Celebrate National Dolphin Day at The Village Shops!
When you think of Naples, Florida, what comes to mind? To us, it is palm trees swaying in the breeze, sunshine sparkling on the water, retail therapy, and a 5-star restaurant experience. That is exactly what makes up a blissful day on the Bay, where shopping, dining, and dolphin sightings come together!
Whether you’re on your way to a lunch reservation or browsing your favorite boutique, you’re surrounded by postcard-perfect views from sunrise to sunset. There is something so peaceful about boats gliding by, the sound of waves slapping against the seawall. But, the best part is when you get a glimpse of dolphins at play in the Bay. At The Village Shops, the sight of a fin is always a major win and that is why we are excited to celebrate the upcoming National Dolphin Day on Monday, April 14th!
Speaking of win, dolphin sightings at The Village Shops are no longer a rare treat, but more often an hourly occurrence since The Village Shops installed 215 concrete reef balls and over 4,300 cubic yards of riprap around the perimeter of the seawall to serve as an artificial reef.
The riprap and reef balls increase habitats for marine life, protect from erosion, and create cleaner water. The reef balls have many positive features that promote marine life, such as holes for water flow and rough surfaces for attachment of algae, oysters, barnacles, coral, and other sea life. As a result of the reef balls paired with the riprap, which uses rocks to build a barrier wall around The Village Shops preventing erosion and facilitating the growth of plants and crustaceans, the fish are flocking to and flowing through these areas.
It is no secret that where there are fish, dolphins are not far behind! Come celebrate National Dolphin Day with a visit to The Village! While enjoying shopping and dining, make sure your eyes stay locked on the Bay because our friendly flipper neighbors will be stopping by to say “Hi”!
The Village Shops on Venetian Bay is located at 4200 Gulf Shore Blvd North Naples, Florida 34103. The Village Shops can be reached by calling 239-261-6100. To stay up-to-date on the latest happenings, visit The Village Shops website at https://www.venetianvillage.com and Facebook/Instagram/TikTok pages @VenetianVillage.