This spring and summer, we want to inspire you to hit the road and visit new places. Weekend getaways are perfect for the busy family wanting to travel. I’m Elena, Daily Mom’s managing editor and lover of all things travel. I want to share my city, Naples, Florida with our readers. I am always jetting off to other locations all over the world, but I call Naples home and know that it is a fabulous place to visit. If you want to visit Florida this summer, I think you should add Naples to your itinerary. Here is my personal list of places to visit and see while you are in my gorgeous city on the Gulf!
Book your weekend trip to Naples! Break out of your routine. Be a seekender! Leave behind your normal life and reset with a weekend away. Here are my favorite locations and experiences in my town, Naples. Located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Naples will welcome you with beautiful beaches, amazing scenery, lots of outdoor activities, delicious restaurants, nightlife, and more. Use this list to visit my city on your next weekend getaway.
First things first, while there are a lot of choices for where to stay when visiting Naples, Florida, it really is a no brainer which hotel to choose. The Hampton by Hilton, centrally located in Naples, gives you everything you need for a perfect four day, long weekend visit. As you will see from my extensive list, there is a lot of activity to pack into a few days.
- You can get a quick start to the morning with breakfast at Hampton by Hilton. Their wonderful hot breakfast, including every kid’s favorite, waffles, is always free.
- If you want to eat on the go, just grab one of the Hampton’s On the Run Breakfast Bags instead. Eat a healthy breakfast on your way to experience the best of this city.
Hampton by Hilton is all about supporting the #Seekender lifestyle, and that’s why I love staying with them when I travel.
Book a trip on the Naples Princess Cruise. Take a sunset cruise to see the beautiful Gulf of Mexico sunset and have dolphins chase your boat while you sip on a glass of wine and enjoy your cheese and crackers you brought on board.
Baleen Restaurant at La Playa Beach and Golf Resort is one of the best restaurants on the beach. You can’t beat the variety in the menu or the view here.
Put on your bikini and head to Clam Pass Park. Visit a beach that is mostly known to locals only. A golf cart takes visitors from the parking lot, through mangroves, and over a boardwalk to the beach. It is a pleasant ride with a beautiful view. The beach has bathrooms, showers, water rentals, and a full bar.
D’anna’s Café for a breakfast with ambiance is a must.
Take a stroll down Fifth Avenue South an hour before sunset. It’s gorgeous during that time. Have some organic ice cream at Regina’s and end up on the beach at the end of the street to view the sunset. Vergina’s is awesome for live music and has a great view of this main street in Naples. You’ll have a lovely meal and the people watching isn’t bad either.
The Local is a restaurant serving healthy, local, and organic, yet yummy food. Visit here for lunch, dinner, or drinks. They’ve got great pastries and cakes as well.
Do you golf or at least like to try golfing? Of course you must play a round at either the Ritz Carlton or Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club. Both have highly acclaimed courses.
When the sun goes down, head over to Mercato for a night out. Start at AZN Asian Cuisine. Their Mt. Fuji sushi roll is my favorite. Not in the mood for sushi? Try MASA for modern Mexican fare, and finish at the Cavo Lounge for some dancing.
For more time at the beach, park at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club for a bite to eat at a beachfront bar. I can’t say enough about the grouper sandwich. Stroll through the resort. Parking is free if you spend 20 dollars at the bar.
One unique experience in Naples is to take a drive through the residential streets of downtown and enjoy views of million dollar homes and the old trees with roots exposed, and even trees with branches so wide that they create canopies over the roads.
Marco Island is a barrier island off the coast of Naples. Take the bridge over to the island to do some shelling, kayaking, paddle-boarding, and more. This is a wonderful spot in the area.
To see the crystal blue Gulf up close and personal, try renting a kayak at Naples Grande Beach Resort. Ocean kayaking is fun and a great workout.
The Naples Botanical Gardens have some of the most unique and breathtaking landscaping, flowers, and plants you will find anywhere. The gardens are themed like the Brazilian, Florida, Children’s, and Water gardens.
Join a competitive game of beach volleyball at the Naples Pier. This is also a great spot for sightseeing. A walk out on the pier will give you sights of the Gulf that you won’t believe.
Visit one of the First Watch locations in Naples for breakfast from their great original menu. Quinoa pancakes are fantastic here.
Rent a boat and take a leisurely ride to the deserted island of Keewaydin, or down the canal passages to gawk at the most expensive and impressive homes of southwest Florida.
If you have kids with you, visit Cambier Park for an old school wooden adventure on the playground. Fleischmann’s Park has an incredible playground that is shaded and has a water splash zone for kids as well.
Hopefully you have more than one little getaway planned for this spring and summer. You’ve got to be ready to shake off winter and get out of your house. If you do plan on traveling regularly like I do, consider becoming a Hampton Honors member. You get discounts when you book at Hampton.com. Hampton by Hilton is on a mission to turn us all into Seekenders, people who travel at any chance they get. Quick weekend getaways are all you need to seek your next adventure. Just pick a place on the map, find a Hampton by Hilton nearby, and hit the road with your family for mini-vacations all year round.
If you are ready to plan a trip to Naples, we’ve got some tips for How To Plan A Weekend Getaway that are super helpful.
Photo Credits: EveryAvenueGirl
