Naples Guidebook

Separated by just 15.7 nautical miles, the city of Naples and Marco Island off the Gulf of Mexico are two of the most popular stop-off points for visitors to south-west Florida. With both home to beautiful white sand beaches, full-service water-front resorts and an abundance of wildlife, the area is a magnet for those seeking a tranquil holiday destination amid beautiful surroundings and with plenty of opportunity for exploration and adventure. (Some of these tips are taken from TravelMag 11/17) Inevitably, the temptation to stick to the area's well-trodden path is strong. But dig a little deeper and you'll discover a wealth of more unusual things to see and do here, both on the mainland and on Marco Island itself. We've picked out 12 of the best. 1. Historic Palm Cottage For a fascinating glimpse into how Naples residents once lived, this charming, rustic cottage will satisfy your every curiosity. Built at the tail end of the 19th century for Walter N. Haldeman, one of the original founders of Naples, the cottage is one of the oldest anywhere in Naples but retains most of its original, carefully preserved features, including 3,500 square feet of artwork, furnishings and tools spanning over 100 years. Now owned by the Naples Historic Society, it opens its doors to visitors keen to explore its intriguing con-fines, as well as the neatly maintained gar-dens at the back of the home. Guided tours take around 40 minutes LOCATION Corner of 12th Avenue South and Gulfshore Boulevard, Naples HOURS Tues-Sat 1pm-4pm 2. Naples Train Museum Ranked number 6 in the New York Times Travel Section “Best things to do in Naples”, Naples Train Museum pays homage to the crucial role that trains and the railway have played in Naples' daily life down the years. Located on the same site as The Naples Depot in the city's downtown districts, the venue was once a train station before being converted into a privately-run indoor museum. It is heavily geared towards children with an eclectic mix of train-themed memorabilia and activities including outdoor train rides that alternate between a live steam engine or a diesel engine. Inside, the museum has a total of ten simultaneously operating trains, with plenty of buttons to push to make the accessories come to life. The museum's layout is updated monthly. Admission is free for children under 3 years, $3 for children aged 3-14 years, and $7 for adults and children over 14 years. LOCATION Seaboard Coast Line Railway Station, Corner of Fifth Avenue South & Tenth Street South HOURS Fri-Sat 10am-2pm (1 Nov-30 Apr) Sat 10a-2pm (1 May-31 Oct) 3. Bar Tulia Dedicated Naples foodies flock to the up-scale, pedestrian-friendly avenue of Fifth Avenue South to enjoy the city's best dining options. Among the array of eateries that line the fashionable street, one of the most highly regarded is Bar Tulia. Situated next door to its older sibling, the similarly revered Osteria Tulia, an Italian farmhouse-style restaurant, Bar Tulia is a brick-and-wood gastropub and cocktail bar that serves up a mouth-watering selection of Italian-style small plates, known as ‘Sfizi' in Italian, as well as larger dishes. Among the food menu highlights are Roman Ramen, Fluke Crudo, Charred Octopus and Bucket O Chicken. The bar also serves an impressive choice of craft beers and house-crafted classic cocktails such as the award-wining Basilica and Last Drag-on. LOCATION 462 5th Avenue South, Naples HOURS Mon-Fri 4pm-1am Sat-Sun 4pm-12am 4. Barefoot Beach Preserve Situated between Naples and the city of Bonita Springs, tucked away from any highways and high-rises this 343-acre country park is a corner of tranquillity amid Florida's hustle and bustle. One of the region's last undeveloped barrier islands, it features vast tracks of natural land that are perfect for idyllic walks. Families are drawn here, too, by the gentle, shallow waters, helping make it a regular fixture on lists of America's best beaches. But the main attraction for many are its myriad animal spotting opportunities, ranging from bottle-nosed dolphins swimming in the distant waters to Gopher tortoises dot-ted along the nature trail running between the sand dunes. LOCATION 505 Barefoot Beach Boulevard, Bonita Springs 5. Cars on 5th Show Each year, the Naples Chapter of the Ferrari Club of America plays host to a prestigious car show featuring hundreds of exotic and collector automobiles from the Italian marquee's rich back-catalogue as well as numerous other distinguished car brands. Some 50,000 car lovers regularly attend the event, which as well as show-casing the motor industry's magnificent history also helps raise money for several local charities. Some of the line-ups include several Ferrari 488GTBs and Spiders set to be in attendance, along with a strong British contingent including Jaguar, Lotus, Triumph and Bentley. Be sure not to miss the show's grand finale, which sees all car owners start their cars around 4pm sharp for a resounding Drive-Off. LOCATION Fifth Avenue South, Naples DATES February 6. Walking Tour of Naples' Historic District This tour takes you on a potted journey through Naples' most historic neighborhood, stopping off to admire notable land-marks while your guide regales you with fascinating tales about how the city has changed since the turn of the 20th century. The bulk of the tour will be spent along Third Avenue South, a beautifully landscaped