Click Arrows for other
savings, news and more.
savings, news and more.
|
Find
|
Media Kit
<< Return to media kitsNaples Backgrounder
Naples area description with information on beaches, shopping, golf and more.
View File
Media contact:
JoNell Modys,jonellmodys@colliergov.net, 239-252-2425
Maria Sabale, msabale@boomyourbrand.com, 757-497-4811
Naples, Fla. (2009) – Naples is a charming resort city on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico along Southwest Florida’s Paradise Coast. Visitors luxuriate in the area’s stylish atmosphere, which includes beautiful pedestrian walks with shops, art galleries and restaurants and row after row of palatial homes surrounded by tropical landscaping. The area is famous for its beautiful white sand beaches, golf courses, fishing, boating, water sports, arts and culture and spectacular sunsets. Visitors in the slower season from May through December often enjoy significant savings on hotel room rates, while still enjoying the elegant ambience and charm of this beautiful coastal city.
Naples is growing in popularity with families and as a romantic retreat for younger couples and families. Long known as a hideaway for retirees, the area has evolved to appeal to a wider, more diverse and younger audience with its vibrant downtown café scene and exhilarating outdoor adventure activities.
LIFE’S A BEACH The splendor of Naples begins with its powdery white sand beaches, which extend from the recreational settings of the parks and public access beaches near downtown Naples to the more secluded seaside havens to the north. Naples’ beaches are regarded among the finest in the world, and offer visitors a tranquil and beautiful escape from everyday life. Barefoot Beach, just north of downtown Naples, appears in the top ten of Dr. Beach’s 2006 America’s Best Beaches list issued every year by coastal researcher Dr. Stephen Leatherman. Travelocity also named Barefoot Beach as one of its Top Ten Secluded Beaches for the summer of 2005. Conde Nast Traveler put Naples on its list of Top Twenty Beaches in America in 2006. The Travel Channel named Naples America’s Best All-Around Beach for 2005 because of the wealth of activity choices in the area along with its expanse of lovely white sands. Consumers at Yahoo! Travel voted Naples beach in the Top Ten USA Beaches in 2003. Picturesque public boardwalks over the dunes leading to the beach are found throughout the downtown Naples area, offering multiple public access sites for those visitors not staying at a Gulf front resort.
TAKE A STROLL Naples is also perhaps one of the best places in Florida for a scenic stroll. Opportunities for relaxing walks are plentiful in Naples, as beautiful architecture meets wondrous window shopping and trendy cafés. Secluded courtyards, outdoor sculptures and beautiful fountains highlight historic buildings throughout downtown Naples. The Naples Historical Society offers guided walking tours downtown beginning from the historic Palm Cottage on 12th Street near Naples Pier. The beach is always within easy reach for an invigorating jog or relaxing stroll at sunset. Nearby, Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary provides a 2.25-mile long boardwalk through the country’s last old growth bald cypress forest, home to hundreds of bird and animal species. For those that want to tour the Old Naples area without walking, both Naples Water & Land Tours and Naples Transportation, Tours & Event Planning offer guided Segway tours. Hop on these innovative human transport devices for a completely new way to experience Naples.
FAMILY FUN More families are discovering the delights of Naples. Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is fully accredited by the national Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) and offers unique shows and interactive animal experiences including the Meet the Keeper series, the multimedia Planet Predator show and a boat ride to tour the zoo’s cage free primate islands within a large lake. Along with beautiful beaches lining the Naples and Marco Island coastlines, there are countless guided boat tours for dolphin watching, shell collecting and sightseeing that delight every age. Guided Segway and Waverunner tours also offer fun ways to combine a fun ride with a memorable sightseeing experience involving birds and wildlife. The Sun-n-Fun Lagoon water park at North Collier Regional Park offers huge water slides and a lazy river for tubing through the park. Airboat rides in the nearby Everglades are popular, as is the Naples Pier, a great spot for fishing or wildlife and people watching. C’MON, the Children’s Museum of Naples, opens with state-of-the-art interactive exhibits in 2010. Naples Botantical Garden continues to grow and will reopen with extensive gardens, trails and exhibits in Fall 2009.
