Top Choices Marco Island Restaurants

Finally, you’ve made it down to paradise, hung out on the white sandy beach, found the most perfect outfit for the night at the wonderful Esplanade shops. Now what? Let’s go out in style…..out to dinner that is! Marco Island Restaurants come in every form and fashion. Dive bars to high end exclusive eateries.
Here we will share with you our top pics for Upscale Marco Island Restaurants.

 

Top Choices Upscale Marco Island Restaurants

1. Fin Bistro 

A family-owned business conveniently located in the heart of Marco Island, Fin Bisto is a restaurant known for its attention to detail. Owned by an amazing couple with 40 years of experience, Brian is an award-winning chef and Kathy handles the management of the restaurant. Fin Bistro’s menu is also full of delectable, unique, and fresh seafood dishes and sourced directly from farmers and fishermen all over North America.

Marco Island Restaurant
Fin Bistro Stuffed Lobster Tail

 

2. Marco Prime

The Carvelli family has created a little slice of their homeland in the quaint atmosphere of Marco Island. Enjoy the sophisticated family ambiance where each guest feels at home while enjoying signature dishes and carefully selected wines.

Marco Island Restaurant
Marco Prime

 

 

<< Marco Island Restaurant Guide>>

 

 

3. Sale e Pepe

Different from Marco Prime, Sale e Pepe is known for its location by its picturesque views of the Gulf of Mexico. At Sale e Pepe you have the option of dining outside on a gorgeous Terrace or within the luxurious and ornate dining room. Sale e Pepe brings rich Italian tradition to your table with its diverse menu that is sure to have the perfect dish for any guest.

Marco Island Restaurant
Sel e Pepe

 

Whether you live on Marco Island full time or are just visiting on vacation you can’t go wrong with any of these restaurant picks.

To stay up to date on everything Marco Island be sure to follow Marco Island Scene on Facebook and Instagram.

Live on Marco Island! Search Featured Properties HERE

10 Reasons South West Florida Is One Of The Best Places To Live

No matter where you are coming from whether it’s the North East, Midwest or West Coast South West Florida still remains one of the best places to live. Here are 10 reasons why!

10 Reasons

Weather

Perfect Weather in South West Florida

A tropical bliss. 264 days of sunshine annually with temperatures ranging from 59-90 degrees. That much sunshine is a main reason why many people call this area paradise.

Beach Bum’s Paradise

No need for closed toed shoes or winter jackets. This is flip flop country. Here you’ll find some of the best sugar-sandy beaches in Florida. Beaches like Barefoot Beach, Naples Pier, Vanderbilt Beach, Marco Island Crescent Beach and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, places to spend timeless sunny days searching for sand dollars and seashells. Did you know residents park for free?

Naples Pier

Stellar Shopping

Everything from Miromar outlet shopping to high-end fashion and dining on 5th Ave. If the laid back pubs is your scene then Tin City is your place!

Foodie Scene

One of the most diverse culinary scenes you will find. From waterfront dining to swanky cocktail lounges Naples and Marco has all your taste  buds covered.

Generosity Zone

Did you know Naples gives more per capita to local charities than any other city in the country? Per capita, Naples gives more to Non-profit organizations than anyone in the country with just over 700 organizations.

Entertainment Fit For Kings & Queens

Enjoy amazing live performances from Artis Naples, Gulfshore Opera, Gulfshore Playhouse & Gulf Coast Symphony, Naples Jazz Society, Naples Players, Opera Naples and Marco Island Speak Easy.

Golf Mania

90 private and public golf courses located in many of the Naples’ Communities. Collier County has the most golf courses per capita in the U.S.

Some of the top rated golf courses in the U.S.

Safest Cities in Florida

Naples/ Marco Island ranked Florida’s safest community in 2017 by the National Council for Home Safety and Security tracking home security across the nation.

Water Sports Enthusiasts

Whether it’s jet skiing, paddle boarding, boating or kayaking Naples and Marco Island are top spots for your everyday water sport activities.

Top Projected for Area Growth

With the beautiful weather, top notch medical facilities coupled with Naples and Marco Island being rated some of the safest and cleanest cities in America, retiring and working in this area is a top priority for many and a main reason job growth and economic growth top the charts on many future market lists.

Project Job Growth

 

We love South West Florida, Naples and Marco Island area, and we know you will too.

 

 

 

Check out the area homes for sale HERE 

Be sure to reach out to us HERE and we can send you all the properties that check off every box on your must have list.

 

Marco Island Christmas House Decorating Contest 2018

And the Winner Is…..

The Marco Island Christmas spirit was live and well during this year’s House Decorating Contest put on by the Marco Island Christmas Island Style. This year 10 homes were announced as finalists where one was crowned the 2018 Marco Island Christmas House Decorating Champion!

Here is a look at some of the past winners who were NOT eligible to win this year.

1369 North Collier

865 Swan

161 Bermuda

1710 Winterberry

 

The Marco Island Christmas Island Style puts on many events during the holiday season here in Marco Island that consist of the Tree Lighting Ceremony, Christmas Parade and Home Decorating Contest just to name a few. For more info and to look at the Christmas Island Style calendar of events please visit www.christmasislandstyle.com

The 2018 Home Decorating Champion…

513 Nassau

A round of applause for the other finalists

1208 Fruitland

151 Channel

1264 Whiteheart

91 Bermuda

1453 Bermuda

1842 Dogwood

1591 Galleon

975 Leo

780 Copeland

 

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To stay updated on everything that goes on on Marco Island be sure to subscribe to this blog and be update every time a new post gets published! Also be sure to check out our Facebook page HERE and our Instagram age HERE.

Want to live in Marco Island? Check out these featured properties for sale or get your market value for your current home in Marco Island.

 

8 Ways to Make Your Backyard a Summer Paradise

Landscaped Back Yard

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.

 

FULL ARTICLE

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

FULL ARTICLE

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.

Rooney Reef is teeming with sea life.

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.

FULL ARTICLE

 

 

 

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.

Full Articlce

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.

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!

Your Real Estate Choice

You have a choice when picking an agent to assist you with your real estate needs. Consistent Multi-Million Dollar Producers, the Bartos Group uses cutting edge real estate solutions and good, old fashioned hard work to deliver results for our clients from Marco Island to Fort Myers. Who You Work With Does Matter!

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