Laura Layden | Naples Daily News
Naples will usher in 2026 with fireworks.
Just not on New Year’s Eve, but a few days later. The show is planned for the first Saturday of the year.
Last year, city council voted to pull the plug on its annual fireworks on New Year’s Eve, near the Naples Pier, citing public safety concerns and the strain on police resources during a busy time.
Backlash was quick after fireworks canceled
The decision was met with sharp criticism from some residents, however, who complained about the loss of such a beloved tradition. The backlash came quickly on social media and in angry emails to the Naples Daily News, with one resident saying city council deserved the “Grinch Award.”
Read why the City wants a more manageable fireworks date on naplesnews.com.
Dave Osborn | Naples Daily News
A Naples landmark has received a top honor for one its most popular and unique attractions.
The Naples Zoo has been named in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for 2025. The national news publication rated the Naples Zoo’s Primate Expedition Cruise eighth among the 10 best zoo exhibits across the country for 2025.
What was criteria to make 10 Best list
“The best zoo exhibits not only educate but also engage visitors by transporting them to another place, whether it be the foothills of the Himalayas, a Florida swamp, or to an island in Madagascar,” USA Today said in announcing the winners.
“But which zoo exhibits are the most impressive, immersive, and informative in the country?” Find out on naplesnews.com.
Contact David to find a home in the Naples area at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Mark H. Bickel | Naples Daily News
Not that we didn’t know this already, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded: Naples is a great place to retire in Florida.
Kiplinger agrees, picking Naples as one of its six ‘best places’ to retire in Florida for 2025.
What Kiplinger said about retiring to Naples
If you want to show off your Ferrari, hit the links, and retire in style on Florida’s west coast
For those drawn to Florida’s Gulf Coast, Naples is synonymous with wealth and the good life, and with an ample population of retirees. Parks, golf courses, and pickleball courts abound, not to mention the enduring attraction of its beaches, with their soft sands, calm waters, and spectacular sunsets.
Read on for Naples by the Numbers on naplesnews.com.
Planning to retire in Naples? Contact David to find a home in the Naples area at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Liz Freeman | Naples Daily News
The Naples Pathways Coalition is the driving force behind an ambitious project for more options for walking, running, and bicycling without worry of getting hit by cars.
The project, Paradise Coast Trail, was introduced by the coalition in 2018. It is proposed as 100 miles of paved pathway, separate from roads, that will connect Naples to Ave Maria and to Collier Seminole State Park, and Bonita Springs, according to the coalition’s executive director, Michelle Avola-Brown.
In 2023, the state Legislature adopted the segment of the Paradise Coast Trail from Marco Island through Naples, the new Paradise Coast Sports Complex, Ave Maria, Everglades City, and Immokalee into the state’s SUN Trail network that runs through the state.
Read the full article and view photos on naplesnews.com.
Mark H. Bickel | Naples Daily News
What’s a “best beach towns” list without Naples being mentioned?
Not credible. At least that is our opinion.
So, kudos to Southern Living for getting the job done with its “The 50 best beach towns in the South 2025” list. The experts at Southern Living narrowed things down and beautiful Naples is No. 22 in the rankings.
America’s best beach towns: What they said about Naples
Dining and high-end shopping, a vibrant arts scene, spectacular shores—it’s easy to see why this area is dubbed the Paradise Coast. In a single day in Naples, you can catch a showy sunrise; play a round at an award-winning golf course; go boutique hopping on either Third Street South or Fifth Avenue South; and then walk over to Sea Salt, Del Mar, or Mediterrano for a delicious and memorable alfresco meal.
Read what else Southern Living said about Naples on naplesnews.com.
If you like what you see when visiting Naples, Florida, contact David to find a home in the area at David@DavidFlorida.com or 239-285-1086.
Kendall Little | Naples Daily News
After a four-year hiatus, the iconic Great Canoe Races of Naples are finally returning for their 45th edition with some new twists.
Last week, the Naples City Council unanimously decided the Great Canoe Races would return this year.
Here’s what to know about the races and what’s new for 2025.
What are the Great Canoe Races?
The Great Canoe Races are a longtime Naples tradition that originally began as a community event in 1977.
The tradition has struggled to stay afloat for the past few years, but the Great Canoe Races organizers are looking to the future.
Read the full article and see photos on naplesnews.com.
