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Naples Florida New Resident Resources

Everything About Naples

On the surface, Naples Florida is a beautiful beachside town. And yet, for a town of its size, Naples has so much more to offer than what vacationers’ untrained eyes behold. The beach is just one of the dozens of reasons Naples continues to attract new residents of all ages.

For those who live, work and play in this Gulf coast paradise, the area’s low cost of living and slower pace of life actually trump Naples’ more popular hallmarks, like the beach. Yes, you read right. Naples is (gasp!) affordable.

Does this surprise you? Many perceive Naples to be an exclusive retreat for the wealthy, but regular folks are finding that living here is actually considerably cheaper than other areas of the country. The most touted advantage to life in Naples is no state income tax, but do you also know that property taxes, energy costs and housing take less of a bite out of your budget compared to many northern locales?

Dining in Naples

Dining in Naples has gotten more fun over the years as more eateries have come to town. In fact, there’s so many restaurants in Naples now that I really think my husband and I could eat at a new one every day of the year and probably still not visit them all!

Click below for a directory of my favorite restaurants.

Fourteen Reasons to Make Naples Your Home
  1. Wonderful Weather
  2. Low Cost of Living
  3. Wide Variety of Housing
  4. Abundant Educational Facilities
  5. Excellent Healthcare
  6. Midwestern Friendliness
  7. Unlimited Outdoor Activities
  8. The Beach and Beyond
  9.  The Wildlife
  10. Year-Round Flowers and Greenery
  11. So Many Restaurants
  12. Entertainment and Attractions
  13. Shopping, Shopping and More Shopping
  14. Lots of Arts, Culture and Music
Moving to Naples: The Un-Tourist Guide

Buy the Complete “Moving to Naples: The Un-Tourist Guide” Resource written by Alysia Shivers!

Within its pages you’ll find exactly what you need to know about:

  • Finding a job or starting a business
  • Naples neighborhoods
  • Naples history
  • Property taxes
  • Healthcare resources
  • Choosing where to live
  • Renting versus buying
  • Shopping centers
  • Dressing for Florida
  • Dining out
  • Sports and fitness
  • Infant and toddler care
  • Colleges and universities
  • Local media
  • The local economy and businesses
Important Phone Numbers
City of Naples Government239-213-1000
Collier County Property Appraiser239-252-8141
Driver’s Licenses239-434-4600
Fishing Licenses239-252-8176
Marriage Licenses239-252-7241
Social Security239-530-3364
Tax Collector239-252-8171
Vehicle Registration239-252-8177
Voter Registration239-252-8450
Beach Parking Stickers239-213-1826 or 239-252-4000
Boat Registration239-252-8176
Florida Power and Light239-262-1322
Lee County Electric Cooperative239-995-2121
Comcast239-793-3577
Embarq239-596-6220
Collier County Water & Sewer239-252-2380
City of Naples Water & Sewer239-213-1800
City of Naples Garbage Collection239-213-4700
Collier County Garbage Collection239-252-2508
Marco Island Garbage Collection239-649-2212
Collier Area Transit239-596-7777
Greyhound239-774-5660
Occupational Licensing239-252-2477
Dining in Naples Florida

My Absolute Favorites

Aurelio’s Pizza
Located in the Coastland Center Mall, Naples (& there’s one at Gulf Coast Town Center, too)
A round pizza cut into squares and oh so yummy!

Bellini
On Fifth Avenue in Naples
I haven’t had the food yet, but the bellinis are incredible (and the bartender is easy to look at)!

Blue Monkey Bar & Grille
7550 Mission Hills Drive, Naples (in the Sweet Bay plaza at the corner of Vanderbilt Beach Road and 951)
I’m not sure I would have found this place if it weren’t for friends raving about the food, and boy are they right! Blue Monkey has a sports bar feel, but the menu is so much more than wings and burgers. Try the chicken carbonara — it’s to die for! I hate to admit this, but I actually dream about this dish.

BrickTop’s
At Waterside Shops in Naples
Lunch or dinner, I’ve never been disappointed. Try the deviled eggs and sugar bacon appetizer!

