Although a slightly smaller Floridian city in size, Naples is a city with a prominent and active LGBTQ community, and much to see, do and enjoy. Naples is a beautiful, coastal city that sits on the Gulf of Mexico. It is a destination for tourists, both because of its stunning sugar sand beaches, and because of its proximity to the Everglades and the Ten Thousand Islands. Truly, Naples would make a wonderful place to call home!
A Look at Naples’s History
The modern-day history of Naples began in the late 1800s, when, while doing surveys of Southwest Florida, a senator from Louisville by the name of General John Williams was captivated by the area, where he planned to buy land and develop a city. The Naples Town Improvement Company was ultimately founded in the autumn of 1886 to establish the town of Naples. The was named after the city in Italy, which has a similarly mild climate, and abundant fish in its waters too. Almost immediately it became a winter retreat and a very popular destination for tourists and remains so to this day. It is also a city full of much art, culture, natural beauty, and plenty to see and do. Even better, it has a welcoming and thriving LGBTQ community.
A Few Fun Facts About Naples
Read more fun facts about Naples here.
Naples’s LGBTQ Community
Naples is a city that loves and supports its LGBTQ community with a variety of resources, including:
PFLAG Naples is Naples’s local chapter of the national PFLAG organization, which is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country. PFLAG is well-known for its mission of supporting LGBTQ people, friends, family, and allies across the country in a wide variety of ways. With 500 chapters and more than 200,000 members in the United States, PFLAG plays a critical and important role in providing advocacy, support, and resources to the LGBTQ community.
The Naples Pride Center is a volunteer-based community group that strives to celebrate that LGBTQ community in Naples and promote its interests by supporting, encouraging, and advocating for the LGBTQ community, friends, and allies across the city. The group plans events, provides resources and creates opportunities for the community to connect, grow, and feel celebrated.
What's the Weather Like in Naples?
If you like plenty of warmth and sunshine year-round, you’ll find it in Naples. Naples receives a significant amount of rainfall each year – 54 inches, in fact. It also receives plenty of sunny days – an average of 264 of them each year. Highs in July can reach up to around 90°F, and lows in January typically only drop into the low 50’s.
Can’t-Miss Events in Naples
Naples Pride is a wonderful yearly city-wide celebration of the LBTQ community in Naples and all that it adds to the city. Whether you enjoy parades, parties, networking opportunities, family-friendly activities, or all of the above, you can find it here!
Where to Live in Naples
When considering where to live in Naples, you’ll have many wonderful options to choose from. Unlike some larger cities that tend to have one specific "gayborhood," in Naples, the LGBTQ community is spread out across the city. This simply means that there are many wonderful neighborhoods to choose from! In fact, Naples has over 1,000 neighborhoods and communities, from beach and boating communities to more affordable inland neighborhoods. Generally, the most gay-friendly communities tend to be located closer to the beach and the downtown areas, rather than in the more suburban areas.
The nearby neighborhood of Marco Island is also very popular with the LGBTQ community. It offers a wide variety of homes, including many newly developed properties.
Arts and Entertainment
The Naples Performing Arts Center is a local performing arts venue that puts on an excellent selection of performances each year. Whether you enjoy Broadway, stand-up comedy, concerts, dramas, or more, chances are, you'll find it here. Don't miss the chance to enjoy a performance – or several – for yourself!
If you love great shopping, you’ll love downtown, Naples. The city is home to two amazing antique shopping and art gallery districts – 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South, as well as The Village on Venetian Bay, which is a popular high-end shopping area located right on the coast. Downtown also offers the Big Cypress Market place, featuring more than 100 eclectic vendors.
Parks and Recreation
The Naples Municipal Beach was voted one of the best beaches in America by the Travel Channel, and with good reason. Nearby beaches that also offer gorgeous, gay-friendly shores include Clam Pass Beach Park, Vanderbilt Beach, and Lowdermilk Beach Park.
The Naples Botanical Garden is a stunning 170-acre world-class garden that features the plants and cultures of the tropics and subtropics in hundreds of colors and varieties. It's a stunning display of the natural beauty unique to the Naples area and is truly a perfect place to spend a beautiful Naples day.
Naples Nightlife
The Bambusa Bar and Grill and its accompanying Bam Bam Bar are the perfect gay-friendly nightspot in Naples for anyone looking to have a great time, good food and drinks, and plenty of fun during a night out on the town.
Chops City Grill is one stop you won’t want to skip if you’re looking for great food, a warm and welcoming atmosphere, excellent drinks, and friendly crowds. It’s one of the most popular spots in Naples, and for good reason!
Contact a Naples Gay Realtor Today
If you're ready to make a move to Naples, at www.gayrealestate.com, we're here to help you take the first step toward finding an agent who knows and loves the community, and who can help you find a home and a neighborhood you'll love. We're proud to have a network of excellent realtors in Naples, and we would love to help connect you with the right one. Contact a Naples gay realtor today for a free, no-obligation consultation!
