Our Naples, Florida Top 5 Attractions
Naples, Florida
By Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong and Steffany Skelley Gilmer
We love visiting Naples on Florida’s southwest coast. The upscale community has excellent hotels, restaurants, beaches and something to offer travelers on any budget. Here are Our Naples Top 5: Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, The Dock at Crayton Cove, Pinchers Crab Shack, Riverwalk Tin City restaurant, and the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens.
Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue
The Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue in Naples, Florida is a hotel with everything – great location, beautiful waterfront views, on-site dining, upscale Mediterranean décor, beautiful pool and hot tub, reasonable rates, free parking and access to Naples’ famous Tin City Waterfront Shops and Dining. If that’s not enough to entice you to Naples, the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue also offers some excellent specials and packages. Naples, Florida’s Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue is located on the elegant and upscale Naples 5th Avenue which is filled with upscale restaurants and boutique shops but the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue one of the few establishments right on Naples Bay at Gordon’s Pass.
The Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue’s Mediterranean design is picture prefect. The rooms are comfortable, well equipped and many offer waterfront views. Even though it sits on one of Naples’ busiest streets, the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue feels like an oasis. The landscaping creates a nearly perfect barrier that separates guests from the sight of the roadway and sets the focus onto the waterfront where guests can rent pontoon boats, jet skis, canoes and kayaks. One of our favorite things about the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue is their easy access to Naples Tin City Waterfront Shops and Dining. Guests can step off of the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue’s deck, cross under the bridge and find themselves at Tin City within a minute or two.
Joyce Bennett, the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue’s Director of Sales told us that whether you are a single traveler, married travelers, LGBT travelers, family travelers, international travelers or local travelers, “all are welcomed” at the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue. For Fall 2013, the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue is offering two special travel packages and a wedding package -The Make a Memory Package, the Sun in the Fun Package and the Unique Caribbean Chic Wedding Package.
The Make a Memory Package
Florida Resident $329 or Florida Resident Sunday/Monday arrival $299 + $50 to upgrade to Premium Luxury Bay View accommodations
Available to December 19, 2013 (based on availability & not valid for Holidays or holiday weekends)
(Applicable taxes are included - gratuities are NOT included)
2 nights’ accommodations in Luxury Bay View Room
$50 food credit at Bambu Tropical Grille
Sunset cruise or Naples Trolley Tour for 2
Complimentary use of beach chairs
The Fun in the Sun Package
Available to October 15th 2013
2 Nights City View Room
Full Day Deck Boat or Pontoon Rental
2 Welcome Drinks
The Unique Caribbean Chic Wedding Package
$64 per person
1 night accommodation for Bride and Groom
Waterside Terrace or Banquet Room rental
Cheese, crackers and vegetable crudités reception
Champagne toast
One hour open bar
Two entrée buffet
Linen and china
The Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue is located at 1221 Fifth Avenue South, Naples, Florida.
For more information, phone 239-649-5800 or visit www.BayfrontInnNaples.com
The Dock at Crayton Cove
There are many great restaurants in Naples and we have tried a lot of them over the years. If you are looking for great seafood in a waterfront restaurant a little outside of the touristy area, we highly recommend The Dock at Crayton Cove.
Located at the Naples Marina at Crayton Cove, The Dock at Crayton Cove is an unpretentious open-air restaurant overlooking Naples Bay. The goal here is to “prepare the freshest fish with Caribbean and Latin influences.” The menu also offers salads, sandwiches, beef, poultry, pasta dishes, daily specials and an affordable wine list.
You can tell that the Dock at Crayton Cove has something for everyone just by looking at their clientele. Look around the restaurant and you’ll find all ages from toddlers to retirees and all social groups from yachting types to families to bikers in Harley Davidson t-shirts. This is part of the charm of The Dock at Crayton Cove.
For our visit, we started with the Monkey Business and Frisky Frozen Banana cocktails. They were the perfect recipe for a hot south Florida day – cool, tasty and not overpowering.
