Piper's Grove Visitor's Information

Tom O'Haver, 7564 Silver Trumpet Ln, #203, email toh@umd.edu. Last updated: January, 2011
Latest version online at http://www.wam.umd.edu/~toh/PG.pdf

Nearby shops, restaurants, and facilities (see map at http://tinyurl.com/NaplesMap)

Closest supermarkets: Publix, Naples Walk Center. 7 am - 10 pm, 7 days. Sweetbay, 2 miles,
Greentree Center, SW corner of Airport and Immokalee Rd. Walmart 24 hour grocery, 3 miles,
SE corner of Airport and Pine Ridge (Carillon Center). Whole Foods at Mercato (3 miles).
Closest 24-hour convenience store: Gas station on Vanderbilt Beach Rd across from Tiburón.
Closest drug store/pharmacy: Walgreens and CVS, corner of Airport and Vanderbilt Beach Rds.
Big Box: Costco, Naples Blvd west of Airport Rd. (2 mi); Sam's Club, SE corner of Immokalee
and Airport Rd. (2 mi); WalMart Supercenter. SW corner of Immokalee and I-75 (4 mi)
Gourmet/specialty foods: Whole Foods, at the Mercato (3 miles). Fresh Market, 4129 US 41.
Asian Market: Asian Pok Market, 2095 Pine Ridge, between Naples Blvd and Yahl. 9am to 8pm
Fresh produce and fruit: Local Farmer's Market, Saturdays at 8 am, Vanderbilt Collection, near
Pizzaiolis. Temple Citrus/Ritchey's Produce, Airport Rd, s. of Orange Blossom.
Bakery, coffee, rolls, pastries: Calistoga Bakery Café, across Airport Rd. from the main gate.
Walking distance. Open 7 days, 6am - 8pm. Wi-fi. Starbucks in Vanderbilt Collection.
Closest Restaurants: Naples Walk: Café Italia, Subway; Old Europe Bistro; Sam Snead's; Super
Wok. Across Airport Rd: Calistoga Bakery Café; Anthony's Trattoria; Sushi-Thai; Stonewood;.
Vanderbilt Collection: Lucarelli's; Bokamper's; Real Seafood; Pei Wei; Luna Rossa; Bajio
Mexican; Absinthe; Pizzaiolis. Ritz-Carlton: Poolside Café, Lemonia.
Closest delis: Publix, Naples Walk Center; Jason's Deli, SE corner of Immokalee and Airport Rd,
2 miles. Stage Deli, Mercato, 3 miles. Straight from New York, Immokalee, E of I-75, 4 miles.
Closest health food market/café: Natural Marketplace and Café, Naples Walk, next to Il Primo.
Vegan/Asian: Loving Hut, 975 Pine Ridge (5 miles). Food and Thought, 2132 Tamiami Trail N,
near TGI Friday's (7 miles). http://www.foodandthought.com.
Nearby pizza: Il Primo pizza, in the Naples Walk Center. Rustic wood-fired pizza: Pizzaiolis,
Airport Rd, in the Vanderbilt Collection.
Closest Thai and Sushi: Sushi-Thai, across Airport Rd, near Stonewood Tavern. Also on US 41 at
103rd St. and at the corner of 5th Ave S. and US 41. Excellent lunch special weekdays 'til 3 pm.
Closest all-you-can-eat: CiCi's, SE corner of Immokalee and Airport Rd, east of Sam's Club.
Closest five-Star restaurant: Lemonia, Ritz-Carlton at Tiburón, across Vanderbilt Beach Rd.
Nearby Italian:
Café Italia, east end of Naples Walk Center, near Subway (walking distance).
Anthony's Trattoria, across Airport Rd, near Sushi-Thai. Very nice. Small, nice, family-run.
Luna Rossa, in the Vanderbilt Collection, NW corner of Airport and Vanderbilt Beach Rds.
Joey D's, Greentree Center, SW corner of Airport and Immokalee. Small, popular. (2 miles)
Noodles Café and Sushi Bar, Pine Ridge Rd, just east of Goodlette-Frank (4 miles)
D'Amico's (local chain), 4691 US 41 at Neapolitan Way, phone 430-0955 (4.5 miles)
Nearby seafood:
Real Seafood Co, north side of Vanderbilt Beach Rd. west of Airport Rd., 591-3523, 0.5 miles.
