Day On, Day Off: Edgewater Beach Hotel & Naples
Daydreaming about a future visit to Naples, Florida? We don’t blame you. Not only is the location known for its high-end shopping from 5th Avenue South to 3rd Street South; culture in the form of historic gardens, museums, and art galleries; and world-class golf, but it’s also home to Edgewater Beach Hotel, offering all-suite accommodations with the intimacy of a boutique inn right on the beach. So for whenever you plan to make your next trip, we detail how to shape two days in the area – one exclusively on property at Edgewater, and the other, a day in town.
Day On at Edgewater Beach Hotel
A Morning Workout
No better way to start your morning than with a little workout. While the resort’s newly expanded gym offers treadmills, ellipticals, upright bikes, and free weights, if you’d prefer a little guidance, the concierge can arrange personal training or a private yoga session. Better yet, take that yoga to the beach.
Bask in a Beach Morning
You won’t have to travel far to get to the ocean – the patio dividing the two sides of the resort spills out onto the professionally managed white-sand beach. Available for rental right there on the beach: beach chairs, luxury beach beds, cabanas, umbrellas, kayaks, and paddleboards available to help you craft the perfect day on the beach, whether that means cozying up in the shade with a book, or paddling around in the Gulf waters.
An Afternoon at the Pool
The pools at the resort are at the center of their offerings – literally. The two pools (one is larger, and the other is a two-lane lap pool, both are heated) are framed by the resort’s buildings and have clear views of the Gulf of Mexico, while the deck is lined with chaise lounge chairs. When you get hungry, turn to the pool bar for your beverage and dining needs – their menu features tropical cocktails and tasty entrées you don’t normally find poolside.
Dinner & Drinks at Coast
As the day winds down, head to Coast for dinner. Coast’s decor has a modern and comfortable vibe, and the unique spin on their cuisine is that it’s inspired by – but not limited to – coastal-native dishes from around the world. Think pan-roasted grouper, shrimp and grits with pork belly, or zucchini noodle stir fry. Cap the night with a “drinkable dessert,” like the Banana Split (Stoli vanilla vodka, white crème de cacao, chambord, crème de banana) or Liquid Bourbon Ball (Woodford Reserve bourbon, crème de cacao, Frangelico).
Day Off in Naples
Brunch at The French
Start your day in Naples with brunch at The French, a cozy eatery paying tribute to turn-of-the-century Parisian brasseries with romantic street-side setting on Fifth Ave South. Thanks to options that are savory, sweet, and healthy and include everything from farm egg scrambles and avocado toast to raisin-walnut French toast to bananas foster waffles, you’re bound to find something that will appeal to everyone.
Sail on Sweet Liberty
Climb aboard Sweet Liberty for a three-hour morning cruise along the Gulf of Mexico. The 53-foot catamaran, built by Gold Coast Yachts and family-owned and operated, sails to the private Keewaydin Island for an hour on the beach, where you’ll be able to collect seashells and sea glass before returning to the boat to head back to shore. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot some cool marine life, including dolphins jumping alongside the craft on your way out to the island.
Save Some Time for Shopping
Known as one of the best shopping centers in America, the ultra-swanky Fifth Avenue South is Naples’s take on the legendary Fifth Avenue in New York. The street boasts upscale clothing, like Vogue Petite Shoppe and The Wind In The Willows, between fine art galleries, as well as one-of-a-kind jewelry at Provident Jewelry and specialty stationery at Arabesque. The stretch of street is best in the evenings for a quiet stroll among the shops under the white-lighted trees.
Dinner at Mediterrano
Perhaps informed by the city’s Italian inspiration, Mediterrano serves the best Mediterranean cuisine in Naples. Dishes like the orange-glazed Moroccan salmon, cioppino, and Mediterranean sea bass bring the delicious flavors of coastal Spain, Greece, Italy, and Morocco to life. If the weather permits, you can dine outside in a romantic setting, including twinkle lights and hanging orchids.
