8 Ways to Make Your Backyard a Summer Paradise

Summer is the season to be outdoors. It’s the perfect time for backyard barbecues, neighborhood socials, and late-night evenings on the patio. You don’t need to travel to a luxurious and exotic location to enjoy spending time outdoors. Make your own backyard a summer paradise with these eight simple suggestions.

Inspect and update wooden decks

To make your backyard a summer haven, take some time to inspect and update your deck. Wooden patios and decks can be warped by cold weather, so you’ll want to replace loose or missing slats as needed. Sand, stain, and seal your deck once you’ve made sure it’s structurally sound. If you have a stone patio, check for missing pieces and update as needed. Once this is complete, you’ll have a shiny and appealing deck you can decorate with patio furniture—creating a relaxing sitting area for summertime.

Purchase patio furniture and essentials

Once you have a designated patio or deck space, you’ll want to add some patio furniture so you can sit down, mingle with friends and family, and relax. Consider purchasing weatherproof patio furniture that is both comfortable and durable. Patio furniture can be exposed to harsh, seasonal weather, so you’ll want to make sure it lasts for years.

Get the basics including some lounge chairs, an umbrella, a hammock, and an outdoor table so you can enjoy meals or games outside. In addition to patio furniture, you may want to buy or build an outdoor fire pit. It’s a simple feature that adds so much to your backyard. Sit around the fire and socialize, roast marshmallows or even cook dinner on your own backyard fire place.

Add colorful cushions and pillows

You’ll want to add a splash of color to your patio so it’s eye-catching and sings of summertime. Buy some bright-colored, and comfortable throw pillows and cushions to spice up the furniture. The bright colors and fun patterns will entice people to sit down, relax, and enjoy your backyard paradise.

Get a rug for the patio

Consider adding a rug to the patio or deck area to make the space feel cozier. Outdoor rugs vary in material, size, and shape and are generally made to last in all types of weather. They make a great addition to your space, and can also protect your deck.

Install outdoor lighting

Nothing is more magical than twinkling lights against a royal-blue evening sky. Add strands of tea lights or other innovative lights to create a fairy-tale effect in your backyard. In addition to the decorative lighting, you’ll want to consider adding sensor or smart lights to your backyard for added security. Smart lights are a great way to ensure the backyard is lit—you can even control smart lights with your smart phone.

Make the backyard private

You may love your neighbors, but that doesn’t mean you want them always peeking into your backyard. Be creative when thinking of ways to ensure better backyard privacy. One easy way to create a private, secluded backyard paradise is to install a fence. Not only does it ensure privacy, but it is an essential safety measure. Install a strong, secure fence to create a private and safe backyard.

Update your landscaping

Landscaping can make or break your backyard. It’s essential to take time to update your landscaping to create an outdoor paradise. You don’t need extravagant plants or trees to make your backyard grand. Take some time to cut back unruly trees and bushes, pull the weeds, water and trim the lawn, and plant flowers around the yard. These simple updates will make a world of difference. You’ll have your own secret garden in no time!

Secure outdoor belongings

Once you’ve created a magical backyard space, you’ll want to take the necessary precautions to safeguard your belongings. Make sure your garden tools and supplies are in a locked shed—away from kids, pets, and burglars. Take time to assess the backyard for any security breaches. This will keep your family safe and protect your backyard, patio, and deck from major damages.

Summer is a wonderful time to relax and enjoy being outdoors. Update your own backyard and you’ll have access to a private paradise any time you want.

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May 1 official start of sea turtle nesting season

Conservancy of Southwest Florida Sea Turtle Monitor and Protection Program

Through patrolling beaches, marking nests, tagging turtles, counting hatched eggs and educating the community, the Conservancy’s team of biologists and interns work to protect and monitor the success of loggerhead sea turtle nests.
Conservancy began the Florida Sea Turtle Monitoring and Protection Program in 1982
Now, in its 36th year, (2018) the program has saved more than 285,000 hatchlings.
The Conservancy’s work on Keewaydin Island is one of the longest running loggerhead turtle monitoring and research projects in the country.
We also work on sections of Naples’ beaches.

