NAPLES: 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 surrounding by tropical landscaping.

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The area is famous for its beautiful powdery white sand beaches, golf courses, fishing, boating, water sports and spectacular sunsets. There are nearly 90 golf courses in the Greater Naples area, including a growing number of public courses. Many area resorts either own their own private courses or have affiliate relationships with area private clubs. Entry onto area courses may be obtained through stays at resorts like LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples (yes, there are two – the beach resort and the golf resort) and The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. Naples is great for a scenic stroll. Secluded courtyards, outdoor sculptures and beautiful fountains highlight historic buildings throughout downtown Naples. 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 an ancient cypress forest, home to hundreds of bird and animal species. In historic shopping districts and waterfront plazas, Naples visitors can find unique treasures. Third Street South, Naples’ business district at the turn of the century, has become a trendy shopping village of more than 100 distinctive shops, galleries, outdoor cafés and restaurants – all within walking distance to the beach. Just a few blocks away, Fifth Avenue South has been transformed into a dynamic pedestrian-friendly scene both day and night. Art galleries, clothing and design boutiques, the Sugden Theater, hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants line Naples’ official downtown MainStreet. Entertainment and special events are scheduled regularly . A short walk from Fifth Avenue South is historic Tin City. Located at a waterfront dockside boardwalk, the eclectic tin-roofed shopping and entertainment venue features nautical and nature-themed gift shops and casual seafood restaurants on the water. Across the street you’ll find Bayfront, Naples’ newest shopping, dining and entertainment center. Colorful Mediterranean architecture houses a collection of upscale shops complemented by restaurants, bars art galleries and the elegant new Bayfront Inn on Fifth, 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. Nearby at the Waterside Shops at Pelican Bay, you’ll find boutiques, shops and restaurants surrounded by lush landscaping, covered walkways and sparkling waterways. Coastland Center, the regional mall in Naples, includes 150 stores and small specialty shops. Prime Outlets, located mid-way between Naples and Marco Island, is a haven for those with an eye for value. Naples has arrived on the culinary map. Chef Robin Haas of Miami opened his signature Baleen restaurant overlooking the Gulf at the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, and diners seeking the very finest cuisine have the option of dining in five-diamond style at Artisans in The Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. Culture abounds in Naples. From theatre to dance, to its 134 art galleries and numerous fascinating museums, greater Naples is recognized internationally as a destination for the culturally minded. 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, theatre and dance to Naples each season. Naples Dinner Theatre provides professional productions of Broadway favorites year round. Historical museums abound, featuring information on the area’s early inhabitants, the Calusa Indians, as well as early southwest Florida pioneers. Relaxation is a way of life in Naples, and an abundance of spas now serve the area. Some of the newest are The Spa on Fifth at The Bayfront Inn on Fifth, Spa Terre at the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, and the The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort Naples. 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 Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort Naples – one of two Ritz-Carlton resorts in the city, and the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort. Newly renovated properties include The Bayfront Inn on Fifth, Quality Inn & Suites Parkshore, and the Lemon Tree Inn. Whether it’s a sunset cruise aboard the Naples Princess yacht or Lady Stirling schooner, 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 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. There are so many bottle nosed dolphin living in Naples Bay and the Gulf that most every boat trip includes numerous dolphin sightings. 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 Naples Nature Center, Naples Botanical Garden, the Cocohatchee Nature Center and Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. NAPLES

Getting there: Southwest Florida International Airport, the region’s largest airport, is just 30 minutes to the north in Ft. Myers. Naples Municipal Airport offers direct service to and from Atlanta as well as private charters, private jet service and regularly scheduled flights to the Florida Keys and Key West. Driving from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or Palm Beach international airports, take I-75 West (Alligator Alley) to Exits 101 or 107. 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.

FEATURES NAPLES Unparalleled Shopping in Naples FORT MYERS Shell Seekers Treasures Along the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel GULF COAST Taste of the Gulf Florida’s Gulf Island Coast MIAMI Where the Stars Don't Only Come Out at Night Living Large – the Luxury Hotels, Resorts and Spas of Miami FLORIDA KEYS FLorida Keys & Key West – Laid Back and Legendary FORT LAUDERDALE Las Olas Boulevard: The New Wave of the World's Greatest Streets Taking to the "Wet Streets" of Greater Fort Lauderdale

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