GOLF CAPITAL With nearly 90 golf courses in the Greater Naples area, the region is frequently either first or second in USA rankings of most golf holes per capita. A growing number of public courses provide ample opportunity for visitors to get into the swing, including the new Golf Club at Del Webb at Ave Maria. However, many area resorts either own their own private courses or have affiliate relationships with area private clubs. Many avid golfers have discovered that the best way to obtain tee times at Naples premiere private golf clubs is to choose an affiliated hotel for a visit. Entry onto area courses may be obtained through stays at resorts that have their own courses, including LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, Naples Grande Beach Resort, Edgewater Beach Hotel, Marco Beach Ocean Resort, The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples (yes, there are two – the beach resort and the golf resort), The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa, GreenLinks Golf Resort and Conference Center and the Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort.
UNPARALLELED SHOPPING In historic shopping districts and waterfront plazas, Naples visitors can find unique treasures ranging from original artwork by the masters to designer fashions. Third Street South, Naples’ business district at the turn of the century and now a recognized historic district, serves as a premier shopping and dining district. This has become a trendy shopping village of more than 100 distinctive shops, art galleries, outdoor cafés and restaurants – all within walking distance to the beach. The area includes Gallery Row, a collection of distinctive art galleries located near the intersection of Broad Street and Third Street South. Third Street South even has its own Street Concierge. The concierge booth is staffed daily with friendly helpers eager to point you in the right direction for dining, shopping and more. Free music and entertainment is offered along Third Street every Thursday evening January through May and every third Thursday evening from June through December.
Just a few blocks away, Fifth Avenue South has undergone a renaissance. Famed architect and urban planner Andres Duany lead the innovative redesign effort about fourteen years ago that has transformed Fifth Avenue South into a dynamic pedestrian-friendly scene both day and night. Art galleries, clothing, gift and design boutiques, the Sugden Theatre, home to the Naples Players community theatre group, a hotel, cafes, bars and restaurants line Naples’ official downtown MainStreet. Entertainment and special events like art festivals are scheduled regularly by the Downtown Naples Association and other organizations. Evenings on Fifth with free live music and other entertainment happens every second Thursday.
Just a short walk from Fifth Avenue South is historic Tin City. Located on the Gordon River leading into Naples Bay, the eclectic tin-roofed shopping and entertainment venue features nautical and nature-themed gift shops, clothing and souvenir shops and casual seafood restaurants on the water. Located on the site of a 1920's clam shelling and oyster processing plant incorporating waterfront buildings once used for the boat building and maintenance industry, Tin City captures the rustic maritime spirit of what was once the center of Naples' fishing industry.
Across the street from Tin City you’ll find Bayfront, Naples’ newest shopping, dining, arts and entertainment center. Colorful Mediterranean architecture houses a collection of upscale shops complemented by restaurants, bars, fine art galleries and the newly renovated Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, all overlooking the Gordon River. The waterfront Village on Venetian Bay, evocative of the townhouses of Venice, is a destination for sophisticated fashion, jewelry, gourmet shops and fine dining in a picturesque environment located in the Park Shore neighborhood just north of downtown Naples. Nearby at the Waterside Shops at Pelican Bay, you’ll find boutiques, shops and restaurants surrounded by lush landscaping, covered walkways and sparkling pools and fountains. Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom’s anchor numerous elegant specialty shops, with an impressive list of luxury retailers including Tiffany & Co., Hermes and Cartier.
The new Mercato development continues to open new restaurants and shops, including the Whole Foods natural and organic market and cafe, Capital Grille steak house AZN pan Asian restaurant, The Pub, an authentic English pub and McCormick & Schmick seafood restaurant. A new movie theater opens May 2009 featuring independent and art films along with general release movies. www.mercatonaples.com.
