Naples Vacation Rentals
Watch out Miami, Naples is fast becoming one of Florida’s most popular vacation destinations.
According to TripAdvisor and an article in Naples Daily News, more people are opting for Naples over South Beach. In fact, the website recently listed Naples and nearby Marco Island as one of the 20 Best Places to Vacation in the Sunshine State.
Relax by a private pool in one of our Naples vacation rentals and enjoy the beautifully furnished Naples, Florida, vacation homes.
“The Paradise Coast” has everything you need for a fantastic getaway. From beaches, golf courses, five-star restaurants, shopping, and the Everglades, to Sanibel and Captiva Islands, just miles away, there’s no reason you wouldn’t want to visit.
The historic Naples Pier is a must-see for its breathtaking beauty on one of the nation’s most stunning beaches. Not to mention, the Pier is also a popular spot to view Southwest Florida’s spectacular sunsets. Additionally, fishing opportunities along the pier and offshore are second to none.
If you’re looking for adventure while you’re staying in one of our Naples vacation rentals, Collier-Seminole State Park and Everglades National Park are just a car ride away. Sanibel and Captiva Islands, known for their rich deposits of seashells, are nearby as well.
Naples has a lot to offer, but don’t take our word for it. Come see all Naples has to offer for yourself.
Posh Shopping Awaits
Downtown Naples is home to lavish shopping districts such as Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South, where you’ll find unique trinkets, clothing, jewelry and home décor items. The area also features some of the country’s most prominent art galleries. Tin City is about a five to 10-minute drive from downtown Naples. The shopping destination also features restaurants, boat tours and fishing charters.
In the 1920s, Tin City, known for its tin roofs, was known as the “hub of economic development and transport” in Naples. Now Tin City is known for housing more than 30 unique shops. It’s also an excellent place to go to for Naples souvenirs.
If the weather is nice – and it almost always is – you can enjoy the beauty of the waterfront, open-air retail district of The Village Shops On Venetian Bay or Waterside Shops in North Naples.
The Village will make you feel like you’re in Europe and the fact that it’s on Venetian Bay means the views will be spectacular. Waterside Shops is known for having more high-end shopping options including Tiffany & Co., St. John Boutique, Salvatore Ferragamo, Lululemon Athletica, Kate Spade New York, Gucci and Lilly Pulitzer. There’s also a Starbucks and an Apple store.
How Naples Became the Luxury Locale it is Today
Naples sits on the southwestern tip of Florida and was founded by two prominent businessmen in the 1870s. They were drawn to the area’s mild climate and the splendid sunsets along its white, sandy beaches. Since Naples’s beauty was undeniable, they soon declared that the gorgeous Florida bay “surpasses the bay in Naples, Italy.” And when you visit, you’ll see why.
Naples offers its visitors the luxurious amenities they’d expect to enjoy in an upscale beach town. Downtown Naples comprises Fifth Avenue and Third Street South. The two sections are known for their world-class shopping, top-rated restaurants and unique boutiques. With 91 courses to choose from, Naples is also known as a golf destination.
Some of our Naples vacation rentals are in private gated communities or country clubs with access to world-class golf courses. If you’re here to play a round of golf in one of the most idyllic settings in the U.S., we can help make that happen. After a fun-filled day on the green, you can enjoy a delicious meal on Fifth Avenue in downtown Naples. Then, end the day with a picture perfect sunset at the Naples Pier or one of the area’s other beautiful beaches. It can’t get more relaxing than that!
The Naples Winter Wine Festival
Naples is also known for its annual Winter Wine Festival. The extravagant three-day affair features all things wine and food. There’s an auction, too.
Attendees will get to enjoy some of the most delectable entrees from some of the most renowned chefs in the world. Celebrated sommeliers help you select the perfect glasses of wine, and the auction is a spectacle in its own right. Some of the items include trips to exotic places, cars and exclusive bottles of wine.
