Naples Florida Gulf Beaches and Mangrove Paddling

Why visit Naples

Naples was founded in 1886, and its promoters named it after the Italian city because they claimed its bay was even more beautiful. That early boosterism set the tone for a place that has always prized appearance: the beaches are clean, the streets are landscaped, and building heights near the shore are modest.

What surprises many first-time visitors is how close wild Florida is. Collier County holds huge protected areas, from the old-growth cypress of Corkscrew Swamp to the mangrove estuary of Rookery Bay and, farther south, the Ten Thousand Islands and Everglades National Park. Naples also calls itself the golf capital of the world, has a serious arts scene centred on Artis Naples and the Naples Philharmonic, and offers some of the most polished dining on the Gulf Coast.

Old Naples, the pier and the waterfront

Naples Pier

The pier at the end of 12th Avenue South has been the town's emblem since the first one opened in 1888, and it has been rebuilt again and again after storms. Hurricane Ian badly damaged it in 2022, and the city has been carrying out a long rebuilding project since then.

Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South

These two shopping and dining streets form the heart of Old Naples. Fifth Avenue South runs from the bay toward the Gulf, lined with palms, sidewalk tables, galleries and boutiques, while Third Street South, a few blocks closer to the beach, is a compact grid of fashion shops, cafes, fountains and public art.

Tin City and Naples Bay

On the eastern side of downtown, Tin City is a cluster of tin-roofed buildings on Naples Bay that began as a working fisherman's wharf. Today it holds small shops, seafood restaurants and the docks for many sightseeing, dolphin-watching and fishing boats.

Baker Park and the Gordon River Greenway

Baker Park opened in 2019 on the Gordon River near the eastern end of Fifth Avenue, and it connects to the Gordon River Greenway, a paved path and boardwalk that runs north through mangroves and pine flatwoods toward the Naples Airport area. It is a pleasant place for a morning walk, jog or bike ride, with playgrounds and river views at the park itself.

Gardens, wildlife and culture

Naples Botanical Garden

Founded in 1993, Naples Botanical Garden spreads across roughly 170 acres of cultivated gardens and preserved land, with collections focused on the tropical and subtropical regions roughly between the 26th parallels north and south.

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

The Naples Zoo occupies a historic botanical garden in the middle of town, so the animal habitats are set among old trees and tropical plantings. Expect big cats, African animals, Florida wildlife such as panthers and alligators, keeper talks through the day and a short boat ride past islands where primates live.

Artis Naples and the Baker Museum

Artis Naples is the town's main cultural campus and the home of the Naples Philharmonic. The Baker Museum, on the same grounds, shows modern and contemporary art along with changing exhibitions.

Palm Cottage and historic Naples

Palm Cottage, built in the 1890s, is one of the oldest houses in Naples and is run as a small museum by the Naples Historical Society. It is a short walk from the beach and Third Street South.

Beaches, mangroves and the swamp

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

This state park on a barrier island in North Naples is many locals' favourite beach, with a long stretch of sand, the Cocohatchee River pass at its northern tip and a hard-bottom reef just offshore that is popular with snorkellers on calm days. Bald eagles, ospreys and nesting loggerhead turtles use the park.

Vanderbilt Beach

Just south of the state park, Vanderbilt Beach is a lively public beach backed by resorts, with restrooms and a county parking garage nearby. It is a good choice if you want lifeguards, easy access and somewhere to eat within walking distance.

Clam Pass Park

Clam Pass Park protects about 35 acres of coastal habitat, and you reach the beach on a boardwalk of roughly three-quarters of a mile through a mangrove forest. You can walk or, at many times, ride a tram to the sand.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

About a 40-minute drive northeast of downtown, Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is run by the National Audubon Society and protects one of the largest remaining stands of old-growth bald cypress in North America.

Rookery Bay Reserve

South of town, Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve protects a vast mangrove estuary at the northern edge of the Ten Thousand Islands. Its environmental learning centre has exhibits about the estuary, and the reserve offers seasonal guided boat and kayak trips.

Food and local flavors

Seafood leads the menu in Naples. Look for stone crab claws during the season, which runs from mid-October to early May, served cold with a mustard sauce.

For atmosphere, the sidewalk restaurants of Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South are the centre of the dining scene, especially on winter evenings.

Where to stay

Old Naples suits travellers who want to walk to the beach, the pier and the restaurants of Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South.

Vanderbilt Beach and North Naples suit families and beach-focused trips, with larger beachfront resorts and condo rentals close to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park and the Mercato shopping district.

Park Shore and Pelican Bay, between downtown and North Naples, offer high-rise condos and resorts with direct beach access and quieter evenings.

Best time to visit

Naples has two seasons.

May and early June are a good compromise, with warm sea temperatures, fewer people and lower rates, though the heat builds quickly.

Wildlife watchers should note that winter is the best time for wading birds in the swamps and estuaries, while sea turtles nest on the beaches from roughly May through October.

Getting there and getting around

Most visitors fly into Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, about 30 miles north of Naples. The drive south on I-75 usually takes 45 minutes to an hour, longer in winter traffic.

A car is the most practical way to get around, since the beaches, gardens and nature preserves are spread out. Downtown parking includes metered beach-end spaces and public garages, and many beach accesses have their own small lots; check posted rules carefully, because enforcement is strict.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Start with a walk on the beach near the pier, then explore Third Street South and the historic lanes of Old Naples, with a stop at Palm Cottage.

Second day

Spend the morning at Naples Botanical Garden while it is cool.

Third day

Drive out early to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary for the boardwalk and birdlife.

Fourth day

Choose between a guided kayak trip at Rookery Bay, a day trip south to Marco Island or Everglades City, or a slower day of museums at Artis Naples followed by the boardwalk at Clam Pass Park.

Practical tips

• Book lodging, rental cars and popular restaurants well ahead for visits between January and April.
• Arrive at beaches and state parks early in winter, because parking lots fill and gates can close at capacity.
• Pack insect repellent for dawn and dusk; tiny biting midges, often called no-see-ums, are common near mangroves.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water, and plan strenuous outdoor activities for the morning.
• Shuffle your feet when wading in shallow water to avoid stepping on stingrays.
• Keep your distance from wildlife, never feed alligators, and give nesting sea turtles and shorebirds plenty of room.

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