Guys' Getaway to Naples, Marco Island & the Everglades

Golf, fishing, poker or a meal to make any carnivore blush – whatever your game, you'll find it on the Paradise Coast.

George Clooney calls his best guy pals “The Boys,” and they’re famous for nurturing their long-standing friendships with well-planned getaway adventures. No matter how you refer to your best buds, a guys’ getaway to Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades will leave the whole group with memories of everything from the great outdoors to luxury indulgences.

Fishing: Backcountry to Offshore

The Everglades offers an abundance of remote backcountry fishing and wildlife viewing. Opt for a guided charter with Everglades Fishing Adventures, Hope Fishing Adventures, or Everglades Kayak Fishing through Everglades National Park or the Ten Thousand Island Wildlife Refuge for an expansive look at the unspoiled realm of mangroves, hidden coves and uninhabited beaches of the Ten Thousand Islands. The area’s redfish, snook, sea trout and tarpon weigh in anywhere from juvenile fish to 200-pound monsters. For a hands-on tour with a brag worthy trophy, try your hand at fly fishing with an experienced guide from RZ’s Fishing Extremes.

Or, take to the Gulf of Mexico for an offshore fishing experience. Knowledgeable guides will take you on offshore excursions in search of grouper, sharks, snapper, permit, and more. For a full menu of watersports and fishing excursions, Port of Naples Marina, Rose Marina, Naples City Dock and Calusa Island Marina are one-stop shops.

Top-Ranked Golf Courses

For the competitive crew, keep score at one of Naples’ critically acclaimed golf courses. With 90 golf courses in the Greater Naples metro area – Florida's Paradise Coast is No. 1 in the National Golf Foundation’s rankings of Golf Holes Per Capita – there is no shortage of time on the fairways and greens at any of the public, resort or semi-private courses.

Play where the champions play at Tiburón Golf Club, the home of the PGA TOUR QBE Shootout and the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship, located at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. For additional courses with pristine fairways and greens, visit TPC Treviso Bay, Lely Resort, Panther Run or the Links of Naples, offering night golf under stadium lights from November through April and daytime golf year round. Play at some of the most highly-esteemed private courses during their non-member times, typically from May to December. See more on Naples-area golf.

Skeet, Trap and Sporting Clays

The Gulf Coast Clays shooting range is located directly across from Port of the Islands Adventure Resort halfway between Naples and Everglades City. It offers high quality trap, skeet and sporting clays shooting. Open to the public, the gun range has two experienced instructors on staff for lessons. Your group can hop into golf carts and explore the beautiful 15-stand sporting clays course that is surrounded by Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park in the Everglades. 

Betting on a Good Time

If you’re feeling lucky, head to the Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee just 50 minutes from Naples. Following a multi-million dollar renovation, the casino now offers overnight accommodations at its upscale hotel along with more than 1,300 slot machines and 38 live table games. With plenty of dining options in the Vegas-style casino and live entertainment on most nights, it’s a good bet for a guys’ weekend.

Dining & Nightlife in the Greater Naples Area

There’s no doubt that Naples earned Conde Nast’s Traveler magazine’s ranking as one of the Top 20 Best Food Cities in America. With an emerging foodie scene, there’s no shortage of good eats on the Paradise Coast.

After a fishing or kayak paddling adventure, grab bite to eat at City Seafood in Everglades City. Here you’ll enjoy a laid-back menu in a waterfront patio setting. Try the giant stone crab claws fresh from the dock during stone crab season October 15 through May 1st each year, or classics like grouper sandwiches or frogs legs. 

For trendsetting dining in Naples, visit Sea Salt for fresh seafood on Third Street South, or visit Osteria Tulia on Fifth Avenue South for rustic Italian cuisine in a cool, eclectic setting. For the ultimate masculine meal, try HobNob Kitchen & Bar’s Bone-In Rib Eye with Slow-Cooked Béarnaise Onions, Cabarnet Demi and Honey Roasted Fingerlings, or try the Tomahawk cut at Dorona with a Caeser salad prepared tableside. 

For a casual and fun stop for lunch, dinner, appetizers and drinks, join the local crowd at the new Celebration Park in the Bayshore Arts District with multiple food trucks offering an eclectic mix of cuisine and a waterfront bar. 

If craft brews are your passion, check out Naples Beach Brewery, RipTide Brewing Company, Bone Hook Brewing and a growing list of others to find your favorite. 

After dinner, check out the nightlife at the popular Mercato plaza, with bars and clubs including Burn, the cigar and fine spirits lounge by cigar impresario and Naples resident, Rocky Patel. Other nightspots include Blue Martini and The Pub, which offers a unique combination of British hospitality and American flair.

Where to Stay

Accommodations vary throughout Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades from resort-style to all-suite hotels and condos. With an abundance of amenities, most Naples area resorts offer access to restaurants, spas and golf courses. Options include the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort, The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, GreenLinks Golf Villas at Lely Resort, or Naples Grande Beach Resort. On Marco Island the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort and Marco Beach Ocean Resort offer play on their nearby resort courses.

For properties with multi-bedroom suites and full kitchens, the Naples Bay Resort, Bellasera Hotel, GreenLinks, Compass by Margaritaville Hotel Naples, and DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in Naples are good matches for small groups traveling together.