Top 12 Experiences in Naples, FL Travel Guide

By The Backseat View

While Naples has breathtaking beaches, its fame comes from the money. It is like Aspen and Beverly Hills moving to the beach. Naples is where elegant and expensive meet with sunshine and saltwater. You have arrived when the car dealerships are Jaguar, Porche, and Maserati. Literally, every part of the city is clean and beautiful, like entering a perfect world. Let’s slide into our nicest clothes and take a glimpse into the life of the ultra-wealthy in the Naples Travel Guide.

Naples Travel Guide

5^th Avenue South

Shopping 5^th Avenue South is a dream with its 1920s architecture, high-end boutiques, art galleries, and over 30 restaurants. Next door to Vineyard Vines and Lululemon, the clothes are runway-quality designer pieces.

The animal sculptures are amusing, while the paintings make you stop and stare at their beauty. The restaurants are mostly fine dining with five-dollar signs in reviews, meaning they start at over $50 a person.

5^th Avenue throws a huge St. Patrick’s Day Party with green streets, and their Christmas decorations win national awards. If you bring the guys, plenty of shaded benches are along the street to watch the Lamborghinis and Ferraris.

The lights twinkle on the palm trees at night, adding a magical feel to the air. There’s a parking garage by the Performing Arts Center and street parking. The beach is only a half-mile walk, but since we have our nice clothes on, let’s keep shopping.

3^rd Street South

3^rd Street is a few streets over from 5^th Avenue, filled with mansions and colorful cottages. I loved the Michael Kors pink store and Lilly Pulitzer’s boutique. The historic neighborhood is breathtakingly landscaped, with chic shops, cafes, and restaurants.

The Old Naples Pub serves American favorites with live music. Tommy Bahamas has it all, from the atmosphere to delicious food and outdoor dining. The Farmer’s Market takes place every Saturday morning behind Tommy Bahamas for fish, meat, cheeses, bread, and fresh coffee beans. 3^rd Street competes with 5th Avenue in Christmas decorations with lights and bubble machines that produce the illusion of snow. Since we are a block from the beach and Naples Pier, let’s head that way.

Naples Pier/Beach

As of 2024, the pier had not been rebuilt, but there is a sign say it’s coming back soon. The beach is absolute perfection, like island-level gorgeous. We visited on Friday in June, and the beach was uncrowded.

The beach is always the place for sunsets. I loved this area and would stay as close as possible to the pier and historic 3^rd street. Also, the Historic Palm Cottage is across the street from the pier and is open for tours as the oldest home in Naples built in 1895. Before moving on, let’s explore a couple more beaches.

Lowdermilk Beach

Lowdermilk is beautiful, and there are $23 parking spots, so arrive early by 9:30 a.m. for a spot. You pay by text even in overflow parking or receive a $77 ticket. While the beach has bathrooms, picnic tables, and a snack bar, this is considered crowded in June. The aquamarine water and powdery soft sand are just a couple of reasons Naples is known as the Paradise Coast.

Clam Pass Park

Clam Pass is not for everyone, and that makes it peaceful and special. After paying $10 to park, you choose a very long walk, ¾ miles, or a golf cart ride down the boardwalk. There are bathrooms and a restaurant. The powdery soft sand and shelling make for the perfect beach day. Naples has several more beaches, including Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Barefoot Beach Preserve, Doc’s Beach, and Vanderbilt Beach.

Keewaydin Island is accessible by the Hemingway Water Shuttle and is a dog-friendly beach. After a day at the beach, let’s open the Naples Travel Guide to the zoo.

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

It’s in the title, but I still missed that the Naples Zoo used to be a botanical garden, which is obvious when you arrive. The impressive trees and flowers really elevate the zoo. The monkey boat cruise around the little monkey islands is unique and gives the monkeys a great quality of life without cages.

We really enjoyed the zoo for a couple of hours, approved of the big habitats, and felt $27 was fair. I unknowingly walked into an ape drench area. The ape can drown you with water by hitting a button. The ape was much nicer than my guys, who so desperately wanted him to hit that button. The historic gardens and respectable zoo inspire you to help with wildlife conservation. Next up is the real botanical gardens.

