Naples provides plenty of cultural opportunitie s year-round.  The Naples Philharmonic is an excellent venue for taking in some music.  Whether you are in the mood for Beethoven, Brubeck, or the Beatles, you can find it here.  And if you can't make it to New York, don't worry, Broadway will come to you.  The Chorus Line, The Color Purple, Movin' On, and Riverdance are just a few of the hits that have or will grace the stage.  Located directly next door is the Naples Museum of Art.  Featuring several collections, including American Modernism, Masters of Miniature, and Mexican Masters; as well as special exhibitions throughout the season, this is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. And don't miss the Dale Chihuly Persian Ceiling exhibit; it is spectacular.  Other places worth visiting include the Naples Holocaust Museum, Naples Palm Cottage, the Botanical Gardens, the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, just to name a few. 

If you don't mind driving a short distance you can head north to Ft. Myers and visit the Barbara B. Mann Theater for a live show, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates for some great history about two of our greatest eventors, or, if you are here during the winter season, you might catch a baseball game with the Boston Red Sox.

Aw, dining.  Who doesn't enjoy dining out?  Naples has so many fabulous restaurants to choose from on any given day, sometimes it's hard to decide.  Do you feel in the mood for seafood?  Italian?  Sushi?  Whatever taste you are after Naples has plenty to offer.  There are chains, such as The Cheesecake Factory, Carrabbas, and The Capital Grille to be sure.  However, not to be outdone, there are many locally owned venues to choose from as well.  Naples Originals is an excellent resource for discovering the unique local flavor in Naples dining options.  Some of my personal favorites include Amore Ristorante (ask for the Pork Paillard), Sunburst Cafe, and Real Seafood Company (best deal is sitting at the bar and ordering off their appetizer menu - so good!)  Check out this Dining Guide for more ideas.

There are some things that are uniquely Naples.  For example, the Swamp Buggy Races.  Collier County's early development in the 1930's and 1940's was highlighted by the emergance of strange looking vehicles featuring huge balloon tires, gun racks, and usually sporting an unusual name like "Dirt Dobber or Tumblebug". These buggies were born out of necessity, as there was no effective way to penetrate the vast, boggy mire known as Collier county except for the versatile "Swamp Buggy".  The beginnings of Swamp Buggy Racing was seen as a gathering of hunters. As legend has it, every year, just prior to the opening of hunting season, (usually the end of October or early November) all the "Crackers" would spend a week or so preparing their buggies for the first legal day of hunting. Today residents celebrate this history with the annual race and final dunking of the Swamp Buggy Queen.  This is definitely one event you won't want to miss. Another fun event is the annual Great Dock Canoe Race.  It was in the spring of 1977 that a new restaurant, The Dock at Crayton Cove, decided to throw an end-of-season party to celebrate its first year. Because of its waterfront setting, a canoe race seemed a natural. Twenty-five contestants and about 150 spectators participated in that first race. No one realized they had witnessed the birth of a tradition.
Today, the Annual Great Dock Canoe Race is arguably Naples' most popular event. Contestants and spectators travel from throughout the country to race and watch, and thousands of people, from young children to grandparents, celebrate the Race on land, dock and bay.
If you're looking for something a little less zany but just as spectacular, head over to the Corkscrew Sanctuary.  Located in northeast Naples, the Sanctuary is a 2.25-mile raised boardwalk that takes visitors through four distinct environments: a pine upland, a wet prairie, a cypress forest, and a marsh.  Although wildlife sightings vary depending on the time of year, the weather, and even the time of day, birds, reptiles, mammals, insects, and a variety of native plants including wild orchids may be seen from the boardwalk.  This is a great spot to walk quietly among nature, take photographs or simply enjoy what Florida has to offer.
Another wonderful destination for nature lovers is the Rookery Bay Estuarine Center.  The research reserve has many opportunities for learning about the water life in and around Naples Bay and Marco Island.  Take a walking or kayaking tour and discover upclose wildlife as you travel through mangroves and oyster beds.  You may even discover the frolicsome dolphins or spot a native manatee.