Destination: Naples, FL

Fans of the Sunshine State looking for a change in scenery and a different vibe are directed to Naples on the southwest coast.

Located on the Gulf of Mexico about a half-hour south of the Fort Myers International Airport, Naples offers visitors plenty to see and do. And folks who don’t like dealing with the traffic congestion and hustle-and-bustle of South Florida and Orlando will love the far-more-laid-back pace of the town whose affluence makes it the Palm Beach of Florida’s West Coast.

The area—which includes nearby Marco Island and the Everglades, and which is identified in tourism campaigns as the “Paradise Coast”—is one of America’s oldest locales, having been discovered by Juan Ponce de Leon in 1513. Today, however, its claim to fame may be the wealth of the region’s largest municipality: Naples is reportedly the sixth-richest town in the U.S. and boasts more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the nation.

A great way to get a first-hand look at the unabashed opulence of Naples, which was named for the Italian city that sits in a location in that country that is quite similar to where Naples is in Florida, is via a boat tour. There are several cruises offered; the missus and I chose the Sweet Liberty, a 53-foot catamaran. It is highly recommended.

The first part of the two-hour cruise takes place on Naples Bay, a placid body of water lined with the homes of the “One Percent.” Among the often-jaw-dropping, multi- (and multi-multi-)million-dollar abodes—mostly inhabited but six or eight weeks a year—are those owned by members of the Pabst brewing family, the CEO of CVS, the son of the man who invented Play Dough and Tersea Heinz, widow of Sen. John Heinz (of the ketchup dynasty) and her current husband, former Secretary of State and presidential candidate, John Kerry.

For some, the best part of the Bay cruise may be the opportunity to get up-close and personal with the dolphins who call it home. On our trip, at least, several spent a decent chunk of time frolicking in the boat’s wake and giving those on board many great photo and video opportunities. Once the Sweet Liberty hits the Gulf of Mexico, the sail is hoisted for a breezy ride over the waves.

But that’s not the only way for visitors to sample the Gulf. It can also be enjoyed from one of the city’s many acclaimed beaches, any of which match up with the best Florida has to offer.

If landlubbing is more your speed, there’s certainly plenty to do. A stroll down the main drag, 5^th Avenue (Naples’ version of Palm Beach’s legendary Worth Avenue), offers numerous (mostly high-end) shops, art galleries and food-and-drink outlets. Three eateries located within a block or so of each other are owned and operated by Culinary Concepts, whose principal, Skip Quillen, is a Turnersville native (Washington Twp. High School, class of 1976).