Naples, Florida is consistently ranked as one of the top spots to retire in the United States, and for good reason. Aside from the year-round warm weather and gorgeous sandy beaches, the Naples community also hosts multiple events, festivals, and cultural experiences each and every year. There is never an idle moment in this bustling Southwestern Florida city. Here are eight events coming up to keep you entertained this winter season.
Sift, Sun or Stroll on Our Beaches
The warm gulf. The gentle waves. The soft, white sand and spectacular pink-orange sunsets. All of this, plus year-round blue skies and sunshine make the beautiful beaches of Naples a favorite destination for everyone, no matter what their age.
Over 10 miles of beautiful beaches stretch from the southern end at Gordon Pass, to Seagate Drive on the northern end. Along this stretch of beach you'll find the Naples Fishing Pier extending 1,000 feet into the Gulf of Mexico in Old Naples and Lowdermilk Park's cabana, picnic tables and volleyball nets which are bordered by 1,000 feet of beach frontage.
Seagate Drive ends at Clam Pass Park Beach which, continuing north, blends into Vanderbilt Beach, then Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area and Barefoot Beach at Bonita Beach Road. Several of our beaches have a variety of convenient facilities.
All along our beaches you'll spot native shore birds like snowy egrets, blue herons, brown pelicans, black skimmers, seagulls and so many more. Plus, if you catch enough sunsets, you may also spot the legendary Green Flash as the sun slips beyond the horizon!
How About a Little Retail Therapy?
From sophisticated 5th Avenue South and Third Street South in Old Naples...to the charming, waterfront Village on Venetian Bay...to the upscale, uptown Waterside Shops and Mercato in North Naples...to eclectic Coastland Center...it's all here!
Just a couple of blocks from the beach in Old Naples is the city's historic Downtown district. 5th Avenue South is Naples' promenade, six beautiful blocks of charming boutiques, world-class restaurants, outdoor cafés, soothing spas and an amazing array of art galleries. Nestled among courtyards and plazas, Third Street South is brimming with chic fashions, jewelry, galleries, antique stores, gift boutiques for house and garden, and outstanding restaurants and cafés.
The waterfront Village on Venetian Bay is a charming collection of shops and restaurants, featuring men's, women's and children's fashions, as well as jewelry and gifts for the home and art galleries.
The finest names in luxury retail and fashionable lifestyle stores are set amid lush landscaping and cascading water at Waterside Shops, where you'll find more than 60 shops and restaurants, as well as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.
Mercato is a modern-day downtown shopping center with fashion, retail, restaurants, a 12-screen movie theater, residences and professional offices. Shopping includes fashions and footwear for women and men, home goods, and Naples' only Whole Foods grocery market.
For traditional mall shopping, Coastland Center is the place to go with four department stores, dozens of specialty stores and a large food court.
The Great Outdoors Offers Something for Everyone
Green space is everywhere in this wonderful little city! Take a walk, picnic, or just relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. Below, a few of Naples' many parks are highlighted and several others you may like to explore are listed.
Cambier Park in the center of Olde Naples features a band shell, tennis courts, shuffleboard, horseshoe courts, softball fields and an indoor meeting facility.
The Conservancy Nature Center is a landmark in Naples. Points of interest include a hands-on science museum, animal clinic for injured wildlife, boat tours, lectures and nature trails.
Brigg's Nature Center features naturalist guided canoe and boat trips and canoe rentals.
Lowdermilk Park on the Gulf features a 1,000-foot stretch of beach, a pavilion, picnic tables, concessions and showers.
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, includes self-guided walking and canoe trails, birding and wildlife photography opportunities, and an Environmental Learning Center featuring a visitor center and marine laboratory.
Naples Dog Park features approximately 1.35 acres of fenced, lush green landscaping and dog-friendly mulch with separate areas for large dogs and small dogs.
Other excellent parks in Naples include:
- Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area
- East Naples Community Park
- Estates Community Park
- Fleischmann Park
- Golden Gate Community Park
- Naples Preserve with the Hedges Family Eco Center
- Pelican Bay Community Park
- River Park
- Veterans Community Park
- Vineyards Community Park
Naples Celebrates the Arts Day In and Day Out
Naples has gained a reputation as a cultural hub and the city's ambiance of sophistication and success is reflected in its arts. Featured here is just a taste of our arts and cultural community.
Artis - Naples (formerly known as The Phil) is unique among arts centers in that it features both the performing and visual arts in a single complex and also hosts a resident orchestra. Each season, the Artis - Naples presents more than 400 individual events.
Patty & Jay Baker Naples Museum of Art features 15 galleries showcasing a permanent collection and traveling exhibits.
Von Liebig Art Center is home to the Naples Art Association whose goal is to advance education, interest and participation in the contemporary visual arts. Changing exhibitions of contemporary American art, with a focus on Florida art, are offered year-round.
Opera Naples presents several performances per season featuring the nation's finest professional singing actors, stage directors and guest conductors. Here, you will experience Classic Grand Opera, American Opera, contemporary or lesser-known works and Operetta.
Sugden Community Theater is the home of the Naples Players, a nationally recognized community theater group tracing its origins to 1953. Staging more than 220 performances a year including children's programs, the annual performance season includes seven main stage and four studio productions.
Theater Zone, a professional theatre company, performs at the G & L Theatre, a beautiful, intimate 250-seat theatre on the campus of The Community School of Naples.
ArtsNaples World Festival has a mission to produce a world-class festival. Centered in Naples, Florida, it features the culture of a different region of the world each year.
C'mon - The Golisano Children's Museum of Naples is a two-story, 30,000-square-foot cultural institution comprised of 10 exhibit galleries, classrooms, a birthday party room, Garden Café, museum store and more. C'mon encourages the natural curiosity of children by offering an educationally dynamic space that encourages exploration and discovery.
