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Naples, Florida
Gulf dream:
A bit of the Mediterranean in Naples, Florida.
From the March 24, 2003 Issue of New York
See Naples and sigh. The soft light, bone-white
beaches, plaid shells, and vermilion sunsets will do
that to you. The feel of cozy, historic Old Naples
evokes the Côte d’Azur—casual and
sophisticated. Roam the fine shops, boutiques, and
especially the art galleries—Eckert Fine Art
shows work by contemporary artists such as Christo and
Rauschenberg. Bunk at the lovely Hotel Escalante, a
gem of comfort, quiet, and grace smack in the center
of town. Nearby Campiello has a fun, lively vibe and
an innovative hybrid menu (balsamic-glazed short ribs
with spaghetti). Ridgeway Bar & Grill serves up cold
stone crabs—a Florida must—freshly hauled
in from the Gulf of Mexico. Forty-five minutes away is
the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, owned and run by the
National Audubon Society. A gentle, bug-free, two-mile
stroll along a winding boardwalk takes you back 500
years to primal, beautiful cypress forest and to views
of barred owls, wood storks, great egrets, and
alligators.
-- Frederic Tuten
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