gailw

We're heading for Marco Island on 12/11 for a week. Looking for offbeat (not in the tourist books) things to do within an hour or hour and a half drive of Marco. We've been there several times and have been to Goodland, the nature trail, etc. There was a flea market (?north of Naples) that I'd like to find again, if anyone knows more about it. It was mostly Hispanic in nature (clothes, fabric, food items, jewelry) and we really enjoyed that, but I can't remember where it was.
Any other ideas?
Thanx in advance.

Keith

Have you visited Stan's Idle Hour in Goodland?

Stan is the owner. He is about 70 and tells jokes and sings. There is a band and lots of silliness. I don't believe there is anyone that works there that is even as young as me (53). The bar is mostly outdoors, along the
water.

It is a large place with a major gift shop where I picked up some great shirts. They serve wonderful Buffalo shrimp.

Keith

NeoPatrick

Have you stopped at the Clyde Butcher gallery on 41 near Ochopee? Super!

I don't know which flea market you're speaking of, unless it's the one clear up by Bonita off I-75? There used to be one at the drive-in movie in East Naples, but that's gone (along with the drive-in itself).

They decorate the old Palm Cottage (near the pier) in Naples for Christmas. That's kind of fun.

Tenth Street (heading north from the Depot) in Naples has become quite a thrift shop/antiques row -- fun for browsing. Any of the places you stop can give you a map of all the places. There's a huge new "indoor antiques mall" of individual owners and booths at the corner of Goodlette Road and Central.

gailw

Keith and NeoPatrick:
Thanks for the tips. (Not that it makes any difference, we're actually leaving 12/5 and returning 12/11.)
I've been to Goodland but I'm not sure if that's the same thing as Stan's Idle Hour. I remember the gift shop. I also recall a waitress with a very ostentatious outfit involving lots of feathers. Is there a particular time to go to see Stan? And my S.O. loves shrimp, so we'll definitely try the Buffalo shrimp.
The flea market you mention off I75 sounds like the very one. I didn't remember what town it was near but remember it being off a main highway by just a couple of miles or so. I'll try to get more info using Bonita for a search.
I'm unfamiliar with the other suggestions in NeoPatrick's message but they all sound good, so I thank you for those also. Muchas gracias.

gailw

BTW, I googled flea markets /Bonita and pulled up a site that lists flea markets all over Florida.
I think this might be the one I was looking for:
Ortiz Avenue Flea Market. Ortiz Avenue and State Route 80B, Exit off I-75 at mile marker #24.

Keith

That sounds like Stans. A slender woman of a certain age makes rounds through the place modeling often outlandish items from the giftshop.

Both times I have been there were Sunday afternoons and Stan went on stage both times.

BTW Last year we went to the Naples Boat Parade (which takes place during your visit). We managed to have fun, but it was pretty lame: less than a dozen modest sized boats with only a couple that had elaborate decorations and only one with a band. My favorite one was a tiny two person boat with no lights except a star about 10 feet in the air.

Keith

NeoPatrick

The Ortiz flea market is at the north east end of Ft. Myers -- near the River, way north of the airport even. There's also a big Fleamasters in Ft. Myers, just off I-75 a little south of there. I suspect that you might have been thinking of the one on Bonita Beach Road -- Flamingo Island Flea Market.

gailw

I might take a pass on the boat parade but Sunday at Stan's could be entertaining.
Not sure what I'll do about the flea market -- because I live in NH and don't get much "ethnic color", I'm mostly interested in revisiting the Hispanic flavor of the flea market I went to, rather than the "fleamarketness" of it. I might just ask around when we get to Marco.
The art gallery also interests me - Ochopee doesn't ring a bell: will it show up on a road map?
Thanks again.

NeoPatrick

Ochopee is a "stop in the road" on 41 between Naples and Miami -- the Tamiami Trail. That's where the world's smallest post office is (looks like an outhouse). The Clyde Butcher Gallery is right on 41 west of there. Here's a website for the gallery:

http://www.clydebutcher.com/

Have you ever been to Everglades City, by the way? Lunch at the old Rod and Gun Club is fun (I guess they still do that, haven't been in years) and the Smallwood Store Museum is there.

Keith

I agree about passing on the boat parade. I mentioned it so you would not hear about it and think it might be something big like they have in other cities.

Keith

LLindaC

They have a boat parade in Marco as well. Probably smaller than the one in Naples! Go to the Edison house in Ft Myers. It's decorated in style for Xmas and they usually have other activities going on there as well. We went yearly when my parents were living there. While up there, stop at The Prawnbroker for an outstanding seafood meal.

One time we went to Babcock Wilderness Adventure. It was a HOOT and we saw lots of wild animals. I liked it better than the Everglades tour.

gailw

Aha! Now we're cookin'. More fun places to check out. Ochopee (and the World's Smallest Post Office) sounds like my kind of tourist destination. We've never been to Everglades City (although we did sit beside some folks who moved there from Boston at Stan's one time and listened to their Mosquito Stories. ugh.) Anyway, lunch at the Rod & Gun Club could be a gas (hopefully not literally...) I'll google it to see if it's still in existence.
And we've actually not been to the Edison House, so that and a meal at the Prawnbroker could be in my future.
Keith, I knew what you meant about the boat parade. (Sometimes it's as impt to find out what NOT to bother trying to see as what might be fun to see.)
4 1/2 days to sunshine -- can't wait.
Thanks, all.

Keith

This is probably in the guide books, but if you are going to Everglades City, consider taking a pontoon boat tour in the National Park. It is about nature, rather than wind and noise like the airboats.

When we went in March, we saw osprey, eagles and many other birds, but the highlight was the groups of dolphins playing in our wake and the wake of other boats.

Keith

gailw

We took that pontoon boat tour last year. We enjoyed it but did not see any of the wildlife you mention. My S.O. and I were talking over the weekend and think we'd like to go back -- is that Everglade City, where the Nation park Service pontoon boats leave from? -- there was a very cute little restaurant/craft/health food store just down the main road a little ways.
WooHoo! 6 inches of snow here and still falling and we're out of here Wed a.m.!

Keith

"is that Everglade City, where the Nation park Service pontoon boats leave from?"

Yes.

I don't recall how expensive it was, but at the time I thought it was reasonable. And easier to book than the air boats were had a several hour wait.

Have a great time! I leave 2 weeks from Friday.

Keith

gailw

Thanks a bunch. I know we'll have a blast. You, too.