Naples Travel Guide, Florida

Some hundred miles West of Miami, Naples is a friendly, laid-back and easygoing town. Being less exposed than the highly hyped Miami, Naples is an environmentally conscious city, a lot calmer and, according to some, a lot friendlier. This community presents a relaxed atmosphere and it doesn’t give you the impression that you are in a sophisticated place even if it is as people here are much more relaxed and not so eager to show how classy they are, they are the way they are and to them it is just their way of life. This attitude makes the visitor feel more at ease in this wonderful city of Southwest Florida.

The city came into being in 1886, when a group of 12 Kentuckians and Ohioans established a town. The idea of building a hotel proved to be a step forward as it attracted rich people who coming here and seeing the beautiful landscape decided to build a line of beach homes called "Millionaires' Row". Now people call the area Olde Naples as it is the old part of the city which maintained the air of the Victorian era. The streets are beautifully lined with trees somehow hiding the homes in their leaves. The new part of the city has been built to the north and east of the old city but even if they are centuries apart, the new area has its own charm.

Unlike Myrtle Beach, which is especially a family resort, Naples is a couple oriented destination so bringing your kids here would not be such a good idea as they will kind of bore themselves and might just ruin your so thought perfect vacation. The couples come here for the romantic atmosphere and singles might also try their luck at finding their mate in life. Of course you will definitely find only rich people as all the residents in Naples are quite rich if they afford to live here. Not all of them show it so be careful before judging someone by their appearance.

Besides looking for a mate and being amazed by the standard of life people here consider normal, there are other fun activities you might try like checking out the shops, restaurants, and country-clubs, maybe decide to play some golf or just linger on the beach all day long. The pace of life here is not so hectic and the people here show it; they are relaxed, with an evident desire to live every moment to the maximum.

The Naples Pier, a state historic site, is one of the main attractions in town where people come to walk, watch the beautiful sunsets and see the Millionaires' Row from the Gulf side.

Another highly appreciated and visited site is the Palm Cottage. Built as a winter retreat for the chief editorial writer of Louisville Courier-Journal, it now hosts the Naples Historical Society that keeps it as a museum exhibiting authentic furniture, paintings, photographs, and other memorabilia.

A more lively and full of action attraction is the Old Marine Marketplace at Tin City. Once the site of old waterfront warehouses, the place now hosts a shopping-and-dining complex full of tourists especially during the summer season.

Besides buildings you have the possibility to see Southwest Florida's abundant natural life at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida's Naples Nature Center. You can have guided boat rides along the Gordon River to find out about the vegetation and wildlife or take the ride on your own by renting a canoe or kayak.

As for the night entertainment there are venues like the Philharmonic Center for the Arts with plenty of cultural events, concerts and Broadway plays or the Sugden Community Theatre for the culture vultures and plenty of watering holes where you can have a drink and party the night away.

Naples is a city of great charm and grace, a place where even if you are not a millionaire you are treated as one and you will even feel as one.