Friends and neighbors,

This week’s issue is a love letter to the things we sometimes overlook in our own backyard: the places we swear we’ll take visitors to next time, the attractions we haven’t done in years, the local gems in plain sight. Plus, it serves as a list for you to send to any visitors who want to fill their schedules. I’ve also covered the latest Italian restaurant in Naples to end Italian restaurants—the opening of La Saliere.

“Season” is in full swing, and Naples visitors are booking private homes with space and heated pools. Our sponsor is almost full for Thanksgiving, but beautiful, spotless homes are still available for the winter months. Share my newsletter with friends visiting Naples or hosting family. Call or text Dana at (239) 397‑0929 for the best fit for your dates, budget, and pets.

Thanks for being here. And thanks for keeping it local.

If you’ve lived here long enough, it’s easy to take Naples for granted. Perhaps it’s been ages since you stepped inside Tin City, or you need inspiration while family is visiting. Here’s a list of touristy things that are worth it whether local or not. Send it to visiting guests or finally get around to doing the gems right outside your door. 

Yes, it’s touristy—and yes, it’s still fun. If you’re new to Naples, it’s a great way to get the lay of the land. Or put your guests on this 2-hour narrated tour that hits all the major sights.

Book: naplestrolleytours.com
Departs: Tin City, 1200 5th Ave S

The ride is peaceful, dolphins often make an appearance, and you’ll absolutely convince yourself that each shell is unique and essential to bring home. Bonus points if you spend the whole trip hunting for a prized Junonia and come back with 3 lbs of “pretty shells” instead.

Book: Pure Florida, Naples Water Tours, Sweet Liberty
Departs: Tin City or Crayton Cove

Glow-in-the-dark balls, faux waterfalls, and a giant King Kong—it’s the Florida many of us remember from childhood vacations. Two courses, 36 holes. Get a hole-in-one on the secret hole and you might even earn a free round.
Address: 2205 Tamiami Trail E

Website: coralcaygolf.com
Walk-ins welcome

Naples’ quintessential kitschy stop. Grab a drink, wander the shops, and accept the free fudge sample like everyone else. Pick up a local candle, try foreign Lay’s chips, or indulge in cinnamon-loaded monkey bread from MonkeyButz. Bad Ass Coffee just opened a new location here as well.

Address: 1200 5th Ave S
Website: tincityofnaples.com

The kitschiest and best thing you can do within an hour of Naples. The swamp breeze, the roaring fan, gators sunbathing on the banks. Yes, it’s cheesy in the most perfect way. Even lifelong locals walk away grinning.

Book: Everglades Safari Park, Wooten’s, Corey Billie’s
Typical Departures: US-41 East (Tamiami Trail) toward Everglades City
Tip: Book online for quicker check-in; most tours depart every 20–30 minutes in season.

A world-class collection of historic and rare cars with an educational and research focus. It’s much more than a typical “car museum.”

Address: 2500 S Horseshoe Dr, Naples, FL
Website/Booking: revsinstitute.org
What to Expect: Remarkable restorations, interactive exhibits, and deep automotive history.

170 acres of beautifully designed habitats, themed gardens, lakes, and trails. Great for families, nature lovers, photographers, or anyone needing a peaceful afternoon. A tourist attraction that could quickly become a regular haunt if you’re local. Bring a book, or check their schedule for evenings with live music in the garden. During the winter, they have a beautiful light display to walk through.

Address: 4820 Bayshore Dr, Naples, FL
Website/Booking: naplesgarden.org

 La Salière has finally landed in Naples, Florida on 12th Avenue South. This is the first U.S. outpost of a storied Italian restaurant born in Monte-Carlo back in 1982. The new venue is the brainchild of Stefano Frittella (the same restaurateur behind Naples favourites like Bice, Caffè Milano and La Trattoria).  He’s taken the open, indoor-outdoor footprint of the old Bevy bar and given it a full Mediterranean-style revamp.  

Walking in, the vibe feels like a Mediterranean villa by the sea, complete with ambient candles on the patio and a striking blue-tiled bar lined with velvet stools. It feels elegant but not too stuffy. The space seats roughly 120 people, but there’s room to breathe for date nights or group dinners. 

La Salière’s roots go deep. The Frittella family culinary legacy stretches right back to 1720 with La Sibilla in Tivoli, Italy, and the name La Salière refers to Benvenuto Cellini’s iconic golden salt-cellar: a symbol of harmony between land and sea. The menu is a celebration of traditional Italian cooking, crafted under the influence of Executive Chef Sabato Toscano from the Monte-Carlo branch, but filtered through the coastally fresh ingredients of Southwest Florida. 

The menu leans into antipasti and a handful of family-style plates, as well as handmade pasta, pinsa (Roman-style pizza), and hearty meat and seafood mains. Signature dishes include meatballs, artichoke with guanciale (Cuore di Carciofo), grilled octopus, pappardelle with veal ragù, ossobuco alla Milanese, a Tuscan-style T-bone steak, and salt-crusted branzino. Drinks match the mood, with a well-curated Italian wine list and cocktails that nod to Mediterranean flavours.

Early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, praising not just the food but the attention to detail — from welcome cocktails to warm, attentive service. Reviewers also call out the lasagna, branzino, and veal ragù as standout dishes. 

You might be thinking that Naples doesn’t need a new Italian restaurant, but La Salière is on a different level than most others. The history of the restaurant and the thought behind the menu, as well as the Italian hospitality, will make this a new favorite among our Italian-cuisine-loving populace.

 Last week’s poll asked: This year, what are you most thankful for?

Here’s where you landed:

Thank you for taking the time to reflect with me last week and for the thoughtful responses. I’m thankful for my family and friends who helped me through a trying year! I’m glad so many are grateful to be in good health. 

That’s it for this week’s wander through our own backyard. If this issue reminded you why you chose Naples in the first place, forward it to the friend who keeps saying, “Next time we visit, you’ll show us around.”

If you’re hosting family or planning a winter escape, remember our sponsor’s homes book quickly once season hits. Call or text Dana at (239) 397-0929 to snag a place that actually feels like Naples, not “generic vacation rental.”

Thanks for reading, for staying curious about your own town, and for keeping it local.

Elizabeth Bellotti
Editor-In-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review

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