Naples, Florida Tourist Attractions

Address:Naples, Florida

Naples is a lovely retreat for quiet relaxation and rejuvenation. Known for world class shopping, dining and abundant, challenging golf courses, it is also only steps away from beachside island seclusion or the fascinating ecosystem of the Everglades.

Naples also offers several exciting attractions for children. Caribbean Gardens is the only zoo in Florida to have rare, Indochinese tigers in addition to lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, and African wild dogs. The zoo also has boat rides, monkey islands and a large display of plant life. Enjoy close encounters with kangaroos, alligators, and pythons by going on a boat safari that slinks through spectacular tropical gardens and the islands of Lake Victoria, which monkeys, lemurs, and apes call home. Hold and touch some of the animals at the "Scales & Tails" area. The Safari Canyon presentation is a great multimedia combination of video, music and live animals that swim, leap, stalk, and slither around the natural rock-work theater, a splash away from the audience. You will easily fill 3 to 4 hours here. If you have kids with you, you may want to divide the zoo into several days of sightseeing after swimming at the beach or the pool. If you get hungry, Caribbean Gardens has a Subway and picnic facilities.

Art lovers will enjoy visiting the three-story, 30,000-square-foot art museum, attached to the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts. The Museum is the first full-scale art museum in Southwest Florida, and it features 15 galleries highlighting paintings, sculptures, and drawings. Major permanent collections concentrate on both the American Modern and Ancient Chinese genres, and touring shows and exhibitions rotate on a continual basis. From October through May free guided tours are given Tuesday through Saturday.

Shopping is a serious pastime in Naples, ranging from high-end to very reasonable and unique finds. Naples Prime Outlets has over 50 outdoor stores selling some of the hottest names in designer fashion along with accessories, home furnishings and more. Bayfront is a multi-use shopping area, including high-end shops and galleries detailed in exquisite woodwork, as well as gourmet food and entertainment. Visit the Weatherburn Gallery, the largest international fine art gallery in southwest Florida, or enjoy live music, cooking classes, a wine tour, opera and various holiday events. The 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South shopping districts in downtown Naples have a variety of antique shops. Gallery Row is a concentration among the numerous art galleries spread throughout the downtown area.

In a separate area of downtown's shopping district is Tin City, which still contains the rustic, maritime feel of what was once the center of Naples' fishing industry. Old-fashioned boardwalks, a tin-topped building, and Bayfront shops and eateries overlook the working docks of Naples Bay. Tin City's 32 shops offer unique merchandise and mementos, from swimsuits to scrimshaw, from crafts to crystal, from tee-shirts to fine jewelry, wines and more. The shopkeepers are all local business people who scour the market to find appealing merchandise. Tin City has a snack shop and two great waterfront restaurants where you can enjoy great seafood, sizzling steak, a filling salad, or sandwiches.

From Tin City, you can take a number of boat tours on Naples Bay, including a 1-1/2 hour, narrated sightseeing/sunset/dolphin-watching cruise. Fishermen will enjoy a half-day deep-sea fishing trip on a fast cruising 45-foot boat. Equipment, bait and fishing license are included on these excursions, where grouper, snapper, kingfish, mackerel and cobia are often caught. There is a restroom on board and make sure to bring your own lunch. Another great fishing option is a journey into the beautiful 10,000 Islands for backcountry fishing. Bait, tackle and license are included. There are plenty of places to fish from dry land, either on you're your own or with a guide. You can fish without a boat in the rivers, off Naples Pier or from the beaches, especially at dawn and dusk. Many people also fish in the canals, especially in spots and times when tides are pretty strong. There are plenty of marinas and tackle shops for boat rentals and tackle.

Situated along the Gulf of Mexico, Naples Municipal Beach has plenty parking and is great for families. The beach has public showers and a picnic area. You can bring your own food or choose from the food and drinks available at the beach.

For travelers looking for additional pampering, rejuvenate at the Ritz Carlton spa. The spa offers luxurious treatments, but at a steep price. They include thalassotherapy, body scrubs, wraps, deep tissue massage, lomi-lomi, reflexology, facial treatments, and professional massage. If you treat yourself to a night at the Ritz, enjoy all that it has to offer. There's an indoor and outdoor pool, a gym, fitness classes like Pilates, kickboxing and yoga, golf, tennis and cooling classes.

There are plenty of food options in Naples. Choose from Caribbean, "Floribbean," Thai, Italian, Irish, French, American and fusion cuisine. There are steak houses, seafood restaurants and bistros specializing in everything from pasta to sushi. A Parisian-style café serves coffee and desserts, and there is also a martini bar.