Brandon and I both have family in Southwest Florida so we spend a lot of Christmases and summers visiting my parents and his Aunt. Over the years we have found plenty of places we consider our favorites.
My parents live in Naples, Brandon's aunt lives in Fort Myers and we were married on Captiva Island so we have plenty of ties to the area.
If you're in Naples, check out the Naples Beach Hotel for a nice porch and some drinks!
Delnor Wiggins State Park is a great place to lay on the beach. There is a small fee to get into the park so it helps with being too crowded with tourists, and you can rent SUP Boards and Kayaks on site.
If you have a furry friend with you, there is a great Naples Dog Park that is very well maintained and has fenced in areas for both small and large dogs. Make sure to keep a record of your pup's rabies shots on you as they could ask to see these when you arrive.
If you're in Naples and experiencing some rainy weather, check out the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary for some pretty trails. They also have a cute gift shop at the entrance of the park. It is $14 per adult unless you have a friend with a membership card.
Pets are not allowed here.
The Naples Zoo is also fun to visit, and you can feed the giraffes. General admission is about $20 per adult but they have great informational shows and beautiful animals.
If you find yourself on 5th Ave, make sure to check out Cafe Luna. They allow pups on their patio and will even bring your furry friend some ice water to keep him/her cool. This is also fairly close to Pucci & Catana, an upscale pet boutique that is definitely fido friendly!
5th Avenue has very expensive shopping but they have some great restaurants, beautiful decorations during the holidays and ice cream during the very hot summer months!
South of Naples is Marco Island.
Make sure to check out Snook Inn. Boats can dock here for a nice view and some food, you can drive up as well.
If you find yourself on Sanibel or Captiva Island, we love the Mucky Duck, the Bubble Room and of course South Seas Island Resort!
Sanibel also has Algiers Beach which is dog friendly and on your way back into town, you can swing by Cip's Place. They are both dog friendly and have a gluten free menu!
If you're more north than Naples, but south of Sanibel and Captiva.... check out Lover's Key in Fort Meyers. They have a dog beach that is very shallow and a ton of fun!
Something we haven't tried yet but plan to is to take the Key West Express from Marco Island to Key West!
To Be Continued...