Naples, Florida

Naples is located in Collier County on the Gulf Coast of Florida, 43 miles (69 kilometers) south of Fort Myers and 107 miles (172 kilometers) due west of Fort Lauderdale. The area around Naples is known as the Paradise Coast.

There are plenty of places to explore the landscape, flora, and fauna around Naples, including Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Cocohatchee Nature Center. Both the Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve are right at your doorstep, as is Collier-Seminole State Park.

But I mentioned the Paradise Coast awhile back, and of course, coast means beaches! In this case, miles of white sand beach, which stretch from the Barefoot Beach Preserve north of the city, through Naples, along the Marco Island shoreline, and into the Ten Thousand Island region of the Everglades.

When you'd like some calm natural beauty, stroll the 1.5-acre (.61-hectare) Naples Botanical Garden and butterfly house. For some easy-going (or highly competitive) recreation, try out the many area golf courses. And when you want to learn and be entertained, visit the Collier County Museum, which provides exhibits covering 10,000 years of area history.

If you're looking for a great place to shop (or dine, or simply walk along the water) head to the Bayfront. For even more shopping, make your way to places like 5th Avenue South, 3rd Street South, and the Village on Venetian Bay.

Afterward, why not take in a show? Go to venues like the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, which is home to the Naples Museum of Art and the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, or head to the Naples Dinner Theatre.

Kids will enjoy visiting family-friendly places like the Aviary & Zoo of Naples and King Richard's Family Fun Park.

And a final draw, which we barely need mention: the weather! In sunny Naples, January average highs are a balmy 75F (24C) and July average highs are 91F (33C).

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