The appetizers we chose were Coconut Shrimp and Conch Fritters with banana sauce. Both were excellent choices and the Pineapple salsa, made from locally grown pineapples, is fantastic.
Our entrees included the Cobb Salad and Fish Tacos. Both dishes came in nice, large portions and were delicious. The Fish Tacos served on a bed of cabbage with salsa, yogurt sauce and a side of beans and rice.
For dessert, we split a big piece of Key Lime Pie. This isn’t the frozen, artificially flavored bitter stuff, it is authentic Key Lime Pie and it is perfect!
The Dock at Crayton Cove is located at 845 12th Ave S Naples, FL 34102.
For more information, phone 239-263-9940 or visit http://www.dockcraytoncove.com
To see their Menu, visit http://www.dockcraytoncove.com/Menus
To see their Wine List, visit http://www.dockcraytoncove.com/Wine_List
Special events include Sunday Brunch with Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar 10:30 - 2:00, the Raw Bar offered 3:00 – 6:00 pm daily and Margarita Madness offered 3:00 – 6:00 pm daily.
Pinchers Crab Shack
Pinchers Crab Shack is located in one of our favorite spots in Naples - Tin City Waterfront Shops and Dining. Tin City’s rustic waterfront facility is filled with boutique shops. It is the perfect setting for Pinchers Crab Shack’s family-friendly, casual-dining vibe.
When the Phelan family first planned their Pinchers restaurants’ theme, they decided they wanted them to “look like an old seafood shack you’d find resting along the Gulf Coast.” They succeeded! Their waterfront restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. Even on a 90 degree south Florida day, the shaded outdoor dining area was refreshingly cool and the overhead ceiling fans added movement to the nice breeze coming off the water.
The Phelan’s also had a specific desire for their food – it had to be fresh! So, they bought a fifty-percent share of the Island Crab Company ensuring they had daily access to the freshest Stone Crabs and seafood in the area. The Pincher’s Crab Shack menu states that their mission is “local fishermen fish local waters for a local restaurant.” Their motto is "You can't fake fresh!" After window shopping in the Tin City shops, we entered Pinchers Crab Shack. A smiling waitress led us to our table and covered it in butcher paper. When your waitress covers your table in butcher paper before seating you, you just know that you are in for some juicy, tasty, local seafood.
A quick look around the restaurant revealed a clientele of all ages. There were couples, families, retirees, and international guests speaking a number of languages.
For our entrees, we chose Gator Bites with fries and cole slaw and Fried Shrimp with fries and cole slaw. Pinchers Crab Shack fries are fresh cut and cooked to order. They definitely deserve an A+++ for freshness. We enjoyed both entrees. The fried shrimp were battered well and the portion was large. And – it is always fun to eat gator.
For dessert, we ordered Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Cake. Both desserts were an excellent finish to our seafood restaurant dinners.
Pinchers Crab Shack is located at 1200 5th Ave. S., Naples, FL 34102.
For more information, phone 239-434-6616 or visit http://www.pincherscrabshack.com/naples-tin-city.php
If you are looking for casual, family-friendly, waterfront dining at Naples famous Tin City, Pinchers Crab Shack is a great choice.
Riverwalk Tin City
Riverwalk Tin City restaurant in Naples famous Tin City Waterfront Shops and Dining advertises itself as a “getaway from the everyday” with “fresh fare, open air, and nautical flair.” We couldn’t have described it any better!
Tin City opened in the 1940’s as a working dock and clam factory. Staying true to this history, Riverwalk offers planked floors, maritime artifacts, and “handrails and doors carved by artist Clint Beatty” that “echo this rich history.”
The Riverwalk menu is filled with “innovative interpretations of salads, sandwiches, pastas and steaks, as well as seafood entrees that are grilled, seared, roasted, barbecued or fried, all complemented by daily features and tropical cocktails.”
