Cruising Through Paradise: The Ultimate Guide For Car Enthusiasts

If you love cars, you’re going to love cruising Florida’s Paradise Coast.

Here, you’re apt to see a stunning piece of automobile artistry everywhere you turn – whether it be high-end luxury cars, exotic supercars, classic sports cars, or vintage hot rods. There’s more than just incredible motors to see here, of course: palm-lined streets, white-sand beaches, Gulf views, glorious sunsets, and luxury resorts. But for a car fanatic, nothing’s more beautiful than the sun glinting off a beautiful ride.

So buckle up — we’ve got an amazing itinerary for you. You’ll make quite a few stops along the way, but don’t worry, you’ll get your cruising in, as well as hitting some unique car-centric spots and events.

DAY 1

You’ll start at the southern tip of Naples and head north up Gordon Drive — nice and easy, as not to miss the stunning waterfront mansions and immaculate greenery on both sides of the street. You’re bound to pass plenty of Ferraris, Porsches, Bentleys and the like.

After a couple of miles, cut left for a few blocks and take a right to go north on Gulf Shore Boulevard, a main drag that runs just east of Naples Beach and is also lined with gorgeous homes. Several beach access points are available if you want to park, so put your feet in the sand and soak up the view. Let us recommend charming Lowdermilk Park. At the northern edge of town, loop eastward onto Mooring Line Drive and then turn south on Tamiami Trail to head back to downtown Naples.

Take a leisurely cruise down 5th Avenue South, our beautifully manicured main thoroughfare that’s lined with restaurants, bars, shops and art galleries. Make sure and touch on the four-block section of Third Street South, where you’ll find more of the same. With a vast cluster of restaurants in this part of the city, options for an elegant lunch are virtually endless. Many offer outdoor dining, so you can enjoy people and car-watching as you eat. If you fancy waterfront dining, there are numerous options as well.

Although this visit celebrates car culture, you shouldn’t miss this opportunity to stroll through this beautiful area. A walk from the Naples Pier, which juts out into the Gulf of America, east to the Naples City Dock at Crayton Cove is less than a mile. 

A must-stop on Day 1 is the Paradise Coast’s mecca for auto buffs, Revs Institute, renowned as one of the premier car museums in the world. The Institute’s jaw-dropping collection of 112 rare vehicles includes a 1914 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Tourer, a 1965 Ferrari 250 Berlinetta GT and 22 mid-century Porsche models. (Note: The Revs Institute has limited hours that change depending on the season, so make sure to check its hours before your visit. It’s best to buy tickets in advance.)

You won’t want to miss Marco Island on your first day. From Revs, you’ll head southeast on Tamiami Trail then cut due south on Collier Boulevard. After you pass Old Marco Junction, you’ll hit a stretch that runs through mangroves and nature preserves. You’ll cross the S.S. Jolley Bridge, with beautiful views of Marco Bay on either side and the Gulf-front resorts of Marco Island off in the distance. 

You’ll soon end up on South Collier Boulevard, which runs along the beach. It’ll be more than worth your while to slow down for a leisurely cruise and take in the sights. Here’s where we suggest you plan your overnight stay (in advance, of course) at incredible properties like The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort or the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa. Each of these Gulf-front luxury hotels, like all the hotels on Florida’s Paradise Coast, provides superb accommodations. Many have several restaurants on site, from fine-dining to beach casual, all with water views. After dinner, you’ll want to take a stroll on the beach and catch one of the Paradise Coast’s famous sunsets.

DAY 2

You’ll be well rested and well fed at one of the many Marco Island restaurants for your second day of automotive fun on Florida’s Paradise Coast. Before you get behind the wheel, though, here’s a thought: Get your own motor running by hitting one of the Island’s standout beaches: South Marco Beach, with its wide expanse of sand and picturesque Gulf views; or Tigertail Beach, which sits on the north end of the island and has a remote feel. It’s a three-mile walk along soft white sand from one to the other. After some quality beach time, you’ll be eager to hit the road and cruise.

What would a car vacation be without a taste of the open road? But first — as you ease out of Marco Island, take a spin along Barfield Drive, which runs north and south through exclusive residential neighborhoods. Barfield intersects with San Marco Road. Head east. In two miles, this passage will open up and you’ll be bordered by dense mangrove forest. Another eight miles and you’ll come to a T in the road. Turn right (southeast) on Tamiami Trail, and you’re in the thick of Collier-Seminole State Park on the western edge of The Everglades, one of the world’s most exotic wetland ecosystems. 

Welcome to the open road! On either side, you’ll see scrub, mangroves, seas of grass and more. After about 15 miles, you can cut south and stop at Everglades City, a quaint fishing village where you can get the freshest gator tail or stone crab (when in season) you’ll find anywhere. Or continue on Tamiami Trail for another 17 miles and turn south on Loop Road, a 25-mile scenic drive through the Big Cypress National Preserve. 

At the Loop’s terminus, you’ll probably want to head northwest and back toward Naples. During your Everglades cruise, you’ll encounter numerous places to stop, stroll and experience the most natural part of Florida’s Paradise Coast.

If you do the loop, it’s a 65-mile drive back to downtown Naples — with about 55 of those miles being through wetlands and mangroves. 

After you make it back to civilization, we recommend a stop at Mercato, one of the Paradise Coast’s premier upscale shopping and dining centers that’s located about eight miles north of downtown. Aficionados of fine cars tend to flock to Mercato — not just because of the upscale shops and eateries, but because of automotive events like Cars & Coffee 239. 

Held on the third Sunday of every month, this event draws all sorts of stunning automobiles — from the latest supercars to vintage sedans — all shined up and ready to be viewed and photographed. Feel to show off your ride. There’s no cost or registration required.

We hope this itinerary will render you fully cruised, or close to it. But after all this driving, why not treat yourself to another sumptuous meal and stay another night? Inn on Fifth will put you right on downtown’s restaurant row, 5th Avenue South, where, as a change of pace, you can walk to an array of stellar restaurants. 

DAY 3

You’ll be rested and ready for your drive back home. So drive carefully, and be sure to cruise your way back to Florida’s Paradise Coast sometime soon!