Where to retire to...Naples or Clearwater?

[snowball22]

Hi Floridians or anyone in the know.......needing your help on a huge decision for my mother. She lives in the midwest and is thinking of retiring to either Naples or Clearwater. Her mother, many years ago owned a condo in Top of the World, Clearwater and loved it. People have also been telling her to look into Naples. So I would love to hear all the pros and cons of both areas. Thanks everone!!

 

[denisenh]

i'd choose naples hands down......i love the area. clean and beautiful.

 

[Bojo]

Another vote for naples. My in-laws have a condo there and they love it! They are there from January through April and play golf almost every day.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My parents are in the Naples area. They live north in Bonita on a golf course. They love it! We always enjoy visiting - lots of good restaurants and shopping. There are a lot of people from Indiana in the Naples area so I am assuming the other Midwestern states too. When we visited over Spring Break, we got ditched so they could go to a party to meet the new I.U. Athletic Director.

 

[Niagara2]

Another vote for Naples. In the summer it is hot everywhere in FL but in the winter SW Florida is perfect! It is 5-10 degrees warmer than Clearwater, averaging in the mid 70's in Jan/Feb. I found that Clearwater can get cold many days in the winter compared to SW Florida. We have a place north of Naples in Estero and just love it!