Interesting Loggerhead Facts

“The southern coast of Florida is one of only two epicenters in the world where loggerheads come to nest. It is our responsibility to protect this incredible species.”

— Conservancy Biologist Dave Addison

There are only two epicenters in the world where loggerheads nest. One is here, on Florida beaches (mostly in South Florida). The other is in the Middle East.
Only 1 in 1,000 sea turtles survives to adulthood.
Conservancy scientists have saved 265,000 hatchlings
Loggerheads ‘remember’ where they hatched. After about 25 years, when it is her time to nest, female loggerheads will return to the same beaches where they were hatched. This phenomenon is known as imprinting. (Imprinting is returning to the natal beach nest.)
Loggerheads are named for their relatively large heads and powerful jaws.

Loggerhead 101 Sea Turtle Facts:

Scientific Name: Caretta caretta

Adult Length: 3 feet

Weight: 250–300 lbs.

Lifespan: Greater than 50 years

Nesting season: May 1– October 31.

Habitat: Widely distributed throughout temperate and tropical regions of the ocean. Here in Florida, sea turtles forage in sea grass beds, rocky patches and reef areas, just like you can see in the Conservancy’s 6,000 gallon Patch Reef Aquarium inside the Dalton Discovery Center.

Diet: Primarily carnivorous- eating fish, crustaceans, jellyfish, and occasionally sea grass and algae.

Protection Status: Threatened in Florida, Endangered in other parts of the world

Threats: As hatchlings, sea turtles face several natural predators, but as adults their only predators are sharks and humans. Human threats include habitat loss, poaching, pollution, litter (such as plastic bags), commercial fishing, and boat collisions.

How you can help:

What you can do

Hatchlings follow the lightest part of the horizon (reflected light over the water) which is how they find their way from the nest to the water.

Turn of lights at beaches during nesting season
Don’t touch the animals
Clean up our beaches (turtles will eat and can choke on litter)
Use reusable bags instead of plastic bags,
support fisheries that use turtle safe devices on their nets,
slow-down in designated channel zones
Donate to the Conservancy’s sea turtle protection work at www.conservancy.org/seaturtles

Learn more about the Conservancy of Southwest Florida work with loggerhead sea turtles here: https://www.conservancy.org/our-work/science/wildlife/loggerheads.

you can also read about our Kemp’s ridley sea turtle work here: https://www.conservancy.org/our-work/science/wildlife/kemps-ridley

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Discover Beauty Reborn on Florida’s Paradise Coast Reef

Just off the coast of Naples, a manmade reef system teems with diverse sea life – beckoning divers and anglers alike.

Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades of Collier County, Florida, have always been a paradise of natural beauty and life.

Now, 37 new artificial reefs built from over 18,000 tons of concrete are examples of the community coming together to create a unique aquatic wildlife habitat. These reefs are made with recycled concrete materials, removing this material from the landfill stream. Recent visits to the reef have seen an expansion in types and species of fish not seen in years.

Fishermen, from expert to amateur, can catch their limit of excitement as a wide variety of game and bait fish now call the Paradise Coast Reef their home. Schools of snapper, cobia, grouper and even barracuda live within this thriving deepwater habitat.

Divers, navigate your way to the Naples area to discover the new reefs and their inhabitants – including up to 300-pound Goliath Grouper. Stock up with the help of a local dive outfitter, or take a scuba diving charter with local pros.

A diver explores hidden nooks and crannies of the Paradise Coast Reef.

Visit our local dive shops for air, equipment and information, and explore Florida’s Paradise Coast Reef’s depths for a new southwest Florida experience.

Come explore Florida’s Paradise Coast Reef and help celebrate a bright future for sea-life, fishermen and divers in Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades.

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National group says Marco Island is Florida’s safest community

You can feel safer on Marco Island than any other community in Florida. At least according to a report released Monday by the National Council for Home Safety and Security, a trade association comprised of home security professionals across the United States.

The organization released its “Safest Cities in Florida for 2018” list and Marco Island landed in the No. 1 spot, followed by Weston, Parkland and Satellite Beach.

