2025 Destination Fact Sheet
OVERVIEW:
Florida’s Paradise Coast – Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades – provides an array of luxury, adventure, vacation, and business travel options year-round. Featuring endless horizons and world-renowned Gulf of America sunsets, the destination is bordered by a 30-mile coastline ribboned with white-sand beaches and the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, the official gateway to the Everglades. With more than 80 percent of Collier County dedicated to “green space,” visitors and locals alike are surrounded with beautiful open-air spaces and spectacular tropical flora and fauna at every turn.
Renowned for its luxury lifestyle and sophisticated ambiance, travelers to the destination indulge in decadent dining experiences from farm-to-table concepts to culinary classics. A globally inspired arts and culture scene offers a full schedule of live theatre, opera and philharmonic events, complemented by a line-up of museums that offer fine arts, historical artifacts, and interactive exhibits for the young and young-at-heart. Shopping experiences abound from home décor and decorating ideas in the design district to luxury designer boutiques on 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South. The lively downtown area, known as Old Naples, is the perfect location to sip a cocktail while enjoying the “see and be seen” vibe of people-watching as luxury, exotic, and classic cars parade down the avenue.
The stellar line-up of outdoor adventures and activities includes access to a multitude of national, state, local and private parks for swimming, boating, fishing, nature trails and wilderness treks. Throughout the destination, more than 90 public and private golf courses create elegantly manicured vistas while numerous nature preserves offer a home to rare and endangered wildlife, including more than 350 species of birds.
DESTINATION: WHERE THE HIGH LIFE MEETS THE WILDLIFE
Naples is a charming resort city on the coast, offering the ultimate in luxury, fresh local cuisine, great shopping, a thriving arts and culture scene, and much more. U.S. News & World Report rated Naples the No. 1 “Best Places to Live in Florida,” the No. 1 “Safest Places to Live in Florida,” the No. 6 “Best Places to Retire,” and one of the “15 Best Beaches in Florida” by weighing factors of weather, safety, economy, education, health and quality of life. The area is famous for its beautiful white-sand beaches, abundant golf courses, fishing, boating, water sports, arts and culture and spectacular sunsets. Dedicated to enriching the community with visual and performing arts and education, Naples is home to more than 100 art galleries featuring local artists, as well as numerous private and public museums featuring interactive exhibits and fine art collections.
Flanked by nearly 100 miles of islands, bays and estuaries that will never be developed, Marco Island is the largest of Southwest Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands and is surrounded by the Gulf of America on one side and pristine mangrove estuaries on the other. Immediately to the south of Marco Island is the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge and the Gulf Coast portion of Everglades National Park. This pristine saltwater wilderness extends all the way to the tip of mainland Florida and is recognized as a top spot for anglers, many of whom come from across the country and around the world to fish for top Florida gamefish including tarpon, snook, redfish, permit, seatrout and more. Visitors to Marco Island enjoy iconic white-sand beaches, fresh seafood and water activities including backcountry and offshore fishing, boating, and paddling. A nature lovers’ retreat, Marco Island was voted 12th in the category of “Best Islands in the U.S.” by Condé Nast Traveler in 2023.
South of Naples and Marco Island, Everglades National Park is the only subtropical preserve in North America and is part of the largest wetlands ecosystem in the United States and one of 25 World Heritage Sites in the U.S. The Gulf Coast Visitor Center – one of three main entrances to the park – is in Everglades City, the original County Seat for Collier County. This quaint Old Florida-style small town sits on the edge of the wilderness. It provides access to the breathtaking Ten Thousand Islands and Wilderness Waterway section of the park, where visitors access this saltwater wonderland area via boat tours, fishing charters and guided paddling adventures. In addition to alligators and rare American crocodiles, adventurers will spot bottlenose dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles, along with a large variety of birds of prey and wading birds on display in the Gulf Coast Everglades. Just outside Everglades City is the expansive Big Cypress National Preserve, which provides even more and varied outdoor recreational opportunities than Everglades National Park, including hunting, off-road vehicle access, hiking, paddling, biking and several long wilderness drive areas. Big Cypress was the first to receive the National Preserve designation from the U.S. National Park system.