Coastland Center, the regional mall in Naples, encompasses 950,000 square feet of enclosed climate-controlled shopping, including 150 stores and small specialty shops and an impressive list of new restaurants. Prime Outlets is a haven for those with an eye for value. This treasure chest of designer outlet stores, located mid-way between Naples and Marco Island, is home to more than 40 shopping destinations, including Mikasa, Jones New York, Harry & David, Izod and Dansk. Just to the north, not far from Southwest Florida International Airport, shoppers will find designer discounts at Miromar Outlets and a wide range of shops at Gulf Coast Town Center, including BassPro Shops Outdoor World.
Some of the most unique and charming gifts may be found at the area’s hotel and resort gift shops, excellent places to shop for the perfect keepsake of your visit to paradise. Area art centers including the Marco Island Center for the Arts and von Liebig Art Center in downtown Naples also have gift shops with art produced by local artists. The Naples Museum of Art also has an excellent gift shop. Popular Naples clay artist Jim Rice has a studio and shop called The Clay Place, featuring his signature brightly painted ceramic fish that can be used as wall hangings, serving pieces, clocks and more. And, since Naples is home to many affluent winter and year-round residents, the city also has a wealth of consignment and resale shops with incredible bargains on fine furnishings and designer clothing. There is even a collection of second hand shops that collectively make up an area called the Treasure Trail along downtown’s 10th Street. Another interesting place to shop is the gift shop at Naples Zoo, with a wide array of stuffed animals, books, games and children’s clothing. Money from some of the stuffed animals goes to support global conservation causes. Two other animal and nature themed gift shops may be found at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Naples Nature Center and Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
DINING Naples has arrived on the culinary map. Chef Tony Ridgway displays Southwest Florida inspired innovation with classic touches at his Ridgway Bar and Grill in Old Naples. Olio on the Bay at Naples Bay Resort brings the tastes of Napa to Naples utilizing fresh local ingredients. Naples Tomato provides a unique fresh take on hand prepared sauces, pastas, seafood, veal dishes and more, with a focus on fresh produce. Naples Tomato was the first restaurant in Florida to install the Enomatic self-serve wine-by-the-glass delivery system and also the first to install a mozzarella bar with fresh made cheeses. Fresh seafood, including local stone crab claws caught in season between October and May, and the latest continental and fusion cuisines are abundant, along with many opportunities for café, alfresco or waterfront dining – from casual to elegant. To learn more about the many local independent restaurants in the Naples area, visit www.naplesoriginals.com. .
ARTS & CULTURE Culture abounds in Naples. From theatre to dance, to its 100+ art galleries and numerous fascinating museums, greater Naples is recognized internationally as a destination for the culturally minded. Napleswas named the #1 Small Art Town in America in 2005 by author and art critic John Villani; and Naples was named one of the "Top 25 Cities for Art" in the June 2008 issue of American Style magazine. The Naples Museum of Art houses 15 galleries with both permanent and traveling exhibits. The Philharmonic Center for the Arts brings the finest in music, theater and dance to Naples each season, including the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and the Miami City Ballet. The Naples Players, recognized as one of the top community theater groups in the country, perform throughout the year at downtown Naples’ Sugden Theatre. Theater Zone brings Broadway style professional productions to town. Gulfshore Playhouse brings quality entertainment to the Norris Center in downtown Naples. Opera Naples has an increasing number of performances. Historical museums abound, featuring information on the area’s early inhabitants, the Calusa Indians, as well as early southwest Florida pioneers.
SPAS Relaxation is a way of life in Naples, and an abundance of spas now serve the area. Some of the newest are the Verde spa at Bellasera Hotel, a “green” themed spa with organic products; the Golden Door Spa at Naples Grande Beach Resort, the only Golden Door on the U.S. east coast; The Spa at Naples Bay Resort, The Spa on Fifth The Inn on Fifth, Spa Terre at the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, The Spa at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club and The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. The Spa at Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Golf Club & Spa offers luxurious Balinese-themed spa treatments at its expansive resort property on nearby Marco Island. A new 10,000 square foot luxurious spa has just opened at Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa. There is also a growing collection of day spas and medical spas in Naples apart from those at area resorts.