The association said it used the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Report statistics, along with population data and internal research, to come up with its findings. Eliminated were cities failing to submit a complete crime report to the FBI. Also removed were cities with populations under 10,000.

The National Council for Home Safety and Security based its cities’ rankings on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery), property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, motor-vehicle theft) per 1,000 people.

Those variables were then weighted, with violent crimes assigned a value 1.5 times (due to their severity) that of property crimes.

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Naples ranks again as a ‘best-performing city’

Naples has kept its title as a “best-performing city.”

The Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island metro area — or Collier County — ranks 18th this year on The Milken Institute’s index of “Best-Performing Cities” in the nation.

The index is an assessment of how areas are doing in creating jobs and stimulating economic growth. To come up with the rankings, researchers with Milken, a nonprofit think tank, analyzed data in more than 400 metro areas, including growth in jobs, wages and technology output.

“It’s considered a venerable source of information. Companies like to see that; companies that are searching for places to go, they like that. It adds credibility to what we are doing,” Kentner said.

Rankings like this can open many doors, he said, getting the attention of site consultants and selectors for businesses wanting to expand or relocate.

In an email, Minoli Ratnatunga, the Milken Institute’s director of regional economics research and a co-author of the report, said even metros that are booming can drop in rank if other areas are “surging even farther forward.”

“A one-place drop is not a significant change,” she said.

The Naples area has landed in the Top 20 rankings for three years in a row.

The metro ranked fourth in the nation for its job growth and 15th for its high-tech gross domestic product, or output, for the years 2011-16. The area came in 16th for its five-year wage growth (for 2010-15).

“Job growth in the Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island region has been very impressive over the one- and five-year periods we examined for our index,” Ratnatunga said. “The region added jobs at a faster rate than all but two large metros we looked at in 2016.”

The report notes the metro area has strong tourism and retail sectors — and nice weather and scenic views that help drive population growth. However, it warns that tourism and retail are “vulnerable to business cycles and natural disasters.”

According to the report, Walmart is the second-largest employer in the metro, with more than 1,700 workers in the area. Thanks to a growing population of retirees, the health care industry also remains strong, with a trio of companies — Arthrex, HCR ManorCare and the NCH Healthcare System — employing more than 5,500 people locally.

The housing sector continues to do well, too. The report points out population growth has driven the development of multifamily projects, helping to create more construction jobs. However, it notes the growing concerns about housing affordability in the region. Rental rates are on the rise, and the median sales price for existing single-family homes, or resales, increased 83.5 percent from 2011-16.

“Depending on how the region’s core industries fare in the next year or so, the Naples metro could improve its ranking slightly,” Ratnatunga said. “However, concerns over housing affordability and cost of living may slow the population growth that has been a key asset for the region.”

The Provo-Orem metro area in Utah took the top spot by a wide margin in this year’s rankings. Its performance was described as “stellar” across the nine indicators used for the study. High-tech industries have been a key driver that placed it first in one-year and five-year job growth rates in the nation.

More: Naples ranks as one of the best small town food scenes

More: Company ranks Florida sixth for affordable, entertaining retirement

Florida metros made a good showing in this year’s report, claiming six of the Top 25 spots. According to the report, those economies “hit their stride a little later than other regions of the country.”

“While it is encouraging to see the ascent of a number of Florida metros on our index, it is important to note that in part, this reflects the state’s slower recovery than in other parts of the country,” Ratnatunga said.

In the state the highest-ranked metro was North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, at No. 6. It was followed closely by Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, weighing in at No. 7.

While the metro that includes Fort Myers has also experienced strong job growth, it didn’t perform as well on metrics as other areas did for its short-term job increases (from August 2016 to August 2017). The area dropped from No. 15 last year to 30 this year.

“The Fort Myers region also has a smaller high-tech sector that has only begun to grow in more recent years,” Ratnatunga said.

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Stock features furnished & move-in ready homes in Southwest Florida’s finest neighborhoods

Above: The Marigold great room. Left: Lely Players Club & Spa. Below: The Sophia II pool, the Majestic II exterior, the Polynesia exterior.

Stock Development offers homebuyers an unparalleled selection of exquisitely furnished models and move-in ready inventory homes.

