Sanibel to Naples: Little Trip with a Big Difference

In a much earlier post, we suggested some places, possibly worth the trip, off Sanibel Island. One spot we highlighted was Corkscrew Swamp, a lovely preserve in Naples. The reason for the attention is that the balance of nature in Corkscrew Swamp is quite remarkable. All that water and all that greenery, yet so few bugs. Very susceptible to getting bitten, I was astonished that I could spend an hour in Corkscrew without a mark.

But there are other good reasons to sally forth to Naples, and those reasons grow by the day.

Just a short twenty years ago, Naples had a nice downtown called OLDE NAPLES with a few shops and restaurants. That downtown has spread and gotten nicer and provides a delightful afternoon or evening experience for walking, window shopping, stopping for an ice cream or coffee and photo taking. The look and feel is much more southern France than Southwest Florida.

If you like beautifully manicured, perfectly crafted and lively small towns, then Naples will fill your eyes with lovely images.

Walk further out of the town, and the images don't diminish. It's no surprise that Naples is the seat of Collier County, considered by many experts to be the fastest growing area of wealth in the entire USA. And if you want to be dazzled by opulence, walk or drive to the Port Royal area where you will see some incredible homes. Probably best not to get too attached though as the homes for sale start at about 2 million and go up considerably from there. But it is an amazing sight!

The Naples Philharmonic, at a little distance from olde Naples, offers a wide array of entertainment in a lovely hall. In addition to rock and blues, the Sarasota Opera Company does 2 or 3 productions, full scale, at the Naples Philharmonic. Right next to the Phil is the Art Museum, but check the schedule to make sure that they are open.

And the restaurants in Naples are both numerous and good offering eclectic fare ranging from traditional Continental to exotic blends of French/Moroccan and Italian/mid eastern. If you like fusion style cooking, you will find any number of choices where attentive wait staff, crisp white linens and fine dining will be the norm.

Because Sanibel beaches tend to be quite laid back and not populated, if you are looking for a more crowded and social beach with food readily available, you may want to check out Barefoot Beach. The beach is nice, always lively and you can grab a quick bite at Doc's, a little beach shack with indoor/outdoor tables, great burgers and crisp fries.

It's interesting to juxtapose Sanibel Island and Naples, only a 40 minute drive from one another. They both show case the best of SW Florida with notably different feels. Naples, a sophisticated, international town and Sanibel a nature island with so much wild life to view. It's a great contrast if you have the time and inclination!