Florida Suncoast Magazine

13 Small Hotels in Lee County Win Prestigious White Glove Award

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:47:24 +0000

(Lee County, FL – December 22, 2009) Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, Florida Superior Small Lodging Association (SSL) today announced that 13 local hotels have been named winners of the organization’s prestigious Donal A. Dermody White Glove Award for housekeeping excellence.

While there are thousands of hotels, motels, B&Bs, travel lodges, inns, beach houses, resorts and other hospitality destinations across the state, offering 370,000 rooms to Florida’s more than 80-million annual visitors, only 13 locations in Lee County have earned this year’s highly coveted White Glove Award, including six locations in Sanibel, four in the Fort Myers Beach area, and one each in Bokeelia, Cape Coral and Pine Island.

Beach House Lodge
7702 Bocilla Lane
Bokeelia, FL 33922
239.283.4303
www.beachhousefl.com

Beach Shell Inn
2610 Estero Blvd.
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
239.463.9193
www.beachshellinn.com

Blue Dolphin
4227 West Gulf Drive
Sanibel, FL 33957
239.472.1600
www.bluedolphincottages.com

Bokeelia Tarpon Inn
8421 Main Street
Bokeelia, FL 33922
239.283.8961
www.tarponinn.com

Casa Loma Motel on the Waterfront
3608 Del Prado Blvd. S.
Cape Coral, FL 33904
239.549.4877
www.casalomamotel.com

Fountain Motel
131 Estero Blvd.
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
239.463.2611
www.fountainmotel.net

Gulf Breeze Cottages
1081 Shell Basket Lane
Sanibel, FL 33957
239.472.1626
www.gbreeze.com

Manatee Bay Inn
932 Third Street
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
239.463.6906
www.manateebayinn.com

Palm View Inn
706 Donax Street
Sanibel Island, FL 33957
239.472.1606
www.palmviewsanibel.com

Sandpiper Inn
720 Donax Street
Sanibel, FL 33957
239.472.1606
www.sandpiperinnsanibel.com

Silver Sands Villas
1207 Estero Blvd.
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
239.463.2755
www.silversands-villa.com

Sunshine Island Inn
642 E. Gulf Drive
Sanibel, FL 33957
239.395.2500
www.sunshineislandinn.com

The Palms of Sanibel
1220 Morningside Place
Sanibel Island, FL 33957
239.395.1775
www.palmsofsanibel.com

“The White Glove Award is our organization’s highest recognition for housekeeping achievement,” said Donna Boucher, SSL’s executive director. “Properties must receive a Total Housekeeping Score of 100% in their annual review to receive this award.”

“The Donal A. Dermody White Glove Award recognizes hotel owners who have made outstanding contributions to SSL’s mission and business objective of benchmarking housekeeping excellence and exceptional service,” she added.

About Florida Superior Small Lodging Association:
Visitors to Florida who are seeking a unique guest experience with personalized service at affordable rates can rely on the Florida Superior Small Lodging Association (SSL) for help in choosing the perfect family-friendly accommodations that are guaranteed to be clean, friendly and safe. For a plethora of valuable information about picturesque, top quality, small hotels with authentic Florida charm, please visit www.superiorsmalllodging.com.

Myakka River State Park , Experience Old and Natural Florida

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:51:50 +0000

One of the greatest ways to experience the beautiful gulf coast of Florida is to plan a visit to one of the two state parks in the region. As a Florida Native who has lived here an entire life time, I have seen Florida transformed from the old Florida where you could drive along Gulf Boulevard and see the waves rolling into the white sandy beaches amidst the widely scattered quaint hotels lining the beach without ever opening your car door. Beaches were lined with the beautiful Australian pine trees providing beach goers a naturally shady place to picnic and relax while still enjoying the beach sheltered from the hot Florida sunshine.

Although I still think the gulf coast beaches are amongst the most beautiful in the world, I find myself reminiscing back to a time when crowds were small and the quaint mom and pop hotels and restaurants that lined the beaches emanated a truly local flair and style that was undeniably old Florida. The gulf coast beaches are one of the most popular destinations for locals and tourists visiting the area, but if you are seeking something that is more like the Florida of old, consider a camping trip or one day outing to one of the state parks located throughout the gulf-coast.

Myakka River State Park is amongst the oldest and largest state parks in Florida and protects one of the state’s most diverse and natural areas. The Myakka River flows through fifty-eight square miles of natural wetlands, prairies, and pinelands and provides visitors with opportunities to experience the great old Florida outdoors with ample boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and hiking experiences. There are also two lakes in the park and scenic lake tours are offered everyday where you can experience the beauty of the park on two of the world’s largest airboats.

