Naples is really unlike any other community in Florida. Many have compared us to West Palm Beach but actually they really aren't alike at all except both communities are beautiful and upscale. The east coast of Florida has an east coast flavor. You'll see alot of east coast people prefer the vibe on the other side of Florida. You'll also see alot more midwesterners here. It's slower here. We aren't in much of a hurry, we're offended when you honk your horn and we may or may not drive the speed limit...(except me, I drive the speed limit...maybe a little over admittedly)... Approximately half of the people who own property or visit come down during season which can be described as October through May. Although we get busy at different times nearly every year largely depending on the real estate market and the weather.& If real estate is hot....we're always busy...if real estate is slow....we're seldom busy. When it's cold...we're busier...when. it's hot.....we're really quiet. Tippy top peak=hot market/cold weather up north. Bottom of the bottom traffic=lousy real estate market/hot weather.

During season there's a great deal planned and something to do for just about everybody. While Naples was geared more towards an older more refined type of clientele who passed out at 8, we have probably passed that era and are amidst a reinvention if you will. I'd say the people who are happiest here are in their 40's to 60's, enjoy outside activity like going to the beach, golf, boating, fishing and like fine dining, some shopping but an avid professional shopaholic would not like it here. If you're in to wine, we have one of the most famous wine festivals in the world and have several restaurants who know how to stock a bar with some of the most sought after spirits. Happy hours are big here and for that reason, you're going to want to either have a designated driver or call a cab. Because our crime rate is so low, it gives Naples best little to do so they look for drivers under the influence during their spare time and they have a great deal of spare time.

Talking about our Naples roads, you'll want to remember all of those nifty little driving laws while you're here too. We have cameras at nearly every red light now so you don't want to push the yellow light or do anything else equally crazy. Remember, you're supposed to come down and enjoy. While you're enjoying, it would be especially sweet if you could help the rest of us and drive the speed limit. :) This will sound silly but if you have never been to Naples before, I might encourage you to take a trolley ride. You'll learn lots about our town and you won't have to worry about how to get back to your condo...or hotel or whatever.

If golf is your thing then Naples should be your hang out. Even Tiger would get tired playing all of our Naples golf courses. While it's been said we have over 100 courses, I don't think honestly anyone has counted to make sure. I do believe we've counted as high as 70 something but if you're playing that much golf I'll bet by the time you get back to the first course you played you won't remember it anyway. Of those courses there's private, semi-private, bundled, equity (hahaha) so if you have something in particular you're looking for, just let me know. On some of these private courses, you'll need to be referred by up to two members in some cases and no, they don't tell you who their members are...you get to go around to your friends and find out who belongs on your end...(that's funny to someone like me who doesn't play golf, normal to people like maybe you who are accustomed to that sort of thing).

I spoke briefly about the crime rate in Naples but in case you missed it, we're a small town with not a great deal of crime. If you type in Naples crime statistics in your web browser you'll probably come up with not much. In fact, compared to most of the other cities in Florida...I think we rank really well. For those of you who have never lived in a town with so little crime, you don't think about it much until you're here for awhile and then go somewhere else and watch their news or see things you don't normally see here. IT'S FABULOUS! This is not an invitation to leave a bunch of expensive stuff in your unlocked car or run around naked at midnight. You still want to be careful.

Ok....more about Naples soon!