With an abundance of things to do in Naples, there’s a reason it’s one of the top vacation destinations in the state of Florida! If you’re new to the area, or a local in need of new ways to experience Naples, you’ve come to the right place.
Shopping and Dining
Fifth Avenue South
For the best of downtown, head over to Fifth Avenue South in the heart of Naples, one of the nation’s most exclusive address. Here you’ll find the eclectic shopping experience that catapulted Naples to fame.
Stretching from Tamiami Trail to the Gulf of Mexico in Old Naples, Fifth Avenue South’s historic and modern architecture meet. The result? A blend of a glamorous and still laid-back vibe.
Among the shops on Fifth Avenue South, you’ll find fashion boutique, custom jewelry stores, fine-dining options, and entertainment. The art galleries here helped Naples become the #1 small arts town in America.
We personally love stepping into Lovejoy Antiques, where you never know what great find is just around the corner. Then Alberto’s on Fifth always hits the spot for a fine, Italian meal. After dinner, check out art galleries like Cocoon or Roots Studio!
Tin City
Of course, all your shopping doesn’t have to be ritzy. For a more eclectic and obscure shopping experience, Tin City is waiting for you!
An open-air specialty shopping district, you can easily spend your entire day exploring all of Tin City. Waterfront shops are divided into four buildings where you’ll find food, crafts, antiques, seashells, wine, mood rings, and more!
Tin City is the perfect place to grab a souvenir for your family back home or a swimsuit to hit the beach right afterwards! To test out that new swimsuit, hit up Cruise Naples to get a boat tour of Naples or go on a deep sea fishing charter!
While there are 30 boutiques at Tin City, that’s not all they have to do. Visit 1500 South by celebrity chef Art Smith for Southern fare, cocktails, and wine. Then head back to enjoy a frozen treat at Tin City’s ice cream parlor.
The Village on Venetian Bay
To encounter the most sophisticated shopping experience in Naples, make a stop at The Village on Venetian Bay. This is the height of luxury! Right on the water, spending a day here will make you want to treat yourself!
The Village on Venetian Bay is a series of high-end waterfront shops in an open-air complex. The 45 shops and restaurants overlook the Venetian Bay may seem small, but your experience will be anything but. Less is more here!
The Village became renowned for it’s local and major luxury retailers combined with its personalized customer service. You’ll find Tommy Bahama, Chico’s, and Windflower all ready to outfit you for your beach vacation!
You won’t just find shops at the Village. The best dining establishments in Naples make their home here, and you’ll find everything from casual fare to fine-dining as well as upscale cafes and bars. We recommend the risotto at Miramore Ristorante.
If you’re watching your wallet, don’t worry. The Village also hosts many events like sidewalk sales. Outdoor racks are marked down up to 75%!
Celebration Park Food Truck Rally
Celebration Park, located next to the Haldeman Creek bridge on Bayshore Drive is a permanent food truck rally that is accessible by car, bike or boat.
Choose your favorite food bites from about a dozen excellent quality food trucks, grab a table (go early during the season if you want to find a table!) and order drinks from the bar. Celebration Park on Bayshore Drive off the south Trail is on one of the inland waterways in south Naples that leads to Naples Bay. Board games and corn hole keep kids busy or make a fun day relaxing with friends overlooking the water.
Parks, Preserves and Gardens
Naples Botanical Gardens
With 170 acres of flora from around the world, the Naples Botanical Gardens conserves collections and habitats that gift us beauty, tranquility, and well-being. Visit and be one of the 220,000 visitors per year!
The gardens are cordoned off into different categories. The Water Garden highlights the beauty and mystery of water lilies. In the Caribbean Garden, you’ll find over 500 types of plumeria. Wander the Brazilian Garden to see South American palms, aroids, and bromeliads.
Afterward, relax in the garden hammocks, play a round of Bocce ball on the great lawn, or play steel drums in the Caribbean House.
Before you head home, grab a bite at the Fogg Cafe. The menu incorporates botanical textures and colors from the gardens into high-class dishes. Its great to try some of the many tropical fruits that you see in the gardens. You can’t go wrong with the Bahn Mi or Mango Chicken Salad.
The Naples Botanical Gardens are open daily. Admission is $25 for adults and $10 for children ages 4-14.
Naples Zoo
The 44-acre Naples Zoo began as Jungle Larry's Caribbean Gardens in 1919, and today this small city zoo has many native species along with other unique residents like giraffes, big cats, a giant anteater, and black bears.
The star attraction at the Naples Zoo is the cageless primate exhibitions. The zoo has many monkeys and apes on various islands in a large lake. Naples zoo is one of the few zoos to include lemurs and its cageless lemur display is second to none.
