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Paradise Coast travel guide
Destination Guide

Paradise Coast

Florida

Soft white-sand beaches, azure waters, abundant sunshine, unparalleled sunsets, The Everglades, locally-sourced cuisine, alfresco dining and understated luxury

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Top reasons to visit Florida's Paradise Coast

1. Pristine Beaches and Crystal-Clear Waters

Florida's Paradise Coast, which includes Naples, Marco Island, and the Everglades, is renowned for its stunning beaches. The area offers miles of pristine white-sand beaches with clear, warm waters perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports. Popular beaches like Clam Pass Park, Lowdermilk Beach, and Tigertail Beach provide beautiful settings for relaxation and recreation.

2. Luxurious Resorts and Golf Courses

The Paradise Coast is home to numerous luxurious resorts and world-class golf courses. Visitors can enjoy upscale accommodations with top-notch amenities, including spas, fine dining, and beachfront views. The area is also a golfer’s paradise, with renowned courses like the Tiburón Golf Club and the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club offering challenging play and beautiful scenery.

3. Ecotourism and Wildlife Experiences

The Paradise Coast provides numerous opportunities for ecotourism and wildlife experiences. The nearby Everglades National Park and Ten Thousand Islands offer unique ecosystems teeming with diverse flora and fauna. Visitors can explore these natural wonders through guided tours, airboat rides, kayaking, and hiking. The area is also known for its excellent birdwatching, with species like roseate spoonbills, herons, and egrets commonly spotted.

4. Delicious Dining and Shopping

The Paradise Coast offers a diverse and delicious dining scene, with a wide range of restaurants serving fresh seafood, international cuisine, and local specialties. Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South in Naples are popular areas for dining and shopping, featuring upscale boutiques, galleries, and sidewalk cafes. The Mercato in North Naples combines shopping, dining, and entertainment in a stylish outdoor setting.

5. Family-Friendly Activities

The Paradise Coast is a great destination for families, offering a variety of activities and attractions for all ages. The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens provides a fun and educational experience with its animal exhibits and shows. The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples offers interactive exhibits and hands-on activities for young visitors. Families can also enjoy the Sun-N-Fun Lagoon water park, which features slides, a lazy river, and splash zones.

Explore Regional Paradise Coast

Florida’s Paradise Coast – Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades – combines a sophisticated arts and culture scene with natural wonders and the barefoot charm of a beach-lined coastline. Whether you’re after a fun family holiday or a luxurious romantic escape with someone special, packing your hiking shoes and sense of adventure is a must as this diverse destination is full of surprises.

The Gulf of Mexico sunsets from the iconic Naples Pier are legendary and wonderful wildlife spotting opportunities abound. Small burrowing owls live on Marco Island. Other areas are home to bobcats, black bears, panthers, and more than 350 species of birds. The Everglades are the world’s largest wetlands and the only place in the world where you can see alligators and crocodiles in one spot.

There are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in nature and ‘go wild’ here. Take an eco-friendly guided kayak tour and learn about the western Everglades tropical jungle, mangroves and cypress swamps. Or, if you feel the need for speed, zoom across the ocean on a jet ski as you spot dolphins playing in the waves near Marco Island. Like the sound of 10,000 islands instead of just one? A Ten Thousand Islands half day cruise sails across Chokoloskee Bay and through the islands of Everglades National Park with an expert naturalist who showcases the area’s history and wildlife and answers questions during the trip.

Culture lovers are also spoiled for choice with art galleries and museums plus theatre, opera, and live music performances galore. Check the schedule at Artis—Naples, home of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, for upcoming concerts and shows. The centre is also home to The Baker Museum, one of Florida’s best fine arts museums, with 30 galleries to explore. Add 100 independent art galleries in Naples alone and you’ll quickly discover how easy it is to appreciate the thriving arts and cultural scene.

With so many things to see and do, you’re sure to work up an appetite but there’s no danger of going hungry. Tuck into grouper sandwiches at the Snook Inn on the Marco River or head to Brook’s Burgers which was recently named as one of the top three burger spots in the United States. Don’t miss the Donut Burger which has two hot glazed donuts instead of a bun. Or you could hit the town at Old Naples, the top spot to ‘see and be seen’, and enjoy superb cocktails and people watching.

Wherever your adventures take you along Florida’s Paradise Coast, one visit is never enough. 

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