After reading the 'other' post on Naples restaruants, Patrick, LMF, OliveOyl and others have got me very interested in visiting Naples. I'll be staying in St Petersburg, and am now thinking a day trip to Naples would be fun. Any ideas on things to do for one day? Should we zip down the I75 and enjoy all available time in Naples? or doddle along the slower highway and have lunch in Naples? Are most of the restaurants mentioned open for lunch?
Any ideas would be great. Also, where to go to window shop. Olive, that store sounds way beyond me!!!! But fun to look.
Thanks.

Kodi...if you took 49 you might not get there until breakfast...the next day. lol An exaggeration, but you don't want to do that. First, it's not scenic and it's just too slow. Hop on 75 and Naples is about 2 hrs from most of St Pete. It is a beautful town...and I could spend my entire day shopping the unique stores. Fabulous merchandise too.

Don't rule out Marissa. It is expensive overall and some of the things really out of sight, but others within reason and they are so beautiful and unique, I can usually talk myself into it. They've got wonderful sales in the summer, where even our daughter whose husband is still in grad school so you know their finances, was able to buy some things. The dress I got was most un-mother-of-the-groomy, but something appropriate and I'm planning on wearing it this New Years as well, and maybe a black tie function or two, so I could justify it.

There's another shop I love filled with wonderful linens, bedding, table things, night gowns. All things you'll never see at home, all wonderful. The name of that shop eludes me...not sure I ever knew it...just know the location and head on in.

I'll let Patrick and LMF fill you in on the things to do other than shop. Patrick listed a terrific tour route which we followed after the shopping excursion and before heading home. As many times as we'd been to Naples we'd never done that drive and it was amazing.

I don't think you'll regret the day this will take you from St Pete! We normally go in the summer when most all the snow birds are gone, but the one trip for the dress was March and traffic was something else. They are back already...I recognize the cars making right turns across three lanes of traffic because they just realized they missed their exit off I-275!

Uh-oh, now I'm not sure what that tour route was. But I'm sure it involved going all the way down I-75 (and yes, for God's sake don't even think about the slow route) to Pine Ridge Road exit. Take that all the way west to the beach (at the Registry). You'll then need to turn around and come back a block to Crayton Road, turn right there heading south until the traffic light at Park Shore Drive and head west again to the beach. Follow Gulf Shore Drive South all along the beach, the high rise condos, until you come to Harbour Drive. Go east to the light at Crayton again, then right and go to Mooring Line Drive. Head west again to Gulf Shore Drive (you're meandering, because Gulf Shore doesn't go straight through). Head south on Gulf Shore again and go miles -- as far as you can go along the beach. At one point it will cut inland a block, following the beach and become Gordon Drive which you will then follow south along the beach. When you see the buildings that look like giant Ritz Carlton or Breakers hotels, keep reminding yourself that these are in fact private homes. While in that area, if you want to see more, turn east on Galleon, almost directly across from the beachfront Port Royal Club. It dead ends and you'll have to come back the same way, but is a good indication of the residential area called Port Royal. Once you get back to Gordon Drive, turn right or north again and go back north to Broad Avenue, park in the underground garage at the corner of Broad and Second Avenue (also the extension of Gordon Drive). From there you can explore the Third Street South area -- Marissa's, Campiello, Tommy Bahama, much more.
After than you can head north a few blocks to Fifth Avenue South and explore that area as well. When finished, head north on 9th Street which is also US 41 to Pine Ridge Road. Turn right and head back to the interstate and north.

Wow, thank you so much Patrick. Now I'm really looking forward to my day in Naples. It sounds wonderful.
OliveOyl, please try really hard to remember the name of the linen store. I'm sure I'll love it, along with all the other shops. I won't be there til March....yup.... one of those not so rare birds...snowbirds. But I can guarantee, I don't cross 3 lanes of traffic to turn right!!!! I'm MUCH to young!! Thoughts of Florida will get me through the first few months of winter and Naples sounds like it will be a great day trip.

I'm sure the linen store OO refers to is Gattle's on Third Street, almost next to Tommy Bahamas, just to the left when facing Tommy B's.

Thank you Patrick. As usual, you are a big help.I love ready your posts, and it's even better when they benifit me.
Really looking forward to Naples.