thoroughfare that is often de-scribed as the birthplace of Old Naples. Here you can admire the colorful original beach cottages delightful houses, pretty courtyards and antique fountains as you walk. HOURS 9.30am & 11am Thurs-Fri 7. Tin City If it's chain stores you're seeking, look elsewhere. Tin City offers you the chance to step back in time to an era when rustic, maritime character and charm were at the heart of Naples' fishing industry. Overlooking the working docks of Naples Bay and spread across four tin-topped buildings, this unique shopping district features some 40 vendors specializing in antiques and local handmade novelties, including a huge range of quirky, nautical-themed trinkets. As well as the myriad opportunities for picking up gifts and souvenirs, there are also some excellent eateries serving freshly caught seafood. LOCATION 1200 5th Ave South, Naples HOURS Mon-Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 12pm-5pm 8. Naples Winter Wine Festival The Naples Winter Wine Festival, the most successful international charity wine auction in the world, is returning once a year to Naples. The event will bring together renowned vintners, chefs and Master Sommeliers with wine enthusiasts and philanthropists for a three-day festival in order to raise millions of dollars for underprivileged and at-risk children. During the last 17 years the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival has raised over $161 million and impacted over forty non-profit agencies and the lives of over 200,000 children through annual grants and collaborative strategic initiatives. DATES January 9. Collier-Seminole National Park When it comes to getting in touch with nature, there are few better places in Florida than this magnificent National Park, located a short drive south of Naples' city centre. Rich with vegetation, tropical trees and wildlife that are typical of the Everglades, the park is quite simply one of the jewels in Florida's crown. Visitors can enjoy a huge range of outdoor activities including hikes, canoe rentals, fishing and overnight camping, while there are also several picnic areas where you can even fire up a barbecue using on-site grills. For a spot of history, the park is also home to the Bay City Walking Dredge, built in 1924 and used to construct the Tamiami Trail highway linking Tampa to Miami. LOCATION 20200 Tamiami Trail East, Naples HOURS Mon-Sun 8am-7pm 10. Naples Pier 12th Ave South 11. Fishing trip from Marco Island Surrounding Marco Island are waters awash with a full cast of the Gulf of Mexico's tropical sea life, including such exotic species as sea turtles, barracuda and spadefish. For keen anglers looking to get up close and personal with the area's abundance of fish, there are a number of companies providing fully-equipped off-shore fishing excursions from the island, whether it be backwater fishing, reef fishing or even wreck fishing. Guests can cu-rate their trip according to their preferences, numbers and needs. 12. The Revs Institute Car enthusiasts don't have to look far to spot some seriously impressive four-wheeled models in this part of Florida, especially along the Naples seafront promenade where flamboyant sports cars are regularly paraded by their proud owners. But for those wanting to experience a more immerse celebration of all things auto, this impressive museum is home to some of the world's most important cars. As well as a museum, the institute is also a distinguished site for automotive research, but most visitors come to see such marvels as a 1927 Bugatti Royale and a 1948 Ferrari 166 Spyder Corsa. LOCATION 2500 Horseshoe Drive South, Naples HOURS Tues, Thurs & Sat 10am-4pm 13. Naples Botanical Garden, Zoo and Conservancy Botanical GardenNaples Zoo & Conservancy 4820 Bayshore Dr 1590 Goodlette Frank Rd Check for opening times 13. Boat Tour Take a tour through the canals in Port Royal to get a scoop on jaw dropping mansions and its owners, go on a sunset cruise or shelling on Keewaydin Island PureFlorida Sweet Liberty Catamaran Tours Naples Princess Alternatively private boat charters are available. No matter what time of year or weather, remember to bring SUNSCREEN. You are very close to the sun in the tropics and a sunburn comes on faster than you’d think. 14. Life Music at the Naples Beach Hotel Every Sunday evening there is a live band performing on the patio of the Naples Beach Hotel for dance and fun. In summer once a month they have Jazz concerts on the beach. Bring your own chair 851 Gulf Shore Boulevard North Naplesbeachhotel.com 15. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary A visit to Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a journey into the heart of the Everglades ecosystem. Discover the rugged beauty of this famed natural area on Corkscrew's famous boardwalk - a 2.5-mile adventure through pine flatwoods, wet prairie, around a marsh, and finally into the largest old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America.  Located about 30 minutes east of Naples, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is home to hundreds of alligators, otters, white-tailed deer, and red-bellied turtles. A wide variety of wading birds, songbirds, raptors and the fabulous Painted Bunting can be seen throughout the year. Photo opportunities are available at every turn of the boardwalk trail. 375 Sanctuary Rd 7am to 5:30pm every day of the year