Off-site venues can bring a dash of imagination and creativity to the agenda, taking attendees away from the typical and toward unique settings that showcase nature, culture and everything in between. Southwest Florida is filled with these one-of-a-kind locales for breakout sessions, dinners, receptions and other group gatherings. Following are just a few examples.
Available as a venue for meetings, receptions and dinners, Naples Botanical Garden reopened Oct. 23 after adding a new visitor center and three new gardens. Showcasing the plants and cultures found along 26 degrees latitude, north and south, the attraction includes the cultivated gardens of Brazil, the Caribbean, Asia and Florida, along with 90 acres of beautifully restored Florida habitat.
Historical homes and B&Bs that double as event venues can be found throughout the Sunshine State, but one standout is Lahser House in Bokeelia, set on the northern tip of Pine Island west of Fort Myers. Built in 1914, Lahser House offers five guest rooms, each with a private bath, and welcomes meetings and events of up to 50 people.
“We’re off the beaten path and very intimate,” says Cynthia Welch, property manager. “We’ve done corporate retreats where they come out to stay and go fishing and such, and we’ve also done lunches and small receptions.”
Steer your event toward Punta Gorda’s Muscle Car City, where 200 vintage cars—including Camaros, Chevelles, El Caminos, Big Block Impalas and Pontiac GTOs—span the glory years of muscle cars, from the ’50s to the ’70s, and groups gather in a conference room that hosts 60 classroom style or 40 for sit-down dinners with catering arranged on-site.
“We also have monthly car shows, open to the public,” notes Dina Modesto, manager of the venue. “We usually have 100 cars out there, with music and food.”
