Naples , Florida
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!
Things To Do and See in Naples, Florida
Collier County Museum
3301 Tamiami Trail East
Naples, Florida 34104
941-774-8476
Call for days and hours of operation
Admission Charged
Established in 1978, the Collier County Museum preserves and interprets the history, archaeology and development of Southwest Florida's last frontier. The Museum's five acre historical park at the Collier County Government Center in Naples, offer a full range of education, family activities and cultural programs.
Palm Cottage
137 12th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
941-261-8164
Call for days and hours of operation
Admission Charged
Palm Cottage is 102 years old and the second oldest house in Collier County. The house was built in 1895 for Henry Watterson, the famous editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal. The walls are of tabbie mortar which is a process of burning seashells over buttonwood. This produces an intensely high heat. In the process, the shells are mixed with lime and seawater to produce the mortar. Palm Cottage has been placed on the state register of historic sites and included in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Naples Museum of Art
5833 Pelican Bay Blvd.
Naples, Florida 34108
941-597-1900
Call for days and hours of operation
Admission Charged
See a variety of artworks at the museum.
The Teddy Bear Museum
2511 Pine Ridge Road
Naples, Florida 34109
941-598-2711
Open: Tues--Sat: 10:00am-5:00pm, closed Sunday & Monday
Admission Charged.
Nestled amid a small group of pines stands "a dream home for teddy bears," which attracts visitors from around the world. Bears in all shapes and sizes are to be found in this unique Museum in every conceivable medium including fabric, crystal, wood, marble, and bronze in every shape size and color imaginable. Founded in 1990 this museum is now home to over 5000 teddy bears by artists and manufacturers from around the globe. Every year volunteers greet over 50,000 visitors.
Briggs Nature Center (Conservancy)
401 Shell Island Road
Naples, Florida 34113
941-775-8569
Call for days and hours of operation
Admission Charged
Since its grass-roots beginnings when citizens rallied to prevent construction of a road slated to run through pristine Rookery Bay, The Conservancy has emerged as the leader in the challenge to protect and sustain Southwest Florida's natural resources.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
375 Sanctuary Road West
Naples, Florida 34120
941-348-9151
Call for days and hours of operation
Admission Charged
A 2.25-mile raised boardwalk takes visitors through four distinct environments: pine upland, a wet prairie, a cypress forest, and a marsh. Interpretive signs along the boardwalk and a field guide and Children's Activity Book available at the admissions desk in the Blair Center allow each visitor to take the self-guided tour. Benches and rain shelters are along the trail. For those who do not wish to walk the full 2.25 miles, an optional trail shortens the walk to one mile. Volunteer naturalists are usually on the boardwalk to answer questions. Allow about 2-3 hours.
Naples Botanical Garden
4820 Bayhore Drive
Naples, Florida 34112
941-643-7275
Call for days and hours of operation
Admission Charged
Naples Botanical Garden is in the midst of developing a fully accredited living museum on its 160 acre site located minutes from Downtown Naples. The mission of Naples Botanical Garden is connecting people and plants, the campus will be a center for natural science, plant collections, art, science, history exhibitions and education.
Caribbean Gardens Zoo
1590 Goodlette Frank Road
Naples, Florida 34102
941-262-5409
Call for days and hours of operation
Admission Charged
A nature path almost a mile in length winds past rare and beautiful animals residing within a 52 acre jungle of exotic plants first planted in 1919. You can take delight in seeing many of your favorite animals such as lions, kangaroos and monkeys.
Barefoot Beach County Park
Bonita Beach Road
Naples, Florida
239-353-0404
Call for additional information
Admission Free
The park is comprised of 342 acres on a barrier island. It is separated from the mainland by tidal creeks and mangrove swamps. The mangrove area is extremely important as it provides a breeding area and nursery for sport and commercial fish and shellfish.
Clam Pass Beach Park
410 Seagate Drive
Naples, Florida 34103
239-353-0404
Call for additional information
Admission Free
The Park consists of 35 acres of mangrove forest, coastal dunes and 3200 linear feet of beach on the Gulf of Mexico. There is a boardwalk that provides access to the beach through a mangrove forest. The boardwalk is about three quarters of a mile long and can be walked or visitors can ride along it on a free tram that runs continuously throughout the day. Should you decide to stroll down the boardwalk, you will see three species of mangrove trees, red, black and white. These trees protect and stabilize low lying coastal areas and play a vital role in coastal fishery food chains. Mangrove trees are protected by federal, state and local laws. Mangrove trees are unique because they are salt tolerant. The park has lifeguards, refreshments, restrooms, picnic tables, an observation tower, and facilities for the physically challenged. Canoes. kayaks, windsurfers and snorkeling gear are available to rent.
Delnor Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area
11100 Gulfshore Drive
Naples, Florida 34108
239-597-6196
Call for additional information
Admission Free
Ranked one of the Top 20 Beaches of America. Separated by the mainland by mangrove swamps and tidal creeks, this recreation area is located on a narrow barrier island off Florida's southwest coast. A pass on the north end of the island is a natural outlet for the Cocohatchee River. The park offers Gulf-front swimming, fishing, picnicking and a boat ramp in a lush setting of sea oats, sea grapes, cabbage palms and mangroves. Facilities for the physically challenged and concession stand are also available.
Naples Municipal Beach & Fishing Pier (Naples Pier)
25 12th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
239-434-4696
Call for additional information
Admission Free
Built in 1888 as a freight and passenger dock, The Naples Pier stands as a community landmark. Narrow gauge train rails spanning the length of the pier transported freight and baggage in the early 1900's. Part of the structure as well as the post office located on the pier was razed by fire in 1922. Rebuilt after damage by hurricanes in 1910, 1926 and 1960, it remains a public symbol of the area's history.