Sharon Young

A perfect place to spend some time this weekend would be Clam Pass Beach Park on The Gulf of Mexico.

Clam Pass is right next to the Naples Grande Beach Resort in Naples, Florida. (formerly the Registry Hotel) This Collier county park is at the very end of Seagate Drive just west of Rt 41.

The first day of the long Memorial Day weekend, we spent at Clam Pass.

I love this 35 acre beach and forest!

You pay $6.00 to park (without permit) and gather all your paraphenalia and go to the "cart stop". An adorable older gentleman in a pimped out golf cart will quickly pick you up and take you along a 3/4 mile boardwalk to the beach.

If you don't have too much stuff to carry, it's a nice walk along the boradwalk through the mangroves. It's shady and there is much to look at. Look for all sorts of wildlife.

When you come on the beach, it's time to make a decision.You can rent a:

• Catamaran
• windsurfer
• kayak
• aqua bike
• canoe
• lounge chair & umberea
• handicapped beach wheelchair (and access)

Or would you like to have lunch at the cafe/grill first?

My favorite is walking a bit up the beach to the "pass". It has such a "Survivor" feel. It's shallow with little boat traffic which makes it perfect for floating and lounging in the water.

On this day there was only a few scattered people there. We pretty much had the place to ourselves. Except for the wading shorebirds, that were very tolerant of us.

Be sure to bring plenty of sunblock. We have some serious sun down here.

A beautiful day like this is another reminder that I am blessed to live here and sell real estate in Bonita Springs and Naples. WISH YOU WERE HERE .....

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend. Be safe and be blessed.

Bowditch Point Regional Park beach sits at the northern end of Estero Island just above Ft Myers Beach in Ft Myers, Florida.

Just keep driving and you can't miss it!

It is a peaceful 17 acres of beach park and preserve that sits with the bay on one side and the wide sugar white beach on the other. This offers a wide variety of sights to explore. Fishing and swimming and boating ....lots of wading birds and native vegetation in a natural state.

This is a great place to come for the sunset, even on a "slightly cloudy" day.

It's always beautiful in Southwest Florida.

• There are:picnic tables, grills, big clean restrooms and changing rooms. Outside showers to rinse off. A boardwalk to the beach with handicap access.

There is even an adorable privately owned grill called "Flip Flops" grill to catch lunch.

We spent a very enjoyable evening here. First we did a little "hiking" (aka walking) and exploring and pelican watching (the pelicans are way cool) then the ever popular "sitting on the beach and doing nothing". (my fav)

We happened to show up just in time to catch THREE different beach weddings! One was right in the middle of the actual ceremony with a lovely set up just in front of the surf. Another wedding seemed very intimate and romantic, while the third was large and fun. It feels refreshing and romantic to see people in love!

All in all, Bowditch Beach is a place to come to get away from the main crowds and enjoy a family outing or just read a book and watch a sunset. Don't miss it if you are in our area!

Village Walk of Bonita Springs, Florida

Market Report 5/6/2008

• 70 Active Listings In Village Walk of Bonita Springs

Of those 70 listings:

• 33 are Capri III attached villa models:

Priced from $207,900 to $389.900

• 17 are the Cayman attached townhouse model:

Priced from:$200,000 to $399,000

• 12 are the Oakmont single family model:

Priced from $315,000 to $449,900

• 8 are the Carlyle single family model:

Priced from $378,000 to $525,000

In addition, Village Walk currently has:

• 5 that are Active with a Contract
• 5 are Pending Sale
• 21 closed sales in 2007
• 8 closed since Jan 1, 2008

Absorption Rate:

The Absorption Rate is the ability of the real estate market to sell off all of the houses that are currently for sale

Based on the absorption rate, it will take a Village Walk owner almost 3 years to sell his house in the current market. If an owner wants to price a property to sell it would have to be in the lower 50% of the price range for similar properties in order for it to sell in the next 12 months. To sell in the next 6 months it would need to be priced in the lower 25% of the competition on the market.

So if you are considering selling, do your math and make an intelligent, unemotional decision. Remember to include your holding costs:

• Mortgage(s)
• Taxes
• Insurance
• HOA fees
• Maintenence

If you are ready to buy, it's an exciting time! Good for you.

VillageWalk of Bonita Springs is located just minutes from Naples and Fort Myers. It is the perfect location - right in the middle. Close to world-class shopping, fabulous restaurants, and this area's beautiful beaches, it doesn't get much better than this for year round outdoor living! This is the lifestyle people dream about.

You can feel secure in your DiVosta built home. They use poured concrete for a strong solid build. The homes are production built, meaning that the upgrades are limited as far as granite countertops and the like. Many people choose to make changes after moving in. DiVosta does offer accordion hurricane shutters, a beautiful built in wall unit and choices of pools.

The nicest aspect of this community is the fact that it is a community! Everybody knows your name. With the miles of landscaped walkways, lakes and bridges that ramble throughout, there are endless possibilities for an evening stroll with Fido (or your spouse)Take time to stop and chat with your neighbors...

The resort pool and lap pool are second to none, and the fitness center is one of the largest and most well equipped in the area! And it's all made even sweeter with low monthly fees.

There is also a full time activities director to keep your calendar full .....if that's what you want.

DiVosta offers 4 models to choose from:

• Capri III: with 1526 square feet under air and 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms it is an attached villa
• Cayman: 1720 square feet under air and 3 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms it is an attached townhome
• Oakmont: with 2000 square feet under air and 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms it is a single family
• Carlyle: with 2605 square feet under air and 4 bedrooms and three full bathrooms it is a single family
• And now .... the Carrington....1542 square feet and 3 bedrooms and 2 full baths it is an attached villa

All these mailboxes are found along Hickory Blvd in Bonita Springs, Fl. Hickory runs along side the Gulf of Mexico past Barefoot Beach, Bonita Beach (popular tourist spot) and continues past Lovers Key State Park and into Ft Myers Beach.

There are fabulous mansions and quaint beach cottages along this popular road.

The mermaid has a blonde twin on the other side of her. I didn't realize that until I was back across the street.

This is the same road that Chris Griffith found her kayak and fish mailboxes!