Naples, FL

To be honest….when I learned we were going here for our company Christmas party I wasn’t sure what to think. For this northerner this is an area you hear of when people are retired and go south for the winter. (aka older people). And when looking up the area there didn’t seem to be that much to do for younger families from what I could find.
And for the most part the idea of having things to do for a younger family (think touristy) there wasn’t much of that in the area. But for me this is what I LOVED! I Loved how the area was so quiet. So quaint. I found the area to be very clean. I felt very safe going out for a run in the mornings as our hotel/resort was located in an area with many homes and it gave the feel of a nice neighborhood. We ate at Tin City and this provided a fun atmosphere with many awesome shops. Then you must go check out the historic “downtown” area of Naples along 5th street. So many cute shops with so man fun and friendly people.
If you go during the first few weeks of December make sure to check out the area as well for the fun decorations, kids “skate” rink and many other activities for the season. When we were there they were doing taste of southwest Florida and had tables set up in the streets for people to sample foods of the local restaurants.
The beach was amazing as well. Super clear and clean water. Lots of wildlife. The sand was nicely packed and I found it very pleasant to walk and run on. Each morning there were dolphins playing right off shore and we even had one zoom up to ankle deep water chasing it’s morning meal.
If you are looking for a nice quiet town to visit with things for all ages to do near by (think Marco Island and Ft. Myers) this is a great option. The locals are nice and very helpful as well. Smiles abound on every person’s face that we met. Next time we are in the area we will have to check out the zoo!
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