THINGS TO DO
ENJOY NAPLES' NATURAL BEAUTY
AND GRACIOUS LIVING
Sunny Naples is a popular, charming, yet sophisticated beach destination on the Gulf of Mexico. It boasts many world-class hotels and resorts along miles of white sand beaches. The Gulf's surf is gentle, and the people are friendly. Shoppers delight in searching the world-class retail establishments for antiques, home furnishings, clothes and jewelry. With its beautiful neighborhoods and grand architecture, the atmosphere is elegant, yet relaxing. Sports enthusiasts spend glorious days pursuing their favorite activity, from golf to tennis to fishing. For the food lovers, Naples' restaurants suit every taste and budget. Even though it is a busy and cosmopolitan city, Naples offers easy access to secluded islands and the wilderness of the Everglades.
ACTIVITIES
BOATING & FISHING
Naples is a boater's paradise. Paddlers can explore the miles of backwater and mangrove forests that line our pristine waterways in a rented kayak or canoe. Or try your hand at the latest trends – stand up paddleboarding and kite boarding. Our knowledgeable beach staff will be happy to help you arrange your boating or water adventure.
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Our fishing is world class. Charter a deep sea fishing boat to go after native gulf grouper or try fly fishing in the Ten Thousand Islands for tarpon and snook. The fishing even is good right from our beach. Buy a bucket of shrimp at the marina around the corner and spend the afternoon sitting lazily on the beach fishing. The Turtle Club Restaurant will be happy to give you some tips on how to cook your catch, and our staff will simply smile when we are told about the “big ones that got away.”
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If you prefer a tour boat to a fishing boat, we can help arrange a cocktail sunset cruise on the nearby Cocohatchee River or Gulf of Mexico or help book a boat tour of the picturesque residential canals in downtown Naples.
WILDLIFE & NATURE
Naples is a nature lover's paradise. Wildlife in Naples is abundant. From our native brown pelican to the proud bald eagle, a bird lover will never tire here. Visit Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, home to the National Audubon Society, and walk the one-mile boardwalk through a portion of the Everglades. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is only about one mile from the hotel on Vanderbilt Beach, and on most mornings beach walkers will be treated to a spectacular showing of our local shore birds, including Pelicans, Gulls, Sandpipers, Kingfishers, Ibis, and a variety of other wading birds.
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Our guests never tire of watching the dolphins feed just off of our beach in the morning, gliding smoothly through the water and occasionally performing acrobatic leaps while feeding. In addition to dolphins, we occasionally see a slow moving manatee or a giant manta ray off of our beaches. Our waters abound with sea life.
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One of the most pristine and remote wilderness areas in the county – the Everglades – is only 45 minutes away from the Resort. You will never forget a visit to the spectacular Everglades National Park where you can hunt for the ghost orchid, take a guided swamp walk or simply watch the local alligators. Don't forget to also watch for alligators gliding silently in the many ponds and lakes around town. They are everywhere.
Naples Botanical Garden is a local treasure. These gardens are spectacular and enrich our community not only with natural resources, but with largescale exhibitions, concerts, flower shows, holiday celebrations and family friendly events. Another must-see attraction is the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, a 52 acre park which is home for fascinating wildlife and botanical wonders.
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With beautiful and plentiful natural resources, Naples will not disappoint if you are a nature lover.
GOLF
With more than 100 of the finest courses in the country, Naples has few rivals as a major golf capital. A wide variety of public and private courses will suit every ability and every handicap. You may play a quick round at the public Arrowhead Golf Course or enjoy a more serious round at Greg Norman’s Tiburon Golf Course, which is only ten minutes away. Nature lovers may want to check out the Raptor Bay Golf Course, an Audobon course located in nearby Estero.
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If you happen to make vacation plans for the month of March, you will not want to miss our Resort’s Annual St. Patrick’s Day Golf Tournament, which we have hosted for more than forty years. The tournament is followed by a festive St. Patrick’s Day cocktail party at our beachfront pool where guests trade stories about the shots they almost made.
