Community Spotlight - Kensington Golf and Country Club

Kensington Golf and Country Club is located in North Naples near the corner of Pine Ridge Road and Airport Pulling Road. The community offers a Robert Trent Jones Jr. signature golf course, 4 American Red tennis courts, 3 Har-Tru tennis courts, pool, fitness center, dining facilities and social activities. The country club is also available for weddings and other private events. For membership information please click here.

This community is filled with 12 different sub-communities! These subdivisions range from coach homes to single-family homes and prices range from $300,000 to over $1 million.

Does this location sound like the perfect place to relax this winter? Leave a comment below or email me directly for more information.

Community Spotlight - The Vineyards

The Vineyards, located off of Pine Ridge and just minutes from i-75, contains some of the most abundant housing and amenity options in Naples.

This community has multiple home styles for you to choose from within 5 main subdivisions:

Avellino Isles

• 2 or 3 story tall condominiums
• 2 or 3 bedrooms per unit
• Each residence has a private elevator and 2-car garage
• Prices start in the $500k's

Hammock Isles

• Gated entrance
• Single-family homes
• 3 or 4 bedrooms per home
• Prices start in the $800k's

Vista Pointe Coach Homes

• 2 or 3 bedrooms with a den per home
• Prices start in the $500k's

Venezia Grande Estates

• Gated entrance
• Large homes and lots

Vista Pointe Condos

• Gated entrance
• Clubhouse

The main clubhouse amenities include, golf, swimming and a spa facility. There is also a 32 acre community park complete with trails, tennis, raquetball and basketball courts.

If this community sounds like a place you would like to call home, please leave a comment below or email me directly.

Did I miss a community feature? Leave a comment below!

Holiday Events Around Naples

In the coming days and weeks quite a few events are occurring in the Naples area to celebrate the holidays. Check out my list below for details!

Naples Christmas Parade, TONIGHT Dec 8th from 6-8pm! The floats will begin at Broad St making their way to 5th Ave S and finish at 8th St.

Naples Bay Christmas Boat Parade
December 12th 6:30-8:30pm at Naples Bay (890 River Point Dr). Watch as boats pass by with their twinkling Christmas lights and other holiday decorations.

Boat Parade
December 15th 5-8pm Venetian Village. Much like the boat parade on Naples Bay, boats will float past Venetian Village complete with various holiday decor, lights and other fun decorations! There will also be live entertainment, face painting, carolers, and a snow show.

Tuba Christmas
December 17th 6:30-7:30pm in Sugden Plaza (5th Ave S). If you're a music fan then this concert is for you. Tubas and Baritones will serenade you with all of your favorite holiday tunes!

If you know of any other events occurring please leave a comment below!

Community Spotlight - Wyndemere Golf and Country Club

Wyndemere is one of the most ideally situated communities in Naples. This property is located in the center of town with easy access to the highway, beaches and downtown area. This is a perfect community for those who love activities such as tennis, golf, boating, fitness and social events.

This community features a recently renovated 27-hole Arthur Hills course with a capped membership to allow for every member to have a tee time. In addition, within the community you swing your racket on 12 Har Tru Tennis Courts! 4 of the courts are conveniently lighted for night playing and there is a pro tennis shop on site. This is one of the most vibrant Tennis communities in Naples as it hosts weekly events and tennis socials!

No matter your activity preference, Wyndemere is a community that will offer a social event to meet your tastes.

Note: Golf or Social Membership is mandatory for all residents.

Top 7 Places To Visit In Florida

Rainbow Springs
All photos by Brian Brillon & Meg Kearney

Viscaya 

Beach in Miami

For those of you who love natural wonders, art and culture here are some of the top places you should visit around Florida this year on your seasonal visit or vacation! Most are within a few hours of the Naples/Ft Myers area.

The Top 7 Places To Visit:

St George Street (St Augustine)
Why Visit: art, culture, history

Dali art museum (Tampa)
Why Visit: art

Ginnie Springs (High Springs)
Why Visit: natural springs, outdoor activities

Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral)
Why Visit: space lover's dream

Miami/South Beach
Why Visit: beach, restaurants, nightlife, art deco architecture

Know of any must visit spots around the state that should be mentioned? Leave a comment below!

Community Spotlight - Non-Gated Communities Part 2

As a follow up to last weeks community spotlight, I wanted to continue to highlight the pros and cons of non gated communities. The neighborhoods below vary significantly from last week's Logan Woods, Oakes Estates, and Golden Gate Estates. All of these neighborhoods sacrifice lot sizes and privacy when compared to last weeks communities. However, generally, the prices are even more affordable in these locations.

Quail Run

Pros:
Golf Membership Optional
Quiet Neighborhood
Good School District

Cons:
Located in one of the busiest sections of Naples

Naples Park:

Pros:
Very close to the beach (1-2miles)
Situated right outside of Mercato's popular nightlife
Good School District

Cons:
Small lot sizes
Not ideal for families with young children (busy streets)

Regent Park:

Pros:
Convenient to i-75
Good School District

Cons:
Located off of a busy road

Happy Thanksgiving!

As the States are not the only ones who celebrate the holiday, let's see how our neighbors, Canada and Puerto Rico celebrate each of their Thanksgivings.

Canada's Thanksgiving occurs in October and in general does not different much from the U.S. version of the holiday. However, they do have food variations such as the Ontario traditional food, tomato aspic (molded, jellied tomato juice).

Puerto Rico celebrates Thanksgiving the same day as the States, but with decidedly different foods. The Turkey is roasted and stuffed with mofongo, also known as “Plantain Balls”. Some foods you might sample on a Puerto Rican table are boiled bananas in garlic sauce called “Guineos en escabeche” and rather than Pumpkin Pie you may eat dulce de leche, a custard made from caramelized milk.

No matter how or where you celebrate the holiday remember the most important aspect of the day, be grateful for all you have.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!