Naples, Florida in Images

The iconic Naples Pier can be teeming with fishermen—and fisherwomen—much of the time, but it can also offer a fabulous place to sit and enjoy the vast panoramic view.  

Both locals and visitors stroll down to the Naples Pier to try their luck fishing—and many of them do pretty well. If whiling away a few hours trying to outsmart fish is your thing, grab a pole and bait and join in the fun.  

Whether you're just window shopping or reality shopping, downtown Naples has enough upscale stores and galleries, to say nothing of intriguing sculptures, to keep you busy for the better part of a day.  

There's no lack of lodging in town, from romantic boutique hotels like the elegant 87-room Inn on Fifth in the heart of downtown, to the grand and opulent 450-room Ritz-Carlton on an exquisite stretch of beach fronting the Gulf of Mexico.  

Take a ride on the Naples Trolley seven days a week. Hop on and off as many times as you like as for attractions, restaurants, and shopping. Several hotels are on the trolley route, too.  

It's touristy, even a little tacky, but Tin City is an endearing part of Naples and a colorful place to meander among dozens of shops and a handful of restaurants.  

If you book a sunset or eco-cruise, or a fishing charter, you'll probably meet your captain at the City Dock, not to be confused with the Naples Pier. When you're on the water, keep an eye out for manatee.  

Naples is filled with waterways—rivers, canals, inlets, and, of course, Naples Bay. You can almost always find a place to walk, eat, and shop in view of the water.  

Naples has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to beautiful beaches, like this one at Clam Pass County Park. When you’re not bobbing in the aqua water you can look for eye-catching seashells or rent a kayak and paddle through the shady mangroves.  

Rich cultural offerings are a major draw for Naples visitors. Sharing the same grounds and similarly striking architecture are The Philharmonic Center for the Arts and the Naples Art Museum.  

The Ritz-Carlton Naples may not be quite as fanciful as this sandcastle in front of it, but The Ritz lacks for nothing, including one of the most enviable settings at the edge of the Gulf on a wide, inviting beach.  

There are countless fabulous places in Naples to watch the sunset—at the Pier, out on a cruise, or on the deck of a waterside restaurant. But simply strolling on the beach with your bare toes touching the water may be best of all.