More than 80 percent of Florida’s Paradise Coast, within Collier County, Fla. is dedicated to parks and nature preserves. Much of this area is covered by the Everglades ecosystem and is home to many inhabitants, including hundreds of species of colorful birds, fresh and saltwater fish, alligators, bobcats, Florida black bear and the rare, endangered Florida panther.
LODGING:
Accommodations in Florida’s Paradise Coast range from luxurious gulf-front beach resorts, such as the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa, LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort and Edgewater Beach Hotel, to historic inns and cozy value-priced hotels. Trendy boutique hotels, such as Inn on Fifth, Inn at Pelican Bay and Bellasera Resort, vacation rental homes, condos, and outdoor camping sites offer visitors a wide variety of accommodations.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón and The Naples Grande Beach Resort offer golfers the perfect blend of a challenging 18-holes and a great night’s sleep. Naples Bay Resort & Marina and The Perry Hotel are the only accommodations in Southwest Florida with a marina and direct access to the Gulf of America.
Resorts and hotels offer seasonal family activities and package deals throughout the year, and many of them welcome furry friends with special “doggie bags,” drinking bowls and biscuits. And, for a change of pace, The Seminole Casino Hotel provides a night of entertainment and a fling with “Lady Luck.”
Outdoor enthusiasts will feel right at home at the many campgrounds, fishing lodges and rustic accommodations that offer a peaceful respite in the heart of the Everglades. Explore endless miles of natural habitat along the Wilderness Waterway and Paradise Coast Blueway. Discover the magic of the Ten Thousand Islands coastal mangrove estuary or spend a leisurely day at any one of dozens of beautifully maintained local parks, nature preserves and state parks.
BEACHES:
With more than 30 miles of soft, white-sand beaches, there’s a shore for every visitor to Florida’s Paradise Coast – whether that be a fun and lively beach scene, or a perfect secluded spot. North of Naples, beach access at Clam Pass Park is ideal for family beach days or paddling in the calm waters of this 35-acre coastal habitat and preserve. A three-quarter-mile-long boardwalk winds through a mangrove forest to the sandy beach. One of the last undeveloped barrier islands on Florida’s southwest coast, Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park sits on 342 acres of natural land. It is home to the land-dwelling Gopher Tortoise and a variety of sea turtles that nest on the beach. Visitors experience unspoiled beaches, surf fishing, shelling, picnicking and even scuba diving along the natural hard-bottom reef of Delnor Wiggins Pass State Park, crowned in 2023 as the #8 best beach in the U.S., according to Dr. Beach’s annual rankings. The area abounds in birdwatching opportunities where sightings of eagles, ospreys and owls are plentiful; it is also a great location to witness the migratory shorebirds in the fall months.
Accessible only by boat, tucked just between Naples and Marco Island, lies the barrier island of Keewaydin Island which boasts eight miles of untouched beach. It is also the only pet-friendly beach in the Naples/Marco Island area. The natural environment in and around Marco Island provides the perfect backdrop for both relaxing and adventurous activities. Tigertail Beach Park and its surrounding sand bars offer some of the best shelling in the world. A casual stroll along Marco Island beaches will reward the shell seeker with a wide variety of treasures including whelks, olive shells, scallops, and hundreds of other gems of the sea.
DINING:
Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades are renowned worldwide for a variety of incredible restaurants. Foodies take advantage of the many distinctive dining options throughout the Paradise Coast, including fresh-off-the-dock seafood at waterfront cafes, sophisticated cuisine at top-tier restaurants and numerous locally owned, independent restaurants. Known as the Stone Crab Capital of the World, Everglades City provides restaurants throughout Florida with this fresh delicacy annually from October 15 through May 1, Florida’s official stone crab season. About 20 of the area’s locally owned restaurants belong to Naples Originals, an organization that promotes the concept of locally owned and operated restaurants. Celebrated culinary events include Sizzle Dining, a three-week long community-driven event that celebrates the culinary landscape in Collier County during the month of September; the Everglades Seafood Festival, an Old Florida three-day seafood festival; the annual Naples Stone Crab Festival held along the eclectic Tin City each October, and more.
