Naples

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Naples on $2 a day (well, not quite)

A March 2004 trip to Naples by gregnabors

Romantic SunsetMore Photos

We live in the stressed-out city of Miami and really needed a relaxing break, but didn't want to drive more than two hours. We also didn't want to spend much money. So we discovered Naples and relaxing southwest Florida on the cheap. . .

  • 14 reviews
  • 2 stories/tips
  • 5 photos

Comfort Inn & Executive SuitesBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Comfort Inn & Executive Suites"

Naples in high season (winter) is typically quite pricey, with many rooms going for $200 a night.

To beat the high prices, we often have stayed at the Comfort Inn & Executive Suites (I-75 and Exit 101). Convenient to downtown Naples, and there's a Cracker Barrel next door.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Comfort Inn & Executive Suites
1221 5th Avenue South Naples, Florida 34102
(239) 649-5800

Wellesley InnBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

We have stayed in the beach hotels during low season (summer) when they are affordable, but we really didn't want to pay the big bucks for spring break. After checking the Internet and calling around, we found affordable lodgings. However, after calling AAA, they found an excellent deal for us at the
Wellesley Inn (5th Avenue South and Tamiami Trail).

We got a suite for $65 a night, and even the check-in clerk said it was an incredible deal. Continental breakfast was part of the package, including make-your-own waffles. We also were given access to a health club about a mile away (Health Quest). We were also within walking distance to 8 restaurants, the closest being Olive Garden.

Great location.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Wellesley Inn
1555 5th Avenue South Naples, Florida 34102
(239) 793-4646

Vanderbilt Beach & Harbour ClubBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Vanderbilt Inn on the Gulf"

For the low season (summer), we enjoy the Vanderbilt Inn on the Gulf. Any beachfront accommodations should be enjoyable -- try searching the Net for the best deal, then call AAA to see if they can better it.

The rooms were fairly simple, but the real attractions are the Gulf beaches, sunsets and nature. Next to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park -- beautiful white sand beaches.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Vanderbilt Beach & Harbour Club
9301 Gulf Shore Drive Naples, Florida 34108
(239) 597-3144

Olive GardenBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

If you want an affordable and reasonably healthy meal at Olive Garden, try the soup and salad combo, served with their famous garlic breadsticks -- $5.95.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Olive Garden
1565 5th Ave S Naples, Florida 34102
(239) 774-1222

Cracker Barrel Old Country StoreBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Cracker Barrel"

Need comfort food? Head on down to the Cracker Barrel, off I-75, exit 101. Good old American food -- I'm a sucker for the blackened catfish dinner with mashed potatoes.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store
3845 Tollgate Blvd Naples, Florida 34114
(239) 455-6588

Nature's Garden Of NaplesBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Nature's Garden"

Looking for health food? Try Nature's Garden -- full service, traditional health food store. They have a hot table health food buffet during the week. Conveniently located in the center of Naples, across from Coastland Center Mall in the Naples Plaza.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Nature's Garden Of Naples
2091 9th St N Naples, Florida 34103
(239) 530-4440

Romantic sunsets on the beachBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Romantic Sunset
If the best things in life are free, then watching the sun set into the Gulf is a must. If you're not paying top dollar for a beachfront room, head to Lowdermilk Park (one of the few public access points to the Gulf) to watch the sun's majestic descent into the copper-blue Gulf. Unforgettable!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Romantic sunsets on the beach
Lowdermilk Beach Park Naples, Florida 34102
(239) 213-3029

Tin CityBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Crazy Merchandise at Tin City
Check out Tin City, an old tin-roofed oyster-processing plant by the bay, now converted into 30 fun shops and restaurants. Here you can browse through stores ranging from the sublime to the unbeatably tacky, try the latest fashions or loud tropical shirts. Have you ever seen alligator and flamingo decorator bath soaps? They're here.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Tin City
U.S. 41 East Naples, Florida
(239) 262-4200

Walking Barefoot on the BeachBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "walking barefoot on the beach for miles"

Next to the Vanderbilt Inn on the Gulf. Beautiful white sand beaches -- great to go walking in the early morning when there's no one else around yet!
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Walking Barefoot on the Beach
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park Naples, Florida 34108
(239) 597-6196

Corkscrew Swamp SanctuaryBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Waiting for dinner
We highly recommend the walking tour of Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary -- it's off the beaten path, but totally worth seeing. A 2-mile wooden boardwalk takes you through the sanctuary, where you view various types of terrain and wildlife.

