Florida day cruising

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Greg Ketley

I will be in Southwest Florida(Naples) just after Christmas for a week and am looking to rent a small boat for day trips. Want to go to a beach for a few hours, cruise around looking at homes that I will never afford etc. What is a good area,Port Charlotte,Sarasota? I don't mind a short drive from Naples of under an hour or so. PS: This will be in a small powerboat this trip,I may have older guests coming along for a ride that would not be up to sailing, so draft should not be a problem Thanks
 
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Brad Dennis

Slow Birds Are Here

This time of year, good luck in getting past Fort Myers in under an hour ;D Brad
 
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rwbenton

Try Punta Gorda

There are good areas all along the SW FL coast, but consider Punta Gorda. Charlotte Harbor is great regardless of weather because it is protected water, shallow & warm water, nice trip out to Cayo Costa for beach, cruise canals to look truely "affordable" (not like Naples)homes, boat rental available at Fisherman's Village along with shopping, eating, etc. King Fisher Fleet Charter has day trips on nice group charter to Cayo Costa, nature charters, sunset cruise, etc. Try looking at www.liveonthewater.com It is a realtor's site, but has great photo album, links, etc. We are not retired but wanted to move to FL to be on water. Looked in Naples, Cape Coral, Ft. Myers, Venice, Sarasota and bought in Punta Gorda. Waterfront property is not cheap, but it is more reasonable here than anywhere else. We live on canal, have a Catalina 320 at our backyard dock. The sailing here is great - there are shoals, but we have had no problems. The canals in Punta Gorda Isles are beautiful at Christmas with boats and canal fronts decorated with Christmas lights. King Fisher Fleet also does canal cruises to see lights, but not sure if they continue after Christmas. They have a web site with their cruise options and times. Also, traffic in Punta Gorda is not even close to the mess it is in Naples or any of the other areas we looked at.
 
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Ed Allen

When we look

We rent the boat in naples and tour the area south of the city marina. Its the biggest gathering of unused mansions in florida. I would be no one is home 40 weeks a year and the millions tied up in homes is a statement to the fact that to few have way to much. it is a beautiful area to visit. one guy has a great tour running off the city dock in naples on a pontoon style boat. does a great job. the beachs are great and the area to the south is a bird rookery. have fun!
 
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Vic

Penty of options available right

in Naples and Marco .... check the visitor's center on Fifth Ave when you arrive. Vic "Seven" Naples
 
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David Guthridge

My folks retired there

20 years ago to Royal Harbor in Naples right on a canal. They moved to Victoria Park in North Naples on a lake a few years later. My family and I visited often and always loved sailing the Ten Thousand Islands and looked forward to dinners at Tin City! Naples is a great place but one day in 15 minutes we counted 5 Rolls Royces and a Bentley. If you realy want to see Naples at it's best stay at The Ritz-Carlton on the beach. We usually spent two nights there and the rest of the time at a more reasonable hotel but it realy is worth it. David
 
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Ed

Naples boats

Small power boats are rented in Naples on Venitian bay at the North end of the venitian bay shopping center. It is about 1.5 miles to Dr's Pass out to the gulf.
 
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