Hailey & Greg
Things To Do
Sanibel Island
If you're up for a drive, we highly recommend you take a day to explore Sanibel and Captiva Islands! They're two of our favorite spots in SWFL. The beaches are beautiful, the shelling is excellent (especially first thing in the morning) and both islands have restaurants that are worth the drive. Sanibel Island: Tipsy Turtle, MudBugs Cajun Kitchen, Sanibel's Best Homemade Ice Cream & Bakery Captiva Island: Mucky Duck, The Bubble Room (home of the best Pina Colada), RC Otters (great breakfast spot)
5th Ave
A visit to Naples would be incomplete without a stroll along its unofficial Main Street, Fifth Avenue South. The Avenue is known for its swanky shops and boutiques as well as a variety of restaurants. December is our favorite time to visit Fifth Ave because of the lights and decorations on every palm tree.
Bayfront
Bayfront is another great spot in Naples to check out. They have shops and galleries coupled with a handful of highly recommended restaurants. All located right off the water with a beautiful view.
Mercato
Mercato is good spot to check out during the day or if you're looking for local nightlife. Mercato offers over 20 upscale retailers accompanied by 12 notable restaurants. A couple of our favorites are The Hampton Social, Rocco's Tacos, and The Capital Grille.
Barefoot Beach
Barefoot Beach is one of our favorite local beaches. This beautiful spot is located at the end of Barefoot Beach Road which first takes you through a gorgeous community before ending at the Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park. One great plus about this beach is that it's home to gopher tortoises and you're almost guaranteed to see one while you're there.
Wiggins Pass
Another favorite beach in the area is Wiggins Pass. If it gives you any idea, Jenn (Hailey's mom & owner of Jennifer Bates Photography) chooses this beach for many of her on-location beach photoshoots. Visitors can sunbathe, paddleboard, kayak, hike, bird-watch, fish, picnic and search for seashells.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Boardwalk
Want to experience some of the nature Florida has to offer? Check out Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary! The Sanctuary is located about 30 minutes east of Naples and is open daily, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a small admission fee, but it's worth the chance to see the beautiful cypress trees, ghost orchid and critters like otters, racoons, gators, and more.
Naples Zoo
The Naples Zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It's on the smaller side for a zoo, but the paved paths wind nearly a mile past rare and beautiful animals residing within a historic tropical garden of exotic plants. They have shows throughout the day and if you time your visit right, you can pay $5 to feed the giraffes!
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant
One of our favorite restaurants in the area is Cooper's Hawk Winery! Hit this spot for a wine tasting, happy hour, or a delicious dinner. A few of our favorite wines are the Cooper's Hawk Blueberry (Hailey's), Cooper's Hawk Red (Hailey's), and the Cooper's Hawk White (Greg's).
Oak & Stone
If you're in the mood for a brewski and feel like having a unique experience, we recommend Oak & Stone! O&S boasts the largest self-serve brew wall in the area with 40-60 different taps that you can pour by the ounce. They've also got some good eats, the Philly Cheesesteak Eggrolls are incredible and their pizzas are delish!
Jimmy P's Butcher Shop & Deli
If you know Greg and I, you know we both love a good burger. Greg first took me to Jimmy P's on one of our date nights and if we lived a little closer, Jimmy P's would be a staple at least once a week at our house. Their meat is sourced locally from their own Burcher Shops and they offer everything from burgers, to sandwiches, to steaks and ribs. You can't go wrong with a burger and a side of homemade fries!
Bone Hook Brewing Company
We love our breweries and Bone Hook is our go-to in Naples!