Discover – Paradise on the Water at Naples Bay Marina

by Claudia Dal Lago

A waterfront café. A 97-boat slip marina. A fleet of deck and center console boats. A myriad of water sports. A Ship’s Store. And a luxury waterfront boutique style hotel. Guests can slip into paradise and discover life on the water at the Naples Bay Marina, a full-service marina located in the heart of Naples with direct access to the Gulf of Mexico.

Voted the Best Marina by Gulfshore Life readers for two years in a row, the marina offers daily boat, kayak and bike rentals. Locals, seasonal residents or tourists looking to explore the water and surrounding areas can choose between a Hurricane deck boat, an Everglades center console or one of the newly acquired Bennington pontoon boats.

Guests can indulge in a sun filled day on the water with their family or friends, or have their boat chartered by one of the team’s highly skilled captains. Keewaydin Island for swimming, shelling or just relaxing; Marco Island for shopping or a waterside lunch at restaurants like the Snook Inn and CJ’s on the Bay; or simply taking in the abundant wildlife of Southwest Florida and capturing a view of the Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, manatees or bald eagles, are just a stone’s throw – or phone call away. The Marina provides daily rentals to guests all year round as well as daily and weekly sunset cruises and ecotours for the more outdoorsy, adventurous visitors.

“The Marina at Naples Bay Resort is a hidden gem in downtown Naples. We have one of the country’s most well protected marinas and offer our guests a plethora of activities,”  said Jeff Gabrick, The Marina’s Manager. “Guests can also visit the hidden pockets of Naples on our new Cruiser bikes. And, if you prefer lounging on the water, we can also have a picnic ready lunch basket with wine and champagne, from our resort’s Café on the Bay featuring Lavazza coffee, waiting for you when you board your boat. It truly is a unique waterfront experience.”

If burning some calories while relishing in the water’s beauty is important, guests can rent stand-up paddleboards or kayaks. They can experience wildlife on the Gordon River up close and personal from their kayaks or paddleboards. A fleet of 12 new Sun Revolution Beach Cruisers are also available for visitors, and perfect for families with little ones who want to explore Naples on land.

Before heading out on the water – or land — guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch, a cup of coffee or a small snack at Café on the Bay, offering Lavazza coffee from Milan, Italy. Open daily from 7am to 6pm, Café on the Bay features a menu of specialty Lavazza coffee, espresso drinks, signature lattes and teas, as well as classic breakfast items such as buttermilk pancakes, French toast, Naples Bay Omelette, breakfast and lunch sandwiches like the breakfast BLT, meat, egg and cheese, Naples Bay Club sandwich, chicken salad croissant and a turkey brie raspberry on ciabatta bread.

The café also features a Daily Special salad. Boaters can call to place orders ahead of time and have a Café on the Bay picnic basket – with everything from coffee and champagne to sandwiches, salads and ice — ready for them aboard.
The Ship’s Store at the Marina will work with them to have all those items plus any water toys, sun blocks, tackle, beverages on board to make it a perfect day on the water.

For more information about boat or water sport rentals, please call 239-530-5134 or visit www.nbrboatrental.com.