the 12-month period ending October 31, 2019 a total of 811 sales were reported, down 4.9% from the same period the prior year when there were 853 sales.

New Listings/Inventory

Available inventory as of November 1, 2019 for the Marco Island market totaled 620 units, up 3.7% compared to 598 units as of the same date the prior year. Months of supply, at 9.17 months, was up 9% compared to 8.41 months posted a year ago. During the 12 months ending October 31, 2019, 1,424 listings were added to the Marco Island market, a 7% increase over the preceding 12-month period when 1,331 listings were added.

Average and Median Sales Price

Pricing of closed sales over the past 12 months averaged $804,391, a 2.1% increase compared to the preceding 12 months when an average of $787,991 was posted. When comparing the same two periods, median pricing was up 5.6% from $582,616 to $615,354.

*Marco Island statistics are obtained from the Marco Island MLS system and include only those sales and current listings on Marco Island and Key Marco.

Whether you’re taking a vacation to a tropical island this holiday break or you’re just headed down the street to the ocean nearby, celebrating Thanksgiving at the beach can be a blast. However, if you’re planning to celebrate Thanksgiving on the beach this year, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Take Turkey in Fun Directions 
It’s Thanksgiving; of course you need turkey. But that doesn’t mean that you need to lug a fully cooked 25-pounder down to the beach. Instead, consider turkey alternatives. For example, you could make gourmet turkey and stuffing paninis, Thanksgiving pizza or bite-size turkey h’orderves. This is a great opportunity to think outside the box.

A major factor in what type of turkey dishes you should bring depends on how many guests you’ll be hosting, as well as the weather. Is a homemade turkey stew the best option or should you go with shredded turkey tacos?

Bring Plenty of Cocktails
Whether you want to stick to classic beach drinks like margaritas or seasonal variations like a frozen Cape Codder, cocktails are key for any beach festivity. Make sure you use your blender to prepare your drinks.

Try Ocean-inspried Side Dishes 
Don’t just stick to the traditional mashed potatoes and green beans. Incorporate shrimp, scallops and other delicious seafood options into your turkey day side dishes.

Play Thanksgiving Games
It’s Thanksgiving vacation, take the chance to play holiday games. Try your hand at some touch football on the sand or a version of corn hole where you toss cans of cranberry sauce.

CALL THE WALTER TEAM TODAY FOR YOUR PERFECT SPOT ON OR NEAR THE BEACH. PH# 239-821-0994