VANDERBILT BEACH - OLD FLORIDA AMBIENCE MEETS MODERN LUXURY LIFESTYLES ALONG GULF SHORE DRIVE IN NAPLES
Posted On 2007-01-05 , 1:04 PM
“We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.”
- Winston Churchill
If Ernest Hemingway ever had the opportunity to live in Naples, he would have chosen Vanderbilt Beach. I am certain of it. This beachfront resort style neighborhood along Gulf Shore Drive in North Naples shares a style characteristic of Hemingway’s writings – understatement. Vanderbilt Beach melds the best of Old Florida sensibility and ambience with “micropolitan” luxury coastal living. From the Ritz Carlton Resort at the southern end, to the Delnor-Wiggins State Park at the northern end, this delightfully eclectic neighborhood of low, mid, and high rise condominiums, and single family homes (many with boat slips) is charming and unpretentious, content to let its considerable natural assets do the talking for it. Some places in Southwest Florida often “shout.” Vanderbilt Beach never had to.
It is easy to picture Hemingway tapping the keys on his vintage 1940's Halda typewriter out on a lanai overlooking Vanderbilt Lagoon and the Gulf of Mexico, perhaps lamenting the demise of the  oceanside watering hole at the old Vanderbilt Inn. It is just as easy picturing him traveling up the Vanderbilt Channel, heading out to the Gulf of Mexico through Wiggins Pass, in search of the mythical marlin he made famous in The Old Man and the Sea..
In no other part of Naples will you find state of the art luxury high rise towers, such as The Vanderbilt, or Beach Tower at Moraya Bay, alongside cozy vintage condos which bring to mind a simpler, more carefree age. New stately waterfront single family residences proudly share the same street with quaint, well maintained cottages with boat slips.
To call Vanderbilt Beach merely picturesque is to do it a great injustice. Where do I start? The first time I saw the view from the lanai in one of the  upper level end units in Vanderbilt Gulfside, I had a near religious experience that made me understand why I moved to Naples from New Jersey. It was in the morning, on a day with blazing sunshine, and not a cloud in the sky. To the left was a breathtaking vista of Vanderbilt Lagoon, where the occasional yacht lazily trekked through the water. Off in the distance, the unmistakable profile of the Ritz Carlton was in view. To the right, I watched the sunlight flash and ripple on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, like the reflection of a billion gold coins. Reflexively, my mind started playing the joyous guitar solo from Blue Sky by the Allman Brothers (“early mornin’ sunshine, tell me all I need to know...”).
At night? The Ritz is bathed in colored lighting, the stars provide the backlighting, and the Naples skyline shimmers. Southwest Florida sunsets are legendary. If you are an impulse buyer, don’t let us show you that perfect luxury apartment at twilight on a clear day – you have been warned.
On the beachfront side of Gulf Shore Drive, high rise and mid rise towers predominate, with a section of single family homesites located roughly in the middle section. The beachfront condominium towers and buildings include: Beach Tower at Moraya Bay (pre-construction, with delivery slated for 2008), The Vanderbilt (2005), Le Dauphin (1994), Mansions (1984), Beachmoor (1981), Phoenician Sands (1991), Vanderbilt Shores (1982), Vanderbilt Gulfside (1980), Seawatch (1981), and Sea Chase (1995). Vanderbilt Surf Colony has direct beach access through the Delnor-Wiggins State Park area, and this complex of residential condo towers is located off Bluebill Avenue in the northern most part of the neighborhood. Vanderbilt Beachcomber (2003), also known as Bellaggio Grande, is a popular tower located on the bay side of Gulf Shore Drive. To the south end, the popular Regatta (2000) residential towers are located along Vanderbilt Lagoon off Vanderbilt Beach Road, just about a block from the beach.
Laid back, tropical lifestyles prevail along Vanderbilt Beach. Biking, boating, jogging, walking nature trails, roller blading, swimming, or just sun worshipping by the pool or under a palm at the beach – hey, you’re on Vanderbilt Beach time now. 
When its time to put away the flip flops, at Vanderbilt Beach you are surrounded by world class shopping and dining opportunities. You can visit the La Playa Beach and Golf Resort, located beachfront along Gulf Shore Drive, and enjoy a day of pampering at the spa there, or dine at a table with a Gulf view at Baleen. In 2005, La Playa made the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List. The four lagoon style pools there are perhaps the best in Naples. You could also dine waterfront at The Turtle Club, a favorite of locals, where the gourmet fare is served to the sound of gently crashing waves. The incomparable Ritz Carlton Resort offers unparalleled dining and gracious living experiences. The nearby Waterside Shops is an ultra upscale collection of “the finest luxury brand retailers from around the world” (including Saks Fifth Avenue, Cartier, Gucci, Tiffany & Co. – you get the point) and “elegant dining options.” Royal palms, waterfalls, lush landscaping, and a unique architectural design, combine to create the setting which has made the Waterside Shops internationally famous.
Prices for residences in the condominiums along Vanderbilt Beach predictably vary by age, size, location, and amenity packages provided. The newer, large luxury high rise residences range in price from approximately $3,000,000 to over $4,000,000 and up. A comfortable 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom condo in a building built in the 1980's, with at least 1,200 square feet of living area, starts from approximately $600,000 (and can range  up to $2,000,000 or more, given the aforementioned variables). Single family homes along the beach, or within easy walking distance to the beach are also available. These single family homes are located in the Connors Vanderbilt section, along Gulf Shore Drive, and cul de sac streets off it, including Bayview Avenue, Channel Drive, and Seabreeze Avenue. Most of these residences contain boat slips and lifts, and there is deep water access to the Gulf of Mexico through the channel and Wiggins Pass from this area. Presently, these single family home neighborhoods contain a mixture of new, larger homes built recently after a “tear down” on the site, and more modestly sized homes built 20 or more years ago, which are typically well maintained, contain boat slips, and offer dramatic views. There is typically deeded beach access for these single family homes. The single family homes in this area range in price starting from over $2,000,000, to substantially higher (especially those with direct beach frontage).
We understand your most valuable asset is your time. It is easy to contact us for efficient, .jpg) confidential, highly attentive service to meet your real estate needs regarding waterfront homes in Naples:
Jeffrey A. Ahren
direct: (239) 398-7508
email:
Douglas M. Sharpe
direct: (239) 298-1499
email:
Thank you for visiting our website, and contact us today to learn about the best opportunities (and most special properties) along the beach and navigable waters here in Naples, Florida.
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