Stock is one of Southwest Florida’s most successful and respected builders and visitors can tour dozens of homes that are ready for immediate occupancy across ten area communities. No other builder has such a diverse array of residences in highly amenititzed communities. The company recently netted and amazing 13 Sand Dollar Awards, including an unparalleled 8th Community of the Year Award for Lely Resort and seven product design awards.

“We are thrilled to have once again been honored by our peers in the industry with more than a dozen Sand Dollar Awards!” said Claudine Léger-Wetzel, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Stock Development. “Homebuyers can tour these homes this weekend.”

One of the keys to Stock’s success has been its aggressive inventory and custom homes program. Stock has move-in ready and soon to be complete homes available in Quail West, Lely Resort, Naples Reserve, The Isles at Collier Preserve, Esplanade Golf & Country Club of Naples, Fiddler’s Creek, Twin Eagles, Marco Island and The City of Naples.

Stock Signature Homes’ Majestic II is located in Esplanade Golf and Country Club of Naples, a beautiful golf course community.

This four-bedroom, four-bath home offers 3,843 square feet under air and a total of 5,735 square feet. The spacious floor plan features a formal living room and an informal family room, both of which provide direct access to the covered lanai via stacked sliding glass doors. The home melds the outdoors and indoor living areas to provide homeowners with a large, open environment for entertaining. An outdoor kitchen and an elaborate pool and spa package complete the idyllic scene.

Raised tray ceilings throughout the living areas add to the homes spacious feel. There is a large island style kitchen, and a formal study with French doors. Outside the brick paver driveway leads to a courtyard area in front of the attached, side- loaded, three-car garage, which offers an air-conditioned storage area. It is priced at $1,549,990

Stock Signature Homes’ Magnolia Collection at The Isles of Collier Preserve includes 90-foot homesites showcasing golf course and water views.

The Sand Dollar-winning Marigold’s superb floorplan includes 3,578 square feet under air plus a covered lanai measuring 1,062 square feet. The plan features a great room with an optional built-in entertainment center, a large gourmet island kitchen and breakfast area and a formal dining room.

The amazing outdoor living space is situated beneath the sprawling covered lanai area and features a fireplace and even more cooking and entertaining space around a beautiful summer kitchen. A stunning pool and spa are surrounded by a furnished sundeck.

There are four bedrooms or three bedrooms plus an optional bonus room, a study, four-and-a-half baths. The Master suite features twin walk-in closets, a soaking tub and a large walk-in shower.

The furnished Marigold model offers an exquisite interior design by Vogue Interiors’ Sheila Corasaniti, IDS.

Stock also offers stunning coach homes in two neighborhoods at the Community of the Year, Lely Resort. Coach home residents have access to the award-winning Players Club & Spa. Lely also includes three championship golf courses. Four Venice residences are available for immediate occupancy with prices starting at just $344,990. The Venice is a ground floor residence with 2,287 square feet under air and 3,004 total square feet, including the attached two-car garage. It is a three-bedroom, three-bath great room style coach home offering an island-style kitchen.

Stock Custom Homes has completed its furnished Polynesia model on Marco Island. The 3,903-square-foot, two-story Polynesia features an interior by Soco Interiors’ Daniel Kilgore. The open concept plan includes a great room, dining area, and island kitchen, a study, four bedrooms, four full baths and two half baths, an upstairs loft, a three-car garage, and an outdoor living area with a summer kitchen, fireplace, pool and spa.

The spacious great room features four pocketing sliding doors opening to the spectacular pool area and covered lanai beyond. This large lanai runs the entire width of the home and include a complete summer kitchen, perfect for entertaining guests. The outdoor fireplace has a sitting area with a sofa and two club chairs.

Upstairs on the loft level, the two guest bedrooms each have their own bath. Both bedrooms have sliding doors opening onto a long covered balcony overlooking the lanai and pool below. The loft is the casual entertainment area of the home with media cabinetry and television. A small desk with a linen chair placed off to the side provides extra workspace for the owner or guests. The Polynesia model is priced at $2.895 million.

