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Picture perfect is one way to describe this subtropical and sophisticated southwestern Florida city. With unbelievable sunsets, warm, light Gulf breezes, beautiful sandy beaches, and gentle waves just large enough to make that soft, slapping sound when they hit the beach, Naples awaits the discerning traveler.
Naples is the perfect beach destination, with over 10 miles of picturesque public beaches and miles of nature preserves bordering the Gulf of Mexico. Whether you prefer a quiet and secluded stretch of sand where you can immerse yourself in a good book, or a park at which to play a game of volleyball and enjoy a barbeque with friends, you're sure to find a Naples beach that puts a smile on your face. Other activities include sailing and windsurfing, and many boats are available for charter or day cruises.
Did you know that Naples Florida has more golf courses per capita than any other spot in the world? Thanks to world-renowned designers such as P.B. Dye, Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus, and Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Naples is home to some of the highest-rated golf courses in the country. Near-perfect year round weather combines with panoramic vistas to make this a golfer's paradise.
If you like the beach, golf, fishing, boating, or any other outdoor activity, you will find that, every season is the perfect season in Naples. If you happen to be visiting during the popular winter months, the fishing is fabulous, particularly the quest for big game fish. With temperatures approaching 80 degrees during the day and just under 70 degrees at night, it's ideal weather for that romantic walk on the beach or dinner at an outdoor café. Summer is less crowded. With temperatures in the 90s during the day, the tranquil Gulf of Mexico is warm and soothing.
In Naples the time is always right for shopping: a major local activity in every season. The Avenues is a large retail area in town. Third Street and Fifth Avenue, in particular, have a selection that rivals Palm Beach's Worth Avenue. The Mediterranean-styled Village at Venetian Bay overlooks the water and offers 50 boutiques in which to shop. Tin City is a renovated section of Old Naples with a collection of 40 stores selling everything from anklets to toy zebras. A variety of merchandise can also be found at the Coastland Center on the Tamiami Trail and the Waterside Shops at Pelican Bay.
If, by chance, you are tired from carrying all of those packages and still want to see more of this charming city, you can take a trolley tour. The narrated tour covers over 100 points of interest, and includes a synopsis of Naples' rich history. You can board on and off, as often as you like, and catch the next trolley once you've finished eating, shopping or discovering all the wonderful shops, galleries and restaurants Naples has to offer.
Summer is a great time to enjoy some of the indoor attractions of Naples, in air-conditioned comfort. The Teddy Bear Museum displays more than 4,000 toy bears as well as a replica of the Three Bears' house and other bruin-related items. The Collier Automotive Museum has a sparkling collection of 75 classic sports cars from every decade of the 20th century. The Collier County Museum is devoted to the history of the local area and includes restored houses, a logging locomotive, and a 1920s swamp buggy, as well as botanical and archaeological exhibits.
Because Naples sits near the western edge of the Everglades, it makes a good base for exploring some of this vast wetland. Also in the vicinity is the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, a huge preserve of virgin bald-cypress swamp where you can observe water birds from a boardwalk.
You can also take in a day at the Zoo followed by dinner and a show at the Naples Dinner Theater. At night, how about a romantic carriage ride through Old Naples? What a wonderful way to end the evening. Sun, fun, shopping, world class golf and a host of activities await you in this sunny, sophisticated Florida city. Come on down!
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