Proceeds from the Festival benefit the Naples Children & Education Foundation, which works to improve the lives of underprivileged kids. So far, the Foundation’s grants and special educational programs have benefited the lives of more than 200,000 children. In 2017, the Naples Winter Wine Festival was ranked the No. 1 U.S. Charity Wine Auction by Wine Spectator Magazine.
Every year there is a theme, celebrity chefs, an incredible selection of wine and one of the most amazing auctions you’ll ever see. If you’re lucky enough to attend, this is Naples’ social event of the season, and something you’ll talk about for years to come.
History of Naples
Naples is known for its relaxing atmosphere and luxurious amenities. And when it was founded in the late 1800s, it was like nothing the early explorers had ever seen.
However, before Europeans even laid eyes on the charming Gulfside town, it was home to the Calusa Indians, known for creating and building upon huge mounds of shells. The Calusas were wiped out by European enslavement and diseases shortly after Ponce de Leon discovered Southwest Florida in 1513. In the early 1700s, Southwest Florida saw the rise of the Seminole Indians, a mix of enslaved black slaves, refugees and Creek Indians. After the U.S. government declared they had defeated the Seminoles, the area was left virtually uninhabited, though a small group of Seminoles remained, until after the Civil War when trading posts sprang up, owned by Ted Smallwood on Chokoloskee Island and George Storter in Everglades City. You can still visit the historic Smallwood Store today.
Two major players in modern Naples history were Walter Haldeman and Ed Crayton. They brought in electric power, the rail service, a hotel, and they completed Tamiami Trail in 1928. However, a market crash in 1929 followed by World War II put other plans on hold and kept Naples’ small town charm intact and free from major development until the mid-1950s.
Memphis-born, Barron Gift Collier, really helped put Naples on the map. He brought in paved roads, including the Tamiami Trail, telegraphs, electricity and helped attract new businesses and homeowners.
In 1943, what is now known as the Naples Airport was used to train combat pilots. At one point, this attracted several hundred men, many of whom returned to Naples after WWII was over. In 1960, Hurricane Donna hit. However, the natural disaster actually stimulated growth due to an influx of loans and insurance money. In 1962, the county seat was moved from the more rural Everglades City to the fast growing, East Naples.
Naples Depot Museum
If you’re a history buff, you won’t want to miss the Naples Depot Museum. It chronicles a time when the city was a transportation hub, and the Museum shows visitors why the introduction of railroads was a monumental achievement. You’ll also get a chance to see Seminole dugout canoes, an antique swamp buggy, a mule wagon, and restored rail cars.
Pristine Naples Beaches to Enjoy near Royal Shell Naples Vacation Rentals
Naples offers 10 miles of pristine beaches and several immaculate beach parks, like the popular Naples Municipal Beach & Fishing Pier, Vanderbilt Beach Park, Lowdermilk Park, Clam Pass Park and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park. They are all unique and offer something special for everyone. In addition, many of our Naples vacation rentals are Gulf-front.
This is the most popular beach destination in downtown Naples. Part of that is because of the Pier. The second reason is because of the Pier’s incomparable view of the area’s sunsets. You can also play beach volleyball, grab snacks at the concession stand, take a dip in the clear, blue water or walk on miles of the white sand beach.
This is a popular beach destination for locals and spring breakers. There is no place to get food and drinks on the beach, but the Beach Box Café is nearby. The beach is huge so there is space for everyone and there is also a parking garage.
This beach park is near downtown Naples, but it is not as crowded as the Pier. There is a concession stand, children’s playgrounds, volleyball nets, picnic tables and two gazebos you can rent.
This beach is located between the Pier and Vanderbilt Beach. It features a boardwalk through a mangrove forest and it also has a restaurant at the end which overlooks the Gulf of Mexico. You can either walk the three-quarter-mile boardwalk or catch one of the trams. Whichever way you choose, the 35 acres of coastal habitat and preserves are real gems.
According to local blogger, Travlinmad, this beach features one of the most natural regions of dunes and protected beaches in the area. Beachgoers will have plenty of space to choose from and most have grills and picnic tables you can use.Fishing is allowed on the state park’s northernmost beach.
