I love this interesting sculpture I found in Riverside Park on a recent trip to Bonita Springs…read more Unveiled on Jan. 10, 2007, the title of the piece is Setting the Pace. The sculpture is 17 feet tall and 8.5 feet long. It features a man balancing on top of a circle which can be a metaphor for life. You can interpret it as life is a balancing act, or the circle of life. This piece was purchased by the Bonita Springs Art in Public Places Board which was formed to expose the public to the arts and to create art education programs. Setting the Pace, along with two other works purchased at the same time, Lords of the Forest and The Ties That Bind cost a combined total of $160,000.. Art is purchased by the city through donations and grants. The board hopes to bring art to people who might not seek it out in a more traditional setting like a museum. Setting the Pace was created by celebrated Colorado artist, Jane DeDecker. A duplicate of this piece is in Evergreen, Colorado where it is dedicated to the volunteers and staff of the Evergreen Fire Rescue. DeDecker has been sculpting for over 25 years and has created over 600 sculptures, 4 of those monument sized. According to the artist "My art is a cumulative process made of my life experiences and my desire to sculpt the human form. I try to retain in the sculpture the beginning strokes and gestures because they contain the truth of the spirit. As subject matter, I attempt to select a moment with which all of us can relate on a personal basis. These moments span all generations, depicting universally recognizable scenes." DeDecker has won many awards and her art can be seen in many states and in the private collections of celebrities. I enjoy discovering new works of art and this large piece certainly commands your attention. If you sit and ponder it for a moment you can come up with many different meanings. Personally, it reminds me how we are are always balancing in life, one step from falling off. The park provides a beautiful backdrop for this sculpture and it was a joy to find it.

Great place to take a walk and browse some boutiques, coffee shops, & restaurants…read more This visit was way too hot to do that, but we have done it plenty of times and enjoyed it. You can park on the street or in parking garages for free. It's really pretty seeing different sculptures, flowers, trees, And even some fancy cars.

There is plenty of free street parking & lots in the back. Shops, restaurants, cafes, a playhouse,…read moreart galleries, boutiques, yacht sales & real estate offices selling multi million dollar estates. The hotel on 5th covers both sides of the street. Each shop has unique items,there aren't chains here. The flowers, sculptures & fountains decorate 5th beautifully.

Artis has a nice selection of Ansel Adams artwork on display, including some self portraits and…read morecolor pieces. They also have works by a modern-day Ansel, Brian Zepeda. This facility has space to host events, including large gatherings ass our daughter's graduation ceremony was held here.

We are Frankie Moreno fans. We started attending his performances in Las Vegas, when he started…read moreperforming at the Stratosphere. He now performs all over the world. He is a master musician and the consummate entertainer. If he is performing n your area, or you are visiting Las Vegas, you have to attend his performances. You will sing along, your heart will beat a little faster as he sings to your soul, he brings the audience to life. Thank you Hayes Hall for making our first experience at your wonder theater a delightful, enjoyable and memorable evening.

Revs is a great "museum" for car lovers. If you're not a big fan of cars it may turn you into one…read more They have an amazing collection of old, beautifully maintained, and rare cars housed in an 80,000 square foot facility. There are volunteers throughout that will answer any questions you have and tell you interesting stories and facts about the cars. There are also guided tours. It takes about 1.5-2 hours to get through all the exhibits. There's a gift shop at the entrance that has some pretty unique items including miniatures of the cars, tshirts, and puzzles. It's a fun, educational and different way to spend a couple hours in Naples.

Nate and I were looking for things to do in the Naples area last year when we were visiting my…read moreparents, and the Revs Institute popped up. Unfortunately we weren't able to get tickets at that time, because they offer limited hours and you have to purchase tickets online ahead of time (no walk ins are allowed). We remembered this for our visit this year and managed to get tickets for an afternoon (which happened to be overcast and a bit rainy which was perfect). Their hours are Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm. The last entry ticket is for 2 pm. This is a HUGE car museum at 80,000 square feet. If you like cars, especially vintage sports cars, definitely check this place out. I personally do not really care about cars that much, but it was pretty cool to see all the different types they have (over 100 fully operational vehicles). There are trained docents everywhere and they are very knowledgeable. I got very overwhelmed trying to read all the placards, so I gave up on that pretty quickly, to be honest. They are very wordy and not written at a very accessible level in my opinion - but again, not a car person. The museum was very clean, and it was cool that you can get so close to the cars as they don't have any barriers around them. There is a nice little gift shop that had some fun car items and apparel. I don't feel the need to go back again, I'm glad we got to check it out.

