First and foremost, Bonita Springs offers spectacular natural resources and an excellent quality of life. There are parks and wildlife areas where you can walk through the remnants of history or along elevated boardwalks through wet prairies and Cypress grounds. The area holds numerous natural and historic treasures. Exploration of this area reveals Florida as it once was. The remote island beaches here are considered to be some of the most beautiful in the nation. The white sands and blue waters of Bonita Beach and, to the north, unspoiled Lover's Key State Park, offer a chance to escape and relax to the sound of the surf gently rolling in from the Gulf.

Golfers will love the lush, green courses carved from nature, including some of the best public courses in the country. Of course, there's plenty of fishing available with many marinas offering boat rentals and fishing charters. With some of the area's trendiest new shops and bistros located in this charming small town setting, there's a bit of old and new Florida awaiting those who hear the call.

Bonita Springs is a city that has embraced its roots while building for the future. New developments include the recent expansion of Wynn Properties, a 265,000 square foot retail and office development, and The Promenade, strategically located by the entrance of the prestigious Bonita Bay community that offers office and professional space above the exclusive restaurants and shops on its ground floor. All around town, new locations provide the office and working space that new and expanding businesses require. Much of the development is along the U.S. 41 corridor and close to the intersection of U.S. 41 and Bonita Beach Road.

But while new development continues, Downtown Bonita Springs -- with its quaint architecture and history-rich areas -- is being preserved. Streetscapes, landscapes and pedestrian walkways establish the tone as this charming piece of Bonita's history returns for all to see, thanks to area citizens and the help of the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Volunteerism reflects the values of Bonita's residents, who have come from everywhere. Beach strollers pluck bits of litter to preserve this pristine paradise. "Night riders" scour the beaches to monitor the nests of endangered turtles; when hatchlings bubble up and scamper toward water, the volunteers escort the babies home. Shirt sleeves go up on Saturday mornings when the ball field needs to be groomed. And citizen labor created the Old Bonita community park, complete with pavilion and band shell, across from the giant banyan tree, the town's most referenced landmark.

Bonita's burgeoning business growth has spawned an impressive roster of professional and developmental services. Part of Florida Gulf Coast University's College of Business is an off-campus center, based in Bonita Springs, called the Small Business Development Center. The center's classes and seminars are designed to assist new and existing businesses. Edison Community College also offers customized professional seminars and programs through its Institute of Business and Training Development at the Fort Myers campus.

Key to the success of local business and industry is accessibility to the rest of Florida and the nation. Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), just a few miles north of Bonita, is a medium hub airport with regularly scheduled international flights. RSW recently completed a runway extension as part of a major expansion program. Interstate 75 runs from Michigan's Upper Peninsula all the way south to Bonita's heart and access to the Gulf beaches. I-75 continues south to Naples, then heads east to link Bonita with Miami and Fort Lauderdale on Florida's east coast. From there it intersects I-95, the country's main north/south link to the Northeast.

Freight moves from Seminole Gulf Railway's Bonita Springs terminal north to Arcadia, where other rail services provide nationwide access. The deep-water ports of the area are accessible via the Okeechobee Waterway that provides a link from the Gulf of Mexico via the Caloosahatchee River to Florida's east coast and the Atlantic Ocean.

Bonita Springs has been called the area's epicenter for commercial development. With commerce comes a wealth of employment opportunities, which encourage new growth. But the balance is secure in this corner of paradise, where family values and precious natural resources -- revered mainstays of Bonita's rich heritage -- remain linchpins of the community's present lifestyle.