Randy's Fishmarket (US 41, between Vanderbilt Beach Rd and Immokalee Rd., 3 miles)
McCormack and Schmick, at the Mercato, U.S. 41 N. and Vanderbilt Beach Rd. (3 miles)
 Swan River Seafood Restaurant and Fish Market, 3741 N US 41 (7 miles).
USS Nemo (our favorite) 3745 US 41, 261-6366; 6 miles; lunch and dinner, 7 days.
Chinese: Pei Wei Asian Diner, NW corner of Vanderbilt Beach Rd and Airport. Charlie
Chiang's, 4.5 miles, 12000 US 41, north of Immokalee Rd, at DoubleTree (593-6688). Closest
ordinary Chinese takeout is Super Wok, West end of Naples Walk Center (walking distance).
Vietnamese: Noodles Saigon, in Wiggins Pass Crossing, on the East side of US 41, just south of
Wiggins Pass Rd, 6 miles from Piper's Grove. Pho, summer rolls, rice-noodle salads, etc.
Indian: Saffron, 2059 Pine Ridge Road, between Naples Blvd and Yahl, behind the gas station.
BBQ Ribs: Sam Sneads, Naples Walk; Rib City, 4 miles, US 41 north of Vanderbilt Beach Rd.;
Michelbob's, 6 miles, Airport Rd. north of Radio.
Good up-scale French Restaurants:
Cote D'Azur: (4 miles from Piper's Grove ), Riverchase Plaza, near Publix, NE corner of
Immokalee Road & U.S. 41. Reservations: 597-8867. Small, cozy, Provençal, good food.
Escargot 41: (5 miles), 4339 US 41 N,. Phone: 793-5000. Mon-Sat, 5:30pm – 10pm. Excellent, a
hidden gem, in the inside corner of the Parkshore Plaza strip mall (west side of US 41, across
from Carrabba's), right next to the Japanese place. Call; it's booked up weeks in advance.
Bleu Provence, 1234 8th St. S. (239-261-8239); and Bamboo Café, 755 12th Ave S. (239-643-
6177). Both 9 miles from Piper's Grove, near the City Docks.
Waterfront dining:
Gumbo Limbo, on the Ritz-Carlton boardwalk, just south of Vanderbilt Beach Rd, 4 miles.
Turtle Club, right on the beach at Gulfshore Blvd, just north of Vanderbilt Beach Rd, 4 miles.
Buzz's Lighthouse, 9180 Gulfshore Drive, 4 miles. (Informal, laid-back, less expensive).
Bay House, 799 Walkerbilt Road, west side of 41, .5 miles north of Immokalee Rd. Conservative.
Baleen, at the LaPlaya Resort, 9891 Gulf Shore Drive, open breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Upscale.
Venetian Village, Park Shore Dr, 1 mile west of US 41, 6 miles from Piper's Grove.
HBs on the Gulf (435-4347), Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, 851 Gulfshore Blvd, 8 miles.
The following places are on Naples Bay near Old Naples, 9 miles from Piper's Grove.
Tin City, US 41 and Goodlette-Frank. Touristy but with a couple of decent restaurants.
Joe's Crab Shack, north side of US 41 east of Goodlette-Frank. Nice view of Gordon River.
The Boathouse, 990 Broad Ave. S. (643-2235). Nice views of Naples Bay.
The Dock, at the City Docks, 12th Avenue S. (263-9940). Informal, very popular.
Ice cream and frozen yogurt: SweeTreats, across Airport Rd, near Stonewood Tavern. 12 - 10
pm. Emack & Bolio's, NW corner of Vanderbilt and Airport, next to Pei Wei.
Best Sushi bar: Fujiyama's Club Sushi, 2555 US 41 N (261-4332). 7 miles from Piper's Grove.
Mexican: Bajio in the Vanderbilt Collection. Cilantro Tamales, 4 miles, 10823 US 41 N, south of
Immokalee Rd. Open 11am. Maria's Restaurant, 9 miles, 27080 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs.
Authentic Cuban food: World Bakery and Cafeteria, corner of Pine Ridge and 951.
"Upscale dive": Buffalo Chips, 26620 Old 41 (9.5 miles). Hot wings half-price on Mondays.
Good out-of-the-ordinary lunch or dinner: Bha-Bha Persian Bistro, in the Pavilion, Vanderbilt
Beach Rd. west of US 41(594-5557). 3 miles from Piper's Grove. Opens 11:30 am.
Closest lounge/bar: Café Italia, Naples Walk Center, bar open 'til 2 am, 3-6 pm happy hour.
