This laid-back Florida coastline is the Sunshine State's best-kept secret

This underrated destination has luxury resorts, white sand, and no crowds.

A Florida vacation is pretty much always a good idea. After all, the Sunshine State really lives up to its nickname. For many Southerners, the getaway possibilities are endless thanks to an easy flight network and enticing options up and down the Sunshine State.

But if you’ve done the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Palm Beach circuit, and you’ve made the family trip to Orlando for all things Disney, now’s the time to look west. Here, 30 miles of pristine Gulf coastline deliver a different kind of Florida escape: soft white sand, calm surf, and a relaxed pace that’s increasingly paired with big-ticket openings.

In November, Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort, opened as the first Four Seasons on Florida’s west coast, instantly becoming the area’s most buzzed-about stay. And just beyond the coast, Everglades National Park approaches its 80th anniversary in 2027, bringing fresh attention to Florida’s most iconic wilderness. Between the luxury hotels, outdoor adventure, and world-class shopping, it’s no wonder interest in Paradise Coast is rising.

For more on how to enjoy a relaxed, sunshine-soaked getaway on Florida’s Paradise Coast, keep reading.

Where To Stay

​​From grand Gulf-front resorts to intimate boutiques tucked into walkable Naples, the region’s hotel scene is more appealing than ever. Here are a few properties to consider:

• Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort: The hotly-anticipated Four Seasons is officially open. The 220-room property sits along 1,000 feet of private Gulf shoreline, with a Tom Fazio–designed championship golf course slated to debut in 2026.
• The Ritz-Carlton, Naples: Fresh off a major renovation, this luxury resort, celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025.
• JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort: The 726-room hotel is a perennial favorite on Marco Island. In 2026, the resort is expanding its offerings with a Blue Zone–inspired wellness programming, including a revitalized spa, hydrotherapy circuits, sunrise meditations, and guided “forest bathing” experiences in the nearby mangroves.
• Olde Naples Hotel, Opal Collection: Opening in 2026, the 109-room property blends heritage-inspired interiors with a rooftop pool and an easy walk to galleries, cafés, and the beach—perfect if you want to use your hotel as a base to explore downtown Naples.
• AC Hotel Naples 5th Avenue: This Marriott-branded property also satisfies the boutique-hotel lover, especially if minimalism and clean lines are your preferred design aesthetic. It’s not waterfront, but there’s a rooftop pool. 

What To Eat And Drink

You can find all types of cuisine on Florida’s Paradise Coast, and it would be impossible to compile a list of all of the outstanding options. Our suggestion? Browse some menus, chat with your hotel concierge, and see where the locals are headed.

To help get you started, here are our suggestions for good eating and drinking in this part of Florida:

• Snook Inn: For chill, waterfront eating with live music and gorgeous sunsets, this casual restaurant with a full bar hits the spot. The raw and ceviche bar is a fine place to dive in, but you won’t want to miss the island time snacks either, at least not the smoked wahoo fish dip.
• Heyday Cookshop: It’s not open yet, but the buzz around this new concept by the Bicyclette Cookshop Team, led by James Beard semifinalist Kayla Pfeiffer, is hard to ignore. The New American menu will hit tables in early 2026.
• Tulia Italian Steak: Ch​​ef Vincenzo Betulia is serving modern steakhouse classics—there’s a Wagyu cut and caviar service, natch—in a luxe, speakeasy environment. 
• Nat Nat Naples: Cozy and sexy is the name of the game at this 36-seat natural wine bar that has eschewed traditional marketing in favor of developing a word-of-mouth following. Stay for a glass or two to pair with seasonal small plates or shop from the curated bottle selection.
• USS Nemo: The kind of restaurant that will please all palates, this family-owned and operated fine dining restaurant is best known for its seafood dishes like the fish (blackened or grilled) tacos served with Caribbean rice, warm tortilla (wheat or corn) green cabbage, lime, queso fresco cheese, and pickled onion. 
• Taqueria San Julian: For tacos in a decidedly more casual setting, there’s this bright nook serving spicy Mexican favorites.
• Osteria Tulia: Naples’ very first osteria is still going strong after a decade in business. Ch​​ef Vincenzo Betulia is behind this Italian establishment open for lunch and dinner. The happy hour menu—50% off pizzas and deeply discounted cocktails—is one of the best deals around.
• Food trucks at Celebration Park: There are plenty of places to get a little dressed up and make it a real, fancy night out in Naples and Marco Island, but for those times when you just want to eat a lot of great food in a relaxed atmosphere, you cannot beat the lineup of food trucks in Celebration Park.

Arts, Culture, Festivals And The Great Outdoors 

Before we get into some of the myriad arts and culture on offer in the region, we have to talk about stone crabs. The season down here in Everglades City, the Stone Crab Capital of the World, producing nearly 40% of Florida’s stone crab claws runs from Oct 15 to May 1. It’s a pretty big deal: Marked by seafood festivals and family-run fisheries along the waterfront, with restaurants across Naples, Marco Island, and the Everglades going all in for crabs, you won’t find fresher seafood in the state.

Named USA Today 10Best’s Best Wine Festival, the Naples Winter Wine Festival will take place January 30 to February 1 at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón. Special, high-end packages include intimate vintner dinners and exclusive tastings; children’s charities in Collier County are to benefit from the proceeds.

Other Highlights

• Cars on 5th: Naples’ signature February showcase brings more than 650 exotic, classic, and luxury cars to Fifth Avenue South for a lively, open-air celebration.
• Marco Island Historical Museum: Don’t miss your chance to catch Key Marco Cat, a 500-year-old Calusa carving, on loan from the Smithsonian through April.
• Naples Art Institute: You have until the end of May to catch "Miró: Fire in the Soul" by acclaimed Spanish artist Joan Miro. The exhibition comprises 60 original works spanning painting, sculpture, prints and ceramics.
• Eco-adventures: Paddle with marine biologists through the Ten Thousand Islands, join guided shelling excursions on quiet barrier beaches, or head to Everglades City for swamp walks, airboat rides, and traditional Gladesmen pole-boat tours.

If You Go

Paradise Coast is a year-round destination, but for the best weather and clear Gulf days, plan your visit between late fall and spring. The closest airport to access the region is Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), roughly 40 minutes away from Naples and about an hour from Marco Island.

Marco Island is connected to the mainland by a series of bridges, making it an easy 20- to 25-minute drive from Naples.