Text by Marc Graser
Flanked by a white-sand beach, preserved natural beauty and protected parkland, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Naples are a jewel on Southwest Florida’s Paradise Coast.
The resort has long been an exceptional choice for family vacations, offering an assortment of activities for children, as well as luxurious amenities, championship golf, world-class dining and spa treatments for adults. But with its new collection of upscale residences, The Ritz-Carlton Naples can now also be called home.
With a population of around 20,000 residents, Naples never feels overwhelming. It’s an idyllic coastal community with a tropical island vibe and enough outdoor activities to please anyone’s interests.
Dubbed “The Golf Capital of the World,” Naples fits the description with the most holes of any city in Florida. It has around 60 18-hole golf courses; 30 are open to the public. Those include Old Corkscrew, by Jack Nicklaus; Old Collier, Olde Florida; Calusa Pines; and the Gold and Black courses at Tiburón Golf Club, both by Greg Norman, which host PGA and LPGA Tour events.
While a full trip to the nearby Everglades might be too ambitious for one day, you can connect with 1,000 species of flora and fauna at the Naples Botanical Garden.
Sunseekers will find plenty of coastline to explore; the area’s city limits boast some of Florida’s best beaches, including Clam Pass Beach Park, Lowdermilk Beach and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park.
Start with The Ritz-Carlton’s network of beachfront boardwalks that take you along three miles of pristine beach, mangrove and palm trees.
Make sure to visit the historic Naples Pier, built in 1888, that stretches 1,000 feet into the Gulf’s aqua blue waters, a perfect spot to catch the sunset.
There are plenty of chic shops, boutiques and art galleries in historic downtown Naples, especially on Fifth Avenue South, Third Street South and Tin City, including Marissa Collections and Maus & Hoffman.
Vibrant bars and restaurants with inviting outdoor patios elevate sea-to-table dining and will satiate vegans to carnivores alike. Local favorites include Sea Salt and Bha! Bha! Persian Bistro. Menus around town are big on Italian fare, like the sautéed Florida Snapper Piccata at Campiello Ristorante & Bar. For sweet tooths, there’s Kilwin’s for ice cream, and MonKey Bread Factory, offering unique fillings from coconut to Florida orange. Tony’s Off Third has a nice crustless Key Lime pie tarte.
Kunjani Craft Coffee & Gallery brews beans from Florida roasters, including Naples’ own Black Tulip Coffee and Miami’s Per’La Specialty Roasters.
Back at the hotel, sunsets over the Gulf are fiery and long-lingering, and pair well with a cocktail at the outdoor bar at Gumbo Limbo.