Upscale lounge/piano bar: Lobby of Ritz-Carlton at Tiburón, across Vanderbilt Beach Rd. Light
meals. Daily 11 am – 12:30 am Live jazz Fri/Sat 8:30 pm – 11:00 pm.
Happy Hours: Café Italia, Naples Walk Center, 3-6 pm. Brio Tuscan Grille, Waterside Shops, $3
appetizers at the bar, 3-6pm and 9pm-closing; McCormack and Schmick at the Mercato, 4-6 pm.
 See http://www.naplesnews.com/drinkspecials/ for others.
Wine and Liquor: ABC Liquors, Naples Blvd., west of Airport Rd. (1.5 miles). Total Wine,
Carillon Place, Pine Ridge & Airport (2 mi). Florida sells wine and beer in every supermarket.
Good cheese counters: Whole Foods, at the Mercato. Fresh Market, 4129 US 41. The Wine
Merchant, East side of US 41, 1 mile north of Immokalee Rd (in the back, past the wine).
Closest video rental: Blockbuster, in the Naples Walk Center. Walking distance.
Closest movie theaters: Hollywood 20 (North of Pine Ridge and Airport-Pulling Rd. 597-9494).
Silverspot at Mercato. Pavilion Cinema (U.S. 41 N. and Vanderbilt Beach Rd. 596-0008).
Main shopping/walking/dining areas: (listed from closest to farthest):
Mercato, an "urban village", U.S. 41 N and Vanderbilt Beach Rd, 2.5 mi from Piper's Grove.
Waterside Shops, west side of US 41, north of Pine Ridge Rd, 4.5 miles. Very upscale shops.
Venetian Village, Park Shore drive, 1 mile west of US 41. Right on the water.
Promenade shops, west side of US 41, 7 miles north of Vanderbilt Beach Rd.
Old Naples, 5th Ave S and on 3rd St between 11th and 13th Ave S, 9 miles from Piper's Grove.
Miromar Outlets, I-75, exit 123 east, 11 miles north of Immokalee Rd.
Coconut Point, E. side of US 41, 11 miles north of Vanderbilt Beach Rd, after Coconut Rd.
Gulf Coast Town Center, I-75 at exit 128 (Alico Rd), 21 miles from Piper's Grove.
Enclosed shopping mall: Coastland Mall, Goodlette-Frank and Golden Gate Pky. (7 miles).
Home furnishing bargains:
Tuesday Morning, Pavilion Plaza, Vanderbilt Beach Rd. west of US 41. 3 miles.
Home Goods, US 41 N., 1 mile south of Pine Ridge Rd. 5 miles from Piper's Grove.
World Market, Z Gallerie, at Coconut Point, east side of US 41, 11 miles north of Vanderbilt.
Old Time Pottery, 32 miles (Take I-75 N. to Colonial Blvd, then West to Fowler).
Thrift and consignment shops:
White Elephant, Pine Ridge Rd. at Naples Blvd, across from Home Depot.
Several shops along 10th St from 2nd Ave South to 3rd Ave North.
St. Vincent de Paul, Davis Blvd, just west of Airport Rd.
Public library: Airport Rd at Orange Blossom, walking distance. Open 9 am - 8 pm M-Th, Fri-
Sat until 5 pm, Sundays at 1 pm. Has separate children's room.
Large Bookstores: Books-A-Million, at the Mercato (3 miles); Barnes and Noble, US 41 N. at
Pine Ridge Rd. (4 miles); Borders, US 41 N., just south of Immokalee Rd (5 miles).
Naples Philharmonic and Art Gallery : 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, off US 41 north of Pine Ridge.
www.thephil.org. Art gallery open 10am - 4pm (closed Mondays and holidays)
Von Liebig Art Center. 585 Park St., Old Naples. http://www.naplesartcenter.org
Activity ideas (listed from closest to farthest)
Bike to lunch. (a) Take Airport Rd 1.5 miles south to Naples Blvd. Nearby are Miller's Naples
Ale House; Panera Bread, and several other places. (b) Take Airport Rd 2 miles north to
Greentree Plaza, just before Immokalee Rd; several places open for lunch. (c) Take Vanderbilt
Beach Rd 2.5 miles west to the entrance of Mercato; Several restaurants and Whole Foods cafe.
Collier County Regional Park. 2 miles, on Livingston Rd north of Vanderbilt Beach Rd. Water
park and lazy river ($10 fee), gym, gift shop, tables, fields, boardwalk, 2 mile bike path.
