ohpoohmetoo
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Sep 21, 2001
- Messages
- 113
Just got back from a weekend at Vanderbilt Inn on the Gulf in Naples, FL. It was a perfect relaxing weekend. We had an efficiency room with a patio that led right to a private beach it was amazing. You enter and see all tile floors, a kitchenette on your right with oven, stove, microwave, sink, tea kettle, coffee pot, toaster and dishes. On your left a well equipped nice bath and in the room itself a King bed (or two queens), a sleeper sofa and chair, dresser and TV all in a tropical theme. There are sliding glass doors leading to a private screened porch with chairs and a small table. Beyond the porch is a small courtyard with sea grape hedges for privacy and beyond that is the Inn's private stretch of beach. It was absolutely beautiful and restful to sit out on the porch listen to the ocean and admire all of nature.
There is great shopping in the area Coastland Center Mall (They have a Disney Store), Miromar Outlets (They have Disney Character Warehouse) and for you do-it-yourselfers or for those of you planning some remodeling, there is a Expo Design Center which, which I call Home Depot for the well-to-do
You can get some really great ideas there and my husband and I spent about three hours looking through it.
There is great dining we had the best dinner of our lives at a new restaurant there called Truluck's, located at 698 Fourt Avenue S, Naples (239) 530-3131 (reservations highly recommended). They feature Seafood, Steak and Crab from all over the world. They also have a hundred bottles of wine for tasting, by the glass or by the bottle. Rick and I started with a Pinot Noir from Oregon which was really good and Trotten oysters from Washington state they were served raw already shucked and with horshradish, cocktail sauce, hot sauce and crackers. They were the most delicious oysters I have ever had, tasted like they pulled them from the ocean just then. We then had the soup offered that evening which was a tomato based fish soup (which normally would not be my thing but I was feeling adventurous) it had grouper, bass and one other fish in it and it too was delicious. On to the main course, Rick had the Alaskan Red King Crab served already cracked so you can get to the meat easily and with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. They were very good but not as flavorful as the Florida Stone Crab Claws I had added to my entree. These are seasonal in Florida and if you are here when they are available don't miss trying them. They were sweet and buttery tasting - yum! I had the seasame crusted, sushi grade, tuna served with baby green beans all was just excellent. The tuna was also served with pickled ginger and wasabi. For desert there was a good selection and some of the chocolate ones looked tempting but I love creme brulee and chose the Key Lime/Vanilla Bean brulee to share for desert. Perfect ending. If you do get down to Naples and enjoy fine dining/and or crab don't miss this restaurant!
Dining at Vanderbilt Inn itself is a treat they offer healthful choices deliciously prepared Friday evening at Splash Cafe at the Inn I had salmon which had been prepared on an oak plank served with fresh vegetables. And they had a shrimp bisque which was very good. They offer fresh seafood, steak, pork chops and a good kids selection. It is the more formal restaurant at the Inn more business casual in the evening and just plain casual at breakfast and lunch. They also have a Chikee Bar and they offer wonderful salad selections, sandwiches. fresh seafood and have live music Wed-Sun.
Well, I got to get to unpacking I hope you will visit Naples and the Vanderbilt Inn on the Gulf I'm sure you won't be disappointed. I'd love to hear if you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Liz
There is great shopping in the area Coastland Center Mall (They have a Disney Store), Miromar Outlets (They have Disney Character Warehouse) and for you do-it-yourselfers or for those of you planning some remodeling, there is a Expo Design Center which, which I call Home Depot for the well-to-do
You can get some really great ideas there and my husband and I spent about three hours looking through it. There is great dining we had the best dinner of our lives at a new restaurant there called Truluck's, located at 698 Fourt Avenue S, Naples (239) 530-3131 (reservations highly recommended). They feature Seafood, Steak and Crab from all over the world. They also have a hundred bottles of wine for tasting, by the glass or by the bottle. Rick and I started with a Pinot Noir from Oregon which was really good and Trotten oysters from Washington state they were served raw already shucked and with horshradish, cocktail sauce, hot sauce and crackers. They were the most delicious oysters I have ever had, tasted like they pulled them from the ocean just then. We then had the soup offered that evening which was a tomato based fish soup (which normally would not be my thing but I was feeling adventurous) it had grouper, bass and one other fish in it and it too was delicious. On to the main course, Rick had the Alaskan Red King Crab served already cracked so you can get to the meat easily and with a side of garlic mashed potatoes. They were very good but not as flavorful as the Florida Stone Crab Claws I had added to my entree. These are seasonal in Florida and if you are here when they are available don't miss trying them. They were sweet and buttery tasting - yum! I had the seasame crusted, sushi grade, tuna served with baby green beans all was just excellent. The tuna was also served with pickled ginger and wasabi. For desert there was a good selection and some of the chocolate ones looked tempting but I love creme brulee and chose the Key Lime/Vanilla Bean brulee to share for desert. Perfect ending. If you do get down to Naples and enjoy fine dining/and or crab don't miss this restaurant!
Dining at Vanderbilt Inn itself is a treat they offer healthful choices deliciously prepared Friday evening at Splash Cafe at the Inn I had salmon which had been prepared on an oak plank served with fresh vegetables. And they had a shrimp bisque which was very good. They offer fresh seafood, steak, pork chops and a good kids selection. It is the more formal restaurant at the Inn more business casual in the evening and just plain casual at breakfast and lunch. They also have a Chikee Bar and they offer wonderful salad selections, sandwiches. fresh seafood and have live music Wed-Sun.
Well, I got to get to unpacking I hope you will visit Naples and the Vanderbilt Inn on the Gulf I'm sure you won't be disappointed. I'd love to hear if you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Liz
