Waves softly crash on the shore. Perfectly shaped seashells peek out of the snow white sand. A sea turtle nest lies peacefully behind you in a wildlife preserve.
Not far down the beach, fishermen excitedly real in the catch of the day. A young girl struggles to stand on a paddle board and laughs as she falls back into the ocean. You soak in the warmth of the sun’s rays and breathe the salty air of Naples, Florida.
Five years ago, Bethany Weiss and her great dane, Dixie, left Mississippi behind for a change of scenery in the Sunshine State. There are countless reasons to love the city of Naples, but the weather tops the list.
“The weather in Naples is amazing,” said Weiss. “While the rest of the country is suffering below-zero temperatures, we enjoy warm, sunny days.” Even winter temperatures in Naples remain in the 70s and 80s, she said.
Nature preserves are also attractions. “Any day of the week, you can take a walk through one of the many parks and preserves and see various exotic birds, turtles, snakes and, of course, alligators,” Weiss said.
Naples is also known for its pristine beaches. One of those is Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, offering fun for every type of vacationer. FloridaStateParks.org reports that beach-goers can sunbathe and fish in designated areas, hike, kayak, paddle, and hunt for the perfect seashell.
The park, which opened in 1976, hosts a pavilion that can be rented for special occasions. It even offers a concessionaire in one of its parking lots that serves food and drinks and allows visitors to rent beach umbrellas and chairs, canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards. Weiss loves Mira Mare beach in particular.
“It is almost like a private beach, as it is off the beaten path, and most tourists have never heard of it,” she said. The beach is near the Venetian Village, yet not too close, preventing it from disturbing “the tranquility of the vista.”
As a Naples resident, Weiss loves spending an entire day on the beach.“From sunrise to sunset, I love to sunbathe, paddle board, or hop on the pontoon boat to Keewaydin Island,” Weiss said.