Airboat tour of the Everglades

One morning, I took a scenic drive through a neighborhood of palatial mansions, each boasting three- or four-car garages filled with Cadillacs, Mercedes and other top-of-the-line automobiles.

That afternoon, I sped across mangrove swamps on an airboat, spotting alligators and a dazzling variety of birds before unwinding to work on my tan on a pristine white-sand beach.

Talk about a destination with something for everyone! Nestled in the tropical wilderness of southwest Florida, Naples offers enough variety to suit any taste. No wonder it, along with nearby Marco Island and the Everglades, proudly calls itself “Florida’s Paradise Coast.”

WHERE NATURE & LUXURY COLLIDE

MIllionaire's Row

Naples has long been a haven for the affluent. It boasts the sixth-highest per capita income and the second-highest concentration of millionaires in the country. Some villas are so large they seem worthy of their own zip codes.

Yet, even these examples of man-made splendor pale in comparison to the area’s natural beauty. Naples is home to some of Mother Nature’s finest works, starting with its stunning beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. Among the most inviting are:

• Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park – Serene stretches of sand framed by gentle dunes

Seagate Beach – A favorite spot for sunset watchers

Lowdermilk Park – A wide, sandy expanse dotted with thatched-roof palapas

While the beaches are enough reason to head for Naples, they provide only a hint of nature’s showcase. A short drive leads to the northwestern tip of Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the U.S. This vast landscape is home to nine distinct ecosystems, from pinelands and hardwood hammocks to cypress forests and coastal lowlands. Many plants and animals found here exist nowhere else.

I got my first taste of this wild world aboard an airboat, a flat-bottomed, propeller-driven vessel that skims over water only a few inches deep. It provided a twisting, turning journey that was equal parts thrill and education. While passengers scanned the surroundings for wildlife, our captain offered mini-lectures about the surroundings and creatures that live there.

Later, the ride was much slower during a kayak paddle through the winding mangrove tunnels of Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Our guide, Samantha, paused along the way to share the bay’s history, explain its delicate balance of life and point out bald eagles, ospreys, cormorants and other resident birds.

Another boat trip led me to an isolated beach blanketed with seashells in every shape and color imaginable. This part of Florida is famous for its shells, attracting collectors from near and far eager to find treasures such as sea urchins, sand dollars and starfish remnants.

NATURE IN THE HEART OF NAPLES

You don’t have to leave town to immerse yourself in nature. The Gordon River Greenway features a scenic boardwalk winding through six plant communities, with signs identifying local flora and fauna—and warning visitors to keep an eye out for alligators. 

Orchids at the Naples Botanical Garden

Nature is tamed at the Naples Botanical Garden. Themed environments showcase plants from Asia, Brazil, the Caribbean and, of course, Florida.

Even the Naples Zoo—originally founded as a botanical garden decades before animals were introduced—is worth visiting for its landscaping alone. It resembles a lush tropical paradise that echoes the rich foliage of its surroundings, where residents live in environments similar to those in the wild and a proliferation of rare orchids adorns the palm trees. 

CITY LIFE & CULTURE

Naples’ history is preserved in its museums. The Collier County Museum chronicles prehistoric animals—mastodons, lions and camels—that once roamed the area, along with tales of early settlers. The Depot Museum highlights everything from the legacy of the Calusa and Seminole tribes to the impact of hurricanes and sport fishing.

For those craving shopping, dining, and nightlife, two streets define the heart of Naples:

Fifth Avenue South

Fifth Avenue South – A luxury shopper’s dream, lined with high-end boutiques, art galleries and fine dining

Third Street South – “The birthplace of Old Naples,” where charming early 1900s cottages nestle among modern mansions.

Whether you come for the luxury, the natural wonders or a bit of both, Naples lives up to its Paradise Coast name.

For more information, visit ParadiseCoast.com.

IF YOU GO:

Celebrity Homes & Millionaires Row

Take a scenic drive along Gordon Drive, the original Millionaires Row in Old Naples or explore Gulf Shore Boulevard (Port Royal) and Bay Colony Drive (Pelican Bay) for more luxurious estates.

Nature & Outdoors:

Everglades National Park
nps.gov/ever | 305-242-7700

Gordon River Greenway
GordonRiverGreenway.org | 239-252-4000

Beaches:

Delnor-Wiggins State Park
11135 Gulf Shore Drive, Naples, FL
FloridaStateParks.org | 239-597-6196 

Seagate Beach
Accessible from Seagate Drive and North Gulf Shore Boulevard, Naples, FL  naplesgov.com

Lowdermilk Park
1301 Gulf Shore Blvd. N., Naples, FL
NaplesGov.com

Gardens & Wildlife:

Naples Botanical Garden
4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, FL
NaplesGarden.org | 239-643-7275

Naples Zoo
1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples, FL
NaplesZoo.org | 239-262-5409

Museums & History:

Collier Museum at Government Center
3331 Tamiami Trail E., Naples, FL
CollierMuseums.com | 239-252-8476 

Museum at Everglades
105 W. Broadway Ave., Everglades City, FL
CollierMuseums.com | 239-252-5026

Naples Depot Museum
1051 Fifth Ave. S., Naples, FL
NaplesTrainMuseum.org | 239-252-8419

Marco Island Historical Museum
180 S. Heathwood Drive, Marco Island, FL
TheMIHS.info/museum | 239-252-1440