Travel Guide | Naples, Florida
Can someone please explain to me how we are already halfway through the month of August? Where did this summer go? If you have been around for any amount of time, you might already know that I am a fall gal through and through BUT I will say that this summer has been one for the books. I honestly think a huge part of that feeling might stem from the fact that we can now safely and freely travel, but I can definitely say that I have enjoyed it more than previous summers.
As you might know, Coop and I recently got to take a (semi) spontaneous trip down to Naples, FL and in case you missed any of my Stories over on Instagram, I wanted to put our trip in a permanent spot on the blog for you to always have to reference - especially if you plan to take a trip there in the future. We honestly just wanted to take one last summer-y trip before our big trip to Europe this fall and Naples was just the trip we needed.
Our Travel Saga
Before I get into all the details on where we stayed, the beach we went to, all the places we ate at (which was a LOT), I thought I would start out with a couple funny Stories. I mean is it really a trip if something didn’t go wrong!? Our flight to Fort Myers was a BREEZE. It was more crowded in KC than it was at the Fort Myers airport. I highly recommend flying in and out of Fort Myers when/if you can. It was great. So we got into our Uber to head to our condo where we were staying (more on that below) and it was about a thirty minute trip to and from the airport, so not bad at all.
The condo is actually my in-laws’ new spot down in Naples (another reason why we chose to go there because we had a free place to stay for the weekend!). Before we had left, they gave us a set of keys that they had made for us to leave at the condo as an extra set for any future guests. So fast forward to finally getting there. We are trying to open the door with the extra set of keys they had made and it will not open. We have three keys and we try each and every one and nothing is working. We both tried multiple times, so we weren’t just being dumb. Obviously this isn’t ideal and is starting to become frustrating - hah!
We FaceTime Coop’s parents to see if there is some trick with the lock that maybe they forgot to mention but even they were puzzled as to why we couldn’t get in 😂 So, we hang up and end up calling the front desk to see if someone can just come let us in but the office was already closed for the day. Thankfully about 15 minutes later and after trying multiple times, we figured out the lock and got into the condo. Crisis averted.
Anyways, I just wanted to share that little story because things like this happen on trips all the time. Some things go unplanned or put a wrench in things in the moment, but don’t make or break a trip and shouldn’t make or break your mood. Now that we look back, it is just something we laugh at. We also had a little tiff right after this at the restaurant we went to the first night, but again, it got sorted out in the end and we were still able to eat after being locked out of our condo for what seemed like an hour.
Just a quick rule of thumb if you are going to Naples, restaurants close pretttttyyy early there (like 9 p.m. or earlier), so just keep that in mind when you are planning your trip - hah!
Naples | Sips & Eats
LowBrow Pizza & Beer
I feel like it has become tradition that the first place Coop and I eat at on vacation is a pizza joint 😂 Honestly I am not mad about it one bit. This place was a JOINT. So much fun and their pizza menu was so unique. Definitely not your average pizza place or as they would say “don’t eat shitty pizza.” A must add stop to your list.
Narrative Coffee Roasters
Although I wouldn’t recommend running three miles to get here in what felt like 90 degree weather at 8 a.m., I HIGHLY recommend this coffee spot. The aesthetic is to die for and their coffee was so good. Don’t know if it was just because we were so hot or the fact that it was actually really good coffee - hah!
The Dock at Crayton Cove
This was probably Coop’s favorite dinner spot we went to and my second favorite. It sits right off the Naples City dock and was gorgeous to dine at during sunset. It’s all open air so you can enjoy the sights, sounds, and scents of Crayton Cove as you eat. A follower of mine recommended this spot and it did NOT disappoint. If you ever go, you have to order the shrimp nachos (pictured below). TO DIE FOR. Highly recommend it. It is a more casual spot for sure and definitely very family friendly.
Lake Park Diner
Highly recommend this spot for lunch or dinner. It is such a fun concept. Think of a fancier diner-type of situation. You walk up to order your drinks/meal at a window and can either sit inside or outside to enjoy your meal after it’s delivered. I had one of the best sandwiches ever that had pimento cheese on it. It was mouthwatering. Also enjoyed a yummy gin cocktail too and that was so refreshing.
Sidebar
This little cocktail bar sits right in the heart of downtown Naples off 5th street. Highly highly highly recommend it. Reminds me almost of Verdigris or Julep here in Kansas City. Their mezcal drink was to DIE for. Loved it. Coop also really loved this spot. Was pretty lowkey, not crowded and their cocktail menu is very unique. Would (and will hopefully) definitely go back!
