Beaches, shells and the green flash: the Naples coast, the back story

About Beaches, shells and the green flash: the Naples coast, the back story

By the ULTIMATE Naples Editorial Team

Naples faces west across the Gulf of Mexico, and its beaches are fine and white, with gentle waves for much of the year. The best way to enjoy them is the local way: a morning walk, an afternoon swim and the sunset.

City and county beaches

The city beach runs north and south of the pier, with public access at street ends along Gulf Shore Boulevard. Further north, Clam Pass Park, Vanderbilt Beach and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park each have their own character, from mangrove boardwalks to natural dunes.

Shelling and wildlife

Shelling is best early in the morning and after winter storms. Dolphins often swim close to shore, and ospreys and pelicans fish along the beach. From May to October, sea turtles nest on the beaches: keep away from marked nests, fill in holes and keep lights off the beach at night.

Locals check the sunset time the way other cities check the traffic.

Safety

Swim near lifeguards where available, check flag warnings, and shuffle your feet in shallow water to avoid stepping on stingrays. Occasionally red tide, a harmful algal bloom, affects the coast; check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s red tide status before you go.

Our advice: get up early once to walk the beach for shells, come back at sunset, and watch the horizon at the very last moment for the green flash.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Beaches, shells and the green flash: the Naples coast, the back story before you go.