ACCOMMODATIONS From life at the top to accommodations for the budget-minded, Naples has an excellent array of hotels, motels and resorts. Newer properties include The Hotel at Naples Bay Resort, the Bellasera Hotel and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples – one of two Ritz-Carlton resorts in the city. Newly renovated properties include Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, Naples Grande Beach Resort, Edgewater Beach Hotel, the Inn of Naples, the Lemon Tree Inn, The Inn on Fifth, The Ritz-Carlton, Naples beach resort, the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club and the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort. Numerous medium-priced chain hotels and boutique hotels and motels provide a wealth of options for the budget minded – all within minutes of the area’s many public beaches and shopping. For a full listing of area accommodations and direct online booking, visit the Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades area official visitor information site, www.paradisecoast.com.
ON THE WATER Whether it’s a sunset cruise aboard the Naples Princess yacht or the Sweet Liberty sailboat, a nature cruise on the Gordon or Cocohatchee rivers or a private charter to either the Ten Thousand Islands or the Gulf, there is no shortage of ways to get out on the water from Naples. The area’s many bays, canals and rivers provide a network of waterways for cruising, kayaking, canoeing, fishing or relaxing. Boat tours are also a popular way to peek into the luxurious lifestyle of Naples’ wealthier residents, with elegant estates lining the waters of Naples Bay. There are so many bottlenose dolphin living in Naples Bay and the Gulf that most every boat trip includes numerous dolphin sightings. Many professional fishing guides offer private or group boat charters that allow anglers to experience the unique thrill of fishing for tarpon, snook, redfish, permit, snapper, grouper and other popular game fish species.
BACK TO NATURE One of the beauties of Naples is that it is surrounded by thousands of acres of private, state and federally preserved land. Within short driving distance you can be bird watching or adventuring at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Lake Trafford, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Collier-Seminole State Park, Big Cypress National Preserve, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Picayune Strand State Forest, or Everglades National Park, with an entrance in Everglades City. Right in town you can get back to nature at popular attractions including the Conservancy of Southwest Florida Naples Nature Center, Naples Botanical Garden, the Cocohatchee Nature Center and Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens.
GETTING TO NAPLES Getting to Naples is easy – visitors only find it difficult to leave this relaxing paradise. From I-75, four exits offer drivers entry into Naples. Exit 101 to State Road 84 leads visitors to downtown Naples. Exit 105 (Golden Gate Parkway) leads to Airport-Pulling Road, the Naples Municipal Airport and US 41. Exit 107 (Pine Ridge Road) leads you to US 41, Waterside Shops and Naples. Exit 111 (Immokalee Road) leads to North Naples and the National Audubon Society’s renowned Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary – just 15 miles east. Southwest Florida International Airport, the region’s largest airport, is just 30 minutes to the north in Ft. Myers. The airport’s new Midfield Terminal offers greatly expanded air service, including daily flights on Southwest Airlines. Naples Municipal Airport offers daily service to Miami and Atlanta on Vision Air beginning November 2009. www.flynaples.com. If you are driving from Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Palm Beach international airports, take I-75 (Alligator Alley) to Exits 101, 105, 107 or 111. Naples can also be reached from Miami via U.S. Highway 41, also known as the Tamiami Trail, designated as a U.S. Scenic Byway and Florida Scenic Highway.
For a free visitors guide, brochure or other information on places to stay and things to do along the Paradise Coast of Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades, visit www.paradisecoast.com or call 1-800-688-3600. International visitors may call 1 (239) 225-1013. The Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention and Visitors Bureau is the official tourism marketing agency for Collier County, Florida, funded entirely by the Collier County tourist development tax.