Bayside Seafood Grill & Bar
Coop’s parents recommended this spot as did a couple of my other followers who have been to Naples! This little bayside grill and bar was very close to the beach we went to every day, so we decided on Sunday we would go for their brunch. The view of the bay is honestly breathtaking and it would have been equally (if not more) amazing to enjoy at sunset. Highly highly recommend it. It is a little more on the fancier side (think white tablecloths), so I would definitely suggest dressing up a little more for this spot, especially if you plan to go for dinner! We were probably a little underdressed for brunch since we came right after claiming our spot on the beach, but it wasn’t very crowded, and the crab cakes were *muah chef’s kiss*.
The Bevy
Another great spot that came recommended from my girl, Molly from @crowninggloryblog. We only went there for pre-dinner drinks and an appetizer, but it was so so good and I would go back in a heartbeat. This spot is a little closer towards the pier (right off of 3rd street in downtown Naples). It has a really cute aesthetic and has a fun outdoor area to sit in too. Their dinner menu looked bomb. Highly recommend it for a more fancier dinner or just cocktails! The area it is in has a ton to offer too, so you could always hop around downtown while you are there.
The Turtle Club Restaurant
Okay, my personal favorite restaurant from the entire trip that sits right off the beach. Cooper had actually accidentally booked our reservation for two Sundays later, but they managed to still squeeze us in - PTL! A really bad storm actually ended up rolling in right before we got seated outside, so we ended up eating inside. Although that was a slight bummer, the seafood was out of this world. My favorite meal of the entire trip. It is worth the hype for sure.
USS Nemo
This spot came recommended by a couple of my followers and although it sits in a shopping strip, don’t let that fool you. It was DELICIOUS. It was so good and was our last meal to cap off our amazing trip. Highly recommend it. We could also walk here from our condo, so that was a nice plus too.
Beach Access | Park Shore Beach
We never got the chance to make it down to the public beach near the pier BUT we had access to a more private beach called Park Shore beach. We walked here on our first day and we learned quickly that although yes it was physically possible to do so (it was only a half mile from the condo), carrying chairs, a cooler and an umbrella was not ideal in the Florida heat.
Soooo we ended up Ubering the rest of the time we were there BUT the point of the story is, if you can get a pass to use the private beach while you are in Naples, I highly recommend it. It was like we had the entire beach to ourselves. Not sure if it was just because school was starting that next week or what, but it was glorious and so relaxing. The water was also very calm too and there was hardly anything in it (as far as I knew!).
Take the Trip Sis
I realize this blog post has become very long (if you have made it this far, I applaud you!) but I wanted to take some time to quickly touch on the topic we chatted about over on my Stories last week on whether or not you have ever felt guilty for taking PTO or taking time away from work to enjoy a trip/vacation. I was so sad to see that probably 90% of you who had answered my question had said that you have either felt guilty for taking time off work or have been made to feel that way by someone you work closely with once you returned.
Some quick context in case you are new around here. I work in a pretty non-traditional career at the moment (aka PTO days are a thing of the past), but I used to work at an agency early on in my career that highly supported taking PTO. They actually would get mad when we didn’t fully utilize our days off before they would turnover for the upcoming year - hah! Crazy right? I understand that this is very uncommon but I wish it wasn’t. Why does it have to be so uncommon?
I guess my one piece of advice or thought on the matter after reading all of your messages is that you deserve to take the time you have been given (cough cough your PTO days) or just in general, time away from the office. In my opinion, whenever I used to take PTO or even now when I get to take time away from the studio, it is time for me to reset and come back better. Come back to the office feeling replenished, reinspired and come back feeling like I can give more as an employee.
Life is too short to hate your job or to not take a trip because of your job. So take it. Do it. You only get one life. Do you want to remember it working 12 hour days? Or do you want to remember it by spending time with family and friends making memories? There is so much more to life than constantly hustling and working. I wish our society didn’t have such a “go go go” mindset. I truly hate it.
Obviously I am not recommending that you just up and leave your team hanging high and dry on a big project so you can go enjoy a trip. But take some time to have a staycation every now and then if traveling somewhere isn’t a realistic option or take one day a month where you enjoy a personal day to reset and do something for YOU. I promise if you create some personal boundaries for yourself between you and your work life, you will be much happier and will hopefully get to enjoy the life you are meant to live outside a 9 - 5 job or whatever job title you hold (I am talking to you too, mamas!).
So with that all said. Take the trip sis.
With love,
~Katie