About 12 miles north of Old Naples is the Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, one of the best beaches in Southwest Florida. Covering 166 acres of land, the beach here has great facilities, including bathrooms, food stands, beach wheelchairs and picnic spots. What's more, the water is clear and serene.

Recent visitors gave the beach high marks, noting the excellent shelling, the flora and fauna along the sand and the shady areas created by the pine trees near the shore. The park also offers quality spots to snorkel at a reef offshore. To secure a parking spot, travelers recommend arriving in the morning before 10 a.m.

U.S. News Insider Tip: Avid birdwatchers will be interested in "Birding in the Garden" that takes place from 8 to 10 a.m. every Tuesday, with volunteer guides helping spot the hundreds of avian species to be found in the 90-acre preserve. – Therese McDevitt

Located just 4 miles southeast of Old Naples, Naples Botanical Garden offers nature-loving visitors access to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including dozens of species of birds. The 170-acre nature sanctuary showcases more than 1,000 species of plants throughout its nine tropical-themed gardens and untouched 90-acre preserve.

Nature lovers will find plenty to like at this preserve. Located 30 miles northeast of Old Naples (and about 45 miles south of Fort Myers), these 13,000 acres of marshland are home to 600-year-old trees, otters, alligators and a stunning variety of bird species. A 2.25-mile boardwalk curves through the sanctuary's pine flatwood, wet prairie, around a marsh, and finally into the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America; visitors can take a self-guided tour along the boardwalk to get a feel for what wild Florida was like before it was developed. The sanctuary also offers a variety of guided programs, including early birding tours, night tours, swamp walks and guided forest meditations, among others.

Recent visitors enjoyed the wide variety of vegetation and wildlife in the different ecosystems and appreciated the various on-site amenities, including plentiful parking, a well-maintained visitor center and restrooms. They recommend arriving early in the day to avoid the afternoon heat as some parts of the boardwalk are not covered by any tree shade.

U.S. News Insider Tip: Getting to the beach via the boardwalk is one of the highlights of any trip to Clam Pass, as it winds through mangrove forests that harbor dozens of species and form a shady canopy for walkers. – Therese McDevitt

If you want to be surrounded by natural wonder, head about 6 miles north of Old Naples to Clam Pass Park. As you walk the length of the park's nearly mile-long boardwalk (or hop on a free tram), you'll pass beautiful mangrove forests (with three species of mangrove trees), plenty of birds and even some alligators. The boardwalk terminates at a serene white sand beach, where you'll find bathrooms, beach rental spots, picnicking areas, and a snack bar serving light snacks and drinks.

Fifth Avenue in New York City represents the crème de la crème of luxury, with each block in Midtown bursting with high-end shops, restaurants and hotels. While it offers a much different landscape – a wide street lined with majestic palm trees, with the Gulf of Mexico at the end – Fifth Avenue South in Naples mirrors its Manhattan namesake in the sheer volume of upscale retailers, charming boutiques, art galleries and some of the finest dining in Southwest Florida.

National retailers Include Chico’s, Vineyard Vines and White House Black Market, while local favorites include Best of Everything, Arabesque, Blue Mussel and Wind in the Willows.

U.S News Insider Tip: For the best chance to see animals at their most active in their habitats, go early in the morning before the heat and humidity start to creep up in late spring and summer. – Therese McDevitt

A trip to the Naples Zoo offers a chance to see hundreds of species of animals in naturally designed habitats. What started as a personal garden for botanist Henry Nehrling in 1919 has now grown to a 43-acre plant and animal haven that's home to 70 species, including African lions, Malayan tigers and giraffes; rare and endangered animals from Africa like honey badgers and fossas; and Florida natives like alligators and Florida panthers.