Brio Tuscan Grille
At Waterside Shops in Naples
Always fabulous and the specials are amazing.

Brook’s Gourmet Burgers & Dogs (formerly Lindburgers)
330 9th Street South, Naples
A fantastic burger any way you like it with tons of topping choices.

Charlie Chiang’s
12200 Tamiami Trail North, Naples
Delicious sushi … need I say more?

Chop’s City Grill
On Fifth Avenue in Naples (& there’s one in Bonita Springs, too)
If you want to impress your out-of-town visitors, this is the place. This quickly became my parents favorite spot!

Cracklin’ Jacks
9080 Collier Blvd., Naples
Sitting out there all by its lonesome on Collier Blvd. a couple of miles south of Davis Blvd. this restaurant is non-descript from the outside but has incredible fried chicken, chicken fried steak … basically anything fried. Gotta love those vittles, too! If you don’t know what that is, then you have to stop in!

The Cheesecake Factory
At the Coastland Center Mall in Naples
The plates overflow with food and what’s even better is this place closes late (more like early morning hours) so it’s great when you’re having a midnight snack craving.

First Watch
Several locations in Naples, Bonita Springs and Fort Myers
Delicious breakfast, sandwiches and salads served every day till just 2 p.m.

Goldies
5400 Taylor Road, Naples
Tucked away in the industrial park off Pine Ridge Road, is this hidden treasure of a restaurant. Only open for breakfast and lunch, it is so worth making this a regular stop. Everything is delicious plus they make their own strawberry jam and peanut butter spread which are yummy on the pancakes and waffles. Very inexpensive!

Greek Gourmet
390 Tamiami Trail North, Naples
All I’ve had is the Greek salad and gyros, but I’m sure everything is just as tasty. Plus the guys behind the counter aren’t hard to look at either!

Grouper & Chips
338 9th Street North, Naples
Tucked away in a non-descript plaza along U.S. 41, this place does grouper right!

Hooters
3625 Gateway Lane, Naples
I know … I’m not a big fan of girls serving in skimpy outfits, but I’m willing to overlook that fact just to enjoy those amazing chicken wings. Awesome!

Longhorn Steakhouse
8010 Trail Boulevard, Naples
Incredible steak … oh, and really good salads, too.

Mangrove Cafe
878 Fifth Avenue South, downtown Naples
Delicious menu offering everything from veal to fish & an incredible summer deal that year-round residents shouldn’t miss.

USS Nemo
3745 North Tamiami Trail, Naples
Great atmosphere and excellent seafood. A real surprise for a place located in a strip mall!

Noodles Italian Cafe & Sushi Bar
1585 Pine Ridge Road in the Mission Square Plaza in Naples
I have to admit, I wasn’t so sure about Italian and sushi coming together in one place, but man this sushi is to die for!

Real Seafood Co.
8960 Fontana Del Sol Way, Naples
Great seafood, fabulous warm rolls that I eat way too much of, and they treat you to a free birthday meal if you come in the day of your birthday (and we always make a point of doing so).

Rib City
A lot of locations through Naples and Southwest Florida
I just can’t get enough of their pork barbecue which I love to smother in their sweet sauce!

Stoney’s Steakhouse
403 Bayfront Place, Naples
All I can say is the prime rib is amazing! They carve it tableside.

The Real McCaw
3275 Bayshore Drive, Naples
It’s easy to pass this restaurant by as you drive up and down Bayshore Drive because it really doesn’t look like much from the outside, but trust me this place is worth the stop every time. Delicious food, a tropical atmopshere, and a real McCaw!

The Turtle Club
At the Vanderbilt Beach Resort on Gulfshore Drive in Naples
A little bit pricy perhaps but you just can’t beat the beachfront dining.

Tony’s Off Third
1300 Third Street South, Naples
Not exactly a restaurant but more of a pastry shop with a huge selection of wines. It’s become tradition for us to stop in after attending Easter sunrise service at the Naples Pier.

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Moving To Naples?

Purchase this practical & lively guide written by 14-year Naples resident & Realtor, Alysia Shivers.

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