7 Things You Have To Do In Naples, Florida | The Odyssey Online
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7 Things You Have To Do In Naples, Florida

Coming from a girl who's lived there for 15 years.

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7 Things You Have To Do In Naples, Florida
Abigail Dagher
  • Pick a downtown avenue beach access (like Central for example), park your car, and set yourself up on the beach. One of the best parts about Naples is its accessibility to beaches. If you’re a resident head to the DMV and get a free parking sticker that allows you to park at any beach access free of charge. Not a resident? Parking at these entrances will only take some coins, a few bills or even a card to pay at most $5 for an afternoon at the beach. The thing I love most about the random avenue accesses is how secluded they are, especially during off-season. It’s time to get away from everyone and take advantage of the warm, clear water and soft sand. Don’t forget to bring a plastic bag for seashells and keep your eye out for a dolphin and even now some manatees. Shuffle your feet in the water to make sure that you don’t come into any close encounters with critters. But most of the time, it won’t be an issue…unless you’re afraid of sand-dollars or starfish – cool to pick up with your feet and look at, but remember to put them back in their homes after!
  • Take a stroll down memory lane in Tin City. It’s about as touristy as you can get in Naples, but it is also home to small local shops, cafes, and restaurants that exude the traditional Florida feel. This waterside shopping center is right downtown and is a great place to buy some souvenirs, eat some seafood or monkey bread, and even stock up on homemade soaps and wines. It has something for everyone.
  • Stay 20 minutes after the sunset. When the skies begin to change colors, the beaches in Naples become more and more crowded. There’s nothing quite like the sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico. But the show doesn’t end when the sun’s rays go away. Stay for about 20 minutes after and watch as the hues of the sky turn to brilliant shades of purple and pink. Watch as the pigments reflect on the water.
  • Try a local pizza joint. My personal favorite is Leoni’s Pizza in East, Naples. The restaurant owned by a Greek family who has been in the restaurant business for years. Recipes have been crafted over generations and the place may not be the biggest but size is relative when the food is as good as it is. If you aren’t feeling the famous white pizza (which you should be) then munch a gyro or some of their city-known chicken wings.
  • Visit 5th Avenue and 3rd street. Naples’ downtown area is truly timeless and it offers a classic environment to dine, shop, and stroll. It’s restaurants boast high ratings and an exceptional variety of offerings – Italian, seafood, Mediterranean, French… you name it, downtown has it. Boutique stores, art galleries, and small businesses are intertwined with the restaurants so there is something to do before and after you eat. On Saturday mornings 3rd street has a farmer’s market, full of local veggies, flowers, crafters and jewelers.
  • It’s fun for the whole family at The Naples Zoo. When I was younger I loved going on the safari-like adventure walk through the homes of so many cool animals. I usually don’t promote zoos, as I don’t like the idea of animal captivity. But The Naples Zoo does a fantastic job at maintaining healthy and appropriate living spaces for these animals and making sure that their well-being is a top priority.
  • Take a boat ride on the Gulf of Mexico. There is so much to see on this beautiful coast. There is so much life living in the mangroves and underneath the calm surface. There are plenty of boating services throughout Naples that offer toured rides. You can even rent kayaks and canoes and navigate your way through the mangroves…it’s the best way to see wildlife. Dolphins are everywhere and fishing is always a plentiful activity.
  • I wish I could do everything on this list right now!

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