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Ten years ago Bonita Springs was nothing but a nondescript Gulf-side town where the only dining options were McDonalds and Subway. Fun was hard to come by, trust me, I was there. But in the past decade things have (slightly) changed for the better. Spending a decent day in Bonita is not impossible. The trick is steering clear of the boring mediocrity of ever-present chain restaurants and tourist traps, and going for places and activities that are a little off the beaten path. Synchronize your watches and follow these directions; it’s time to explore Bonita.

Photo by CHIARA ASSI

Breakfast at the Tiki Bar Cafe is the best way to start a day in Bonita Springs.

The Tiki Bar Café

4131 Bonita Beach Road

239.947.0000

Breakfast and Lunch from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you want to start the day with some good breakfast without feeling like you’ve entered a geriatric hospital, stop by the Tiki Bar Café on Bonita Beach road and grab a bite to eat.

Upon entering the café you will instantly feel as if you have landed on a tropical island: bright pastel colored walls, surfboards and beach towels all suggest that the beach is right around the corner.

The coffee is strong and tasty; and for those in need of a hangover cure ask about their beer selection - an ice cold Stella Artois almost always does the trick. The food itself is a little pricier than its equivalent at Perkins or IHOP, but it’s definitely a tastier and healthier alternative to the big name chains. Build your own broccoli and jalapeno jack three egg omelet, indulge in a gigantic egg, ham and cheese bagel or try the biscuits and gravy. Not in the mood for eggs and bacon? No problem. Owner Cindy, a salad-for-breakfast lover, offers both breakfast and lunch all day, every day. So go on, order that Ruben with curly fries. Honestly, how can you beat that?

Everglades Wonder Gardens

27180 Old US 41

239.992.2591

Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Possibly the only historical site left in Bonita Springs, the Everglades Wonder Gardens are a must-see for anyone who’s interested in gators, panthers and old school Floridians.

Photo by CHIARA ASSI

Behind this building lives Big Joe II - an alligator the size of a Cessna.

The Gardens were opened in 1936 by Bill and Lester Piper, two brothers with a passion for exotic and possibly dangerous animals. During the guided tour you’ll listen to many incredible anecdotes about the eclectic pair and their reptile handling family, but the real attraction at the Wonder Gardens is Big Joe II, the giant gator. Unfortunately Joe II spends most of the day hiding on the bottom of his private pool, so if you really want to see a 10 foot gator your best bet is taking a look at Big Joe II’s dead predecessor, who’s been stuffed and is on display in the museum. For a look at more lively gators stop by the swamp pit and witness a slightly disturbing feeding frenzy that will remind you of the even more disturbing spectacle you can see at some of the all-you-can-eat buffets around town.

Photo by CHIARA ASSI

The British Open Pub in Bonita Springs is the perfect place to stop for a cold beer and some across-the-pond eats.

British Open Pub

24630 South Tamiami Trail

239.949.0302

Open daily 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

There’s something about a dark, cool, quiet pub that makes you want to hop on the next plane to London and have bangers and mash near Piccadilly Circus. But trust me, the British Open Pub in Bonita delivers better food and is definitely cleaner than its long lost English cousins. With sixteen draft lagers and ales to choose from and its Old World décor the Pub, as its known to locals, is one of the best places in Bonita to enjoy a lunch that is not only is good, but also out of the ordinary. Although the menu offers the usual array of ham, turkey and tuna melt sandwiches, there is also a good selection of genuine British dishes such as Cornish Pastrie (ground beef, carrots and peas wrapped and baked in flaky pastry and served with a deliciously thick brown gravy), Cottage Pie (same ground beef, peas and carrots topped with mashed potatoes and assorted cheeses, then baked and served piping hot) or the classic Fish and Chips, a house favorite. Low prices make the Pub even more alluring: most sandwiches and entrees cost about $7. Cheers!

Bonita Beach

At the west end of Bonita Beach Road

For the perfect afternoon of fun in Bonita the only real option is going to the beach, the center of all social and recreational activities in town. Park in the Lee County parking lot for a dollar an hour, or invest $6 and park all day in the Collier County lot (the entrance to the lot is cleverly hidden to the right of the Barefoot Beach gated community entrance), and prepare yourself for some fun in the sun. Most days you’ll find local beach volleyball addicts hanging out by the volleyball net (where else?), drinking beer and getting ready for the ultimate game. If beach volley’s not your thing sit on the north side of the beach, close to Doc’s Beach House where, most likely, you won’t be killed by an unidentified flying object. Also by Doc’s Beach House you’ll find Bonita Beach Jetski and Parasail where you can rent a WaveRunner for an hour or book a parasailing adventure (for reservations call 239-992-0487).

Photo by CHIARA ASSI

Sunset and jet skis on Bonita Beach - like a little slice o' heaven.

But the real event on Bonita Beach is the daily gathering at sunset. Grab a cold one at Doc’s and watch the sun disappear into the Gulf with dozens of locals and tourists. Remember: the best part of the sunset begins after the sun goes down and the tourists leave, so don’t rush to the parking lot. Watch the sky for a few minutes more and you’ll see some incredible hues of blue and purple, while you down one more beer before heading to dinner.

Anthony’s Trattoria

28340 Trail's Edge Boulevard

239.947.2202

Dinner served daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.

A great day isn’t a great day without pizza. Head down Bonita Beach Road after sunset and give Anthony’s Trattoria a try. Unlike many of the other Italian restaurants in the area, Anthony’s is owned and managed by a real Italian family, and by “real” I mean that they were born and raised in Naples, Italy.

The restaurant recently moved from its previous location across US 41. The décor and ambiance make Anthony’s identical to many pizzerias throughout Italy, smart-casual establishments where you can order a pizza, a couple of Peroni beers and enjoy a quiet night with your friends without going broke.

Entrees might sound tempting, and they are indeed good, but pizza is the real shining star here. Try one of the classic Neapolitan pies, such as Pizza col Tonno (cheese pizza with tuna fish and olives) or Margherita (made with fresh mozzarella), or go crazy and build your own pizza with top-notch ingredients like prosciutto or pancetta. You will be amazed by the thinness and crunchiness of the crust, and by the superior quality of the cheese and tomatoes they use. Buon appetito!

Sneaky Pete’s

3465 Bonita Beach Rd

239.498.8887

Open daily 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Hidden in the Flex Bon Paint Store Plaza next to the bingo hall, Sneaky Pete’s is the one place where locals go to drink, play pool and seek refuge from the snowbird hoards during season. The whole place has been painted to look like a lush jungle, with palm trees and monkeys covering the walls and fake parrots hanging from the ceiling. Sit down at the faux-bamboo bar, order a Sneaky Pete (a secret recipe rum concoction) and enjoy the live entertainment offered every night from 9 p.m. until close. Make friends with local bikers and pool sharks, dance as if there was no tomorrow, and sing along to Sneaky Pete’s most played song, “Mustang Sally.”

Wednesday bike nights are one of Sneaky’s busiest evenings, and the place gets packed. Check out the parking lot where you can look at more bikes than at a Harley Davidson dealer. And if at the end of the night you feel a little hungry, order one of the ham and cheese sandwiches, cooked to perfection and ideal for soaking up some of that alcohol. When you wake up the next morning you’ll be happy you did.