In and Around Naples:
Naples is a beautiful old time Florida town. It has an attractive and elegant downtown area featuring the designer shops of 5th Ave and 3rd St and an endless array of fine restaurants. The world famous Naples beach is accessed from several locations and parking is easy. Naples Pier is lined with hopeful fishermen (and women) and is a good place to watch the dolphins, pelicans and spectacular sunsets. Visit the Village on Venetian Bay to see the wonderful colorful architecture and chic restaurants and shops. Tin City also has waterside dining and interesting shops. Naples is home to the Florida State ballet and has many cultural events at the Phil. The Zoo is also worth a visit. Hire a boat for a day and take a trip to Marco Island via the backwater. Moor at the Snoop Inn on Marco for lunch before returning to Naples to tour Port Royal to see the fabulous properties along the waterfront. Play golf at one of Naples 75 or so golf courses. Alternatively, just relax and enjoy the sunshine.
Visit the Florida Keys:
A 5 hour car journey skirting Miami but well worth the trip if you’ve got time to spare. The Keys have a wonderful 'island culture', quite different from the rest of the USA. The John Pennekamp Marine Park off Key Largo is a wonderful snorkeling location where you see Barracuda swimming directly below you. You would need to stay overnight if you went as far as Key West (which is 100 miles from Miami). An alternative to driving is to take the boat that leaves Marco Island each day and there is music and food provided. You leave at 8:30 am getting to Key West at 11:30. You have the afternoon in Key West and depart at 5:00 pm arriving back at 8pm. The cost is about $120 per adult ($110 seniors, $75 juniors) so is an affordable option to driving. Again, you can stay in Key West overnight and come back the next morning.
Visit the Everglades:
There are plenty of Airboat tours of the Everglades within striking distance of Naples. If you just want to see the alligators close up, there’s an excellent tour that costs about $30 approximately 15 miles down Interstate 41 on the right hand side (Tamiami Trail) towards Miami (look for the tall aeriel). Alternatively, visit Shark Valley, which is approx. 70 miles away, again on I41 towards Miami. At Shark Valley, take an open-sided tour bus through the Everglades (or hire a bicycle) to an observation tower where you will see a variety of wildlife, birds and many alligators. Everglades City is also interesting and reflects Florida as it used to be. While there, visit the Ted Smallwood store and museum.
Golf:
Golf is fantastic all over Florida but particularly so in the Naples area where there are 75 or so outstanding courses. From 1st May through to 31st October, golf in Naples is relatively cheap with a round costing in the region of $30-$40 but during 'the season', November/December to March/April, shoots up to $80-$150. Renters can get reduced fees at Cedar Hammock during the season by paying $250 to transfer Golf & Country Club membership from the owner to the renter. Most clubs accept visitors, particularly out of season, and there are many municipal courses in the area, most notably the Mustang and Flamingo courses at nearby Lely. Cedar Hammock golf course, a par 72 designed by Lewis and Azinger, is regarded by many as an excellent test, particularly from the back tees. The fairways are bordered by lakes and preserve and there are two very picturesque but challenging par 3s over water.