It took a bit of research to find the name and details because this lovely sculpture doesn't have a…read morecaption or explanation nearby. Maybe there's one inside City Hall? Nonetheless, this sculpture is "Moons of the Galaxy." The artwork is about fifteen feet tall and is a multi-layered piece, almost an obelisk (and you know I love obelisks https://www.yelp.com/collection/_qW015GIAUpX1-YLYabLoQ). It is brightly colored and impossible to miss as you head east on Bonita Beach Road. The online caption reads, "Since the dawn of time earth's moon has lit up our nights and created a sense of wonder in humankind. Luckily, the city of Bonita Springs has been fortunate to acquire a moon to call its own. Currently on display at Bonita City Hall, "Moons of the Galaxy", is one of the latest creations from Pinellas County artist, Clayton Swartz. The towering metallic sculpture was approved by the Art in Public Places Board (APPB), to be featured as a permanent fixture to highlight the city's commitment to the arts and beautification of the community." [Review 19276 overall - 1625 in Florida - 246 of 2023.]

OMG...after shopping and eating at the Waterfront Shops we raced across the street to the Naples…read moreDepot. Drove inside and passed through the black and white railroad crossing arms and walked around to the sign with the history of the depot. Walked on the little railroad tracks and took some great pictures of me at the railroad train containers. The inside museum was already closed but had a fun time here.

On our weekend trip we had plans that didn't include this. The rain messed that up and we ended up…read morehere after googling things to do. It was so nice inside and so informative ! The front desk gentleman named Zack was such a great help with recommendations of things to do in the area. Thank you Zack! You saved our weekend.

3/6/25: The Baker Museum is a must see!…read more Stunning exhibit of Chihuly sculptures, chandeliers and ceilings are here. Other art works are created from science concepts. The Sphere Packing (Bach) is a highlight. Up to 3 people can stand inside. It's a 10 ft. diameter sphere, weighs approximately. 1300 lbs and operates on 6.83 mi.of cable. (Please seek attached photos). It supports 1128 speakers, each which plays a different Bach Composition while your in the sphere. It's a very unique experience. So many other unique exhibits on view. A big shout out to all the museum guides. They're very friendly and knowledgeable about the items on display. A mid to large size parking lot is available. Looking forward to my next visit to the Baker Museum.

The quality of exhibits was equitable that of much larger museums. I lucked into a beautiful…read morecontemporary glass exhibit & featured Chihuly pieces. The museum was well laid out, the staff were extremely knowledgeable & wonderfully pleasant.

a fascinating stop that preserves the historic site of the Koreshan Unity -- a utopian religious…read morecommunity founded in the late 19th century by Cyrus Teed. The park has a $5 per car entrance fee and plenty of parking. There are two main areas: One side leads to a picnic area and campsites -- perfect for relaxing or spending the night. The other takes you to the historical settlement, where multiple preserved buildings are open for exploration. You can take a self-guided tour using a $1 handout map from the visitor center or simply read the detailed informational signs posted around the site. Walking through the grounds feels like stepping into a ghost town, complete with original structures and remnants of a once-thriving community. Despite the eerie history, the park is peaceful, quiet, and well-shaded, making it a nice place to wander, learn, and take a break from the Florida heat. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

I have heard about the Koreshan State Park and the cult with the same name from my previous visits…read moreto the Bonita Springs area. But after reading the novel "The Magic Kingdom" written by Russell Banks recently (I do recommend) based on the history of the Koreshan cult, I wanted to visit the park during my next trip. And we did. The park is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. They have tours and demonstrations on the property. You can browse on your own of you want. We opted for a guided tour that starts at 10 am for $10/person, you can book online ahead of time or just pay and join on the spot. It was well worth it, our guide gave us a lot of interesting information (although she didn't know about the books), about Dr. Cyrus Teed, the guru of the Koreshan who started the religious cult in New York, moved it to Chicago, then to Estero Bay in Florida where they helped develop the area. Lots of fascinating stories about their settlement, religion concepts, work in the area, business, the role of women within the cult. We lingered afterword to browse some more, lots of memorabilia on display and we were lucky to witness some demonstrations. You need at least 2-3 hours to see everything. You can bring lunch, there are picnic tables. A lot of places and houses in this big park. Wear comfy shoes, bring a hat. You will also see cool plants and animals in the wild (cool lizards, small iguanas). It's worth checking out if you're looking for an activity that opens a big window into the history of the area!

