Matador Network's Blog, page 789
September 9, 2020
The tallest climbing wall
In a year where we’re all looking to climb away from our problems, it’s just our luck that the world’s largest climbing wall is opening in Copenhagen. The CopenHill power plant, a waste-to-energy plant already famous for its sustainable design and ski slope, is now home to the world’s tallest climbing wall at a height of 279 feet.
Photo: CopenHill
Jakob Lange, a partner at BIG, the firm that designed the plant, told Architectural Digest, “The climbing wall is located on the tallest corner of the waste-to-energy plant, which is also the busiest corner of the building where skiers, joggers, and workers all cross each other during the day […] We teamed up with the Danish Climbing Association to ensure input from the most skilled climbers in the country.”
Photo: CopenHill Urban Mountain/Facebook
The wall’s appearance integrates seamlessly with the aesthetic of the rest of the plant yet mimics a real mountain face, with overhangs and multiple routes.
Photo: CopenHill Urban Mountain/Facebook
Walltopia, a company that builds climbing structures, partnered with BIG on the project. Vasil Sharlanov, head of sales at Walltopia, said, “This is not a typical wall. For example, [normally] when you climb, you rely on the rope and belayer to protect you in case you fall. However, there isn’t a rope that’s long enough to climb such a high wall.” Here, climbers must stop on a ledge at the top of each section and pull up the rope.
The wall was finished last year, but the climbing routes weren’t installed until this summer. The wall is expected to open this fall, but will be reserved for experienced and certified climbers. 
More like thisClimbing7 of the coolest US indoor climbing walls
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Southwest Florida neighborhood guide
Tagged
Travel
Trip Planning
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Sanibel, FL, United States
The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Neighborhood travel guide: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Fort Myers
Fort Myers Beach
Cape Coral
Sanibel & Captiva Islands
Barrier Islands
Pine Island & Matlacha
Boca Grande
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We all have different feelings about traveling right now. When you’re ready, we hope you feel safe, inspired, and excited to join us on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.
Pack your favorite flip flops and your swimsuit. Throw in your affinity for Mother Nature, and bring along that cultural curiosity you thought you wouldn’t be needing — this pocket of Southwest Florida isn’t just about sunshine and relaxation. Well, it is about that, make no mistake, but the various communities of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel are primed to shatter expectations. In a good way.
Our guide below outlines seven vastly different neighborhoods around Fort Myers — aka the City of Palms — and what to look forward to when you’re there. Some claim their own bustling artist towns, some have massive island wildlife refuges, some are best explored by kayak. Each defies expectations in its own way, and here’s how.
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This post is proudly produced in partnership with The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.
Note: Some of the businesses or organizations listed below may not currently be operating as described due to safety guidelines. Please contact all locations prior to visiting.
Fort Myers
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
River water runs through Fort Myers’ veins. From the historic River District, the great Caloosahatchee flows into the Gulf — and into surprising corners where nature, history, and superb beer-crafting somehow coalesce.
Downtown Fort Myers River District
This is where art and elegance fill the nights...
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Downtown Fort Myers River District
This is where art and elegance fill the nights—and copious amounts of delicious food fills your stomach. Always lively, the historic River District is lined with walkable brick-lined streets leading to charming shopping and dining alongside seemingly endless local art galleries.
The excellent restaurant scene thrives morning, noon, and night. Options range from the venerable Veranda—housed in two grand circa-1900 homes—to The Lodge, with its ironic setting of après-ski revelry. Here, you’ll never be hungry...or bored.
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When it comes to local history, this is Southwest Florida’s brightest spot...
Edison and Ford Winter Estates
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Edison and Ford Winter Estates
When it comes to local history, this is Southwest Florida’s brightest spot—and that’s not just thanks to the light bulb puns. Here, you’ll tour the former winter homes of two American geniuses—Thomas Edison and Henry Ford—and explore Edison’s lab and his lush riverside gardens.
Next door, have lunch at Pinchers (choose from a variety of local catches), head straight for a river eco-tour with Pure Florida, or just wander to the banks of the Caloosahatchee and contemplate what Edison and Ford would’ve made of the electric car.
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Fort Myers Brewing Company kickstarted the local craft beer scene...
Fort Myers Brewing Company
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Fort Myers Brewing Company
Fort Myers Brewing Company kick-started the local craft beer scene back in the early 2010s. Now uber-popular and growing, it’s spawned a trend of craft breweries around town, including Millennial and Palm City.
Their flagship Gateway Gold is a sturdy option for nearly all palates—beer-shunners, though, might prefer to settle down to their house-crafted spiked seltzer.
Photo: Brian Tietz
Getting some one-on-one time with Mother Nature is easy here...
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
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Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Getting some one-on-one time with Mother Nature is easy at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve—you’re practically guaranteed wildlife sightings from the elevated one-mile boardwalk.
Your experience will vary greatly depending on the time of year, with June through September bringing out the wildlife that thrives in the rainy season and its higher, faster waters. Be sure to attend a guided walk, regardless of season, to get the most out of your trip.
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Fort Myers Beach
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Barefoot and carefree, Fort Myers Beach provides the archetype for the ultimate Florida seashore vacation. The sands are soft and white, the Gulf waters are warm, and it all runs for seven unobstructed miles, stretching practically to the horizon.
Fort Myers Beach Pier and Times Square
You’ll find much of the action concentrated around Fort Myers Beach Pier and Times Square...
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Fort Myers Beach Pier and Times Square
You’ll find much of the action concentrated around Fort Myers Beach Pier and Times Square, the beating heart of Estero Island. Especially popular for sunset, this area draws fisher-folk, families, foodies, and beach bums for street entertainment, outdoor dining, and incredible views.
Water sports concessions, fun-time bars, and sidewalk restaurants congregate around the pedestrian zone. Abandon the car at Lynn Hall Memorial Park and get walking.
