Page 59 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

ENTERTAINMENT
The nightlife scene in Naples—particularly
downtown and in North Naples—gets contin-
ually livelier these days as young couples and
families move in. Hit the live theaters around
Fifth Avenue South, then stay to party at late-
night clubs downtown. Or take in a show at
Artis–Naples in North Naples and later head
to the clubs and pubs in the Mercato
shopping and entertainment district. You can
do both dinner and a movie at its Silverspot
Cinema or at the Paragon Theaters at The
Pavilion across the street. North Naples also SWAMP BUGGY RACES, NAPLES • NAPLES, MARCO ISLAND, EVERGLADES CVB
has its own comedy club-restaurant complex.
For quirky spectator sport entertainment, Fort Myers is also home to two Major complex, CoolToday Park in North Port,
you can’t beat the Swamp Buggy Races held League Baseball stadiums that host the south of Sarasota.
three times each winter. It involves big-tired Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox Much of Sarasota’s entertainment and
Everglade vehicles, lots of mud, and a festival during spring training. Come summer, the nightlife is of a higher brow ilk, with a
queen who ends up in the deepest mud hole. MiLB Fort Myers Miracle take to the field. reputation for fine theater, symphony and
East of town in Immokalee, the Seminole The Tampa Bay Rays train in Port opera. Downtown Sarasota sparkles at night
Casino Hotel hosts gaming and big-name Charlotte to the north and, off-season, the with sophisticated clubs, and Siesta Key has
entertainment. Charlotte Stone Crabs bat the ball around. a beachy party atmosphere in the village.
To the north, Bonita Springs is building a The Sarasota-Bradenton area is home to Don’t miss the beach clubs of Bradenton
reputation for comedy, live music, dining, two spring training teams as well—the Beach for more laid-back entertainment
performing arts and indie films. It is also Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles, plus options. Bradenton’s Manatee Performing
home to a greyhound racetrack. summer’s Bradenton Marauders. Beginning Arts Center infuses energy into downtown,
Downtown Fort Myers has the hottest this spring, the Atlanta Braves move their as does its dynamic Riverwalk, the venue for
nightlife and special events scene in town. spring training to the new state-of-the art December’s long-running blues festival.