ARTS & CULTURE:
Visitors enjoy the Paradise Coast’s thriving arts scene which features exhibits at institutions such as The Baker Museum at Artis―Naples, renowned Everglades photographer Clyde Butcher’s Big Cypress Gallery, the Naples Art Association Galleries and the Marco Island Center for the Arts. For live music and the performing arts, Artis— Naples is home of the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra, Broadway productions, concerts and other performances. There is also the Sugden Theatre, home of the Naples Players, or Theatre Zone and Gulfshore Playhouse for musical and dramatic performances. Opera Naples performs between November and May. The rich history of the region, from the ancient Calusa civilization to turn of the century Gladesmen and pioneers is on display at the area’s many historical museums. The Naples Botanical Garden, Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, and Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center are all brightened by regular and traveling exhibits.
FAMILY FUN:
Multi-generational families enjoy the array of activities, attractions and events throughout the Paradise Coast, including the Naples Pier, Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, Conservancy of Southwest Florida and Naples Botanical Garden.
One of the most interesting activities for families is a cruise on the Dolphin Explorer, which allows passengers to serve as “Citizen Scientists,” assisting dolphin researchers with the ongoing 10,000 Islands Dolphin Project. This experience was recognized in the
2013 National Geographic book, “100 Places That Can Change Your Child’s Life.”
In addition to the beautiful beaches lining the Naples and Marco Island coastlines, there are numerous boats and Waverunner tours for dolphin watching, shell collecting, sightseeing, and viewing the sunsets, as well as airboat rides in the Everglades.
Florida’s first Great Wolf Lodge in Naples is the 21st lodge to join the water park resort family. The property includes a 90,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 60,000-square-foot Great Wolf Adventure Park and 500 rooms along with restaurants and retail outlets for families to enjoy throughout their stay.
SPORTS:
The Paradise Coast is a popular destination for sports league events and tournaments for youth, as well as adults, with many events hosted at North Collier Regional Park. Naples hosts the U.S. Open Pickleball Championships in April, a highly anticipated event for sports enthusiasts to participate in or to watch as spectators.
FC Naples, the new United Soccer League (USL) League One franchise and the first professional soccer team in Florida's Paradise Coast, will kick off its inaugural season in 2025.
Southwest Florida is also now home to one of the greatest sports facilities in the country with the opening of the Paradise Coast Sports and Entertainment Complex. The facility combines high-quality amenities, creative site design and state-of-the-art amateur athletic facilities, including FIFA-certified turf fields for soccer, lacrosse, rugby, football, and flag football. The $120 million county-owned sports complex is located near Collier Boulevard and I-75 in East Naples.
GOLF:
There are more than 90 golf courses along Florida’s Paradise Coast, which has placed the area as the destination with the most golf holes per capita in the U.S. Many of these courses are private; however, several area resorts allow guests to play at their private courses. Golf enthusiasts can choose from multiple resorts with their own courses, stay in accommodations that have affiliate relationships with private clubs or choose from the area’s excellent public courses. Resorts with courses include LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, Marco Beach Ocean Resort, The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburon, Naples, JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort and GreenLinks Golf Villas at Lely Resort. Top public courses include TPC Treviso Bay, the Flamingo Island and Mustang courses at Lely Resort, Panther Run Golf Club and Arrowhead Golf Club.
The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) named Florida’s Paradise Coast the “Golf Destination of the Year – North America for 2014.” Three professional tournament events are held at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples Tiburón each year, the Grant Thornton Invitational in December; The CHUBB Classic PGA Champion’s Tour tournament in February; and the CME Group Tour Championship, the season-ending event for the LPGA Tour, in November.