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Golf is more than a game in Naples – it’s a way of life.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Entertainment starts with Artis-Naples, home to its own outstanding orchestra. The Naples Philharmonic Orchestra performs there, and Broadway shows and top performers regularly play this 1400 seat, modern theater which is only 15 minutes away from the Resort.
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Naples is a serious art town that boasts an impressive number of art galleries and artists in residence. Stroll through the galleries on Third Street South or Fifth Avenue South or visit the Baker Museum, Naples' premier museum of art, adjacent to Artis-Naples. The museum hosts unique art exhibits each season. If you are inspired by Naples’ beauty and decide to try your hand at painting or drawing in Naples, our art instructors and art supply shops are numerous and always willing to lend a helping hand.
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If you are a fan of the silver screen, you will not want to miss the Silverspot Cinema located in the nearby Mercato Shopping Center. At the Silverspot, you can reserve your exact seat ahead of time. Dine in the in-theater fine dining restaurant and enjoy a glass of wine or cocktail as you take in a film while sitting in an overstuffed leather chair. Now this is movie watching at its most luxurious!
HEALTH & FITNESS
Neapolitans are serious about healthy living and this is reflected by the many spas, fitness centers and health clubs in town. If you are a fitness buff, there are many ways to ensure a good workout during your stay at the Resort. Take a morning run along our five miles of beach or along the beach road. Or let us help you arrange for bike rentals at the nearby bike shop. Naples is a great town for biking, whether it is a leisurely ride or a serious road bike workout.
If you are a swimmer, Naples is surrounded by water and offers numerous opportunities for you to stay fit by exercising in the water. Enjoy an open water swim in the usually placid Gulf of Mexico or rent a stand up paddleboard for an ocean paddle. If you are looking for a pool workout, join the T2 Aquatics swim team for a workout or two at the Norris Pool, where you can practice with aspiring Olympians in a fifty (50) meter pool.
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If you are interested in Yoga or Spa treatments, don’t worry. Naples boasts a number of top quality yoga studios and spas where you can workout or relax and be pampered to forget your worries. We will be happy to to direct you to yoga studios like Green Monkey or arrange a soothing massage or facial for you at a local spa, both of which are only minutes away from the Resort.
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After your workout or spa session you may want to visit Whole Foods Market, which is only five minutes from the Resort to have a refreshing wheatgrass shake or fruit smoothie before continuing on with your day. Whole Foods offers a wide variety or organic and whole foods that you can purchase to munch on during your stay.
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Naples is a health lover’s paradise!
SHOPPING & DINING
The shopping in Naples is world-class with prominent names like Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Apple, and Williams & Sonoma anchoring the Waterside Shops, a truly beautiful, waterscape, upscale retail center just five minutes from the resort. Coconut Point Mall is just a short drive north on US 41 in nearby Estero, and the Miromar Outlets offer upscale fashion deals for the bargain hunters among us.
Dining out is an adventure in Naples . There are so many different choices, you could eat out every night for six months and still not experience them all! Of course the best restaurant in town, right on the grounds of the Vanderbilt Beach Resort, is The Turtle Club Restaurant. The Turtle Club has become "THE place" to enjoy the best fresh seafood and steaks while surrounded by the beauty of our beachfront location. It is the ideal spot to experience our famous sunsets.
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Looking for a little evening adventure? Mercato Shopping Plaza is only five minutes from the Resort, where you may savor a glass of wine at the Wine Loft, sample hundreds of beers at The Pub or dance the night away at the Blue Martini.
SPORTS
If you are a sports fan, there's no need to sit on the sidelines while on vacation. Naples offers plenty of professional sports all year 'round! In the winter months, enjoy a the Minnesota Twins' or the Boston Red Sox's spring training baseball game just north of us in Ft. Myers. In the summer months, our minor league baseball team, the Ft. Myers Miracle, hosts a number of home games in fan-friendly Hammond Stadium. If you're looking for a place too cool off, look no further than Germain Arena, where the Florida Everblades minor league ice hockey team trains and plays from October through April.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR FRIENDS & FAMILY
NOTHING COMPARES
This place is perfectly located in Naples. We love it there and cannot find another place we would like to stay that compares to the Vanderbilt Beach Resort.
Indianagep
~ via TripAdvisor.com