Naples Pier
Residents say that Naples has the best sunsets in Florida. To see what all the fuss is about, head down to the beach and check out the historic Pier, one of the best things to do in Naples, Florida. The sunsets here rival those of Mallory Square in Key West.
At the end of 12th Avenue South, the Naples Pier stretches over 1,000 feet out into the Gulf of Mexico. Walk all the way to the end and sit on the benches to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunsets you’ve ever seen. When the sun aligns with the Naples Pier it can appear as though the pier is a bridge to the sun as it shines through the pavilion at the end of the pier.
Surrounding the pier are beaches perfect for shelling. In the waters, if you look closely, you’ll see a variety of aquatic life. Pods of dolphins are known to swim by, and pelicans swoop down looking for their next meal.
If you want to go fishing, you’re in luck. Visiting anglers don’t need a fishing license on the pier! Hit the concession stand halfway down the pier to pick up bait, snacks, and other beach supplies.
When you’re ready for a nosh, head to Cosmos Cafe & Pizzeria, which serves Italian classics and of course, pizza. Choose between eating in the warm, casual dining room or outside on the patio on the pier. Cosmos is open from 9 AM to sunset every day.
Wiggins Pass State Park
You’ll find one of the the most beautiful beaches in the state just north of Naples before you get to Bonita Beach. Denlor-Wiggins Pass State Park is one of the best things to do in Naples with kids!
Over 199 acres, Denlor-Wiggins Pass State Park has pristine stretches of beach, but 80% of that land is actually submerged mangrove swamps! Here you’ll find wildlife like dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles!
Because the park is plentiful in waterways, take a kayak, canoe, or paddle board on the water! The backwaters of the Cocohatchee River provide more shade. There is a boat launching area within the park that provides access to some of the area's most interesting waterways. Take a tour through the mansions and buildings of the Vanderbilt Lagoon, or up the Cocohatchee River past beautiful architecture amongst the mangroves.
If you’re looking for more of an adventure, head out into the gulf where the waves are bound to be a little rougher, yet still quieter than the Atlantic.
If you hit the concessionaire, Naples Beach Adventures is there to set you up with all the gear you need. Rent everything from paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, umbrellas, and beach chairs! Park rangers are also available for guided tours!
Because this is such a popular tourist attraction, we recommend visiting on the weekdays. If you must go on the weekend, avoid arriving during high visitation from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
Lowdermilk Beach Park
As Naples’ premier beachfront park, Lowdermilk Beach Park is one of the best things to do in Naples with kids! Visit before or after a trip to the beach to round out a day of fun and really get the energy out of the kids.
Within the park, there are plenty of activities for the entire family. Kids can romp around on two playgrounds with swings, slides, and jungle gyms. There are two sand volleyball courts, so bring your own ball! DO NOT feed the ducks in the pond, it is unkind and unnecessary. Feeding ducks will make them a NUISANCE.
Along with restroom and shower facilities, a concession stand is on the premises. Here you can rent kayak and paddle boards for the beach! Because the stand is managed by Rita’s Italian Ice, you can grab hamburgers, hot dogs, salad, coffee, and of course, an Italian ice!
You can also rent one of two gazebos for your family functions, or just for some well-needed shade. The one in the north has two picnic tables inside while the south gazebo is next to an open-air lawn, a perfect wedding destination.
Make sure to bring your quarters, metered parking is $3.00 an hour! However, free parking is available with a collier county beach parking pass.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Within the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, you will journey into the heart of the Everglades ecosystem. Just 30 minutes east of Naples on Immokalee Road, this sanctuary protects the most vulnerable of Florida’s flora and fauna.
A 2.5 mile boardwalk winds through flat woods, wet prairies, and a marsh before twisting through the biggest Bald Cypress forest in the United States. Along the way, you’ll see protected wildlife like alligators, otters, white-tailed deer, and red-bellied turtles.
Keep an eye out for the world’s largest Ghost orchid! The orchid tends to bloom throughout the year, which is very rare for orchids! It has set records for longest consecutive day of blooms. Because of the rarity of the orchid, scientists have made many discoveries concerning the plant’s pollination process!
Unfortunately, yellow flies and deer flies are very common at the Sanctuary. Even DEET won’t deter them, and chances are you won’t notice them on your skin until after they’ve left you with a painful bite. In peak season from March to November, we strongly recommend wearing long sleeved shirts and pants. This is a swamp and there are mosquitoes here.
Gambling
Seminole Casino Immokalee
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