OT: Naples, FL Recommendations

Sep 21, 2014
35
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So, our reservations for Seagrove got cancelled and we had to scramble to find something with availability on short notice. The panhandle is completely booked through July. We ended up booking for the same week in Naples. We will be taking our three kids with us and the wife and I have never been there before. Wondering if the Pack has any recommendations on dining and activities in that area. Thanks in advance.
 

engie

Freshman
May 29, 2011
10,757
92
48
Spend 6 weeks per average year there for work, but haven’t yet been back since Covid. Mel’s Diner is my favorite place to eat there. Get a prime rib meal for under $20. Andre’s for a Peter Luger steak. Was started by a PL chef that retired to Naples then got sick of retirement, but probably not a meal for a family of 5. Tin City seems really cool from the distance. The golf recommendation is essentially correct. That’s basically the entire town. You’ll go in restaurants where you are the youngest person there other than your kids. Do NOT try to go early. The retirees will still beat you there. If you wait till 7:30 every restaurant in town is cleared out.

Be prepared to deal with a good bit of NYC south from a people perspective. Rich old retired ******** that feel they are the most important thing in the world and still in a hurry.
 

Mobile Bay

All-Conference
Jul 26, 2020
4,207
2,145
113
If you go straight east out of town on 93, then left on 29 you will find the Florida Panther Wildlife Refuge. It's got a neat little walking trail. Be careful, I almost stepped on a rattlesnake there last fall. Chokoloskee is a neat little town. It's got an old store /museum from it's days as a trading post. After that you can drive the loop road off US 41 and see a bunch of gators. It's kind of like riding the loop at Cades Cove in the smokies, only it's a swamp. Top that off with a swamp buggy or airboat ride and you have had a good day I would say.
 

hotdogface

Redshirt
Aug 23, 2012
114
0
0
So, our reservations for Seagrove got cancelled and we had to scramble to find something with availability on short notice. The panhandle is completely booked through July. We ended up booking for the same week in Naples. We will be taking our three kids with us and the wife and I have never been there before. Wondering if the Pack has any recommendations on dining and activities in that area. Thanks in advance.

Dining - USS Nemo
Fun - get your hotel to recommend a guide and go saltwater fishing; visit Ten Thousand Island state park on the water, again with a guide - other worldly; the botanical gardens is good if you are in to such things;
Beaches - i think they are better on marco island, but not sure what level of public access they have

Prepare to feel youthful and vibrant. And whoever said go early, not late, to restaurants was spot on.
 

ronpolk

All-Conference
May 6, 2009
9,170
4,778
113
Spend 6 weeks per average year there for work, but haven’t yet been back since Covid. Mel’s Diner is my favorite place to eat there. Get a prime rib meal for under $20. Andre’s for a Peter Luger steak. Was started by a PL chef that retired to Naples then got sick of retirement, but probably not a meal for a family of 5. Tin City seems really cool from the distance. The golf recommendation is essentially correct. That’s basically the entire town. You’ll go in restaurants where you are the youngest person there other than your kids. Do NOT try to go early. The retirees will still beat you there. If you wait till 7:30 every restaurant in town is cleared out.

Be prepared to deal with a good bit of NYC south from a people perspective. Rich old retired ******** that feel they are the most important thing in the world and still in a hurry.

Ha I think the median age of the town is like 65. Some of those south Florida communities are nothing but retirement communities. And they don’t even like people below the age of 60.

With that said, I think the beach is still nice there. But if you’re looking for something outside of the beach to do, I’d try Clearwater/St. Pete or Miami area.
 

blackjackdog3

Redshirt
Aug 23, 2012
280
32
28
Watermark Grill, Trulucks and Ocean Prime for great seafood. Naples is really nice. I’d go on an Everglades boat tour while there.