NATURE:
In addition to miles of gulf-front beaches, the area’s many bays and rivers provide a network of waterways for boat cruising, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, fishing or relaxing. The Paradise Coast is a paddler’s heaven, featuring easy-to-challenging waterways for adventurers to navigate. For the nature-forward thrill seeker, The Wilderness Waterway is a 99-mile paddling waterway from Everglades City to Flamingo, and takes at least one week to traverse, with no civilization to be found along the trail.
From backcountry flats fishing to offshore charters in the Gulf of America, fishing is an incredibly popular activity throughout the Paradise Coast. Professional fishing guides provide private or group boat charters, offering anglers a chance to catch prized tarpon, and snook, among redfish, grouper, kingfish, snapper, grouper, and other popular game fish. The renowned waters of the Ten Thousand Islands are perfect for kayak fishing, with multi-day fishing and camping eco-trips available in the winter season.
Marco Island's beach and the surrounding deserted barrier island beaches’ sand bars offer some of the best shelling in the world, with prizes such as whelks, olive, scallops, and hundreds of other types of shells. Several tour operators provide short boat trips to deserted sand bars and beach islands that are covered in shells and free from crowds, providing a relaxed atmosphere to search for these treasures.
The Ten Thousand Islands stretch endlessly from Marco Island's southern edge, winding past Everglades City and Chokoloskee all the way down to Flamingo at the southern tip of Florida's mainland. A large percentage of the Ten Thousand Islands is located within the boundaries of either the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge or Everglades National Park, providing a haven for numerous rare and endangered animal and bird species.
Area parks include Everglades National Park’s Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City; Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve; Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge; Collier-Seminole State Park; Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park; Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, with a beautiful white sand beach named as “the No. 8 beach in the U.S. in 2023;” Picayune Strand State Forest; Big Cypress National Preserve; and the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. Great hiking is available at three locations under the protection of the CREW Land & Water Trust northeast of Naples.
The Greenway is a 140-acre ecological corridor located along the Gordon River in the heart of Naples. It offers visitors the chance to view native wildlife and build an appreciation for Southwest Florida’s natural beauty. It provides 2.5 miles of walkways (asphalt, mulch, and boardwalk) that meander through six different native plant communities. The Greenway connects The Naples Zoo to the North, and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida and Baker Park to the South. Designed for recreational activities, such as jogging, walking, hiking, biking, rollerblading, and skateboarding, it is a great location for the entire family to enjoy a day in nature.
Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary provides access to the world’s only remaining old-growth bald cypress forest. For visitors looking to explore these parks and preserves, there are many ranger-led and self-guided tours, in addition to paddling, hiking and swamp buggy excursions.
Everglades National Park, with its Gulf Coast Visitor Center entrance in Everglades City, contains both temperate and tropical plant communities, including sawgrass prairies, mangrove and cypress swamps, rare orchids, pinelands, and hardwood hammocks, as well as marine and estuarine environments. The park is known for its rich bird life, particularly wading birds such as the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, great blue heron, and egrets, as well as birds of prey, including ospreys, bald eagles, swallow-tailed kites, Everglade’s snail kites and more. It is also the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles exist in the same habitat. Everglades National Park has been designated a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance.
HIDDEN GEMS:
The Revs Institute is more than a car museum – it is a place to see society through a different lens. It is a working educational institution dedicated to the study, preservation, conservation, and restoration of historically significant automobiles. It houses one of the largest private car collections in the world and showcases classics, such as the 1926 Bentley-3-Liter Super Sport Skiff; a 1924 Miller 122/91 Racing Car; a 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Tourer; and an 1896 Panhard et Levassor Wagonette. But the stars of the show are the sleek and sexy 1995 McLaren F-1; a 1971 Porsche 917 K; a 1967 Eagle Gurney Weslake Mk1 Formula 1; and a 1950 Cadillac Series 61 Le Mans “Le Monstre.” This is a “must-see,” once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the beauty and incomparable engineering of some of the world’s most treasured automobiles. The museum has limited admissions and viewing hours per day and tickets must be purchased in advance.