Closest beach. Vanderbilt Beach (3.5 miles) is an 10 minute drive or 35 min bike ride down
Vanderbilt Beach Rd. Parking garage on the left (free if you are using a car with a Collier
Beach Pass). Stop at the Gumbo Limbo (on the boardwalk south of the beach entrance) or at the
 Turtle Club (just north) for a drink, bite to eat, or to watch the sunset. Or bring a picnic.
Cocohatchee Nature Center, 6 miles from Piper's Grove. US 41, 1 mile north of Immokalee Rd.,
Nature cruises, canoes, kayacks, Phone (239) 592-1200. http://www.cocohatchee.org/
Freedom Park, 7 miles from Piper's Grove. Golden Gate Parkway between Airport and
Goodlette-Frank Rd. 2 miles of boardwalk and walking paths, lakes, and a nature center.
Nature Conservancy, 7 miles from Piper's Grove, has hands-on exhibits, guided electric boat
tours, a wildlife rehabilitation center, nature trails, kayak and canoe rentals. Off Goodlette-
Frank Rd, south of the Zoo. Phone 262-0304. http://www.conservancynaturecenter.org/
Naples Botanical Garden, 10 miles from Piper's Grove, has acres of tropical plants and related
exhibits. South on Airport Rd, right on Davis Blvd, left on Shadowlawn (becomes Bayshore Dr
after crossing US 41), right on Thomasson Rd. (www.naplesgarden .org).
Barefoot Beach Preserve, 13 miles from Piper's Grove. Beautiful beach for driftwood, shelling,
annotated nature path, guided canoe trips (free, but reservations required: call 254-4024). Take
US 41 north, left at Bonita Beach Rd (865), left on Barefoot Beach Blvd to the entrance ($4
entrance fee unless you have a Beach Pass). http://friendsofbarefootbeach.org/FOBB/
Lovers Key State Park, 15 miles from Piper's Grove. Very nice beach island for shelling, bike
paths, chair, umbrella, canoe and bike rentals, concession stand, shaded picnic gazebo, charcoal
grills. Take US 41 north, left at Bonita Beach Rd (865), drive 7 miles and turn left at the
entrance sign ($5 vehicle entrance fee). A free tram takes you from the parking lot to the beach.
Koreshan State Historic Site, 17 miles. Site of 19th century religious community, has interesting
story, architecture, and $2 guided tour. I-75 Exit 123 Corkscrew Road, head west 2 miles, cross
U.S. 41 and continue on Corkscrew Road approximately 1000 yards to entrance of park. Phone
992-0311. Parking $4.00 per car. http://www.floridastateparks.org/koreshan/
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 19 miles from Piper's Grove, a beautiful Audubon facility with a 2-
mile raised boardwalk. Lots of photo opportunities. $10 admission fee. Driving directions:
(www.audubon.org/local/sanctuary/corkscrew)
Sanibel Island, 34 miles from Piper's Grove. World-famous beaches for shelling. Take Livingston
Rd north, left at Bonita Beach Rd (865), stay on 865 all the way through Ft. Myers beach, left
on Summerlin Rd to the bridge to Sanibel ($6 toll). http://www.sanibelisland.com/
Edison-Ford Home and Laboratory. 34 miles. Thomas Edison's winter home and laboratory.
2350 McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers. Entrance fee $9 - $16. Take I-75 north to Exit 138.
Travel West on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (SR 82) into downtown Fort Myers. MLK
Boulevard will curve into McGregor Boulevard (SR 867). The entrance to the Estates is on the
left. Phone 334-7419. See Web site for details: http://www.edison-ford-estate.com/
Williams Roadside Park: 45 miles. Unpaved shell road into the Everglades along a canal teaming
with wild alligators and birds. Go south on Airport Rd to US 41 (Tamiami Trail) then turn left
and drive 36 miles. Park is on the left, 2.5 miles after smallest post office in Ochopee.
Everglades National Park, Shark Valley Tour. 78 miles. $8 entrance fee. Guided tram ride
through Everglades, $11 (reservations: 305-221-8455 ). South on Airport Rd 8 miles to US 41,
turn left and drive 70 miles.
Ringling Museum and Ca-d'Zan Mansion. 110 miles from Piper's Grove. Beautiful mansion and
interesting circus museum. Phone 941-359-5700. Details: http://www.ringling.org/
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota. 110 miles. Adults $12. See http://www.selby.org/
For other interesting places to visit, go to http://tinyurl.com/NaplesLinks.