As much fun as Naples is on shore, there are also plenty of adventures to be found during day cruises on the surrounding waterways. Pure Florida cruises offer visitors the chance to discover the nautical life in Naples with a variety of excursions of varying lengths focused on shelling, birdwatching, dolphin watching, sunset viewing – and of course, deep-sea fishing. Passengers can see dolphins, manatees and a wide variety of bird species along the way, with some of the cruises stopping at Keewaydin Island for the opportunity to shell, swim in the Gulf of Mexico or just laze around on the white-sand beach. For deep-sea fishing, cruises of four, six or eight hours go from 20 to 40 to 60 miles out in the Gulf.

Recent visitors praised the professional crews, the cleanliness of the vessels and the abundant wildlife – birds, dolphins, turtles – that could be seen during the cruises. Many noted the entertaining narration provided by captains and crews about the history of the area, including the extravagant mansions that line Naples Bay; others would have liked more time looking for dolphins.

Much like Fifth Avenue South, Third Street South offers visitors a uniquely Naples shopping experience, with well-known fashion retailers like Tommy Bahama, Eileen Fisher and Lilly Pulitzer mixed in with local favorites like Gattles, Marissa Collections and A Mano.

The historic byway in Old Naples is also lined with some of Naples’ best restaurants, including Campiello, Jane’s Garden Café on 3rd (famous for brunch around its courtyard pond) and Sea Salt. Old Naples Pub (known for its burgers), Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar and Ridgway Bar & Grill are popular with families, and Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii – named in honor of the donkeys that used to transport the Kona beans on the Big Island – is great for a caffeine fix after shopping and before heading to the beach for an epic Naples sunset picnic.

The Baker Museum is part of Artis—Naples, a leading visual and performing arts center; the three-story museum is home to one of the best art collections in the Southwest Florida region, along with a variety of traveling exhibitions each year.

The permanent collection comprises more than 4,000 works and features some impressive modern and contemporary American works, including spectacular indoor and outdoor glass installations by American artist Dale Chihuly – you'll find yourself marveling at his amazing colorful chandeliers and an ocean-themed ceiling in a gallery hallway.

In the heart of Old Naples, historic Palm Cottage offers visitors a glimpse of Naples’ past. Built in 1895, Palm Cottage is the oldest house in Naples and, fittingly enough, serves as the headquarters for the Naples Historical Society; it is also listed as a landmark in the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitors can tour the cottage and enjoy the adjacent half-acre Norris Gardens, which provide a beautifully landscaped setting for regularly scheduled programs and lectures about the history of Naples and the surrounding area. The two-story, 3,500 square-foot Palm Cottage is filled with antiques and artwork and evokes the charm of life in Naples in its early days as a city.

Located in what was once the center of Naples’ commercial fishing industry, Tin City on Naples Bay gets its name from the tin roofs of the buildings that formerly housed businesses used for clam shelling, oyster processing and boat maintenance. The lively area evolved into a marketplace over the years, and it's now a popular destination for family-friendly waterfront dining and shopping. You'll find a variety of quaint boutiques scattered along indoor wooden boardwalks, offering everything from souvenirs to locally made soaps (Naples Soap Company) to clothing for the whole family (Bondi Surf) to vintage or hard-to-find fragrances (Perfume Palace).

Recent visitors enjoyed the historic, old Florida charm of Tin City, the many shops and places to explore and the various treasures to be found; others found the selection of items touristy and kitschy. Many also noted the cleanliness of the area and the friendly staff in the shops. Parking is free, but fills up fast; recent visitors suggested coming early in the day to secure a spot.

Fun for kids and families in Naples doesn’t just happen at the beach or the resort pool. Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON) presents kids with a chance to spark their imaginations with interactive exhibits and programs throughout 38,000 square feet designed to help them “learn through play.” And while kids of all ages are welcome, those 10 and younger seem to enjoy it most.

Kids from infancy to age 3 can safely learn and play in a gated area called the ABC Tot Lot, while older kids can explore exhibits ranging from an Art Studio with themed creative projects to an Inventioneer’s Lab that helps them experiment and solve problems. There's also a miniature post office, market and vet clinic. Florida’s natural world comes to life at CMON with exhibits devoted to the beach, the Everglades, a farm and a giant replica banyan tree kids can climb from the inside.