Florida joie de vivre, ray of hope, lightness

It only takes two hours to get from Miami to the Paradise Coast. The trip is not only worthwhile to get to know Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades, but also to discover the "real" Florida.

If you combine the Caribbean-Mediterranean flair of the sophisticated seaside resort of Naples with the beach and island paradise of Marco Island and round it off with the wild and romantic Everglades, you have arrived on Florida's Paradise Coast. This is the place to be if you want to discover the heart of original Florida. The pace is calmer, more leisurely, the tropical backdrop gentle, the architecture sophisticated. And best of all, the people here are warm hosts. If you stroll through the palm-lined streets of Naples, you will not only discover chilled cafés, exclusive boutiques and top-class art galleries, but also cozy restaurants - from fine dining to street food. There are also events where the relaxed atmosphere of the locals is almost infectious. This alone makes the Paradise Coast the ideal place to unwind and relax after a stressful year. The Everglades, the magnificent nature with its mangroves and manatees, the manatees that live here, the fantastic sunsets, the powdered sugar beaches with turquoise waters where you can sip a sundowner or mingle with the locals on Naples Pier: all this makes this coast so unique.



Of course, sports fans also get their money's worth - with the trendy sport of pickleball, fishing, yoga on the beach and 90 golf courses. Families can have fun feeding giraffes at the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, while a boat trip to the Conservancy of South West Florida, a nature reserve with exotic and native species, also offers exciting experiences for young and old. And at the Golisano Children's Museum, kids can climb the large banyan tree and express their creativity in the art lab.

A highlight not to be missed on the Paradise Coast is a boardwalk through Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, where you can hike through flat pine forests and wet prairies in the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America. Or you can try a dolphin watching tour with the Dolphin Explorer, including a search for mussels. The more adventurous can also explore the Ten Thousand Islands by kayak or take a speedy airboat ride in the Everglades. We also recommend exploring one of the boardwalks - hiking trails built on wooden bridges - along the Tamiami Trail.



Another highlight is a swamp walk in the Big Cypress National Reserve, where experienced rangers reveal the secrets of the largest swamp cypress forest in North America: Through the shallow wetlands, you enter a unique biotope with unique bird species, crystal-clear water and an alligator guarantee. This and a wealth of insider knowledge from the nature park guides can be pre-booked free of charge at the Nathaniel P. Visitor Center (facebook/BigCypressNPS). Water also plays the main role when the original organizer paddlemarco takes you into the mangrove tunnels - close to nature and with kayaks on nearby Marco Island. Biologists and naturalists accompany you on dolphin, bird and crab tours. A unique insider experience www.paddlemarco.com

Art lovers should definitely visit the Botanical Gardens-- in Naples: Frida Kahlo's famous house, La Casa Azul, has been recreated here for visitors. In the accompanying exhibition, you can explore how flora and fauna inspired the art and life of this iconic artist. As part of the ¡ARTE VIVA! festival, the exhibition "Frida and her Garden" runs until September 10, 2023.

www.paradisecoast.de