Seated at a table right on the waterfront, we ordered two cocktails – Juicy fruit and Last Mango. The Juicy Fruit was light and citrusy without being bitter. The Last Mango was a frozen mango beverage with just a hint of mango flavor. Both were cool and refreshing and just what you need on a hot Florida evening.
For appetizers, we chose Big Bend Seafood Gumbo and Clam Chowder. The Big Bend Seafood Gumbo was a surprisingly large bowl of seafood gumbo that would make any gumbo lover happy. The Clam Chowder was some of the best we have had in South Florida.
For our entrees, we ordered BBQ Baby Back Ribs and a Black Angus New York Strip steak. The Baby Back Ribs were two huge slabs or braised ribs served with fries and cole slaw. The ribs were sweet, exceptionally tender and served with a mango BBQ sauce. The Black Angus New York Strip steak was covered in onion rings and served with whipped potatoes and julienne vegetables. Our scrumptious entrees proved this seafood-themed restaurant is not only great at “surf” but they are excellent at “turf” as well.
For our desserts, we ordered Key Lime Pie (of course) and Mango Cheesecake. The Riverwalk Key Lime Pie was not overly tart nor overly sweet. It was a very good recipe. The Mango Cheesecake was just right - light and creamy with just a hint of mango.
You can view the Riverwalk menu at http://www.riverwalktincity.com/Menus
You can view the Riverwalk wine list at http://www.riverwalktincity.com/Wine_List
Riverwalk Tin City restaurant is located at 1200 5th Avenue South, Naples FL 34102.
For more information, phone: 239-263-2734 or visit http://www.riverwalktincity.com/
If you are looking for a getaway from the everyday at an open-air, waterfront restaurant with fresh fare and nautical flair in a historic setting, Riverwalk Tin City is an excellent choice for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is situated in a forty-three acre botanical garden that opened in 1919!
The zoo and gardens have won numerous awards over the years for both their animal and botanical exhibits.
An all-day ticket to Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens gives you access to Primate Expedition Cruise, Meet The Keeper Series, Alligator Bay Hand-Feeding, Historic Tropical Garden, and Safari Canyon Theater Shows.
The zoo has an impressive amount of animal exhibits including cheetahs, giraffes, black bears, fosas, honey badgers, African lions, tigers, alligators, coyotes, leopards, greater kudus, gazelles, porcupines, red river hogs, lemurs and hyenas.
The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens’ paved path (which is roomy enough for those of you who are pushing a stroller) winds nearly a mile past rare and beautiful animals, exotic plants, tropical gardens, and more!
All the animals appear well cared for and each have plenty of room in their environment to play, relax and socialize.
"All of our keepers have a relationship with the animals and the animals are enriched by it. The animals are visited and played with every day," Pam Krol, the Director of Development and Marketing for the Naples Zoo told us.
One of our favorite exhibits at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is the Primate Expedition Cruise on Lake Victoria where guests ride in a covered boat past islands where monkeys, apes and lemurs reside. Upon seeing our covered boat, some monkeys came to the edge of their island to show off their swinging and flipping skills!
During the hottest months, the zoo also offers "cooling stations" to help visitors combat the Florida summer sun.
The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is located at 1590 Goodlette Rd., Naples Florida 34102.
For more information, phone 239-262-5409 or visit www.napleszoo.com
Conclusion
If you are visiting Naples, Florida, be sure to try Our Naples Top 5: Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, The Dock at Crayton Cove, Pinchers Crab Shack, Riverwalk Tin City restaurant, and the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens.
Article by Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong and Steffany Skelley Gilmer. Copyright 2013 Sunny Harbor Publishing. Contact Us: PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321-446-7552. Email: [email protected]
Keywords: Naples, Florida, Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, The Dock at Crayton Cove, Pinchers Crab Shack, Riverwalk Tin City restaurant, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Steffany Skelley Gilmer, Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong, Sunny Harbor Publishing, FamilyTravelers Magazine,
Naples, Florida
By Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong and Steffany Skelley Gilmer
We love visiting Naples on Florida’s southwest coast. The upscale community has excellent hotels, restaurants, beaches and something to offer travelers on any budget. Here are Our Naples Top 5: Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, The Dock at Crayton Cove, Pinchers Crab Shack, Riverwalk Tin City restaurant, and the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens.
Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue
The Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue in Naples, Florida is a hotel with everything – great location, beautiful waterfront views, on-site dining, upscale Mediterranean décor, beautiful pool and hot tub, reasonable rates, free parking and access to Naples’ famous Tin City Waterfront Shops and Dining. If that’s not enough to entice you to Naples, the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue also offers some excellent specials and packages. Naples, Florida’s Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue is located on the elegant and upscale Naples 5th Avenue which is filled with upscale restaurants and boutique shops but the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue one of the few establishments right on Naples Bay at Gordon’s Pass.
The Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue’s Mediterranean design is picture prefect. The rooms are comfortable, well equipped and many offer waterfront views. Even though it sits on one of Naples’ busiest streets, the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue feels like an oasis. The landscaping creates a nearly perfect barrier that separates guests from the sight of the roadway and sets the focus onto the waterfront where guests can rent pontoon boats, jet skis, canoes and kayaks. One of our favorite things about the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue is their easy access to Naples Tin City Waterfront Shops and Dining. Guests can step off of the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue’s deck, cross under the bridge and find themselves at Tin City within a minute or two.
Joyce Bennett, the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue’s Director of Sales told us that whether you are a single traveler, married travelers, LGBT travelers, family travelers, international travelers or local travelers, “all are welcomed” at the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue. For Fall 2013, the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue is offering two special travel packages and a wedding package -The Make a Memory Package, the Sun in the Fun Package and the Unique Caribbean Chic Wedding Package.
The Make a Memory Package
Florida Resident $329 or Florida Resident Sunday/Monday arrival $299 + $50 to upgrade to Premium Luxury Bay View accommodations
Available to December 19, 2013 (based on availability & not valid for Holidays or holiday weekends)
(Applicable taxes are included - gratuities are NOT included)
2 nights’ accommodations in Luxury Bay View Room
$50 food credit at Bambu Tropical Grille
Sunset cruise or Naples Trolley Tour for 2
Complimentary use of beach chairs
The Fun in the Sun Package
Available to October 15th 2013
2 Nights City View Room
Full Day Deck Boat or Pontoon Rental
2 Welcome Drinks
The Unique Caribbean Chic Wedding Package
$64 per person
1 night accommodation for Bride and Groom
Waterside Terrace or Banquet Room rental
Cheese, crackers and vegetable crudités reception
Champagne toast
One hour open bar
Two entrée buffet
Linen and china
The Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue is located at 1221 Fifth Avenue South, Naples, Florida.
For more information, phone 239-649-5800 or visit www.BayfrontInnNaples.com
The Dock at Crayton Cove
There are many great restaurants in Naples and we have tried a lot of them over the years. If you are looking for great seafood in a waterfront restaurant a little outside of the touristy area, we highly recommend The Dock at Crayton Cove.
Located at the Naples Marina at Crayton Cove, The Dock at Crayton Cove is an unpretentious open-air restaurant overlooking Naples Bay. The goal here is to “prepare the freshest fish with Caribbean and Latin influences.” The menu also offers salads, sandwiches, beef, poultry, pasta dishes, daily specials and an affordable wine list.
You can tell that the Dock at Crayton Cove has something for everyone just by looking at their clientele. Look around the restaurant and you’ll find all ages from toddlers to retirees and all social groups from yachting types to families to bikers in Harley Davidson t-shirts. This is part of the charm of The Dock at Crayton Cove.
For our visit, we started with the Monkey Business and Frisky Frozen Banana cocktails. They were the perfect recipe for a hot south Florida day – cool, tasty and not overpowering.
