Our Adventure is Winding Down . . .

Our Florida Adventure is coming to a close.  We’ll be leaving for frigid ILLINI Country on Thursday and plan to arrive Saturday afternoon.  It’s been a lot of fun.  We liked Naples best:  the beach was nicer and the weather warmer. 

It’s been cool here in Palm Beach Shores since we arrived.  On Friday it rained most of the day.  We were able to go to the beach on Saturday and again today, but Sunday and Monday were too cool.

The beach here at the Marriot Ocean Pointe is not as large and is terraced with a lot of vegetation and brush along the walkway to the beach.  They tell us there are sea turtles nesting there.  Also I don’t think the beach is taken care of as well.  A lot of debris and seaweed on the beach, and they also allow smoking on the beach which leads to “butt issues”. 

There are numerous high rise resorts along the beach, and they apparently own the beach front.  We walk through a private gate with a combination lock to the beach.  Once we get on the beach we have to go back the same way we got there as the resorts all have gated beach entries with combination locks.  The only public area is at the City Beach Park several blocks north.

Sunset at Naples Pier.

Another view of the sunset at Naples Pier.

Enroute to Palm Beach we had brunch with my old friend Lu Hill (R) and her sister Elaine (L) with husband Joe at the Cracker Barrel in Punta Gorda.  Joe and Elaine live in North Port and Lu was visiting them for a few days.  I forgot to take pix, so this one is from Labor Day picnic a couple of years ago.

This video is a tour of our room at Marriot Ocean Pointe.

View of resorts along the beach.  Ours is seen farther down the beach to the left.

There are numerous lounges and cabanas along the beach which are for rent by a private company contracted by the resorts.  I'm glad I brought my own sunning chair.

This shopping area, anchored by Macy's, is in the downtown area of West Palm Beach.

Bechtel Jewelers on the corner of Olive Ave and Datura St in downtown West Palm Beach is operated by Bob Bechtel, a cousin to Hubby's dad.

Funny signs for sale along the beach by the same company that rents the lounges and cabanas.

More signs.

Walkway to the beach.

We ate several times at Johnny Longboats. The signs below identified the restrooms.