Why Naples
General Information
• Place to Live. US News & World Report July 15,2009 America's 10 Best Undervalued Places to Live.
• Arts. Naples is rated as one of the "10 great places for big-city art, with a small town feel". "Artists are leaving urban centers and revitalizing small towns, which now have a wonderfully plugged-in feeling," says John Villani, author of The 100 Best Art Towns in America Today. "Naples is a wonderful place with a great arts infrastructure," Villani says. "The $21 million Philharmonic Center Cultural Complex is a beautiful facility that boasts great architecture plus the recently opened Naples Museum of Art, a 30,000-square-foot exhibition venue with 15 galleries." Also in town: numerous "sophisticated and serious art galleries for the visual art genres."
American Style Magazine named Naples among the Top 25 Arts Destinations in the United States.
• Beaches Naples Beach Ranked In Top Ten USA Beaches. The sugar white sands of the beaches in Naples, Florida attracted the attention of Travel consumers, who rated Naples as one of their top ten favorite sandy spots in the United States. The results of the poll appeared in National Geographic Traveler magazine .
Location:
Southwest coast of Florida on the Gulf of Mexico (Collier County)
Climate:
The climate of Naples is subtropical with a strong marine influence from the Gulf of Mexico. It is has spectacular sunsets and Gulf sea breezes.
Hotel/Motel/Resort Accommodations:
Naples offers more than 5,500 rooms ranging from internationally-recognized lavish resort properties to inexpensive hotels, including 15 3-AAA Diamond hotels, two 4-AAA Diamond hotels and one 5-AAA Diamond hotel. There is a six percent state tax and four percent bed tax added to daily room rates.
Restaurants
Old Naples' downtown areas of Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South are favored for their tree-lined shopping plazas, trendy restaurants and sidewalk cafes, lively clubs, galleries, couture shops and sightseeing. With the variety and splendor offered by over 300 restaurants, it's no wonder visitors get a craving for Naples' culinary delights. The gamut of offerings includes ethnic cuisines such as French, Italian, Persian, Cuban, Irish, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, and All-American. Waterfront dining and fresh seafood options abound at a variety of casual as well as Three, Four and Five-Diamond establishments.
Beaches
Eleven miles of beach and nature preserves are draped along the Gulf of Mexico. Two of Naples beaches, Clam Pass and Delnor-Wiggins, have been consistently rated in the top 20 National Best Beaches Survey compiled by Dr. Stephen Leatherman (a.k.a. Dr. Beach) of the University of Maryland.
Golf
Boasting over 70 courses, Naples reigns as the "Golf Capital of the World" - with the most golf holes per capita anywhere.
Attractions
Eco-tourism, offshore fishing, back country fishing, miles of beaches, family amusement parks, gaming, museums, nature preserves and parks are all within close proximity for the enjoyment of Naples visitors.
Shopping
Coastland Center: The 950,000 square-foot enclosed climate-controlled shopping center includes 150 stores and small specialty shops showcased in a charming Key West style ambiance.
Fifth Avenue South
One of Naples' most fashionable addresses, Naples' main street is populated with specialty shops, world-class art galleries, antique stores and a variety of restaurants, bistros and nightclubs.
The Village of Venetian Bay
The Village evokes a coastal Italian city with its waterfront views and sophisticated display of fashion, jewelry, gourmet shops and restaurants.
Third Street South
Once the central commercial business district, Third Street South is today home to more than 100 distinctive shops, galleries, outdoor cafés and restaurants. This beautiful place also appears on the National Register of Historic Places and even has a concierge.
Tin City
This funky, ramshackle waterside shopping spot occupies an old oyster-processing plant with 40 shops and two restaurants. It specializes in sea-themed gifts, dining on the water and boat charters and tours.
Waterside Shops Waterside
Waterside Shops is a collection of the finest luxury brand retailers from around the world and elegant dining options creating a memorable shopping experience. Enjoy Florida's outdoors browsing at 60 internationally renowned designer and specialty stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, Cartier, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., Burberry, Brooks Brothers, Anthropologie and more.
Cultural
Ninety-four art galleries, a $17.1 million world-class Philharmonic Center for the Arts, the recently opened Naples Museum of Art, the Sugden Community Theatre, and a number of outdoor events throughout the year make Naples rich in art, music, theatre and dance. American Style Magazine named Naples among the top 25 Arts Destinations in the United States.
Airports
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), southeast of Fort Myers and serving Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties, opened in 1983 and is serviced by most domestic carriers and several international charter operations. Naples Municipal Airport offers commuter and direct flights, private charters and regularly scheduled flights to the Florida Keys, Key West and Miami. Palm Beach International, Fort Lauderdale International and Miami International Airports are within a two-to-three-hour drive.
Major Access Roads
Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley) and U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail North) north-south, and State Road 84 east / west.
Transportation
Car Rentals may be arranged at the airports and through hotels. Most major car rental agencies are located at the airports.
Taxis are available to beach resorts Naples Municipal Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers and Miami International as well as Fort Lauderdale. A 15% gratuity is customary.
Distance and Travel Time from Major Cities and Airports
Daytona: 243 miles (5 hours drive time)
Jacksonville: 348 miles (6 hours drive time)
Miami: 110 miles (2 hours drive time)
Fort Lauderdale 105 (under 2 hours driving time)
Orlando: 189 miles (4 hours drive time)
Tampa: 134 miles (3 hours drive time)