5 Most Charming Small Towns in Florida's Paradise Coast
Florida is the ultimate destination for year-round mild weather and scenic coastlines, such as the Paradise Coast. These towns come brimming with attractions surrounded by white-sand beaches and waterways leading to ideal natural destinations in the ocean for more adventurous explorations.
Ave Maria
Ave Maria is a charming, newer master-planned community along the Paradise Coast. It is quickly becoming populated with natural sights among all the latest developments. The ideal small townscape features a prominent character with a college vibe from its very-own Ave Maria University. The bustling downtown center features stroll-worthy streets and houses a variety of shops, great restaurants, and many exciting attractions.
Ave Maria is known as "A Big Kind of Small Town," with many services and signature events throughout the year along the lively streets. The line-up includes the renowned Winter Festival every January, the Blues Brews & BBQ Festival in February, as well as the popular Margarita & Taco Festival in March.
The town attracts fleets of visitors each year to check out what the vibrant community is all about. Most events are free and come with live music. There are also beloved arts and craft festivals, seasonal farmers' markets, and trolley tours that offer a comprehensive glance of everything that Ave Maria has in store.
Everglades City
Everglades City is set near the natural paradise of Chokoloskee Island with a prominent old Southwest Florida vibe. The small townscape is home to many museums while acting as a launch point for boating explorations of the naturally-potent Everglades Wilderness Waterway.
One can also cruise along the Paradise Coast Blueway through the coastal mangrove estuary and the extensive Ten Thousand Islands. The town is a destination for all the relentless adventures where no natural wonder is off-the-table.
There's the raw Everglades National Park, the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, and the Big Cypress National Preserve for hiking. Nature lovers will rejoice in fauna sightings at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Picayune Strand State Forest, Collier-Seminole State Park, and the fabulous Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.
In-town, the "Stone Crab Capital of the World" comes with rustic seafood houses and restaurants with delectable claws during stone crab season, from mid-fall to mid-May. The Everglades City is quintessential for the small-town atmosphere, but an endless list of dry and wet adventures to check off the bucket list.
Immokalee
This small town with a never-ending list of attractions is surprisingly affordable to settle and live in. It has a stroll-worthy downtown area and the Immokalee Market offers quality products at competitive prices. The lake is one of the best freshwater bodies in the state for scenery and fishing. The Seminole Casino Immokalee overflows with fun, adult pursuits over the 75,000 square-foot breadth for playing and mingling.
There are many down-to-Earth pastimes, such as fresh produce stands and authentic Mexican restaurants for home-style meals to keep you full and satisfied. The outdoor recreation and attractions include visiting Lake Trafford, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and Pepper Ranch Preserve, while the Pioneer Museum and Roberts Ranch attract whole families.
Anglers flee to Lake Trafford for top bass fishing in the region that has recently undergone successful environmental restoration. There are many unique events, like the Immokalee Cattle Drive & Jamboree in March, the Immokalee Harvest Festival in April, along with the beautiful Sunflower Festival in October. There are also renowned Full-moon hikes with Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed Land & Water Trust, along with Christmas Around the World Parade in December.
Immokalee was formerly occupied by a few Indian tribes of the ancient Calusa, who named the town in their native Seminole language "my home." The largest inland community in Collier County is a thriving agriculture industry that has been attracting hunters, trappers, cowmen, and missionaries for the rural feel since the early 1800s. The town is surrounded by large farms that supply much of the United States with fresh produce grown from November through April.
Marco Island
Marco Island is renowned for the world's most beautiful beaches. The true nature fan's paradise is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and the mangrove-lined estuaries of the Ten Thousand Islands. The town is an ideal base for boundless explorations via the meandering waterway. There are sea excursions in the area, or one can take a "self-propelled" boat journey to where the surf and heart lead. The beautiful island locale offers a charming contrast in character as a sophisticated resort town and funky fishing village. There are many water-set homes and rentals for Instagram-worthy seaside shots and atmospheric stays. It is an excellent place to both live and vacation for the vistas.
The area houses seafood galore in the ample waters for anglers and great local restaurants that serve fresh catch-to-order. The in-town Goodland and Isles of Capri communities feature the best water-bound restaurants, along with beachfront resort hotels and vacation rentals all around.
The beachfront paradise on the Gulf Coast also acts as a base for the Everglades National Park - the ultimate getaway for national tourists and locals in the area. The white sand beaches bounded by turquoise waters boast endless pursuits that will not leave one bored or unfazed. The town is also set south of the historical Naples with wondrous architecture and a marvel-worthy downtown area for a scenic day-trip visit.
Naples
Naples is the mega-hub of Florida's Paradise Coast for entertainment, culture, shopping, and fine dining. The town features hundreds of dining establishments, including award-winning and water-bound restaurants. The beaches are wonderful any time of day, from lounging in the morning to refreshing afternoon swims and shoreline strolls in the evening. The town is tropically landscaped with scenic streets and avenues for a stroll along the sidewalk cafes, boutiques, and art galleries. Naples promises to satisfy any taste for activities and adventures with a line-up of attractions, with the tourism sector noticeably geared at cultural attractions and events.
There is never a dull moment in Naples with various-themed museums, events, and concerts throughout the year. It is a stylish community to live in and visit, with a sophisticated downtown area that is prominent in arts and culture. The town is surrounded by stunning white-sand beaches known for spectacular sunsets.
You will also find top-rated golf courses and ample fishing, boating, and water sports. Naples is Florida Paradise Coast's main metropolitan with an exclusive and intimate small-town feel. Naples Beach comes with the picturesque Naples Pier for scenic fishing, endless water vistas, and colorful sunsets over the Gulf.
This list of charming towns offers newer communities, less-known, and mega-hubs of the region to suit any taste during a drive along the scenic Paradise Coast. It is no wonder that the aptly-named coastline comprises a heavenly escape that promises a lifetime full of memories.