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If you crave a little solitude and lots of wildlife with your beach experience...
Lovers Key State Park
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Lovers Key State Park
If you crave a little solitude and lots of wildlife with your beach experience, Lovers Key State Park is as romantic as its name. It’s technically made up of four barrier islands, with tidal lagoons, pristine marshes, over two miles of sand, and plenty of spots for dolphin-spotting shared among them.
Kayak, hike, fish, or simply laze in talcum-soft sands. The doing here isn’t the idea—the being here is.
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Yes, you can find plenty of history and culture in Fort Myers Beach as well...
Mound House
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Mound House
Yes, you can find plenty of history and culture on Fort Myers Beach as well. Case in point: Mound House, the island’s oldest standing home. And its history goes back much further than the house’s early-1900s construction—about 2,000 years further, when the Calusa people amassed the shell mound that the house sits upon.
Believe it or not, you can walk into a cutaway of the mound. It’s one of several historical exhibits that make this day-in-the-park literally multi-layered.
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Fort Myers Beach has the area's best nightlife...
After sunset on Fort Myers Beach
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After sunset on Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers Beach has the area’s best nightlife, where dancing starts in the sand even before the sun goes down. It’s even better as a nightcap to dinner that overlooks the water and another perfect sunset.
A walk along the wide-open beachfront always leads to the Pier and more live music in the air.
Catch the action around Times Square—shout-out to The Cottage Beach Bar & Shuckers—and mark next September on your calendar for the annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest.
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Cape Coral
Photo: Shutterstock/Rosalie Kreulen
Stunning nature preserves, wild festivals, a bright indie dining scene, and plenty of rum — Cape Coral has grown from a quiet residential community to the “it” neighborhood for the whole family.
Cape Coral Yacht Club
Close to where the Caloosahatchee River meets the Gulf...
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Cape Coral Yacht Club
Close to where the Caloosahatchee River meets the Gulf, Cape Coral Yacht Club provides instant access to boating life, Old Florida style.
At Yacht Club Community Park, you’ll find a public beach, fishing pier, seafood restaurant, and swimming pool, in addition to boat docks and a ship’s store. One of the town’s first landmarks, this is the site of community festivities such as the monthly sunset celebrations.
Photo: Shutterstock/Nadezda Murmakova
Along the Cape Coral Parkway corridor, there’s never a shortage of dining and nightlife...
Downtown Cape Coral
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Downtown Cape Coral
Along the Cape Coral Parkway corridor, there’s never a shortage of dining and nightlife scenes to explore—both visitors and locals unwind together in this upbeat neighborhood.
If you’re also in search of food, check out one of the funky restaurants with entertainment, like Cork Soakers—they do “chicken & donuts” at brunch—and Nice Guys Beer & Pizza Lounge.
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In addition to a number of craft breweries, Cape Coral has its own award-winning rum-maker...
Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery
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Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery
In addition to a number of craft breweries, Cape Coral has its own award-winning rum maker. Wicked Dolphin uses Florida cane sugar and other local ingredients to create a variety of excellent rums—along with 100-proof “rumshine,” made with strawberries, blueberries, or apples.
Come for a free tour and tasting, or even nab an opportunity to volunteer on the bottling crew. How’s that for a unique experience?
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This green space preserves a slice of nature amid an urban setting...
Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve
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Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve
This green space preserves a slice of nature amid an urban setting for the enjoyment of hikers, paddlers, and regular ol’ get-away-ers. Check out the 1.1-mile boardwalk that starts in a landscape of coastal prairie and winds into the mangroves along the Caloosahatchee River.
Note: Kayak rentals are available on weekends, November – May.
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Sanibel & Captiva Islands
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Perhaps the most precious gems in Fort Myers’ necklace of islands, Sanibel and Captiva appeal to beach-lovers, nature-lovers, adventure-lovers, and life-lovers. You could spend your entire trip exploring either one — here’s just a little of what’s in store.
The Seashell Capital of the World
Say Sanibel Island to anyone who loves collecting seashells...
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The Seashell Capital of the World
Say “Sanibel Island” to anyone who loves collecting seashells, and they’ll talk your ear off. Sanibel is known as the “Seashell Capital of the World”—the local Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum pays homage to this reputation for shell-strewn sands.
Bonus: Captiva’s beaches win awards for their romance, mainly thanks to the fabulous sunsets. Toast one with your partner at the beachside Mucky Duck Neighborhood Pub.
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This 7,600-acre national wildlife refuge on Sanibel Island is renowned worldwide...
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
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J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
The islands’ “good nature” starts at this 7,600-acre national wildlife refuge, renowned worldwide for its more than 245 species of birds (and 51 species of reptiles and amphibians!). You’ll have to hike, bike, drive, and paddle to take it all in. Find it gracing the entire northern shore of Sanibel Island.
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More than 25 miles of paved shared-use paths crisscross Sanibel Island...
Sanibel on two wheels
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Sanibel on two wheels
More than 25 miles of paved shared-use paths crisscross Sanibel Island, plus off-road trails take you into hidden wildlife habitats. You decide: the shopping route or the nature route?
Note: The aforementioned J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge features the four-mile paved Wildlife Drive, which is also suitable for cyclists.
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The Buck Key Paddle Trail reigns as one of the most unforgettable kayak excursions...
Captiva’s Buck Key Paddle Trail
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Captiva’s Buck Key Paddle Trail
The Buck Key Paddle Trail, in the bay waters off Captiva Island, reigns as one of Southwest Florida’s most unforgettable and peaceful kayak excursions. You’ll get deep, deep, deep into the mangroves—just you and several families of native and migratory birds.
Outfitters on Captiva and Sanibel can also set you up with a paddleboard. The whole trail is about four miles.