The appetizers we chose were Coconut Shrimp and Conch Fritters with banana sauce. Both were excellent choices and the Pineapple salsa, made from locally grown pineapples, is fantastic.
Our entrees included the Cobb Salad and Fish Tacos. Both dishes came in nice, large portions and were delicious. The Fish Tacos served on a bed of cabbage with salsa, yogurt sauce and a side of beans and rice.
For dessert, we split a big piece of Key Lime Pie. This isn’t the frozen, artificially flavored bitter stuff, it is authentic Key Lime Pie and it is perfect!
The Dock at Crayton Cove is located at 845 12th Ave S Naples, FL 34102.
For more information, phone 239-263-9940 or visit http://www.dockcraytoncove.com
To see their Menu, visit http://www.dockcraytoncove.com/Menus
To see their Wine List, visit http://www.dockcraytoncove.com/Wine_List
Special events include Sunday Brunch with Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar 10:30 - 2:00, the Raw Bar offered 3:00 – 6:00 pm daily and Margarita Madness offered 3:00 – 6:00 pm daily.
Pinchers Crab Shack
Pinchers Crab Shack is located in one of our favorite spots in Naples - Tin City Waterfront Shops and Dining. Tin City’s rustic waterfront facility is filled with boutique shops. It is the perfect setting for Pinchers Crab Shack’s family-friendly, casual-dining vibe.
When the Phelan family first planned their Pinchers restaurants’ theme, they decided they wanted them to “look like an old seafood shack you’d find resting along the Gulf Coast.” They succeeded! Their waterfront restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. Even on a 90 degree south Florida day, the shaded outdoor dining area was refreshingly cool and the overhead ceiling fans added movement to the nice breeze coming off the water.
The Phelan’s also had a specific desire for their food – it had to be fresh! So, they bought a fifty-percent share of the Island Crab Company ensuring they had daily access to the freshest Stone Crabs and seafood in the area. The Pincher’s Crab Shack menu states that their mission is “local fishermen fish local waters for a local restaurant.” Their motto is "You can't fake fresh!" After window shopping in the Tin City shops, we entered Pinchers Crab Shack. A smiling waitress led us to our table and covered it in butcher paper. When your waitress covers your table in butcher paper before seating you, you just know that you are in for some juicy, tasty, local seafood.
A quick look around the restaurant revealed a clientele of all ages. There were couples, families, retirees, and international guests speaking a number of languages.
For our entrees, we chose Gator Bites with fries and cole slaw and Fried Shrimp with fries and cole slaw. Pinchers Crab Shack fries are fresh cut and cooked to order. They definitely deserve an A+++ for freshness. We enjoyed both entrees. The fried shrimp were battered well and the portion was large. And – it is always fun to eat gator.
For dessert, we ordered Key Lime Pie and Chocolate Cake. Both desserts were an excellent finish to our seafood restaurant dinners.
Pinchers Crab Shack is located at 1200 5th Ave. S., Naples, FL 34102.
For more information, phone 239-434-6616 or visit http://www.pincherscrabshack.com/naples-tin-city.php
If you are looking for casual, family-friendly, waterfront dining at Naples famous Tin City, Pinchers Crab Shack is a great choice.
Riverwalk Tin City
Riverwalk Tin City restaurant in Naples famous Tin City Waterfront Shops and Dining advertises itself as a “getaway from the everyday” with “fresh fare, open air, and nautical flair.” We couldn’t have described it any better!
Tin City opened in the 1940’s as a working dock and clam factory. Staying true to this history, Riverwalk offers planked floors, maritime artifacts, and “handrails and doors carved by artist Clint Beatty” that “echo this rich history.”
The Riverwalk menu is filled with “innovative interpretations of salads, sandwiches, pastas and steaks, as well as seafood entrees that are grilled, seared, roasted, barbecued or fried, all complemented by daily features and tropical cocktails.”
