Orlando Attractions Update – Orlando has the theme parks but Naples, Marco Island & The Everglades just could be Paradise! Welcome to the one destination that offers the idyllic Florida experience, along with excitement and adventure found nowhere else on Earth. Swaying coconut palms and sweeping white-sand beaches only begin to tell the story.
Here you’ll discover a gentle pace and a tropical ambiance amid excitement, exploration and discovery. Thrill to the outdoor adventure of the Everglades. Discover one-of-a-kind culinary delights infused with local traditions. Immerse yourself within a whirl of shopping excitement. Plunge into a water-filled world that offers Florida’s best fishing. Or find inspiration in its breathtaking array of art and culture.
Perched on the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Florida, Naples is well known for its high-end shopping, world-class culture and sophisticated dining, but it’s also an affordable family destination that appeals to nature lovers and beach aficionados.
Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South are the focal point for Naples shopping in the historic downtown area, with numerous art galleries, chic clothing boutiques and home decor shops.
When it comes time for lunch or drinks and dinner, Naples takes full advantage of its waterside location. Enjoy your meal with a water view (and a glorious sunset come evening), whether you choose a swank beachfront resort or a funky bayside bar. Dine directly on the water – climb aboard a dinner cruise on either the Naples Princess or Marco Island Princess yachts.
The iconic Naples Pier draws plenty of folks more interested in the views than catching dinner, but if you want to wet a line, it’s free, since the city provides a blanket fishing license for all anglers. At Vanderbilt Beach, take off your sandals and splash in the gentle waves. Visitors and residents flock to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park’s mile-long stretch of sugar-white sand. Picnic tables, a playground and restrooms make Lowdermilk Park popular with families. Naples beaches were named among the nation’s best in TripAdvisor’s 2011 Travelers’ Choice Awards.
On quiet Marco Island, life moves at a slightly slower pace than in Naples. The main attraction is the beautiful, white-sand beaches, where long beach walks, boat excursions and shelling are favorite pastimes.
Sophisticated, full-service beachfront resorts are sprinkled along the island’s western shore. Many offer watersports rentals of all sorts, including kayaks, Jet Skis, stand-up paddleboards and more, along with sightseeing cruises. Resort guests can stay busy from sun-up to sundown or just sit and enjoy the spectacular beaches.
Near the island’s northern end, Tigertail Beach Park is a great spot for wildlife viewing. Wading birds often line the shores of a lagoon that separates the parking area from the beach. Park rangers offer several educational programs each week, including birding tours and presentations on coastal wildlife (sea turtles, manatees and dolphins). It has showers, restrooms, a large playground and a concession stand. At the other end of the island, quieter South Marco Beach has public parking and restrooms but no other facilities.
The stunning beauty and vast wilderness of the Everglades covers much of the southern end of the Florida peninsula. This area is home to hundreds of species of colorful birds, fresh and saltwater fish, bobcats and elusive Florida panthers, as well as its most famous residents, alligators. In addition to Everglades National Park and several other parks and preserves, a few small towns, such as Everglades City, dot the region.
Not surprisingly, wildlife watching and other nature-related activities are popular with visitors here. Because the Everglades is a unique ecosystem, many of its plant and animal species are found nowhere else on Earth.
Naples, Marco Island & The Everglades website –http://www.paradisecoast.com/