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Nature vs. Nurture
A Romantics' Guide to Naples, Marco Island & The Everglades
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Romance in Paradise
Romance in Paradise
The practical romantic might insist that romance is made incrementally, by a dozen loving gestures over time, like so many long-stemmed roses. To her, romantic getaways are occasions for waterfront dinners, walks on the beach and quiet time together in an environment fit for lovers. Not so for the hopeless romantic, who sees opportunities for romance in every excursion and encounter, from scenic cycling sessions to tandem Waverunner tours. To him, romance is a deeply encoded trait, and every getaway another rose-colored confirmation of love. Practical and Hopeless alike can settle the long-standing debate in Florida's Last Paradise. Here, nurturing comforts and natural beauty are often one and the same.

Day One: Animal Instinct

Let the flutter of butterfly wings remind you that romance is a sensory experience at the Naples Botanical Garden's new butterfly pavilion, a 5,000 square-foot enclosure scheduled to open in October 2005. Also check out the Tropical Mosaic Garden, which is home to more than 1,000 plant species. Next, go cycling through the wilds of Everglades City. Rent bikes and binoculars at the Ivey House Inn, where Everglades Rentals & Eco Adventures directs you to the best routes through this quaint old Florida town. Chart birds of every color, and note with surprise the size of the alligators. Cool off on a Waverunner tour through the Ten Thousand Islands with Marco Island Ski & Watersports. Spot dolphins and manatees in the mangrove jungle. After, take a well-deserved picnic on Barefoot Beach Preserve and look for gopher tortoises, shorebirds splashing in the surf and soaring bald eagles.

Day Two: Gene Pool

Preview the coast's most bountiful offering via a morning walk hand-in-hand on Clam Pass Park's three quarter mile boardwalk. You'll be swept through sea oats and along shallow tidal bays and deposited on the beach. Down on Naples Bay, climb aboard the Sweet Liberty and see who got the sailing gene. Go whichever way the wind blows on this 53-foot catamaran on a
A romantic evening on the beach
A romantic evening on the beach
daily cruise. Cap off the day experiencing the area's most refreshing characteristic at HB�s on the Gulf. Settle in at a table just off the sand. Enjoy fresh, regional seafood while taking in the only beachfront restaurant view in Naples. Catch the sunset on the Naples Pier, which, having survived a succession of hurricanes is a landmark of hardy stock.

Day Three: X-Factor

Round out your study of human romance with a bit of predetermined nurturing. The Inn on Fifth's spa helps couples put any inherited stress to bed. Opt for a simultaneous couple's massage, or bask in the elements and undergo the "Raindrop Therapy" or hot stone massage. This boutique hotel is located in the middle of Naples' bustling upscale shopping scene. Fall in step with singers, dancers, magicians and shoppers alike during Evening on Fifth, held the second Thursday of each month. You can stroll Fifth Avenue as shops stay open late and musicians or bands entertain on the sidewalks. Have dinner and watch the crowd at one of the many restaurants offering street-side dining, or just take in the flowering Poinciana trees, the art galleries and the magic shows.

Every romantic knows it's a blend of nature and nurture that makes for a unique getaway.

If You Go:
Naples Botanical Garden, 239-643-7275, Website
Everglades Rentals & Eco Adventures, 239-695-3299, Website
Marco Island Ski & Watersports, 239-642-2359, Website
Barefoot Beach Preserve, 239-353-0404, Website
Clam Pass Park, 239-353-0404, Website
Sweet Liberty, 239-793-3525, Website
HB's on the Gulf, 239-435-4347, Website
Naples Municipal Beach & Fishing Pier, 239-213-3062
The Inn on Fifth, 239-403-8777, Website
Evening on Fifth, 239-435-3742, Website
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© 2012 Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved. A cooperative effort funded by the Collier County Tourist Development Tax.