We saw various herons, owls, lizards and alligators. The Audobon Society guides set out early in the morning with telescopes and binoculars, and they set them up pointing at the most promising nests for public viewing. The gift shop is (literally) a hoot, too!

Also at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, we met Rod Wiley, Everglades wildlife photographer par excellence. He had an exhibit at the Visitor's Center. His photos captured the personallity of each creature like nothing I'd ever seen before!

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
375 Sanctuary Road West Naples, Florida 34120
(239) 348-9151

Village on Venetian BayBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Village at Venetian Bay"

Village at Venetian Bay
The Village at Venetian Bay (near the beach end of Parkshore Drive) is a great place to window-shop and people-watch. The stores (and people) are beautiful but very pricey. People-watching passes the time and costs nothing -- it's fun to watch the well-feathered flocks of Naples preening their elaborate plumage.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Village on Venetian Bay
4200 Gulf Shore Boulevard North Naples, Florida 34103
(239) 261-6100

St. Vincent DePaul Thrift StoreBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Thrifting"

Naples is known for its elegant shopping. For the rest of us (wink, wink), Naples also has a wide selection of thrift stores. The best, according to the locals, is the St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store (3196 Davis Blvd., at the intersection of Davis Blvd. and Airport-Pulling Road). I scored a pair of hideous pink plaid golf pants for $1, suitable for our next costume party.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store
3196 Davis Boulevard Naples, Florida 34104
(239) 775-2907

Capital Pawn SuperstoreBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Pawn Crawling"

If you're like me, you always thought pawn shops were nasty, ratty, grubby affairs run by a 300-pound guy named Moe with an eyepatch and wooden leg, ably assisted by a Rottweiler and packing a concealed Magnum. Think no longer!

Capital Pawn Superstore (1933 Davis Blvd.) is a bright, clean store staffed by fresh-faced young employees eager to assist you. Italian statuary graces the exterior, while stuffed lion and hyena heads greet you from the back wall. We bought DVDs in great shape for $8 each. There was a great selection of power tools, stereo equipment and the like. I would've bought a large Honda generator for only $750, but there was no way to fit it into the car for our return trip.

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Capital Pawn Superstore
1933 Davis Boulevard Naples, Florida 34104
(239) 774-7775

Window ShoppingBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Window-Shopping in Downtown Naples"

Downtown Naples is verrrry tony and worth a drive through. Many trendy shops are there to take your money! Currently, there are painted statues of alligators (what else?) scattered all over the downtown and Tin City areas. The last weekend we were there, several blocks of downtown were blocked off for the Naples Art Show, and we enjoyed a pleasant stroll around the booths.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by gregnabors on April 7, 2004

Window Shopping
Downtown Naples Naples, Florida

Budget AccommodationsBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

We live in Miami and really needed a relaxing break, but didn't want to drive more than 2 hours. We also didn't want to spend much money. So, we discovered Naples and relaxing Southwest Florida on the cheap...

Naples in high season (winter) is typically quite pricey, with many rooms going for $200 a night. To beat the high prices, we often have stayed at the Comfort Inn & Executive Suites (I-75 and Exit 101). Convenient to downtown Naples, and there's a Cracker Barrel next door.

We have stayed in the beach hotels during low season (summer) when they are affordable, but we really didn't want to pay the big bucks for spring break. After checking the Internet and calling around, we found affordable lodgings. However, after calling AAA, they found an excellent deal for us at the Wellesley Inn (5th Avenue South and Tamiami Trail). We got a suite for $65 a night, and even the check-in clerk said it was an incredible deal. Continental breakfast was part of the package, including make-your-own waffles. We also were given access to a health club about a mile away (Health Quest). We were also within walking distance to 8 restaurants, the closest being Olive Garden.

For the low season (summer), we enjoy the Vanderbilt Inn on the Gulf. Any beachfront accommodations should be enjoyable -- try searching the Net for the best deal, then call AAA to see if they can better it.

Romantic BeachesBest of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Naples has many beautiful white sand beaches. We enjoy the Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, next to the Vanderbilt Inn on the Gulf.

If the best things in life are free, then watching the sun set into the Gulf is a must. If you're not paying top dollar for a beachfront room, head to Lowdermilk Park (one of the few public access points to the Gulf) to watch the sun's majestic descent into the copper-blue Gulf. Unforgettable!

About the Writer

gregnabors
gregnabors
Miami, Florida

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