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Barrier Islands
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A favorite pastime for visitors to Fort Myers, island-hopping takes you through waters replete with dolphins and other marine life to castaway islets accessible only by boat. These lesser-known spots might just be where you find your Florida.
Cayo Costa State Park
Play Robinson Crusoe with an excursion to this beach-lined park...
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Cayo Costa State Park
Play Robinson Crusoe with an excursion to this beach-lined park, known for its stellar seashells, nature trails, rustic rental cabins, and primitive tent camping on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.
And here, primitive means primitive—the park is only accessible by boat, and supplies are limited to the emergency items sold in the camp store. If you need it, bring it with you!
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On its own little island on the bayside of Cayo Costa...
Cabbage Key Inn
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Cabbage Key Inn
On its own little island on the bayside of Cayo Costa, this 1930s-era inn sits atop a 38-foot Calusa shell mound (practically a Floridian mountain!). Stop in for a quick cold one and a “cheeseburger in paradise,” or spend the night as away-from-it-all as you can get. Don’t forget to leave a signed dollar bill on the walls of the funky bar and restaurant.
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Hop aboard a naturalist-guided cruise to learn about local wildlife...
Sunset at sea
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Sunset at sea
Hop aboard a naturalist-guided cruise to learn about local wildlife, or book an excursion to toast the end of another glorious day in your happy place. Tour and charter boats come in all shapes and sizes to satisfy each and every sea-bound sunset fantasy. (And you’ll probably catch a dolphin sighting or two, too!)
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Depart from Captiva Island on a luncheon cruise to historic Useppa...
Useppa’s Collier Inn
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Useppa’s Collier Inn
Depart from Captiva Island on a luncheon cruise to historic Useppa—this island has been a luxury-resort hotspot since the 1800s.
While you’re there, you can lunch at the Collier Inn, where tarpon fishers have been landing for decades. Check out the island’s history-packed little museum, and walk its trails for a peaceful afternoon.
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Pine Island & Matlacha
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The colorful, artsy village of Matlacha is the one-of-a-kind welcome gate you pass through on a trip from the mainland to the quirky fishing and farming communities of Pine Island. Get ready to see a different side of Southwest Florida.
Matlacha
Excellent fishing, kayaking, and a thriving artists’ community make for quite a day...
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Matlacha
In Matlacha, excellent fishing—the bridge from the mainland into Matlacha has been dubbed “the Fishingest Bridge in the World”—kayaking, and a thriving artists’ community make for a day filled with unique shopping opportunities, time on the water, and the freshest seafood you can swallow. Head to Blue Dog for local everything, and follow it up with a stop at Bert’s to sip and party with the locals.
Tip: When you’re ready for a breather, grab a seat and watch for manatees swimming in the bays and channels.
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Matlacha just might have invented the tiny house...
Tiny Village
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Tiny Village
With its charming old cracker-box houses, Matlacha just might have invented the “tiny house.” Today, the new Tiny Village restructures trailer homes into charming and ultra-affordable accommodations. Most of the brightly colored houses sleep four to six and include a full kitchenette—if you want to do Southwest Florida on a shoestring, this is exactly where you should be.
(By the way, it’s pronounced mat-la-shay.)
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Pine Island’s past stretches back thousands of years...
Calusa Heritage Trail at Randell Research Center
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Calusa Heritage Trail at Randell Research Center
Pine Island’s past stretches back thousands of years, back to when the Calusa Indians established a settlement at Pineland and built mounds—now an archaeological site—and a canal. Tour the visitor center, walk the interpretive trails, and then cross the road for lunch at the historic Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant.
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Snook, mackerel, cobia, seatrout—there’s a whole ’nother world going on here...
Fishing around Pine Island
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Fishing around Pine Island
The Bokeelia Fishing Pier, stretching from the northern tip of Pine Island into Charlotte Harbor, is a favorite among local anglers. But there’s no need to restrict yourself—all the waters around these parts are known for their tremendous catches, largely thanks to state protection. Snook, mackerel, cobia, seatrout—there’s a whole ’nother world going on here.
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Boca Grande
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
A historic outpost for avid tarpon anglers, Gasparilla Island’s Boca Grande combines bygones with nautical obsessions. Water is nearly everywhere — and so are opportunities for memory-making.
Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum
Located on Gasparilla Island’s southern tip...
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Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum
Located on Gasparilla Island’s southern tip, the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum is part of Gasparilla Island State Park. That means you can pair a day at the park’s long-stretching beach with a history lesson about Boca Grande’s 130-year-old lighthouse and its days past: Boca Grande was once a deepwater port for transporting phosphate, a hotspot of Gulf-front mansions. And now? It’s a cozy, Old Florida village home to just under 2,000.
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Dominating the island like the grande dame she is, this circa-1913 hotel...
Gasparilla Inn & Club
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Gasparilla Inn & Club
Dominating the island like the grande dame she is, this circa-1913 hotel once housed wealthy winterers with names like DuPont and Rockefeller. Spend the night in one of its rooms or cottages, or plan to grab a seat in its stately dining room for breakfast or dinner. (Yep, it’s open to the public.)
Before the end of the night hits, order a Planter’s Punch at the Pink Elephant restaurant. You’ll soon see why Travel + Leisure voted this one of the best hotel resorts in the country.
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Avid tarpon fishermen have been drawn to the island since the early 20th century...
The Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World
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The Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World
The aforementioned Port Boca Grande Lighthouse overlooks deep and wide Boca Grande Pass, which has drawn avid tarpon fishermen to the island since the early 20th century. Why? Supposedly, there are more tarpon in and around Boca Grande from March to October than anywhere else in the world. It’s carried the moniker of “Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World” since the early 1900s.
Break up the day with lunch (and homemade ice cream) at the Loose Caboose, grab dinner back at the Gasparilla Inn, and rent a bike or golf cart to get around when you’re not on the water—Gasparilla Island is only a mile at its widest!
