New to Naples? What to Know in Your First Year

Every year, thousands of people decide that Naples is home. Some arrive from two states away and some from two counties away. Either way, the first year comes with a learning curve. Here is what longtime residents wish someone had told them.

The year has two seasons, and they are not summer and winter

Locals talk about season and off season. Season runs roughly from late fall through spring, when the population swells, restaurants fill up and traffic on the main roads doubles. Off season, from about May through October, is hotter, quieter and rainier, and a lot of residents will tell you it is their favorite time of year.

If you are moving here, plan around this. Renting through one season before you buy is one of the smartest things a newcomer can do. It teaches you which part of town actually fits your life.

Look up the flood zone before you fall in love

Florida has no state income tax, which is part of the draw. Budget the savings toward insurance. Flood zones vary block by block here, and they affect both your insurance costs and your peace of mind during storm season. Check any address before you make an offer, not after.

While you are at it, learn your evacuation zone and make a plan. Hurricane season runs June through November. Longtime residents do not panic about it, but they do prepare, and they start before a storm is on the map.

Schools go by zone, not by neighborhood name

Collier County Public Schools assigns students by attendance zone. Neighborhood names and marketing brochures are not the same thing as school assignment. Confirm the zone for a specific address at collierschools.com before you sign anything.

Give yourself a wider map

New arrivals often stay inside a small triangle downtown for the first six months. The county is bigger than that. Immokalee, Everglades City, Marco Island and Golden Gate Estates are all part of Collier County, and all worth knowing. So is the fact that the Everglades starts closer to your house than you think.

One local note

The Naples Pier, a landmark since 1888, is closed while the city rebuilds it after Hurricane Ian. Crews are on site and the city expects it back in 2027. If someone tells you to go watch the sunset from the pier, they are working from an old memory. Lowdermilk Park, Vanderbilt Beach and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park will do nicely in the meantime.

The part nobody writes down

People here say hello. At the dog park, in line at the hardware store, on the beach at sunset. Say it back. That is most of what it takes to stop being new.