Staying Fit and Healthy in Southwest Florida – Naples, Bonita Springs, Marco & Estero
There are lots of options for staying in shape while living in Florida, both indoor and outdoor activities. The most obvious option is joining a local gym like the Wellness Center, Crunch Gym, Jabz Gym, or LA Fitness. There are gyms to fit every lifestyle and schedule including 24 hour gyms that accommodate the unconventional schedule. Apart from joining a gym, there are neighborhood options that can work as well. Often gated communities have gym facilities, pools, and some even offer classes. There are also county programs that offer jazzercise, yoga and more, like the Norris Center downtown or in mid-Naples, the Vineyards community center, or have tennis, basketball and racquetball facilities. Many Naples neighborhoods have sidewalks and biking/jogging lanes that can be used for biking, jogging, walking, rollerblading and more.
But when you’re living in a beach centric community, it’s great to include the beach in your fitness program. It’s easy and inexpensive to stay fit and healthy in SW Florida. The beach is great for joggers, walkers, swimmers and fitness enthusiasts of every shape, fitness level and size. There are numerous public access points in Naples, Bonita, Marco and Ft. Myers. Near the Naples pier as well as Loudermilk Park there are volleyball nets that are set up and ready to use or join an ongoing game. Bonita beach has similar activities available as well. Kayaking and kite/paddle/surf boarding are also other great options to get out on the water and get fit as well.
Several communities such as Pelican Bay, The Vineyards, Old Naples and others have great biking paths available to the public and their residents. It’s possible to get fit while viewing some beautiful homes and scenic golf courses. We have several top notch bicycle stores in town that can accommodate bicyclists of every level as well as numerous cycling groups and competitions such as Naples Cyclery, The Bike Route, and others.
Another benefit of living in Southwest Florida is that the weather is temperate enough to garden all year long. There are numerous tropical fruits and vegetables that can be grown with minimal effort from tomatoes, papaya, grapefruit, passionfruit, figs, mangoes, oranges, any kind of herb, peppers, and more. In Collier County, the Mosquito Control District controls the mosquito population so being outdoors is pleasant and it’s not necessary to use a lot of bug spray in order to stay bite free.
