Naples Vacation Information

Sunny and sophisticated, Naples, Florida, boasts beautiful neighborhoods and imposing architecture as well as miles of Gulf Coast beaches. It’s also home to a nationally accredited zoo, a picturesque 19th-century historic district, and a 1,000-foot-long Gulf fishing pier.

Nature lovers will appreciate the city’s proximity to two state parks, Collier-Seminole, which lies partly within southern Florida’s great mangrove swamp, and Delnor-Wiggins, with its vast stretches of unspoiled beach and dazzling views of the Gulf. Nearby, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary preserves local wetlands and the remains of an ancient cypress forest. An Audubon facility, Corkscrew Swamp is also part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Also within an easy drive of the Naples area are Big Cypress National Preserve, a 729,000-acre freshwater swamp, and Everglades National Park.

Back in town, the Baker Museum houses both permanent and changing collections of art in a building that’s a work of art in itself. The museum boasts 15 galleries and the Persian Ceiling, a stained-glass ceiling by well-known artist Dale Chihuly. Another popular local attraction is Palm Cottage, built in 1895 by Naples founder Walter Haldeman and now open as a house museum. It’s filled with 19th-century furniture, portraits, and other memorabilia from the city’s colorful past.

If you’re vacationing with the kids, you’ll want to schedule a visit to the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. Opened in 2012 in North Naples, C’MON, as it’s known locally, houses exhibits ranging from a genuine city trolley to a virtual pond and a re-created Everglades boardwalk.

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Restaurants

Fresh Gulf seafood, juicy steaks, and ethnic cuisine – all are stars in Naples’ many eateries. Options include Caribbean, Cuban, Peruvian, French, Mexican, and Italian as well as American fare. There are also plenty of spots catering to meat-and-potatoes fans, pizza and burger lovers, vegetarians, and more. Choices range from tiny seafood shacks to stylishly elegant establishments with impressive wine lists, white tablecloths, and seasonal menus. Many eateries also offer open-air dining to take advantage of warm Florida weather and water views. For more details on dining in Naples, check out our list of restaurants below.

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Golf

With more than 90 courses in the area, It’s no exaggeration to say that Naples is a golfer’s paradise. In fact, Naples has more courses per capita than anywhere else in the world, and a list of its course designers reads like a pro golfer’s who’s-who: Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, and more. The area has hosted major tournaments for decades, and its courses offer challenges for players at every skill level. Most also provide related services, including pro shops, locker rooms, lessons, equipment rental, bars, restaurants, and clubhouses.

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Fishing

Naples boasts a large fishing fleet, and charters for offshore, inshore, and freshwater excursions are available year-round. A typical saltwater catch may include grouper, pompano, cobia, and sea trout, with the early summer addition of tarpon. Fishing is also good directly on the beaches, at the state parks, and around the historic Naples Pier. Another advantage of fishing off the pier, which extends some 1,000 feet into the Gulf and is open 24 hours a day, is that you won’t need a license (the city has purchased a bulk fishing license for the use of pier fishermen).

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Shopping

If you like to shop, you’ll love Naples. Whether you’re looking for stylish swimwear, a one-of-a-kind painting, or an antique table, someone in the town’s more than 30 shopping centers will have just what you want.

Only a few blocks from the beach, Fifth Avenue South is a prime retail district, with clothing stores, art galleries, jewelers, interior design ateliers, and more. For additional shops selling apparel, accessories, and home furnishings, you’ll want to check out Naples’ oldest commercial district, Third Street South. Other popular shopping centers include Waterside, the Village on Venetian Bay, Tin City Waterfront Shops, and Coastland Center.

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Other Things To Do

With mostly sunny days and warm weather virtually year-round, it’s no surprise that many of the activities in Naples are centered around the water. If lazing on the beach is too tame for you, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddle-boarding are popular alternatives, and there are plenty of bays, estuaries, and inlets to explore at your leisure.

The nationally accredited Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens offers plenty of fun for the whole family. It houses more than a dozen animal exhibits, including Alligator Bay, which features gators in their natural environment, and Black Bear Hammock, the largest black bear exhibit east of the Mississippi River. Other exhibits spotlight cheetahs, giraffes, tigers, lions, and leopards, as well as the rare striped hyena. The zoo also stages live shows and film presentations daily.

Another fun option for a day’s outing is Everglades National Park. The 1.2-million-acre park – the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States – offers a multitude of activities, including hiking, biking, and tram and airboat rides. Also worth a visit is Big Cypress National Preserve, a sprawling freshwater swamp that is essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades. The preserve is easy to explore via scenic drives, and the rangers lead free hikes, canoe trips, and night-sky astronomy programs.

So, if you’re the type who gets tired of lying on the beach, rest assured that there’s plenty more to do. In fact, to take advantage of everything Naples has to offer, you may be forced to schedule a return visit – or maybe two or three!

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