Within Quail West, Stock’s 4,554 square feet Atherton estate also earned a Sand Dollar Award. The residence includes a great room with a fireplace, a wine room, four bedrooms, four full baths and two half-baths, a study, formal dining room, a spacious island kitchen, an exercise room, an outdoor living area with a custom pool and spa, fireplace, summer kitchen, and dining and conversation areas. The plan also includes two two-car garages. Priced at $3,236,980 furnished, the Atherton features an interior by Charlotte Horvath at Soco Interiors.

Please visit our sales centers. We are confident that Stock has the home of your dreams waiting for you this weekend!

For full details of all of Stock Development’s offerings and complete list of the Sand Dollar winners, visit the company website at www.stockdevelopment.com. You may email at info@stockdevelopment.com or call (239) 592-7344. Stock Development is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FLStockDevelopment. Stock Development is headquartered at 2639 Professional Circle, Suite 101 in Naples. ¦

Post Irma Update!

Contrary to the reports, Southwest Florida is alive and well with the exception of a few areas. We are continued to be amazed by our area and the people that live in it! We are now 9 days post Irma and have assessed a good number of homes for our clients in Naples, Marco Island and Bonita Springs. It is amazing that the majority of homes have little to no damage.

Southwest Florida is an amazing place where the people pitch in to help their neighbors and our construction is built to withstand high winds. We are protected by mangrove wetlands that help with any surge. It is truly paradise!

9 Amazing Islands to Visit in Florida (That Aren’t the Keys)

Summer is just around the corner, and with that, many are setting their sights on a beach vacation in Florida. Though places like Destin, Miami, and Tampa are always high on everyone’s list, you can try something different this year and visit one of the many amazing islands off the coast of Florida — that aren’t the Florida Keys (though they’re lovely, too!). Florida has 4,510 islands in total, but we’ve managed to narrow that list down to our nine favorite islands that are a must-visit for any Florida vacation.

1. Sanibel Island

Sanibel Island offers quite a unique experience for visitors. Since the island developed in a west-to-east fashion, the waters from the Caribbean and Gulf Coast wash ashore thousands of seashells every day that sit in piles along the sandy coast. It’s the perfect destination for shelling — and it typically has fun events on National Seashell Day on June 21! Beyond the beach, the island has a lot of family-friendly places to visit, like the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which has tons of hiking trails, or the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, a fun place to learn more about shells and marine biology (it even has live exhibits!). Other notable places include the Sanibel Island Light, or a visit to the affordable, funky cow-themed restaurant, The Island Cow.

A Kid-Friendly Hotel Pick:

Sundial Beach Resort & Spa 3.5

Sanibel Island

2. Gasparilla Island

Gasparilla Island is a quaint seven-mile island that’s a quintessential Florida island escape. It’s the home to the upscale residential community of Boca Grande and was a destination for elite families like the Vanderbilts and Duponts. Most residents and visitors get around by golf carts and bikes, but with the Old Florida charm to discover, you might want to walk around the island and enjoy it at a leisurely pace. The Boca Grande Lighthouse, which has been standing since 1890, is the focal point of the entire island. Take note, fishermen — Gasparilla Island is the home to a water pass known as the Tarpon Capital of the World!

A Beachfront Hotel Pick:

Gasparilla Inn & Club 3.5

Boca Grande

3. Marco Island

For those who want a beach vacation and a chance to see the Everglades, Marco Island is a perfect destination. The island has two public beaches and is just a 40-minute drive to the Everglades. Head to Tigertail Beach which has shallow waters — you can wade across the lagoon to Sand Dollar Island, a natural conservation area. For more outdoor fun, head to Briggs Nature Center for a half-mile boardwalk, go fishing, or book a canoe trip. And if you have a chance, check out the Dome Homes, a collection of white dome-like homes on stilts in the water on the southern tip of the island.

A Historic Hotel Pick:

Olde Marco Island Inn and Suites 3.0

Marco Island

4. Merritt Island

Merritt Island is best known as the home of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. In the morning, you can visit the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and maybe even meet an astronaut. Then you can head to the beach in the afternoon! You can also enjoy the wildlife refuge here by watching manatees from an observation deck, hike the many trails, go fishing, or take the seven-mile Black Point Wildlife Drive where you’ll see animals like alligators and river otters. If you’re lucky, a visit to Merritt Island might be made super memorable with a rocket launch from the NASA Kennedy Space Center.

