Tourists enjoying the Vanderbilt beach in Naples, Florida.
Tourists enjoying the Vanderbilt beach in Naples, Florida. Photo by Victor Block

One morning, I took a sightseeing drive through a neighborhood of palatial mansions. Many had three and four-car garages that housed Cadillac, Mercedes and other top-of-the-line automobiles.

That afternoon, I enjoyed a thrilling airboat ride through mangrove swamps, where I spotted alligators and an aviary-worth variety of birds. This was followed by time working on my tan at a lovely white sand beach.

Nestled among tropical wilderness in the southwest corner of Florida, Naples has enough variety to suit any taste. No wonder it, along with nearby Marco Island and the Everglades, is known as “Florida’s Paradise Coast.”

Begin with its reputation as a playground for the rich. It claims the country’s sixth-highest per capita income and second-highest proportion of millionaires per capita. Some villas are so large I thought they might warrant their own zip code. 

A restaurant in Old Naples
A restaurant in Old Naples. Photo by Victor Block

Beautiful Beaches Are Among Mother Nature’s Creations at Naples, Florida

Even these examples of man-made splendor pale in comparison to some of Mother Nature’s most magnificent creations. For starters, there is a choice of white sand beaches fronting Gulf of Mexico waters. 

Among the most inviting are those at Delnor Wiggins State Park. Several stretches of sand are protected by gentle dunes. Seagate is a popular gathering place from which to watch dramatic sunsets. Lowdermilk Park has a wide beach dotted by thatched-roof palapas. 

As inviting as they are, the beaches only hint at nature’s showcase, which is reason enough to head for Naples. 

The northwestern tip of Everglades National Park is a short drive away. That expansive, never-never land of subtropical wilderness, the largest in the United States, can fill many an hour or day of seeing and doing. 

Its nine distinct habitats range from pinelands and hardwood hammocks to cypress forests and coastal lowlands. They are also home to plant and animal species not found anywhere else. 

An airboat ride through the Everglades combines excitement and education.
An airboat ride through the Everglades combines excitement and education. Photo by Victor Block

My introduction came during a ride in an airboat, a flat-bottomed, propeller-driven craft that can skim across water only a few inches deep. It provided a twisting, turning journey that was a combination thrill ride and learning experience.

As passengers scanned the surroundings for wildlife, our captain offered mini-lectures about the surroundings and creatures that live there.

Exploring an Estuarine Reserve in Naples, Florida

My boat ride was slower through the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. This unspoiled enclave of mangrove forest, uplands and protected waters encompasses 40 percent of Collier County, the largest in the state.

Estuaries are areas where fresh water from rivers combines with salt water from the ocean, creating a brackish mixture. This combination of fresh and salty water produces a variety of unique environments and provides a transition zone between land and sea. It is home to various animals and plants.

While on the water, I spotted several pods of dolphins rising gracefully to the surface to catch their breath. I also marveled at nests that cormorants construct of tree branches on poles topped by signs that hold instructions for boaters.

I also saw extensive beds of oysters. These, I was told, provide habitat for other marine animals and plants. They also filter algae from the water, providing a safe, nurturing environment for hundreds of species of sea life. 

A Lesson in Aquatic Life

Following my close-up and personal introduction to Rookery Bay, I checked out the nearby Environmental Learning Center. It houses research laboratories, classrooms and an auditorium.

Of greatest interest to me was the large aquarium. Here I learned about animals with entertaining names like polka-dot batfish and red-eared and yellow-bellied slider turtles.

After enjoying what is inside the facility, I took a stroll along the elevated wooden outside, which meanders through the mangrove forest.

However, visitors to Naples need not venture out of town to come face-to-face with the natural environment. 

A boardwalk at the Gordon River Greenway is one of several that provide easy access to settings that could be far from human development. It meanders through six different plant communities as it parallels the narrow river. 

Signs identify trees, plants and wildlife and caution strollers to be on the lookout for alligators.

Flora and Fauna Abound in Naples, Florida

The Naples Botanical Garden recreates settings from around the world.
The Naples Botanical Garden recreates settings from around the world. Photo by Victor Block

Nature is tamed at the Naples Botanical Garden. Among the seven environments in that magnificent setting are areas devoted to Asian, Brazilian, and Caribbean, and not surprisingly, there are also native Florida plants and flowers.

Even the Naples Zoo, which was founded as a garden decades before animals were introduced, would be worth visiting for its lush landscaping alone. It resembles a tropical paradise that echoes the rich foliage of its surroundings.

Residents live in environments similar to those in the wild and a proliferation of rare orchids adorns the palm trees.

Strolling Around Downtown Naples

Different aspects of Naples’ appeals are found throughout the town. Exhibits, photos and dioramas at the Collier County Museum tell the story of prehistoric people and animals – including mastodons, lions and camels – that once lived in the area, along with other chapters in its colorful past. 

Displays at the Depot Museum range from the role of Calusa and Seminole Indians to sport fishing to the impact that hurricanes have had on the region. 

Fifth Avenue South in Naples, Florida is a shopper’s dream.
Fifth Avenue South in Naples, Florida is a shopper’s dream. Photo by Victor Block

Some of today’s action is focused along two streets in the center of town. Fifth Avenue South is a luxury shopper’s paradise, lined by high-end stores, art galleries and both upscale and casual restaurants.   

Third Street South is, as posted signs boast, “The birthplace of Old Naples.”  Quaint 1900s cottages and flower-bedecked restaurants are tucked among contemporary mansions. 

For more information, log onto paradisecoast.com.  

Rambling Writers

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