Top 10 Things to Do Naples, Florida

Welcome to another episode of Living Lavish in Naples. I’m your host, Kim Menkhorst, luxury Realtor in Naples Florida. 

Today we will be counting down my top 10 must sees for Naples Florida. Whether you’re visiting Naples, a seasonal resident or live here full time, Naples has so much to do for families and empty nesters alike.

Be sure to like this video and subscribe to see more episodes of Living Lavish in Naples. And Stay tuned for the next video coming soon, my top 5 places to eat in Naples!

Now let’s get on to today’s episode!

Number 10 – The Conservancy of SWFL  

For over 50 years the conservancy of SWFL has served as a rehabilitation and educational center for native wildlife. It’s located beside the Naples Zoo off of Goodlette Frank Road and across the street from Fleischman Park / Coastland Center Mall.  It’s a place where visitors can get a glimpse behind the scenes at the animal hospital and understand our local ecosystem. You can rent kayaks, go on nature walks or check out the visitor center

Fun fact: They have a boat tour up and down Gordon River, it’s covered so even on warm days it’s fun to glide through the back waters and see what native birds and wildlife you can find.

Number 9 – The Theater & Art Scene

Naples has been named the #1 Small Arts Town in US by author, John Villani in The 100 Best Art Towns in America. With Music, theater shows, museum exhibits, historic sites, and art galleries throughout our town, it’s easy to see why. We have the Naples Players Theater, Gulf Shore Playhouse, Artis and so much more. And if art is your thing,  ALL over Naples you will find  art studios and unique galleries from artists who bring their creativity from all over the world. 

Fun Fact: There are over a 100 art galleries in Naples! 

Naples Zoo: The Naples Zoo has been open for over 50 years and is located on Goodlette Frank Rd just south of Golden Gate Pkwy and across the street from Coastland Center Mall. Spanning 43 acres and showcasing over 70 different species, it’s fun for all ages with educational shows and an opportunity to feed the giraffes!

Fun Fact: The Naples Zoo is the only zoo in the southeastern United States to feature the rare Madagascar predator known as the Fossa. Your kids will know the Fossa as the lemur-eating villains in the DreamWorks movie, Madagascar.

Best Tip: Collier residents get FREE admission the first Saturday of the month, not a resident? Be aware that the zoo will probably be crowded that day, but if you’re a full time resident, be sure to take advantage of it, at least once. 

Number 7 – Renting Kayaks, Paddleboards, Boating & Water sports

With some of the clearest water in the country, it’s no surprise that people love being on the water here in Naples. There are so many options to rent boats, kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis and so much more. A few of the places I like to recommend for rentals are Naples Bay Resort, and Adventure Eco Tours. Naples Bay is great if you’re downtown location already, you can rent boats or boards and go straight out to Gordon River & the Gulf. 

Fun Fact: Adventure Eco tours not only provides rentals at their location but they will drop off rentals to you at the beach or other locations etc. 

Number 6 – Gordon River Greenway Parkway. 

This is a really cool park most people probably don’t even know about. The Greenway Park goes from Baker, which is downtown Naples, off of Goodlette Frank Road just before US 41, near Central Ave. Baker Park is a beautiful park in it’s own right, BUT what you might not know is that it has a walking trail beginning there and going the whole way through paved trails, over Gordon River and connects the entire way up to Golden Gate Parkway. In fact, it goes right to the Naples Conservancy and Naples Zoo.  You can park at either entrance (off of Goodlette or off of Golden Gate) and just do a few miles or the entire 3 mile walk. You can walk, jog, bike or rollerblade through nature, and past the airport. With look out points and picnic areas and bridges. 

Fun fact: You can stop at the Naples Airport and watch the private planes come in and out from the trail. 

Number 5 – Celebration Park 

If you’re looking for something fun to do, Celebration Park is our local food truck park. It’s not huge, but offers live music, a huge covered bar, tables to sit and eat and over x trucks with a variety of foods. Celebration Park is open from 12:00 to 8pm. Plus it’ close to the Botanical Gardens, so you can stop before you after your trip there. 

Fun fact: If you’re a boater, you can even ride your boat over and dock it at celebration park. Listen to local bands while enjoying a waterfront view.

Number 4 – The Naples Pier

The Naples pier is probably the most popular landmark here. First built in 1889 it helped transport guests to and from the Old Naples Hotel, which opened a year later. It was rebuilt in 2016 and is a great place to watch the pelicans, go fishing or spot Dolphins. You can find the Pier downtown just south of Broad Avenue and Gulfshore Blvd S, off of 12th Avenue S. 

Fun Fact: Did you know if you fish off the pier you do NOT need a fishing permit? Also, if you’re looking to see dolphins, they show up a lot a the pier, mostly to try to steal the fish off the fishing hooks.

Number 3 – Naples Botanical Gardens

The Award winning Naples Botanical Gardens are located off of Bayshore Drive, and is 170-acre, world-class garden paradise that features plants from around the world. There is a tremendous array of plants, including native species and plants from other parts of the world that thrive in Southwest Florida’s climate. There are Brazilian, Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Florida Garden areas as well as a Children’s Garden which houses a butterfly house you can walk through. There are many events throughout the year as well, which makes it fun all year round.

Fun fact: The Naples botanical garden is actually dog friendly. So grab your pooch and come stroll through the gardens.

Number 2 – Sunset cruises and tours & airboat rides

There are many options for boat tours, whether you’re looking to see dolphins, manatees, alligators or just huge homes while sipping on champagne, Naples has it all. Cruise up and down the back waters and into the Gulf of Mexico, some stop off at Keywaddin, some cruise through Port Royal and you can even hear about all the famous people and business owners that own a house along the waterways. 

Fun fact: Most of the tours leave from around Tin City, which is located at 1200 5th Ave S. so if you’re not sure where to start your search, begin there. Most businesses even offer deals on Groupon.  

Number 1 – Fifth Avenue & Third Street

Fifth Avenue and Third Street are considered the heart of Downtown Naples or Olde Naples as the locals say. With all types of shops, dining, happy hour locations and events up and down both streets, it’s a destination you have to go to when in Naples. All year round, fifth avenue is lined with beautiful Palm Trees wrapped in twinkling lights. It’s breathtaking at night and easy to walk up and down the street.  

Fun Fact: During season Thursday nights are live music in the streets, and a lot of fun happy hours. PLUS don’t forget to stop by Third Street around Christmas time, they actually have fake “snow” shooting from the lamp posts every night, which is super fun for the entire family. 

Well that concludes today’s top 10 list!

Are you new to Naples, just visiting or have lived here decades? I would love to hear your experiences at the places I mentioned or any others in Naples Florida that are an absolutely MUST to check out? Drop your photos and comments below. Be sure you subscribe to my channel and turn on your notifications if you’d like to see more videos like this about the Naples area.

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Kim Menkhorst, Premiere Plus Realty 239.776.0093

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