Naples Botanical Gardens

Naples Botanical Gardens has 170 acres of world-class plants. The oasis provides a tranquil escape from everyday life. The exotic plant life and vibrant colors have been collected from around the world. The Brazilian Gardens is a favorite with the waterfalls and palm trees bringing a feel of the rainforest. The gardens offer education on conservation efforts and have a restaurant, Fogg Café. After a couple of hours at the gardens, the swamp awaits.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

The Swamp Sanctuary is a 13,000-acre preserve with a two-mile boardwalk winding through a marsh and a Cypress forest. I love impressive trees, and these are cousins of the redwoods shooting 130 feet into the sky with 25-foot bases. This feels like a walk through a primeval forest. The birds, alligators, and raccoons all show up to be counted. We loved it and felt the $17 was fair.

Revs Institute

The Revs Institute offers the opportunity to view over 100 exceptionally rare historical cars. Tickets for specific dates and times must be purchased online. Revs is a hidden gem, so join a tour, learn about engines, and enjoy the beautiful collection of cars.

Boating

• Boating is a way of life in Naples.
• There are several fishing charters to enjoy the thrill of the catch.
• Book a Sunset Cruise on the Naples Princess, a 105-foot yacht.
• Miss Naples is a 48-foot sight sailing catamaran to view the beachfront mansions and dolphins.
• The Dolphin Explorer goes out twice a day to identify and collect data for those wanting to play scientist with dolphins for the day.

More Shopping

• Tin City has tin-roofed shopping for souvenirs and entertainment in the Old Naples waterfront district. Tin City hosts the annual Stone Crab Festival in October.
• Waterside Shops is a luxury open-air mall with fountains and high-end retailers such as Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Free People.
• Mercato Entertainment Plaza has a movie theater, shops, and restaurants.
• Village shops on Venetian Bay for more luxury shopping.
• Galleria Shoppes at Vanderbilt, about 15 minutes from downtown, for thrift store shopping. Designer Divas and Tru Fashionistas both carry designer goods.

Day Trips

Everglades

Naples is so close to the Everglades, 30 minutes to an hour away, that you should book a 90-minute tour that runs around $50-$70. Experience the natural side of Florida and wave at a few gators. We have toured the Everglades a couple of times, and it’s a fascinating place.

You can’t see WILD Florida from the beach.

There are several airboat options, and I recommend the smaller tours for 6-8 people. Corey Billie’s Airboat Rides and Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours depart from Naples.

Marco Island

Marco Island is next to Naples, with a laid-back casual vibe. If you want affordable beachfront lodging and a quick drive into Naples, Marco Island is your answer. Marco Island is the opposite of Hollywood-style Naples, with normal people living here. The best days are spent at Tigertail Beach and South Marco Beach. No trip to Marco Island is complete without a boat tour.

Ten Thousand Islands

The Ten Thousand Islands are a 35,000-acre maze of mangrove islands and beaches. Hop on a boat and experience the Everglade islands’ natural beauty, dolphins, manatees, turtles and blue water.

Lodging

• The Inn on Fifth is a splurge to stay in the shopping and a walk from the beach.

• Hotel Escalante is a hidden gem at the end of 5^th Avenue. It has a garden, poolside fountains, and verandas.

• La Playa Beach & Golf Resort for luxury butler service on the beach. Baleen is the hotel’s award-winning restaurant.

• The Ritz-Carlton Naples is everything you would expect it to be luxury on the beach, complete with a spa.

• The Edgewater Beach Hotel has suites with a kitchen and private balconies with ocean views. It’s located close to Old Naples and will shuttle guests.

• Naples Bay Resort & Marina is an excellent choice if you are bringing or renting a boat. The cottages are private and overlook the pool.

• I would try to stay around the Naples Fishing Pier area with a VRBO or the Cove Inn on Naples Bay for an affordable choice.

Restaurants

• Fine dining is endless, but we tried looking for affordable options. I’m not about to spend $300 on lunch.

• Brooks Burgers is extremely affordable and has unique burger options.

• La Trattoria has old-world charm and several “Best Pizza Awards.”

• Tommy Bahamas offers the whole package with live music, outdoor seating, and delicious food. This is an entree splurge or order appetizers and split a dessert.

• Old Naples Pub had reasonable prices and good food. I liked the old-style pub and outdoor seating.

While Naples is always a family vacation, I would rather shop with girlfriends.

Girl’s Weekend: Trading Nashville for Naples

If you are in your early 20s, head on to Nashville with loud, body-packed bars and smelly streets. I’m talking to the older girls who appreciate sophistication and have bigger bank accounts. The girls who want to remember their weekend catching up with friends. Grab your credit cards and head to Naples for an epic beach trip with unlimited shopping.

Thanks for reading my Top 12 Activities in Naples Travel Guide.