A Kid-Friendly Hotel Pick:

Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront 3.5

Cocoa Beach

5. Matlacha Island

There’s a small-town Florida charm on Matlacha Island that you can’t often find these days. Matlacha Island sits right next to Florida’s largest island, Pine Island, and has a creative atmosphere. There’s only one mile-long road on this small island, and it’s dotted on either side by colorful fisherman-like shacks that are a combination of homes, restaurants, shops, bars, and galleries. Many of the homes have kitschy decor in the lawns such as polka-dot dolphins, colorful mailboxes, creatively decorated bikes, and even stuffed dolls in chairs. Spend your time exploring the shops, fishing, kayaking, or enjoying fresh seafood at one of the waterfront restaurants. And if you get bored, it’s just a short drive to Pine Island!

A Luxury Hotel Pick in Cape Coral, a 30-minute drive from the island:

The Westin Cape Coral Resort At Marina Village 4.0

Cape Coral

6. Amelia Island

Amelia Island is a barrier island on the northeast corner of Florida, just a 30-minute drive from the Georgia state line and a 50-minute drive to Jacksonville, Florida. It’s the only place in the United States that has had eight different flags and is home to the oldest hotel in Florida, the Florida House Inn, which was built in 1857. This lovely island has 13 miles of beaches, diverse types of lodgings, golf courses, and upscale artisan shops. The historic downtown of Ferdinand is a Victorian-style seaport with cute shops, art walks, and lots more to keep you entertained.

A Beachfront Hotel Pick:

Elizabeth Pointe Lodge 3.5

Fernandina Beach

7. Cayo Costa

For travelers who want a lot of peace and quiet during their Florida island vacation, Cayo Costa, a state park of Florida, is the perfect island for them. It can only be reached by private boat or charter service with companies like Captiva Cruises. Cayo Costa has tons of hiking and biking trails, kayak rentals, and nine miles of white sandy beaches. The waters surrounding the 2,426-acre island are pretty clear and filled with manatees, dolphins, huge shells with mollusks, and lots of sand dollars. It makes for fun snorkeling expeditions! Like Sanibel Island, the beach is covered in shells. Travelers can rent a cabin or enjoy tent camping on Cayo Costa. For those who prefer hotels, book a room on the nearby Captiva Island and head over during the day.

A Boutique Hotel Pick on Captiva Island:

Jensen’s “On the Gulf” 3.0

Captiva Island

8. Siesta Key

Siesta Key is an island that’s just a 16-minute drive from Sarasota, Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico. This eight-mile long island is best known for its beaches which are reportedly 99 percent quartz, and therefore almost a pure white color. Like most beach destinations in Florida, Siesta Key is perfect for those who enjoy water sports, days at the beach, and bird watching. Head to the Point of Rocks on Crescent Beach, a shallow area that’s perfect for snorkeling due to a large marine life and cool corral formations. Don’t forget a visit to Turtle Beach — it’s less crowded and is known as a major turtle nesting area, so maybe you’ll have a chance to see a baby turtle!

A Romantic Hotel Pick:

Turtle Beach Resort Siesta Key 3.0

Siesta Key

9. Captiva Island

If you love beautiful sunsets, quirky restaurants, and white-sand beaches, head to Captiva Island. There are two-and-a-half miles of beaches, and Turner Beach is well-known as an amazing fishing location. Visitors can enjoy kayaking, shelling, paddle boarding, and private boat cruises on Captiva. The downtown area is a cute collection of colorful houses that were turned into coffee shops, boutiques like Chloe’s of Captiva, and restaurants like Key Lime Bistro, which has amazing key-lime pie and a cool patio. Though families are welcome here, it’s best suited for couples who want a low-key yet upscale vacation on the beach.

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Naples Named Cleanest City in America

Realtor.com study calls Naples nation’s least polluted community

BY JUSTIN PAPROCKI

PHOTO BY R.J. WILEY

Clean air, clean water and plenty of untouched nature. That’s what makes Naples the cleanest city in the country, according to a recent study.