Hubby and I have been here a few times, and each time was less enjoyable…read more The rooms are fine. We like the proximity to Tin City. The hotel elevators do not function properly, and the staff advised it would be too expensive to fix. It too a long while to be greeted by a server, and when we were greeted, we were simply asked, "What can I get you?" No hello, no my name is, no welcome, no sorry for the wait, nothing. We did enjoy the food, which arrived in decent time. The pool was in need of a skimming with lots of bugs on top and the jacuzzi looked dingy. I think we will try to find another hotel nearby next time we are in Naples.

The Bayfront Inn is not the greatest. First off they charge 20.00 to park a car which in my opinion…read moreshould be included in the price charged per room. Elevators are super slow! Ice machine on our floor was broken and had been for awhile. The room didn't have a desk where someone could sit to do makeup etc. Hairdryer was so old and the handle was disgusting to touch. Do BETTER!!! For 400.00 a night it isn't worth it. The room also smelled stale and musty. View was good as well as location. Lightswitch didn't work to turn on room lights when you walk in Outside in the back by the restaurant it seemed dirty and all the planters had dead plants in them and they also seemed short staffed. There was live music but it was so loud it was impossible to try and have a conversation. Terrible! Would not recommend. This place is trending to be a Motel 6 in a year and at $79 a night they'll be gouging people at that price.

The Naples Art Association was founded in 1954 by E. George Rogers, Elsie Upham, and Grace Lake…read morealong with 34 other artists. The formed in order to create art, exhibit it, and teach art to others in the community. A public school art program was established that same year. In 1957, the Naples Art Association organized the first "Art in the Park." Still running today, it's thought to be Naples' oldest outdoor art show. In the 1970s, the Naples Art Association restored the Naples Depot with money they raised. They built studio spaces and held their first art exhibition in 1978. The next year they offered adult art classes and they continued providing educational programs at the Naples Depot until 1998. In 1980, their first annual spring art show was held in Cambier Park. As its known now, the Naples National Art Festival has become our largest fund raiser and is consistently rated among the top 10 art festivals in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine.1980's In 1992, Naples Art began meeting with the Naples City Council for a lease agreement to provide 8,000 square feet of public land in Cambier Park to build a community art center. In 1995, city leaders signed an agreement and raised $3.5 million through private donations, including one from Suzanne and William von Liebig for whom the art center is named.1990's On November 22, 1998, Naples Art officially opened The von Liebig Art Center. Our 16,000 square foot, two-story facility features six studios, a main exhibition hall, rounds galleries, one of the area's largest art resource libraries, and a gift shop. Today their "mission is to enlighten, engage, educate, and enrich the community and to build on Naples Art's history and position of leadership as a hub of visual arts in Southwest Florida." Their vision is that "art can change lives and improve entire communities. Through our unique and engaging programs, classes, exhibitions, and events, Naples Art enhances communitywide appreciation for and understanding of the visual arts and supports artists of all ages and aspirations."

We went here for the Matisse exhibit which goes till April. The place is small, has a cute gift…read moreshop but it's very noisy. Some ladies were taking over the lobby while we arrived, they were loud, it was chaotic, felt like stepping into somebody's private party. The actual exhibit is small, art on display is from last years of Matisse when he was having health issues. Not that impressive. Nice activity if you want to spend about an hour or less here. I didn't like the guided tour because they took over a decent part of the exhibit, we had to come back to check it out later. I enjoyed the artwork in the lobby, modern, contemporary and bold. Otherwise, very noisy place, hard to concentrate on art and enjoy it! Check their site for hours and current exhibits! $15 admission, a tad steep since it's a small place!