The beach felt quiet and exclusive, with sugar-soft sand and the occasional egret parading on by our sandcastle. My son, Bobby, couldn’t believe his good luck: perfectly formed conch and scallop shells kept washing ashore, beautiful accessories for our elaborate build. And just behind us sat our hotel: the Naples Beach Club, A Four Seasons Resort, named one of the best new hotels by T+L editors, blending perfectly with our surroundings.
That evening, the vibe shifted entirely. At the nearby Sunset Bar, a well-heeled crowd, wearing scarves and sweaters to ward off the January chill, began streaming in, ready to party. With brightly colored stools and a scattering of Adirondack chairs on the sand, Sunset is your classic Florida beach bar—open-air with magical views. Sipping an azalea daiquiri (a mix of Diplomático Planas, caramelized strawberry, yuzu, and Campari), I joined in to watch the sun, an orange spaceship on the horizon, sink into the Gulf. Meanwhile, Bobby played on in the distance; he had the resort’s 1,000-foot stretch of Naples beach practically all to himself.