Realtor.com judged metro areas on five criteria: greenhouse gas emissions, number of superfund sites, air quality, factory-released chemicals and water quality. Naples came out on top. Not too far behind was Ocala, which came in third. Five West Coast cities made the top 10.

Southwest Florida does have its environmental concerns, but compared to elsewhere, we’re living the good life here. One of the major reasons: protected land. Realtor.com points to swaths of untouched land in the Everglades that keep Collier County green.

The most-polluted places actually tended to be in the industrial Northeast and Midwest, i.e. the places people escape to come to Naples (New York, Philadelphia, Chicago).

For the full list of most and least polluted, click here.

Marco Island Tops the Charts Again! The 10 Best Beach Resorts in Florida….

The 10 Best Beach Resorts in Florida

When it comes to warm-weather getaways, sometimes, only a beach will do. And what better place to find one than Florida, whose 1,350-mile coastline includes more than 800 miles of sand. From the Gulf to the Keys, the 10 best beach resorts in Florida have it all: award-winning spas, top-notch seafood, and yes, dazzling ocean views. It’s time to check in.

JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort Florida indoor restaurant lighting interior design aisle

Photos courtesy of JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort

JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort

Just 17 miles from Naples, Marco Island is a favorite for its canals and half-moon-shaped beach fronting the Gulf of Mexico—it’s also a perfect entry point for exploring the nearby Everglades. Our go-to place to stay: the Balinese-style JW Marriott Marco Island, whose recent $230 million renovation ushered in adults-only guest rooms (though there are plenty of family-friendly spaces to enjoy, too) and floor-to-ceiling windows that maximize Gulf views. Go for a dip in any of the four pools, tee off at the 18-hole championship golf course or knock back a tropical drink at the oceanfront Kane Tiki Bar.

Book from $594/night

The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida tree outdoor water palm leisure swimming pool Resort Pool vacation arecales Beach tropics Sea palm family swimming lined

The Breakers Palm Beach

Henry Flagler modeled this 1896 569-room property on a 140-acre estate in Palm Beach after 15th-century villas in Rome. Over time, it became one of the most iconic hotels in the state. A palm-lined driveway leads guests to two spired towers; inside, grand public spaces are decorated in gold leaf and Venetian glass chandeliers. Guest rooms are simpler, with light blue and sand color palettes that keep the focus on the ocean views. Anyone whose anyone around these parts belongs to the hotel’s spa and beach club—but you’ll feel just as much of a VIP lounging in a private cabana by the adults-only infinity pool or enjoying an elegant breakfast beneath The Circle’s 30-foot-high frescoed ceiling.

Book from $369/night

Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection Florida tree outdoor leisure swimming pool Resort property vacation Pool Villa condominium palm caribbean home mansion backyard hacienda palace arecales plant Deck area surrounded

Photos by Scott Baker

Playa Largo Resort & Spa, Autograph Collection

Say hello to the first new resort to hit Key Largo in two decades. The 144 guest rooms and ten private bungalows, which border the beachfront pool, are done up with wood-paneled walls, deep blue area rugs, and windows overlooking Florida Bay. After a deep tissue massage at the spa, a bike ride through the nearby mangrove forests, or a sail with an expert instructor, dig into an early steak dinner at La Marea, and cuddle up by the beachside fire pit to watch the sunset.

Book from $248/night

Amara Cay Resort Florida Beach Beachfront Resort Scenic views water tree outdoor sky palm Beach plant Ocean body of water palm family vacation Sea arecales morning sunlight woody plant Sunset Coast tropics sandy lined Lake shade shore

Amara Cay Resort, Islamorada

You’d never guess Amara Cay was formerly a Hampton Inn. The original property’s generic corals and teals were replaced with a fresher, beachy aesthetic—driftwood and rattan furniture; earthy tones—and the sweeping Atlantic views provide a sense of pure calm. It’s easy to spend hours napping and lazing on Amara’s private beach, but there’s plenty to entertain, too, including bocce ball, complimentary happy hour cocktails every day at 5 p.m., the seafood-centric Oltremare Ristorante, and the buzzy Sparrows Rum Bar, which serves a mean key lime pie.