There are full-facility campgrounds and primitive campsites available throughout the park as well as several log cabins built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The cabins have been modernized to provide occupants comfortable lodging even during the summer. The Myakka River State Park is located just nine miles east from Sarasota making it one of the best opportunities to experience new and old Florida.

Cayo Costa State Park, one of the jewels of the Gulf Coast, and is accessible only by private boat or passenger ferry making it one of the most beautiful and unspoiled areas to visit in Florida. Here you will find something for everyone from fishing, to shelling, to hiking, to biking; Cayo Costa State Park has it all.

Anglers, from the novice to experienced, can try their luck fishing from the beautiful sandy shores of the islands remote and quaint beaches (fishing license required, ages 16 and above). Shell-seekers will want to visit the south end of the island, where the beautiful Gulf of Mexico leaves some of her most sought after treasures for you to collect. For those seeking to explore the island atop a bicycle or on a hike, consider the more than 5 ½ miles of biking and hiking trails available to explore. Cayo Costa State Park is located directly south of Boca Grande and West of Pine Island and N. Ft. Meyers

What a great way to enjoy The Real Florida, at one of these great Florida State Parks!

Fort Desoto Park

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:38:09 +0000

Each year various travel publications, travel websites, and cable travel stations name the best beaches in the United States. Whether it’s a top 10 list of our top 25 list or more you can expect Fort De Soto Park to be included on the list. For De Soto Park is 800+ acres of Florida Suncoast paradise. Located on the southern and of Pinellas County in St. Petersburg, Fort De Soto Park boasts some of the most pristine white sand beaches in America. The assortment of beaches in for De Soto Park are ideal for those desiring privacy. There are also a handful of supervised beaches that offers snack bars and activities and playgrounds are children. You can make for De Soto Park your own private beach or you can make it a more public beach. It just depends on your preference.The warm Gulf waters are blue-green and crystal-clear. Seldom does a visitor experience Fort De Soto Park and its amazing beaches without a desire to return.

Unlike the more commercial beaches you find throughout Florida for De Soto is very peaceful. Traffic noise is far removed from this paradise location. Any visitors choose for De Soto Park for parties and cookouts. There are numerous places for fishermen to enjoy, including Two fishing piers–one on Tampa Bay (500 feet long) and the other on the Gulf (1,000 feet long). Each pier has a food and bait concession. There’s even a dog park for your four-legged friends. We have been traveling to Fort De Soto Park for over 40 years and in that time we never had a visit that we did not thoroughly enjoy.

The Sanibel Island Beaches

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:40:23 +0000

For the very best Florida beaches you cannot leave out the seashell capital of the world’s Sanibel Island. Sanibel Island offers the best in warm water beaches, crystal clear water and a slower pace that you might find in other areas of Florida. Sanibel Island is a barrier island located just offshore of Fort Myers. Visitors come from all over the world to experience the Florida lifestyle is very best.

Sanibel is known as one of the best seashell collecting beaches in the world. Visitors often spend hours combing the beaches for seashells not found anywhere else on earth. The warm Gulf waters also produce great fishing for those anglers visiting Sanibel.

Visitors can expect a tropical climate year-round. Although temperatures in the summer may be well into the 90s a gulf breeze cools the beach areas and the island is comfortable during any time of the year.

Dining on Sanibel Island offers a wide range of variety, and price ranges. You can enjoy a casual dinner experience or a fine dining night out with your significant other. Either way you Sanibel Island offers something for everyone. Even the kids can get in on the action. The Mucky Duck Restaurant is famous for its seafood. Cold beverages and a atmosphere that reminds you of why you came to Florida in the first place. The Jacaranda distinguished for its great international and seafood cuisine. It is also a trendy nightspot for those seeking an after dinner treat.

The important thing to remember about Sanibel Island is it has something for everyone. Shopping and beaches by day and exquisite dining and nightlife in the evening makes Sanibel Island the perfect vacation spot for world travelers and the perfect location for the locals.

Welcome To Florida Suncoast Magazine

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 03:05:44 +0000

Welcome to Florida Suncoast magazine. we provide information and resources on living and vacationing on Florida’s west central Gulf Coast. Whether you are looking for the best beaches in Florida, or the best attractions, or the best restaurants and night spots, Florida Suncoast Magazine delivers that information for you.

The Gulf Coast of Florida is known for its mild climate, miles and miles of endless white sand beaches and family oriented fun. From Cedar Key to Naples the Florida Suncoast as in all.we will provide reviews and pricing for hotels, restaurants, attractions, golf courses and much much more. We invite you to comment us using our contact page if you have specific questions.we hope that you will find our site useful, relevant, and fun. That’s what the Florida Suncoast is all about, fun.