Experience a Season of Sports in Florida’s Paradise Coast

As the world gears up for a summer filled with sporting events, travellers can embrace the competitive spirit with an active escape to Florida’s Paradise Coast - Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades. Whether teeing off on championship golf courses, paddleboarding through mangrove-lined waterways, serving up a game of pickleball or cheering from the sidelines at major sporting events, discover the best way to play and spectate throughout the sporting season, while enjoying the great outdoors of Southwest Florida. 

Score a hole-in-one in Golfer’s Paradise

With over 90 golf courses in Naples and Marco Island, it is no wonder the area is known as a Golfer’s Paradise. Those looking for a golfcation have the luxury of choice with many hotels and resorts in the area having their own private golf courses, such as LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort and The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburon. Guests can book their tee off session at some of the region’s best golf courses via their hotel concierge who are familiar with local course schedules and specials, some which may typically be limited to private play. For visitors who prefer a casual round of golf, there are also many public courses to choose from including the four-star rated Valencia Golf & Country Club and the scenic Eagle Lakes Golf Club. 

Get active on the Gulf Waters

Thanks to its warm waters, scenic coastline and diverse waterways, Florida’s Paradise Coast is a haven for all types of watersport adventures from thrilling jetskiing and parasailing to relaxing kayaking and snorkelling experiences. Travellers seeking a peaceful excursion can explore the region’s coastal estuaries, rivers, creeks and canals with a guided kayak tour along the Paradise Coast Blueway, a GPS coordinated network of routes through the mangrove and Gulf waters. Alternatively, Isle of Capri Paddlecraft Park, which provides access to the shallow mangrove fringed McIlvane Bay, offers calm waters that are perfect for canoeing or paddleboarding. Beneath the surface, snorkel on Tigertail Beach, boasting white sands and clear waters, while thrill-seekers can take scuba-diving excursions to The Kidd or Black Hole to come even closer to colourful marine life and underwater ecosystems.

Cheer from the sidelines at major sporting events

Florida’s Paradise Coast is home to several major sporting events and spectator sports experiences, ranging from golfing tournaments to a brand new local football team. Catch a game from FC Naples, the region’s first-ever professional football club which launched in 2025, taking their home at the brand new Paradise Coast Sports Complex, which is fast becoming one of the premier sports and special events destinations in the US. Sports fans can also attend one of the annual major sporting events including the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships (April), or spectate at one of the three major PGA and LPGA golf championship tournaments held at The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburon - the Chubb Classic (February), the CME Group Tour Championship (November) and the Grant Thornton Invitational (December) - to soak up the electric atmosphere of world-class competition.

Hit the courts for a game of pickleball 

Visitors to Florida’s Paradise Coast can experience America’s fastest-growing sport with a game of pickleball in Naples, one of the country’s top destinations for the sport. There are several dedicated pickleball courts across Naples, including East Naples Community Park, home to 65 dedicated outdoor hard courts suitable for both beginners and experienced players looking to get active on holiday. Travellers can sign up for the free Pickleball Pass to discover top-rated facilities, join social games, or simply enjoy a friendly match with family and friends at local clubs and resorts across Naples and Marco Island.