Things to Do in Villas
Recommended Things to Do by Groupon Customers
Captain Nate Maynard may just as well have been born on a boat. Growing up in South Florida, he spent much of his youth studying the waters off Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor, and Matlacha and San Carlos Passes, learning the patterns of the prized catches lurking beneath. As he got older, Maynard tested his expertise by entering the tournament scene, refining his approach for fishing the area’s expansive shallow flats, bays, and outer-island passes.
With Lip’em N Grip’em Fishing Charters, Maynard imparts his knowledge to all levels of anglers during guided outings. Supplying all equipment and preferring live bait such as pinfish and shrimp—but willing to use artificial lures based on the availability of live bait and clients’ preferences—the captain leads parties on fishing excursions for hauls of South Florida’s many species, including redfish, snook, and trout. For fisherman seeking bigger trophies, Maynard motors his 22-foot, 225 horse-power Sterling boat toward waters home to tarpon, shark, and flounder shaped like Academy Awards.
Captain Maynard operates by a “no fish, no pay” policy to demonstrate his integrity toward clients. In addition to guiding, he also takes guests on sunset cruises and wildlife excursions such as dolphin and manatee tours.:m]]
From catching a 5-pound largemouth bass at age 5 to spending his summers competing in offshore fishing tournaments in the Bahamas, Captain Sean Adler's proudest moments have played out aboard a boat. Now the licensed captain strives to share the thrill of a taut line with passengers of all fishing-experience levels. To that end, he and his crew monitor the tides, barometric pressure, and moon phases to inform departure times for their fishing trips. They stock their boats with ample bait, ice, and fishing equipment for all guests. Once passengers reel in their catches, the crew snaps photos which anglers can proudly display at the office or threaten ungrateful pet goldfish at home.
Though Adventures Kayaking founder Glenn has fly-fished the Arctic Circle and helmed charter boats across Lake Michigan, the seasoned captain likes kayaking best. That’s because the small, sleek vessels grant Glenn access to Florida’s secluded backwaters and estuaries, which are inaccessible by boat. Now, Glenn and his guides impart not only their expertise on kayaking technique, but lead tour groups to the best spots on the Calusa Blueway for spotting wildlife or nabbing fish. Guides happily tailor tours to suit each group's skill levels and furnish kayaks with storage bags, coolers, and bottled water to ensure the tour remains a comfortable experience. En route, they’ll even snap pictures of groups as they glide across waterways and attempt to dodge photo-bombing manatees.
As a former collegiate golfer and member of the Nationwide Tour, PGA teaching professional Jon Butler synthesizes his own experiences with the teachings of influential colleagues to form a unique teaching philosophy. Jon believes that each golfer’s swing should be custom fit to their set of physical characteristics to improve their play and lower their score. To achieve this, he uses advanced swing tools and demonstrations to help players find a balanced swing plane, as well as video analysis so golfers can determine whether they’ve eliminated the instinctual pirouette from their follow-through.
Though most instruction takes place on the range at West Bay Beach and Golf Club, Jon can also follow golfers out onto the course to teach course-management skills and strategy in different situations.
True to its name, All Water Excursions sets sail for adventures above or below sea level with boat rentals, guided tours, and underwater activities. Narrated cruises tour the backwaters of Florida while guides share stories about local history and wildlife and schools of dolphins choreograph underwater ballets beneath the boat. Windsurfing raises patrons to a bird's-eye view, and scuba-diving sessions explore coral reefs and shipwrecks located near the ocean floor. All Water Excursions will also rent pontoons, deck boats, and center consoles to patrons who want to sail for themselves and conduct ocean and backwater fishing trips to catch sea trout, catfish, or mangrove snapper.
