1010 Naples

Naples Guide to Attractions, Places to Stay, Restaurants and Resources

Naples guide to attractions, places to stay, restaurants and local resources - all designed to help you plan and enjoy a better vacation: has info about things to see and do, where to eat and shop and info about hotels, resorts, motels, beaches, boating, fishing and golf.

Naples, Florida offers visitors a distinctly upscale vacation experience with superb beaches, restaurants, shopping and golf.

Welcome to Naples, Florida

updated - January 27, 2012

Naples enjoys the reputation of being the most affluent and sophisticated city on Florida's Gulf Coast. The 16 or so miles of public beaches have been a draw to the area since the 1880s when it was only possible to arrive by boat since much of the land is (or was) everglades-ish and roads were nonexistent.

Today, however, it's a straight shot across I-75 (Alligator Alley) from Fort Lauderdale, and in about an hour of uninterrupted driving, East meets West.

For swimmers and beach-goers, the Gulf is better behaved than the Atlantic, and the beaches offer a more gradual slope. And then there are the sunsets - awesome.

Shopping is an active pastime for many of the residents of Naples and many luxury boutiques and stores are supported. Several favorite shopping areas include the Waterside Shops, Fifth Avenue and Third Street. Accompanying these fine stores you'll find equally fine restaurants to satisfy both hunger and thirst.


Naples - low key sophistication

With the attraction that Naples enjoys with America's more favored citizens, shopping, the arts, yachting and golf have all made a name for themselves. If you golf, there are more courses here per capita than anywhere else.

Three distinct affluent shopping areas plus a few factory outlet malls will help you part with your money.   

Restaurants

The Turtle Club
While there are many beachside restaurants in Florida, very few of them offer decent food. The Turtle Club is an exception. Sitting outside you can let your feet play in the beach sand while you eat and drink. Sitting inside at the bar offers nice views of the beach and Gulf. 9225 Gulfshore Drive - just north of Vanderbilt Beach Drive.   

Places to Stay

Naples Grande
This high-rise property of 18 stories and almost 500 units has some of the best views of the water. It's not situated directly on the beach, it is adjacent to it and separated only by mangrove. The boardwalk to the beach serves the hotel and a public park. A complimentary tram runs from the hotel to the beach throughout the day. 475 Seagate Drive - at the Gulf end of Pine Ridge Road.   

Attractions

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
This 13,000 acre Audubon sanctuary rescued the last virgin bald cypress environment from harvest. It also served as a refuge for endangered birds who were driven to near-extinction for their feathers as fashion accessories. A two plus mile boardwalk offers a leisurely trek through habitat that once covered most of Southwest Florida. 375 Sanctuary Road off of Immokalee Road.

Naples Museum of Art
Sharing space with the Naples Philharmonic, the Naples Museum of Art features a collection that highlights American and modern Mexican art and scultpure. Also on display are several glass worksby Dale Chihuly. 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd. 

Local Resources

Naples, Marco Island and Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau
How would you like to be one answering their phone? 3050 North Horseshoe Drive in Naples. 

Naples Visitors Information Center
2390 Tamiami Trail North (US 41), Suite 210 in Naples.  


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Naples, Florida Vacation Resources

Florida Vacation Websites

Fort Myers, Florida - is north of Naples on Interstate I-75 and is the gateway to the Lee Island Coast.

Bonita Springs, Florida - offers several beautiful state parks, greyhound racing and outlet malls as quick excursions.


Related Vacation Websites

Florida Vacations - to some of the other areas in Florida like Orlando and the South Florida cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach.