For an overdeveloped and upscale city like Naples, Florida, the beaches are remarkably well cared for and preserved. It's no Sanibel, but there are plenty of trees and there is the beautiful Clam Pass County Park which offers the chance to get away from the tall condos and ostentatious, but elegant residential mansions.
Naples beaches have lots of tropical foliage, making them the most tropical looking beaches on the Gulf Coast of Florida. In particular, near the Naples Pier, the tall coconut palms are at their best. All of the residential neighborhoods are lush with tropical foliage and no doubt you'll be hoping there are some Naples homes for sale in your price range.
Naples public beaches include Delnor Wiggins State Park, Vanderbilt Beach, Clam Pass County Park, Park Shore beaches, Lowdermilk Park Public Beach, and street-end beach accesses north and south of the pier.
Naples Beach is one of the most beautiful in Florida. Upscale and exquisitely landscaped residential mansions decorate the shoreline behind tall, graceful coconut palms and lend a lush tropical air to the Gulf Beach.
Downtown Naples is literally steps from one of the best public beaches anywhere, Lowdermilk Park Beach. You can park at the beach (metered), enjoy yourself on the beach, then walk a few steps to downtown Naples for lunch or shopping (upscale). Naples offers plenty of hotel rooms, but on the beach, renting a Naples beachfront condominium would be the most likely option. The Waldorf Astoria is located at Clam Pass County Park and provides beach equipment rentals. The Waldorf would be an option for staying near the beach.
The view from the Naples Pier. I could stand here and take pictures all day.
Why Choose Naples, Florida for a Beach Vacation?
Naples has a lot going for it when it comes to accommodating visitors from out-of-town. When I was a teenager in the 1970's, our family didn't take many trips, but one of our most memorable was the three or four days we spent on Naples beach after returning from the Florida Keys. The tropical feel of the beach and the city won me over. It had almost as many coconut palms as Key West.
Here's my list of reasons why Naples might be a good choice for a beach vacation:
- Naples is warmer than most of Florida during the cooler months of December through April.
- Naples has some of the most lush tropical foliage near the beach of anywhere in Florida.
- Naples has an unbelievable amount of money and much of it is invested in real estate. It's a lot of fun to just drive along the beach and gawk at the multi-million dollar mansions.
- Naples has a mix of accommodations, from chain motels along U.S. 41, to 5 star hotels near the beach.
- Naples provides a lot of public beach access in some very, very upscale neighborhoods. It's a very pleasant place to be.
- Naples is famous for its shopping and dining opportunities, and it's close to nature attractions for the increasing ecotourism visitors.
Did you find something in that list that interests you?
The Naples Pier was initially constructed to load cattle onto boats to get them to market. Today it is purely a leisure structure, filled with fishers and sightseeers.
My favorite place on Naples Beach is way down at the southern end at the most southern street-end accesses. It's quiet, and the homes and landscaping are just amazing.
Vanderbilt Beach is a busy county access between condominiums. It's a convenient access for people who live nearby, but isn't the best destination beach. Parking facilities are not the most convenient.
Clam Pass County Park is a fantastic beach. Beach vendors and a great snack bar provide you with the creature comforts, the water is great for swimming, and it's just a short walk to scenic Clam Pass.
Clam Pass is probably the smallest inlet in Florida. It's beautiful. On the other side of the inlet you can see the private beach facilities of the Pelican Bay Community.
BeachHunter on south Naples Beach in front of one of the many residential beach mansions. I think the one behind me is bigger than the hotel I was staying in.
Here's a scene from Delnor Wiggins State Park. Delnor Wiggins is an exercise in contrast. While it is an undeveloped beach and is completely wooded except for the parking areas, it is also close to the urban and suburban areas of Naples and attracts a large crowd. It can get so crowded that the parking area fills up and the park is closed to new entrants. They even have an electronic sign outside the park telling you whether the park is open or closed due to parking availability. There are alternatives for parking and access, but you'll have to buy my book to get those beach secrets!