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Historic churches and homes lie along Boca Grande’s side streets...
Boca Grande’s memorable side streets
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Boca Grande’s memorable side streets
Historic churches and homes lie along Boca Grande’s side streets, some with names like “Damfino” and “Damficare” (that’s “Damn if I know!” and “Damn if I care!” respectively.) That should tell you a little something about Boca Grande’s founders.
Though certainly a less exciting name, don’t miss Banyan Street—its canopy of eponymous, gargantuan trees begs for a selfie shot.
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
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This post is proudly produced in partnership with The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.
The post Neighborhood travel guide: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel appeared first on Matador Network.
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September 8, 2020
Paso Robles wine region
Misty rain is falling on the vines at Bovina Vineyards in Paso Robles, California, when I sit down for lunch with Steven Anglim, head winemaker, and Dan Souza, the winery’s owner. The sky is slate gray, but it’s not obstructing the sublime view from the winery’s dining room — miles and miles of green hills, dipping and rolling underneath a wide-open sky.
Anglim, a stout man sporting wire-rim glasses, almost immediately begins speaking authoritatively about Paso Robles, the underdog of California wine regions compared to its more glamorous neighbors Napa and Sonoma.
“In the past 20 years, Paso Robles wine has gone from good to world-class, pulling back on alcohol and becoming more structured,” Anglim says. “We’ve been consistently improving since.”
Established in 1983, the Paso Robles American Viticultural Area (AVA) is in central California around 30 miles from the coast. It’s home to 11 sub-AVAs, which encompass more than 200 wineries and 40,000 acres of vines. The weather is in part regulated by the Templeton Gap, a sub-AVA and natural geographical feature that allows an ocean breeze to blow through the region. As a result, sometimes searingly hot days progress into cool nights, protecting the flavor and aromatics of the fragile fruit.
Nearly 40 percent of the grapevines in Paso Robles are cabernet sauvignon, though more than 60 other varieties are grown in the region. Many are Rhône varieties like syrah and grenache. Zinfandel, the region’s heritage grape, is also prevalent here, as are Bordeaux varieties like merlot. This wide range of wine grapes had led Anglim to conclude that the region doesn’t have a specific wine identity. Chris Taranto, communications director at Paso Robles Wine Alliance, who joins us at the lunch, cuts in to describe the region’s wineries as “approachable and nimble,” meaning that wine connoisseurs with specific tastes, as well as newcomers who want to try a little bit of everything, will feel comfortable here.
“There’s a wide expression of wine here in Paso Robles,” adds Anglim. “We don’t have a ‘Paso style,’ and we don’t have to play into the paradigm of ‘We have to be something.’ We can be whatever we want.”
That flexibility allowed the region to flourish and find an identity as one of the more playful wine regions in California. But it took a scrappy attitude to get to the point where Paso isn’t constantly being compared to Napa.
“The tasting rooms are friendlier and more approachable, and you can ask basic questions about wine without being scolded,” says Cecily Parrish, general manager of Parrish Family Vineyard, of the reasons one might want to visit Paso over Napa. “And there is less traffic, and it’s less expensive.” Her father David Parrish, the owner and winemaker, is a little blunter when it comes to explaining why he thinks Paso has an edge over more popular regions: “Going corporate is still a long way off for us,” he says.
A community built around wine
Photo: Robert Holmes
“When I opened up here, it was the boondocks,” says Paul Hoover, owner of Still Waters Vineyards, in between glasses of wine at the tasting room of neighboring Rava Wines, earlier in the week. “And yet now there are 20 or 30 wineries around us within driving distance.”
Hoover says the Paso Robles growth spurt really kicked off from 2002 to 2004, thanks to what he calls the “four-legged stool” — a simultaneous growth among all the industries in Paso that, when interconnected, make the region a more appealing, accessible, well-rounded experience.
“The restaurants have gotten better downtown,” Steve Gleason, winemaker at Four Lanterns, says, who is sitting next to Hoover at lunch. “Hotel facilities have gotten better. So we’re attracting people that like some of the finer things in life now. And the wine has gotten better. I remember 30 years ago, it was a little hit or miss. But the winemaking community, and the vineyard community, has matured here and it’s really coming together.”
“As a winemaker and a grower, I give a lot of credit to the restaurants, hotels, and community,” Hoover adds. “We wouldn’t have what we have in the way of small, boutique operations without it. We wouldn’t make it.”
The result is a tight-knit group of winemakers who came up through Paso Robles’s uncertain evolution with a thriving business — and through it all have remained committed to maintaining small-scale operations: Anglim estimates that around 95 percent of wineries in Paso Robles are small, family-owned operations that produce 5,000 cases or less every year.
In Paso Robles, the “family-owned” label isn’t a marketing gimmick or an empty promise — it’s a way of life that has allowed the region’s wineries to maintain operations with accessible owners and winemakers who will, over time, build up generations of winemaking knowledge as future generations take over the wineries. Small-scale businesses allow for face time with winemakers for everyone who passes through Paso Robles.
Bella Luna — which focuses on Italian varieties like sangiovese and arneis — might be the perfect example of this phenomenon. At a tasting in the living room of their family home, Bella Luna’s current winemaker, Jimmy Zanoli, tells the winery’s story: His father, Sherman Smoot, and his business partner, Kevin Healey, founded Bella Luna 40 years ago. In 2015, Jimmy and his wife Shelley took over the business after living in Napa for several years. Jimmy took over winemaking duties while his wife serves as Director of Sales. They don’t employ anyone to work on the vineyard; only family members contribute to the business, including Kevin’s daughter and her husband.
