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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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