Seated at a table right on the waterfront, we ordered two cocktails – Juicy fruit and Last Mango. The Juicy Fruit was light and citrusy without being bitter. The Last Mango was a frozen mango beverage with just a hint of mango flavor. Both were cool and refreshing and just what you need on a hot Florida evening.
For appetizers, we chose Big Bend Seafood Gumbo and Clam Chowder. The Big Bend Seafood Gumbo was a surprisingly large bowl of seafood gumbo that would make any gumbo lover happy. The Clam Chowder was some of the best we have had in South Florida.
For our entrees, we ordered BBQ Baby Back Ribs and a Black Angus New York Strip steak. The Baby Back Ribs were two huge slabs or braised ribs served with fries and cole slaw. The ribs were sweet, exceptionally tender and served with a mango BBQ sauce. The Black Angus New York Strip steak was covered in onion rings and served with whipped potatoes and julienne vegetables. Our scrumptious entrees proved this seafood-themed restaurant is not only great at “surf” but they are excellent at “turf” as well.
For our desserts, we ordered Key Lime Pie (of course) and Mango Cheesecake. The Riverwalk Key Lime Pie was not overly tart nor overly sweet. It was a very good recipe. The Mango Cheesecake was just right - light and creamy with just a hint of mango.
You can view the Riverwalk menu at http://www.riverwalktincity.com/Menus
You can view the Riverwalk wine list at http://www.riverwalktincity.com/Wine_List
Riverwalk Tin City restaurant is located at 1200 5th Avenue South, Naples FL 34102.
For more information, phone: 239-263-2734 or visit http://www.riverwalktincity.com/
If you are looking for a getaway from the everyday at an open-air, waterfront restaurant with fresh fare and nautical flair in a historic setting, Riverwalk Tin City is an excellent choice for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is situated in a forty-three acre botanical garden that opened in 1919!
The zoo and gardens have won numerous awards over the years for both their animal and botanical exhibits.
An all-day ticket to Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens gives you access to Primate Expedition Cruise, Meet The Keeper Series, Alligator Bay Hand-Feeding, Historic Tropical Garden, and Safari Canyon Theater Shows.
The zoo has an impressive amount of animal exhibits including cheetahs, giraffes, black bears, fosas, honey badgers, African lions, tigers, alligators, coyotes, leopards, greater kudus, gazelles, porcupines, red river hogs, lemurs and hyenas.
The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens’ paved path (which is roomy enough for those of you who are pushing a stroller) winds nearly a mile past rare and beautiful animals, exotic plants, tropical gardens, and more!
All the animals appear well cared for and each have plenty of room in their environment to play, relax and socialize.
"All of our keepers have a relationship with the animals and the animals are enriched by it. The animals are visited and played with every day," Pam Krol, the Director of Development and Marketing for the Naples Zoo told us.
One of our favorite exhibits at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is the Primate Expedition Cruise on Lake Victoria where guests ride in a covered boat past islands where monkeys, apes and lemurs reside. Upon seeing our covered boat, some monkeys came to the edge of their island to show off their swinging and flipping skills!
During the hottest months, the zoo also offers "cooling stations" to help visitors combat the Florida summer sun.
The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is located at 1590 Goodlette Rd., Naples Florida 34102.
For more information, phone 239-262-5409 or visit www.napleszoo.com
Conclusion
If you are visiting Naples, Florida, be sure to try Our Naples Top 5: Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, The Dock at Crayton Cove, Pinchers Crab Shack, Riverwalk Tin City restaurant, and the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens.
Article by Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong and Steffany Skelley Gilmer. Copyright 2013 Sunny Harbor Publishing. Contact Us: PO Box 560318, Rockledge, FL 32956. Phone: 321-446-7552. Email: [email protected]
Keywords: Naples, Florida, Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, The Dock at Crayton Cove, Pinchers Crab Shack, Riverwalk Tin City restaurant, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Steffany Skelley Gilmer, Steven Skelley, Thomas Routzong, Sunny Harbor Publishing, FamilyTravelers Magazine,
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