“What we’re going to see in Paso Robles is multiple generations taking over the businesses,” Tyler Russell, winemaker at Cordant Winery, later tells me from behind the bar at his downtown Paso Robles tasting room. “I’m a first-generation winemaker and have two children. My only way I would gauge success is if one of them wants to take over [the winery]. People did a really good job of building good culture here that their family members want to carry on. It wasn’t just dad’s second career that we all hate, because now he’s retired and doesn’t spend time with us. People bootstrapped this place. And it’s gonna take us really far.”
Family-owned wineries like Bella Luna and Cordant go hand in hand with Paso Robles winemakers’ commitment to maintaining a close-knit community. The strong sense of kinship that winemakers share — even though they are all technically in competition — has been one of the keys to the region’s success. That sentiment is perhaps best encapsulated by Mark Adams, winemaker and owner of Ledge Vineyards. “I have no interest in outselling my neighbors,” he says at an intimate tasting in the kitchen of his family home. “There’s an atmosphere of cooperation here that I really cherish.”
That attitude was repeated by most of the winemakers I spoke with, and it creates an environment that feels hospitable to folks who aren’t already intimately acquainted with California wine country.
There are trade-offs to staying small. Wines from the smaller producers are tricky to find outside the region. Many wineries produce between around 3,000 to 5,000 cases of wine every year, so distribution is locally focused or sent to cities that are major wine hubs like New York and Chicago (only 18 vineyards, including JUSTIN winery, produce more than 50,000 cases annually). But that does leave open the opportunity to be experimental and playful with what they are able to produce.
“I would say it’s the pioneering of a lot of the winemakers that got us discovered,” says Hoover. “The difference between playing a guitar at a bar and being in the top 40 is being discovered. We’ve always had the potential to make great wines, but it’s very hard to then take that potential and put it in a bottle. So the people who have decided to make that really fine wine and put it out there, got us discovered.”
Several winemakers I spoke to for this story joked that a new article every few months declares that Paso Robles might be the “next great California wine region,” but Hoover is right: Paso Robles does feel like it’s on the brink of becoming a household name like Napa and Sonoma — and not just among wine experts but also with wine tourists.
To meet that new demand, a growing number of wineries are offering accommodations and experiential packages that go beyond tasting rooms: Alta Colina Vineyard offers its Trailer Pond, a group of vintage trailers where guests can glamp among the vines. One of the region’s biggest wineries, JUSTIN, just opened a hotel on its property, and DAOU vineyards holds an extravagant annual gala for its members with past themes like Le Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby.
The future of Paso Robles wine looks bright
Photo: Sydneymills/Shutterstock
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented its own set of challenges to a region that, in the last decade or so, has found its footing. But Chris Taranto, from the Paso Robles Wine Alliance, says Paso Robles is well-equipped to bounce back from what he calls the “roller coaster ride” since the pandemic hit.
“Our wineries are able to welcome visitors in outdoor settings only, with specific protocols that include social distancing and mask-wearing while in public spaces,” he says. “Luckily the greater majority of our wineries have been able to adapt in this model, and we are fortunate to enjoy great weather during the height of the season. Paso Robles wine is in a unique position that we are on an upward trajectory in popularity, so fans of the region are dedicated consumers.”
Pandemic aside, the best is yet to come for Paso Robles. That much is clear just by looking out the window of Bovino Vineyards tasting room. The thriving landscape is ripe with a range and variety of vines that will allow the region room to continue to grow and evolve.
Steve Anglim prepares to tuck into the first course of our lunch before making his definitive statement on Paso Robles. “The world has not yet seen everything we can do here,” he says. You won’t find anyone in Paso willing to argue.
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World’s loneliest elephant will move
The animal welfare group Four Paws announced Saturday that a world-famous elephant will be moved out of the Pakistan zoo where he had been held and relocated to better conditions. Kaavan, the elephant, had been kept at Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo for the past 35 years in what has been described by the animal rights group as dismal conditions. His deteriorating health and detrimental solitude led Haavan to become known globally as the “world’s loneliest elephant.”
“A lack of physical and behavioural enrichments as well as the absence of a partner, have resulted in Kaavan becoming incredibly bored,” said Dr Frank Göritz, head veterinarian at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin in a press release announcing the transfer. “He has already developed stereotypical behaviour where he swooshes his head and trunk from side to side for hours.”
After performing a medical exam on Kaavan, veterinarians with Four Paws determined the elephant, though obese and in dire need of foot treatment, was capable of relocation, potentially to a sanctuary in Cambodia. Kaavan had been the subject of an international welfare campaign launched in 2016. The elephant’s partner died in 2012, and Kaavan had been kept in a solitary pen ever since, during which time his health has greatly deteriorated. Veterinarians determined he needs extensive foot rehabilitation and increased physical movement.
In May of this year, Pakistan’s high court ordered the Marghazar Zoo closed due to its dismal conditions resulting from systemic negligence. The decision was made to move the lonely elephant to a sanctuary. Four Paws and other organizations are working to find a home for other animals at the shuttered Marghazar Zoo, including two dancing bears.
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Jelly Belly founder giveaway
Fans of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory are in for a sweet treat: Jelly Belly founder David Klein recently announced the launch of a golden-ticket-like contest that will see one lucky winner claim the keys to their very own Jelly Belly factory.
The “golden tickets,” or dog tags in Klein’s case, are currently being hidden across the United States. Upon entering the contest, treasure hunters will be given a riddle hinting at the location of the necklace that’s been stashed in their state. After verifying their find, winners will receive a $5,000 prize and be eligible to join the Ultimate Treasure Hunt in which a “Candyman Kitchen” in Florida is up for grabs, according to a Northern California ABC affiliate.
“The world needs this right now,” says Klein, who founded Jelly Belly in 1976 but no longer owns the candy bean company. “We have received thousands of comments from people who say this has come at such a perfect time.”