Book from 189 $149/night

Faena Hotel Miami Beach Miami Beach, Florida floor indoor red room wall Living ceiling window property Suite rug furniture living room interior design nice cottage Bedroom real estate bed sheet apartment bright decorated flat several dining table

Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Faena was made for lovers of high drama. Miami real estate developer Alan Faena teamed up with filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and his wife, costume designer Catherine Martin, to create his first hotel—a renovated 1940s property that’s a serious head turner. The cinematic spaces feature animal-print furniture and sculptures by Damien Hirst (including the now-iconic wooly mammoth skeleton dipped in 24-karat gold) and the lobby wows with gold-leaf columns and floor-to-ceiling murals by Spanish surrealist Juan Gatti. Throw in the two-level dinner theater and 169 rooms decked out in glamorous hues of cherry and mint, and you’ve got an experience that’s truly larger than life.

Book from $775/night

Acqualina Resort & Spa on the Beach Sunny Isles Beach, Florida Beachfront Courtyard Dining Drink Eat Honeymoon Patio Romance Scenic views Terrace Waterfront umbrella chair outdoor Resort restaurant lawn vacation meal colorful set furniture several

Acqualina Resort and Spa, Sunny Isles Beach

Acqualina brings a taste of South Beach to Sunny Isles. You’ll find it in its Mediterranean villa-style architecture, in its Old-World ambiance (think Baroque fountains and opulent chandeliers), and in the groovy-yet-glamorous details—zebra wood, smoked glass, and Chinchilla faux-fur throws—in the 98 guest rooms. There’s also a brand of New York’s award-winning Il Mulino restaurant, as well as a 20,000-square-foot ESPA spa, one of the best in the city. Our favorite feature, however, is the hotel’s location: equidistant from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, it combines the best of both worlds, without the crowds.

Book from $525/night

The Reach, A Waldorf Astoria Resort Florida Beach Beachfront Ocean water sky outdoor tree Beach shore palm Sea landform body of water vacation Coast tropics caribbean arecales bay Lagoon cape cove palm family Pool Island plant lined overlooking sandy swimming

The Reach, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, Key West

Talk about prime real estate: this historic 150-room Waldorf fronts the only natural beach in all of Key West. But that’s not all it has going for it. Beyond snorkeling, scuba diving, and jet skiing, you’ll also have run of the heated pool that looks out over the water, dining at Spencer’s by the Sea, and the Spa at sister property Casa Marina.

Book from $369/night

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, A Noble House Resort Little Torch Key, Florida Beachfront Exterior Island Outdoors Resort Romance Romantic Waterfront tree outdoor house plant Garden botany flower Jungle greenhouse yard backyard cottage tropics rainforest outdoor structure bushes surrounded

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, Little Torch Key

You’ll need to take a boat (or seaplane) to reach this six-acre private island property, halfway between Marathon and Key West. Once you’re there, it’s all about romance: your thatched roof bungalow has no tv or phone and comes with a plush net-canopied king bed perfect for lazy mornings. Spend your days lounging by the beach, drinking sundowners at the bar and feasting on fresh seafood at waterfront candlelit dinners. (More active types can look into kayaking, scuba diving, or seaplane tours of the Everglades.)

Book from $1890/night

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Fernandina Beach, Florida tree outdoor palm sky plant Pool swimming pool Resort property leisure vacation arecales resort town real estate Lagoon Villa lawn lined area furniture Garden shade colorful

The Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island

Florida’s northernmost barrier island is loved by locals for its quaint Victorian architecture and 13 miles of blissfully crowd-free beaches. This is the home of the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, a 446-room U-shaped resort where every room has a private balcony overlooking Center Beach and the Atlantic. Relaxation is easy to come by here: there are leisurely walks along surrounding sand dunes, butler service by the pool, and cocktails at nightly bonfires. If you’re looking for a little more action, go for dinner at the buzzy Salt restaurant, take a bike tour to historic American Beach, or check out the Civil War-era Fort Clinch, just a 10-minute drive up the coast.

Book from $519/night

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