Get in Touch with Nature
If you’re willing to drive about a half-hour away, Naples has a handful of treasures waiting to be discovered, especially if you’re looking to explore Southwest Florida’s natural beauty.
Here are some places to get you started:
- Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
- Everglades National Park
- Big Cypress National Preserve
- Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
- Picayune Strand State Forest
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary comprises about 13,000 acres of the Western Everglades, and it’s known for its population of tropical wading birds.
The Everglades are more than a tropical wonderland. They are an ecosystem and are actually a network of forests and wetlands, all fed by the Kissimmee River, which flows into Lake Okeechobee. “Lake O” is also the largest freshwater lake in FL.
The Cultural Renaissance
An assortment of tantalizing waterfront views serve as the backdrop for the world-class arts and cultural scene in Naples. The city is home to the Naples Philharmonic, Opera Naples, The Naples Players, and more. Plan a trip to Naples and become immersed in the vibrant, diverse cultural offerings. You won’t be disappointed.
Artis-Naples is not only home to the Naples Philharmonic, but you can also find an art museum and other events throughout the year.
The Naples Botanical Garden is another must-see place. The 170-acre garden features 10 different types of gardens and each one is absolutely beautiful.
Palm Cottage is also another Naples gem, and the oldest home in the city. Built in 1895 by one of the city’s founders, Walter N. Haldeman, the house-museum takes you back to the town’s early days and shows you how the original Neapolitans lived.
Naples, FL: An Outdoor Paradise for Children
Beyond the casual beach lifestyle, Naples offers plenty of family-oriented attractions suitable for all ages. Embrace nature through the wonders of the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens or see if you can spot some Florida critters in the wild at one of the area’s abundant nature preserves. Another jewel is the Conservancy of Southwest Florida where visitors can discover a tropical outdoor paradise that even the little ones will enjoy.
A Truly Unique Waterfront Community
Select one of our Naples vacation rentals with waterfront views of boats passing along canals or the captivating Intracoastal Waterway, or of sunsets over the shimmering Gulf of Mexico. Naples is home to some of the world’s most exclusive, opulent Naples vacation rentals bordered by picturesque white sandy beaches. There is a reason why it’s called the Paradise Coast of Florida.
Learn More About The Everglades
Everglades National Park also comprises the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere. You may even see alligators, an American crocodile or a Florida panther while you’re there. Go on a tropical adventure during the day and enjoy the serene setting of our Naples vacation homes when you’re done. Or enjoy a mouthwatering meal in downtown Naples.
Featured Naples Vacation Rental Properties
Finding the perfect vacation property rental in Naples is easy if you book with Royal Shell. We have Naples vacation rentals on or near the water that can fit a couple of guests or the whole family. The kind of Naples vacation rental you choose to call your home sweet temporary home is up to you and the choices are endless.
Naples is also an excellent area in which to raise a family. With its tropical climate, proximity to the beach and other area attractions, it’s an ideal place to call your forever home. The school systems are top-rated and Naples is about an hour away from Florida Southwestern State College, an up-and-coming public college offering two and four-year degrees. The four-year, fast-growing Florida Gulf Coast University is also about an hour away and it places emphasis on sustainability.
If this piques your curiosity, let us know! It would be our pleasure to show you our favorite places and give you a sense of what living here year-round or part-time would be like. If you’re considering a vacation rental home as an extra source of income, let us know that, too. We can help you offset the cost of owning your own vacation home by putting it in our vacation rental program. Let us take care of it all. You’ll still be able to enjoy your property whenever you want.
Royal Shell has been in business for more than two decades. We are also the biggest rental and real estate company in Southwest Florida. No one knows the area better than we do! We have a variety of homes and condos waiting for you to discover. Helping visitors find their next home or vacation rental property is what we do best. Come for a week, a month or even longer. You could be one of the many who end up staying here for a lifetime.