To join the hunt, participants must pay $49.98 and have a Facebook account. Each treasure hunt is limited to 1,000 participants. For more information on the Wonka-inspired giveaway, check out the official contest rules, follow the Jelly Belly Facebook page, and subscribe to the candy company’s newsletter for updates on the time and place of the upcoming hunts.
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USBRS opens 500 miles of cycling
California and Wisconsin may be in different parts of the country but they share a new joint statistic — each just opened extensive new bicycling routes. In total, more than 500 miles of signed, designated bike routes just opened in the two states, part of an effort by the US Bicycle Route System (USBRS) to further connect rural and urban areas across the country.
It’s now possible to cycle all the way from the Nevada-California border near South Lake Tahoe to San Francisco via the 233-mile USBR 50. The route traverses mountain passes, the Mormon Emigrant and El Dorado trails, passes through Sacramento and eventually onto the San Francisco Bay.
Along the way, cyclists tour the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains, former gold rush areas, and Lagoon Valley Park. The route is entirely car-free, designed to serve both long-distance cyclists and daily commuters hoping for a safe route to work or to travel between the communities along the way.
Further north in Wisconsin, USBR 30 and 230 opened as the state’s first nationally-designated bike routes. Route 30 covers 269 miles from Lake Michigan in Milwaukee west to Bluff Siding along the Mississippi River. USBR 230 is designed to serve as an alternate route for when the Merrimac Ferry is not operating. The route comprises more than 160 miles of previously-designated state and county trails through protected areas and along former rail routes.
“Establishing this route has been years in the making and it’s a great accomplishment for the state,” Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary-Designee Craig Thompson said in a statement. “More than 70 communities in 11 counties worked together to create this great transportation corridor that will be enjoyed by local, regional and national bicyclists.”
The USBRS currently offers more than 14,000 miles of bike routes across the United States. As more than 40 states are currently developing more designated routes, the system hopes to eventually become the world’s largest bicycle route network.
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Plant-based diet tips for cycling
To perform at peak ability, athletes need enough protein, B vitamins, iron, and zinc. Meat and meat-based proteins have long been the staple for hard-working outdoor athletes looking to optimize their diet for performance. But for a host of reasons, top-tier outdoor athletes are giving up on meat — and still getting the nutrition they need to perform.
The plant-based movement — fueled largely by concern about the environmental impact and ethical implications of factory farming and other large-scale meat production techniques — is also attracting outdoor athletes of all stripes. Whether or not they share the eco concerns, these athletes are paying attention to the growing body of scientific research linking diets high in fatty red meats to heart disease and other health conditions. A study of elite female runners by PubMed found that 40 percent had cut red meat out of their diets.
These world-class athletes are finding other non-meat sources for the nutrition they need to perform at the highest levels. For the recreational outdoor athlete, there’s a lot to learn and gain from this. Even though we may never be competing in an Ironman or cycling the length of the United States, cutting back on meat intake without sacrificing performance (or delicious meals) is still a viable way forward for athletic pursuits as well as ethical ones.
So, how do outdoor athletes get their protein? Matador Network spoke with Tyler Pearce, better known in the outdoors community as The Vegan Cyclist, to learn more. Turns out, there’s no shortage of options.
Optimizing your diet and training for strenuous outdoors exercise
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Photo: kovop58/Shutterstock
Pearce lives with his family in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California. He’s quite renowned in the cycling world — he regularly completes long-distance rides and races, offers training and trip planning tips via his popular YouTube channel, and along with cyclist Jeremiah Bishop completed the first cycling expedition up the gravel road on Hawaii’s Mauna Kea, which he documented via film in a video called “The Impossible Climb.”
Pearce also did an “off the couch” Ironman with no training — and no meat, the ultimate slap in the face to the steak-or-die argument.
The power for all of this comes from careful consideration of what Pearce puts into his body. “I try to make sure that it’s real food,” he says, citing fresh veggies, simple carbohydrates, and natural proteins as his go-to rather than highly-processed foods, even if they’re vegetarian. “Just by eating something vegan doesn’t mean it’s healthy. With processed foods, the more you can stay away from it, the better.”
For a crispy treat that won’t negatively impact his ability to perform on the bike, he likes deep-fried Brussel sprouts with nutritional yeast. Pearce does encourage athletes to beware of certain protein shakes, however.
“A lot of protein shakes, like a pea protein or a soy protein, the bioavailability of that protein is not great,” he says. What this means is that though a quarter-cup of soy protein powder contains 17 grams of protein, the body may not actually absorb all of that protein. Whether you opt for a plant-based protein or a meat-based option, the most important thing to consider is how well, and how quickly, the body is going to benefit from that protein.
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Photo: Aquarius Studio/Shutterstock
Instead, Pearce prefers fresh spirulina, which has a very high absorption rate in addition to iron, Vitamin B12. “I’ll throw three pods into [a shake], so it’s nine grams of protein just on the spirulina front.”
He’s also a fan of hemp protein powder. When training hard, Pearce will have a Kyoku shake every day, a brand specifically designed for long-distance cyclists and endurance athletes who need to repair tissue and energy while minimizing inflammation.
At home, Pearce eats an avocado or two per day. “Almost everything I eat has avocados on it,” he says. This provides healthy fats. He also cooks in coconut oil, also rich in fatty acids, as much as possible. He adds hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds to meals, along with a lot of nuts — particularly pistachios.
Because the protein content can be less than with certain meats, he says, “Sometimes you just gotta eat a little more volume.”
Keeping fueled while burning energy
Photo: Tyler Pearce
His diet looks different on race day.
“What I eat on the bike and off the bike is wildly different,” Pearce says. “I don’t think a lot of people even know how much protein they’re supposed to be getting in the day. They’ve only been taught that [it happens] through a slab of steak.”
