Gulf Shore Drive Hotels in Naples, Florida
- Enjoy basking in the sun in Naples, Florida.Uyen Le/Photodisc/Getty Images
The southwestern Florida city of Naples is a popular tourist location for those wishing to swim and sail in the Gulf of Mexico. Naples also provides opportunities for upscale shopping at open-air malls, such as Waterside Shops and the Village on Venetian Bay.The waterfront Gulf Shore Drive is within walking distance to Naples' beaches and a 10-minute drive from the local shopping center. An array of hotel accommodations are available there. - Situated in Naples' Vanderbilt Beach area, the Vanderbilt Beach Resort is on the southern end of Gulf Shore Drive before it turns into Vanderbilt Beach Road. This resort opened its doors in the 1950s and is a short walk from its sugary white private beach on the gulf. Guests have complimentary access to the resort's beach chairs and towels. On-site dining is available at the Turtle Club Restaurant, which offers seafood cuisine and has an outdoor patio area with views of the sea.
Other features include an outdoor infinity swimming pool on the beach and boat slips at the resort's marina on Vanderbilt Lagoon. The resort's guest rooms have bright-colored walls, plants, beach-themed décor and private balconies with views of the Gulf of Mexico or Vanderbilt Lagoon. Each unit has a kitchen, and the apartment-style units have living rooms and up to two bedrooms. - The Lighthouse Inn is located at the southern end of Gulf Shore Drive. Most of the 15 rooms at this motel have cinder-block walls and kitchens, while others have living rooms. The adjacent restaurant, Buzz's Lighthouse Cafe, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, and offers views of nearby Vanderbilt Lagoon. During the winter months, Lighthouse Inn offers weekly and monthly rates.
Motel guests looking for inexpensive, non-beach related activities can go to Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, approximately five minutes north of Lighthouse Inn. This beachfront recreation area features hiking and bicycling trails, as well as picnicking areas. Off-site dining and shopping opportunities are a 15-minute drive away at the Tin City shopping district. The shops in this area primarily sell antiques and hand-crafted items. - The 64-acre La Playa Beach and Golf Resort is on the northern end of Gulf Shore Drive and is reminiscent of the "Old South" plantation houses that were common in the mid-19th century. Examples of this are the antique-style furniture and crystal chandeliers that adorn the hotel's lobby. The resort features an 18-hole golf course and the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, which offers on-site lessons to children and adults. After a round of golf, guests can take advantage of massages at Spa Terre, which is located on the resort's property. Spa Terre also offers body treatments and a fitness center.
Other La Playa amenities include a private beach, two outdoor swimming pools and beachside dining at Baleen, a fine dining establishment with menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The guest rooms, in contrast to the "Old South" feel of the lobby, have tropical-themed fixtures, bedspreads and décor. Each guest unit has a private balcony, and suites have marble-furnished bathrooms, whirlpool tubs and living rooms.
