Naples Puts the Ho, Ho, Ho in Your Holiday Shopping

Nothing says "Naples" like jewelry. The town is virtually dripping with gold, diamonds and precious gems. Nothing says "Naples jewelry" more specifically than downtown's Cleopatra's Barge. When Marilyn Janss first opened her jewelry shop on Third Street South, the street was so quiet she would often hang a "Gone Fishing" sign on the doorknob and grab her rod and reel. Nearly 50 years later, Janss is still designing gold pieces and selling jewelry of all sorts in the small shop. She is most famous for her Naples Medallion, which depicts the Naples Pier in gold for bracelets, charms and exquisite diamond-wreathed pendants. In recent years, she has also designed medallions featuring the Marco Cat, an ancient, iconic archaeological find from Marco Island.

Marco Island, as the jumping off point for Florida's Ten Thousand Islands, runs on boat horsepower. So it follows that the most apt souvenirs you can buy would be found at a marina. You will be surprised to discover that the ship's store at Rose Marco River Marina carries so much more than boating and fishing supplies. It is the best place in town to find boating, fishing and Florida-appropriate men's and women's wear. It starts with a line of Columbia shirts - the unofficial fishing uniform shirt of Florida. From there, you can find everything from sandals and shorts to dresses and jewelry. Oh, and by the way, you can also find fishing gear and boat supplies.

With more than 150 stores - including anchor stores Dillard's, JCPenney, Sears and Macy's - the indoor, air-conditioned mall is a good place to shop on hot summer Naples days – if you are looking for chain stores. You will find Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, American Greetings, Bath & Body Works, Game Stop and more of the usuals, plus a tidy selection of one-of-a-kind or small local chain shops. The mall also boasts a food court plus a few chain sit-down dining restaurants.

Once a tin-roofed dockage facility for the downtown Naples area, Tin City retains its rustic, salty charm and its dockage. What's changed is its reinvention into a fun shopping and dining complex. Most of the shops and eateries carry extremely casual and inexpensive wares with a nautical, beachy backbeat. The 30 or so shops occupy two ramshackle buildings and tend to be a little on the touristy side. It's a good place to find souvenirs in all price ranges. When it's time to dine, Riverwalk and Pincher's Crab Shack are favorites with water views and local seafood on the menu.

Lining the waterfront on two sides of the road (a tunnel allows you to drive or walk under the bridge instead of having to cross the busy road), it effects European style architecture. A well traveled district for shopping and dining, its stores are of the upscale ilk selling jewelry, art, home accessories and clothing - nearly 60 businesses in all. Aqua Beachwear for women and Mondo Uomo for men are popular fashion stops. Try a Horse of a Different Color and Fabec-Young & Co. for gifts and home decor items. Five jewelry stores specialize in everything from watches and pearls to estate jewelry.

Sometimes you find the best souvenirs at attraction gift shops. The Nature Store at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is one of the best for nature-lovers and souvenir-seekers alike. Set at the edge of Everglades habitat, the attraction celebrates local nature, and so does its store. Besides the expected logo T-shirts, hats and other clothing, it carries attire and gear featuring Corkscrew's flora and fauna. Books cover birding, native vegetation and all topics relating to South Florida nature. For kids, there are toys and games that make nature fun. Art, jewelry and other gifts are all nature-themed. And even better, proceeds from all purchases benefit wildlife and its habitat.

This small gallery is packed with goodies that will inject a sweet, potent taste of Marco Island into your home decor. Gifts and souvenirs range from simple "Gone To the Beach" signs to original landscapes and painted furniture. In between, you will find children's gifts and clothing, hand blown glass vases, distinctive artisanal jewelry, pottery and gifts in all price ranges. Handbags, beachy throw pillows, art photography, an exclusive line of Marco Island beads, lamps, candles, rag rugs - everything is one of a kind and most of it is handmade locally. Mermaids, crabs, fish, seashells and other marine motifs lend a vivid sense of place.

Norman Love equates to the most luscious chocolates, truffles and other beautiful desserts in Southwest Florida. Possibly the country – he and his staff of merry chocolate makers regularly win awards nationwide. Started in neighboring Fort Myers, Love (really his name) has expanded the reach of his product to fine restaurants around the state. He opened his Naples salon a few years later to the joy of local residents. His desserts are eye-candy works of art that often make use of Florida and tropical ingredients such as key lime, coconut and passion fruit. His lines of product include white, milk and dark chocolate plus his signature black chocolate that features cacao from some of the most elite regions of the world, including Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Tanzania.

This mega-complex north of Naples combines residential condos, big-box stores, great dining, movie theaters and name boutiques. Its 140 stores include Dillard's department store, Target, Barnes & Noble, Apple Store, Best Buy, Yankee Candle, Boston Proper (the first storefront for the women's clothing catalog), Banana Republic and Bath & Body Works. Dining ranges from Five Guys Burgers & Fries and Moe's Southwest Grill to upscale choices such as Blue Water Bistro and Ruth's Chris Steak House. In season, January through Easter, Coconut Point hosts a weekly Farmers' Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday. The outdoor mall also provides free shuttle service around its massive breadth.

Old Naples' comeback story is one of the most successful in the annals of downtown redevelopment. Reinvented in 1996 with careful planning, Fifth Avenue South was at the heart of the renaissance. What has resulted is a tony street lined with sidewalk cafes, mostly one-of-a-kind shops and galleries, vital theaters, an arts center, hotels and a city park. But let's talk shopping: Mixed in with great restaurants, the shops sell art, resort wear, jewelry and fun gifts for everyone, including the pets. You will find chains such as Chico's and Tervis, but also unique shops such as Port Royal Jewelers, where you have to ring the bell to gain admission. The restaurants of Fifth Avenue South present some of the town's most divine dining options.Throughout the year, the merchants host a number of street art and other festivals.