Pearce points to the importance of not overloading protein. Consuming high-quality proteins on long rides — think full-day trips or excursions with significant uphill climbing stretched out over several hours — helps with recovery because the body can only process so much protein at a time. Thus, consuming protein intermittently is better than finishing a long ride and eating a meal with 50 grams of protein with a shake on the side.
Pearce brings Beta Fuel, a powder that helps the body optimize carbohydrate absorption, with him when bikepacking and on long-haul rides. He won an ultra race with no solid food but plenty of slow-burning carbs like Beta Fuel. He’s also a fan of nut butter packs and other high-calorie, high-fat foods that are easy to store.
“Pairing sugar with salt and fat, like peanut butter, nuts, anything with good fats in it, will help you recover for the next day.”
For shorter rides of up to a few hours, the emphasis should be on simple carbohydrates, not proteins. If you need to eat to stay fueled on a shorter ride, consume simple carbs to consume glycogen storage.
Post-ride meals for the win
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Photo: Tyler Pearce
Whether you’re cycling, climbing, skiing, or doing any other strenuous outdoor activity, it’s natural to be hungry afterward. What you put into your body after working out is known as the “recovery” meal, and it’s just as important as what you eat before and during your activity.
“I try to plan my ride so that I go straight into dinner,” Peace says. By this, he means that, rather than finishing a ride and scarfing down a bunch of quick fillers to satiate a growling stomach, he prefers to lead into a full meal. He tries to end his ride an hour before a proper dinner.
What’s in that dinner? Broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, and often lentils, he notes, saying that he’ll try to work in some garbanzo beans or black beans. And, lots of rice.
The Kyoku shake with homemade nut milk is his go-to after a ride if dinner is still a few hours away.
Making the move to a mostly (or fully) plant-based diet
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Photo: Timolina/Shutterstock
Of course, moving to a plant-based diet requires more than a simple flip of the switch. Pearce isn’t one to condemn meat-eaters, calling himself a former “Meat Bro” who’d regularly order extra bacon on his burgers. Instead, he offers advice for those looking to move to a healthier lifestyle.
Pearce has been vegan for eight years. “It was a lean-in process before that,” he says. “I went from eating fast food and hardcore meat to being vegan. It’s not like I didn’t like meat, I just wanted to be a little healthier, and when you make healthier choices you feel better.”
First and foremost, Pearce encourages people to slowly make changes over time.
“Steamed broccoli by itself sucks ass,” he says. “If you go from hardcore meat and cheese to eating nothing but tofu salad, that’s going to be torture. You gotta build into it. When I first went vegan I was high carb, low fat. So I was eating constantly — like every 20 minutes I’d have to eat. The furnace would burn hot and not long. So after two or three years of that, I was like, I don’t want to have to plan my day around food.”
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Photo: Africa Studio/Shutterstock
Pearce started incorporating more fats into his diet. He also worked toward following a stricter eating schedule in order to be able to both train as he needed to and get through the day without constantly eating. A noticeable step happened when Pearce noticed his gut biome change. This signaled a growing tolerance of his dietary changes and gave him confidence that he’d be able to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.
“Intermittent fasting has also been really big for me,” Pearce says, something he has been doing for about four years and has found very sustainable.
Above all, Pearce says the best way for outdoor athletes to use their diet to their advantage is to simply take charge of what they’re putting into their body. That way, they’ll gain a better understanding of what’s going into it. This, in turn, will help them perform better — whatever their activity may be. He follows a simple mantra: Eat whatever you want, just cook it yourself.
“That premise is what changed my life and my whole family’s life,” Pearce says. “You want a bacon cheeseburger? Go to the store and get everything and make it.”
Hopefully, you end up with a healthier option simply because it’s easier to cook.
“Even if it’s animal products, you’re going to make better choices because you’re touching it,” Pearce says. “You start making these slow changes into eating healthier because you’re preparing the food. Ninety percent plants for life is way better than 100 percent plants for a month and then burn out.”
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Whisky cycling route in Scotland
A new cycling trail just opened in Scotland, and it’s designed to take you through some of the country’s most beautiful sights and let you sample some of its finest whisky. The 100-mile route, called “Whisky and Burns,” covers about 30 miles per day, starting in the coastal Powfoot area, and provides stunning views and historical insights.
The route first brings you to the Annandale Distillery, founded in 1830, which is co-hosting the tour with Galloway Cycling Holidays. At the distillery, you’ll be treated to a whisky tasting before taking a tour of Caerlaverock Castle and the stomping grounds of poet Robert Burns in the town of Dumfries. Then you’ll continue to Drumlanrig Castle, the graveyard of Kirkpatrick MacMillan (who invented the pedal bike), and the 12 Apostles stone circle. You’ll finish the tour at two more castles, Durisdeer Church, and Wanlockhead — the highest village in Scotland.
Tickets for the tour begin at $570 per person, and cover accommodation in four- or five-star accommodation each night, breakfast, luggage transfers, and bikes if you don’t bring your own. The full tour itinerary is available online.
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Crowdfunded art project London
East London’s Leyton Street residents commissioned designer Camille Walala to revive a block on their local high street with money raised through crowdfunding efforts. Walala is known for her signature colorful style which is clearly visible in the large-scale mural she created.
The piece, called “Walala Parade,” stretches across the facade of eight buildings, making it one of London’s largest public artwork pieces to date.
The local community raised 40,000 British pounds (about $53,180) as a part of the Wood Street Walls initiative and collectively voted on the mural design. On top of that, London Mayor Sadiq Khan donated another 25,000 pounds ($33,000) toward the project as a part of his Crowdfund London program, which aims to empower community-led creative projects across the city.
Photo: Tim Crocker
Leyton Street is located in northeast London in the borough of Waltham Forest. The neighborhood is known for its diverse population full of creatives who flock to the area as it offers affordable studio spaces.
