Updated March 2019
You know I’m a New England girl, and likely always will be, but I know I’m not alone when I say I am “so over” winter! Winter seems so festive through the holidays and I can’t wait for that first snowfall. Then I spend January making peace with it and attempting to appreciate the season. By February – let’s just say I start bargaining with Mother Nature to make it stop.
Last week I was lucky enough to get a brief reprieve from the cold and snow. I went to Naples, Florida on a business trip, and extended my trip by a day so I could spend some extra time in the sunshine and explore the Old Naples section of the area.
I arrived late on Monday night, and under cover of darkness arrived at my hotel which was clean but otherwise unremarkable. I was up and out bright and early at 8 a.m. Before I could function I walked to the closest Starbucks (yes, I’m that girl) which happened to be on 5th Avenue, the main shopping district in downtown Naples.
The entire street looked like the above photo: gorgeous palm trees and other tropical plants, cute lampposts and buildings in every shade of pastel. Picture perfect!
Next, I made my way towards Palm Cottage in Old Naples, described as the historic area even though it doesn’t have a formal designation. Old Naples is laid out in a simple grid, and I spent some time walking up and down the palm tree-lined streets.
In the early planning of Old Naples, a distinct variety of palm tree was selected for each street and you can see them all standing proudly in a row as you pass – an impressive sight!
Each home was more beautiful than the last and there was a great variety in style, size, and color as well as in the landscaping. The exterior of each home and the grounds were immaculate, and since I was out early in the morning I saw many gardeners tending to their yards.
As I learned when researching property values, Naples is an extremely wealthy town and the real estate business is booming. A modest cottage on a small plot of land starts at about $1.5m in the desirable Old Naples section and goes up from there. The real estate market is driven by second home buyers who are looking for their ultimate retirement home and the locals tend to own more moderately priced real estate in less desirable parts of town.
Plants native to Florida are so different from what you find in New England. It was a visual feast for the eyes, and between that and the low 80 degree temperatures, brilliant blue skies and bright sunshine I couldn’t have been happier.
Do you think the locals appreciate what they have? Probably no more than we appreciate what we have. The equivalent for a Floridian would be coming to New England during the peak of fall foliage. The colors of fall would dazzle them as much as I was dazzled by what they see every day.
This is a canal that runs between two streets. There are a number of these that connect to Naples Bay and act as driveways for homeowners with boats. A homeowner can dock their boat in the canal right next to their home. Not too shabby!
On the opposite side of Naples is the Gulf of Mexico, as Naples is on the west coast of Florida, just above the Everglades and Big Cypress National Preserve. I walked to Naples Pier which extends out over the Gulf and enjoyed a few minutes watching the fisherman and feeling the ocean breeze.
The one thing that troubled me as I toured around Old Naples was the construction that was happening. New homes are being built at a record pace, and many of them are more contemporary and not in keeping with the historic beach cottages which originally dotted the streets of Naples.
While the new homes are certainly attractive, I feel that some of the charms of the area will ultimately be diminished. The original cottages, dating to the early 1900s in many cases, are not officially protected with a historic designation although the Naples Historical Society continues its endeavors to gain the proper designations.
I learned much about the historic cottages during my tour of Palm Cottage and purchased the beautiful book Dream Houses: Historic Beach Homes and Cottages of Naples for a keepsake. In the meantime, here is a parting shot for those of you who are facing the last few days of winter in New England or elsewhere:
Naples, Florida ranks as one of the prettiest towns I have ever seen. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back, and if you are looking for the perfect Florida resort getaway it is worth a look. The beaches are beautiful, the town is made for walking and there are shops and restaurants galore.
In addition to touring Old Naples, available activities include boating, fishing, golf, tennis and of course, shuffleboard, and nearby destinations include the Everglades and Marco Island. So whether you like to relax or stay active, there is something for you!
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[x_author title=”About the Author”]
My name is Deb Cohen, and I am a lifelong resident of Connecticut, a lover of all things historic and New England, and a realtor who helps buyers and sellers achieve their real estate goals and dreams. When I’m not working, I enjoy life with my husband, our two adult children, and our two rescue pups. Renovating and decorating our historic home, dating to 1800, is another favorite pastime.
Hi Deb –
I so loved seeing your photographs and reading the accompanying narratives – thank you! My husband and I are trying to summon the courage to move to New England and I’m curious as to how you arrived at your dream destination – the Rhode Island coast. We’ve been focused on Maine although my favorite architecture seems to be in Massachusetts – especially parts of the cape and Nantucket. I’m wondering if you might have any ideas you’d be willing to share with us!
Thanks!
Hi Linda! I’m so sorry I missed this note until now. There are quite a few “dream destinations” in New England, fortunately! We vacation annually on Martha’s Vineyard and love it there so much. However, it’s not very budget friendly and since it’s an island not too practical. From what I understand many people have trouble with isolation/depression if they live there year-round so that makes me nervous. Other parts of the Cape are also nice but to be frank I haven’t spent enough time there. Maine is just too cold for me for year-round, and CT beaches aren’t great (plus the taxes are brutal). So we landed on Rhode Island. We have stayed in the Newport area and explored quite a bit and love the feel of it, plus the taxes are much lower and it IS the Ocean State. There are tons of amazing beaches and water everywhere! It also has proximity to Providence and Boston, and our families in Connecticut. Best of luck with your search! Would love to know where you land.
We’ve visited Naples several times, but it has been a few years. Since I spent the entire day with other family members shoveling the snow that came off the barn roof crashing into the chicken coop and run, photos of Naples greeting me seemed kind of strange. As I sit with my ice packs and take my Aleve, I’ll reminisce about previous trips and think of the balmy weather. 🙂 Thanks for the memories.
Glad the pics brought back some memories for you! I hoped they would be a diversion to those of us struggling with the cold and snow! Warm weather is hopefully not too far away. 🙂