The iconic Naples Pier is Naples’ most visited attraction. It is the perfect location to stroll with the family at sunset, play a game of volleyball in the sand or cast a line to catch “the big one.” The Naples Pier is currently under reconstruction due to damage sustained from Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Historic Palm Cottage, where the Naples Historical Society is housed, is the oldest home in Naples. It was built in 1895 by one of Naples’ founding residents, Walter N. Haldeman and sits just a block away from the famous Naples Pier. It showcases Southwest Florida’s early charm and is filled with authentic artwork and antiques.
Marco Island Historical Museum is home to the famous Key Marco Cat sculpture. This priceless piece of early American Calusa Indian art is currently on loan from the Smithsonian Institute along with other artifacts from a Smithsonian archeological expedition in 1896. This display shares insights into the life and culture of Marco Island’s earliest inhabitants.
MEETINGS:
Meeting planners are increasingly sold on Florida’s Paradise Coast as a location for meetings, conferences, and incentive gatherings. The beauty of the destination and its diverse range of locations, services, support and activities for attendees set the stage for picture perfect events. The Naples, Marco Island and Gulf Coast Everglades area provides the perfect backdrop for groups, conferences, association meetings, family gatherings and more. Planners are attracted to the many values available at the area’s excellent hotel and resort-based conference facilities, and the area’s small city charm is enhanced by world-class amenities often found only in much larger destinations. Begin planning at www.ParadiseCoast.com/meetings.
WEDDINGS:
Florida’s Paradise Coast is known for spectacular sunsets, gentle waves and soft sugar-sand beaches that provide the perfect backdrop for weddings, honeymoons and milestone celebrations. From waterside luxury beach resorts situated along miles of pristine coastline, resorts such as The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Naples Grande Beach Resort, Edgewater Beach Hotel and the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort offer all the elements for a picture-perfect beach ceremony and reception.
Cityside options in Naples’ downtown area offer classic and boutique locations that welcome brides and bride-to-be. 5th Avenue South and nearby Third Street South offer scenic areas alive with art galleries and boutique shops. Naples Art provides galleries filled with modern works of art just across the street from Cambier Park, a charming setting for a casual, outdoor ceremony. For those who prefer a nautical setting, the Naples Bay Resort & Marina is a stellar option for upscale receptions and waterside ceremonies.
For a more casual setting and those with a more adventurous spirit, the Everglades offers natural wonders and a taste of Old Florida. Accommodations and reception venues include The Ivey House Everglades Adventures Hotel and the historic Rod & Gun Club.
A safari-style affair can be had at the NGALA Wildlife Preserve which offers a one-of-a-kind setting, complete with exotic wildlife and authentic entertainment options. Fine dining can be enjoyed under the stars or in a state-of-the-art luxury tent.
GETTING HERE:
Easily accessible by car, the region is an hour and a half from Fort Lauderdale, two hours from Miami and two and a half hours from Tampa. Major airports servicing the area include Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Miami International Airport (MIA) and Tampa International Airport (TPA).
GET SOCIAL:
When visiting Florida’s Paradise Coast, visitors are encouraged to share their experiences:
• Facebook: @TheParadiseCoast
• Instagram: @ParadiseCoast
• YouTube: youtube.com/c/NaplesMarcoIslandEvergladesFlorida
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/florida%27s-paradise-coast
CONTACT:
Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB
2660 N. Horseshoe Drive, Suite 105
Naples, FL 34101
www. ParadiseCoast.com
U.S. Toll-Free: 800-688-3600
Email: info@paradisecoast.com
REQUEST A VISIT: If our destination is a great fit for an upcoming assignment, please Contact Us regarding an upcoming FAM or individual media visit.
VISUAL ASSETS: Media Gallery
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Sandra Rios
Public Relations & Communications Manager
Naples, Marco Island, Everglades CVB
Sandra.Rios@CollierCountyfl.gov
Mackenzie Comerer
Lou Hammond Group
MackenzieC@louhammond.com
Erin Murphy
Lou Hammond Group
Erinm@louhammond.com