“Waltham Forest is such an exciting and creative area of east London — now it’s going to look the part, too,” Walala told Dezeen, adding, “Art and colour have an amazing power to spread positivity, especially at the scale of the street. It’s wonderful to have an opportunity to have such a significant impact on the look and feel of an entire neighbourhood.”
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7 historic spots in SW Florida
We all have different feelings about traveling right now. When you’re ready, we hope you feel safe, inspired, and excited to join us on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.On The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, every day can be Throwback Thursday. The past is present around every corner, reminding you that this place has been welcoming visitors in search of Southwest Florida warmth and magic since way before toes-in-the-sand stole the show.
This is where Thomas Edison and Henry Ford spent their summers, where the Rockefellers and Roosevelts came to escape their own fame, where the Calusa Indians left their mark on the landscape. When you’re ready to travel again, go beyond the sand with these throwback spots.
Note: Some of the businesses or organizations listed below may not currently be operating as described due to safety guidelines. Please contact all locations prior to visiting.
1. Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Of all the celebrated and just everyday folks to cross Southwest Florida’s threshold, Thomas Edison probably had the biggest influence. Here on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, he built a vacation home for himself in 1885, persuaded his friend Henry Ford — yes, that Henry Ford — to move next door, and planted gardens in his quest for the perfect light bulb filament (and for use in his many other experiments).
His laboratory and museum complete the 21-acre estate, elegant both outside and in. Edison’s also responsible for the stately royal palms that flank the length of McGregor Boulevard, which passes through the grounds.
2. The River District, Downtown Fort Myers
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates spread along the edge of the historic River District in the heart of Fort Myers. The town sprouted in the 1860s from its roots as a Seminole War fort, but most of its surviving historic buildings date to the early 1900s. Of these, the Veranda restaurant takes the cake — it occupies two of the city’s oldest homes, both constructed in 1902.
Explore the district to find other if-walls-could-talk restaurants that pay tribute to historic local characters like Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and Al Capone. On a True Tours historical walking tour, you’ll hear the stories of the area’s larger-than-life figures and exquisite architecture — as well as tales of a few lingering ghosts.
Stay: At Hotel INDIGO Fort Myers, you’re within walking distince of the district’s best attractions, including the river, downtown’s architectural gems, and — for your IG — a beautiful mosaic mural of local history.
3. Koreshan State Park, Estero
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Koreshan State Park preserves one of the most unusual slices of local history. Cyrus Teed’s religious community, which devoted itself to the arts, gardening, the study of science and the universe, and other lofty pursuits, settled here around the turn of the last century. A cluster of historic and recreated structures tell the story of this unusual outpost, ultimately ill-fated thanks to an adherence to celibacy.
Besides scoping out the buildings and learning more about this unique history, visitors can stroll garden trails or go for a gentle paddle on the Estero River.
Also check out: One of the region’s earliest surviving accommodations, Shangri-La Springs lies in nearby Bonita Springs and dates back to the Roaring Twenties. Recently renovated, it’s known for its organic gardens and kitchen, spring-fed old-growth grounds, spa, and general aura of wellness.
4. Mound House, Fort Myers Beach
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Mound House on Fort Myers Beach digs deep — and then deeper — into island bygones. Once you’ve toured the historic home dating back to 1906 and its exhibits about early settlers, sink even further into the past at the underground Stories Beneath Our Feet exhibit. A cutaway of a 2,000-year-old Calusa Indian shell mound layers on the history, with a video and artists’ rendering of the erstwhile Indigenous settlement transporting you back in time. The bayfront site ordinarily hosts a number of interpretive programs ranging from a bio-tour of the grounds’ native vegetation to a kayaking excursion that plies the same waters the Calusa once did in their dugout vessels.
Stay: When you’re ready to return to the present, head back to your thoroughly modern accommodations at Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina. Located at the north end of Fort Myers Beach, Pink Shell encompasses a beautiful stretch of soft, white sand and features three pools, an excellent marina, a spa, and multiple restaurants.
5. Calusa Heritage Trail at Randell Research Center, Pine Island
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Way off the tourist path, northern Pine Island once too served the Calusa tribe as an important waterfront base. Here they built shell mounds, carved canals to the sea, and buried their departed. The Calusa Heritage Trail preserves and interprets this ancient way of life along a 0.9-mile trail that takes you to the top of a 30-foot-high shell mound.
Stay: Right across the street from the Randell Research Center, you can eat and sleep as guests have for decades at the Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant. Choose the accommodations that suit you best — boathouse, historic lodge, cottage, or island house — for a true Old Florida experience (with modern amenities, of course).
6. Captiva Island
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
A coconut plantation, a rumrunner’s haven, a sanctuary for the rich and famous — Teddy Roosevelt, Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, “Ding” Darling, and Robert Rauschenberg are just a few luminaries who found relaxation and inspiration on this tiny island at the far end of reality. As you explore, don’t miss the photogenic Captiva Chapel by the Sea and adjacent historic cemetery, where visitors more often leave seashells than flowers on gravesites.
Stay: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa treats its guests to accommodations ranging from historic cottages to modern rooms and suites. Enjoy dinner in the circa-1930 Old Captiva House, originally a one-room island schoolhouse.
7. Outer islands
Photo: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
Captiva and Pine Island are your best jumping-off points for island-hopping adventures to the north. Consider taking a jaunt to Gasparilla Island, where you can visit historic gems like the elegant Gasparilla Inn, quaint churches, and a railroad depot. Don’t miss the two historic lighthouses — Gasparilla Island and Port Boca Grande — for a taste of the island’s nautical past.
Stay: Cabbage Key is a 100-acre island getaway only accessible by boat. The best way to experience it is with a night or two at the Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant, which sits atop a Calusa shell mound for elevated views of Pine Island Sound. The seafood is fresh, the cocktails are classic, and the nights are quiet. For time far, far away from it all, stay in one of the island’s charming cottages.
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