The Dock Restaurant at Crayton Cove

One of the most relaxing places for lunch or dinner, The Dock Restaurant is located in the heart of Olde Naples, on the western side of Naples Bay. Nearby are the residential areas of Aqualane Shores and Port Royal, where most homes have canal access to the Bay and out to The Gulf of Mexico. The Dock sits next to, you guessed it, the Naples City Dock. Here you can find an hourly or day cruise, sunset cruise, or a fishing charter. And the restaurant itself has very good food with a beautiful outdoor setting.

The Dock Restaurant is also famous for its Sunday morning brunch with make your own Bloody Mary drinks from a huge buffet of ingredients

Across the water is the Naples City Dock

The Naples lunch sandwich of choice, the Grilled Grouper !

An Aerial View of Olde Naples

This photograph, taken in the early 60's, is one of the clearest photos I have seen of Naples from the air. The two areas in the middle show the beginings of Port Royal on the west of Naples Bay and Royal Harbor on the east. This photo is looking south, and what would become Marco Island can be seen at the top of the photo. Port Royal is now home to some our most expensive and large homes, and most have docks with access to Naples Bay and The Gulf of Mexico. Royal Harbor is similar, and is undergoing renovation of homes built in the 60's.

Two Great Spots for Beach Lunches

Two of my favorite places for a wonderful lunch are the Beach Clubs at The Ritz Carlton at the end of Vanderbilt Beach Road and the Beach Club at Pelican Bay. Actually, Pelican Bay has two beach clubs, north and south locations, reachable via the private walkways behind the highrises of Pelican Bay. Recently my spouse Lori and I went to The Ritz for a lazy Sunday afternoon, and then later in the week I took clients to the Beach Club at Pelican Bay.

OK, so this was not a lunch. But Gumbo Limbo at The Ritz serves the absolute best Guacamole you can imagine, and their chips are served hot and salty. That drink in the background is the famous Naples Sunset.

This is the view from the Pelican Bay North Restaurant. The amenities of Pelican Bay include the beach clubs with chair and umbrella service provided on the spot. That yellow tape in the left foreground designates a nest of Loggerhead Sea Turtles, a protected species. Evenings at the beach clubs are highlighted by sunset watch with adult beverages.

A longer view of the Gulf of Mexico beach from the Pelican Bay beach club. The food is quite good here, and the breezes from the Gulf are so relaxing.

The Lanai is for Relaxing

Homes in Naples are known for the lanai, which is essentially a large patio, a screened back area with a pool and a covered area. The covered area can be used for dining, a glass of wine with a book, relaxing, and grilling with a Summer Kitchen, and is often the focus of the home. The winters in Naples are quite mild, with temps in the 70's and 80's, and many people open the lanai glass sliders to enjoy the breezes and full area of the lanai. Take a look at these relaxing lanai views. Ahh.......

Lanai with no cage screen at Mediterra

Major relaxation in this lanai with lake view

Lania pool with natural rock features

Summer Kitchen built by Lennar at Twin Eagles

A rock-edged spa, pool, and privacy