One of our favorite family vacations hands down is visiting the beach. We take every chance that we get to take our children to the beach. There’s something about the experience them putting their toes in the sand while watching the waves hit the shore. We visited the Vanderbilt Beach & Harbour Club in Naples, Florida for the first time during the pandemic. It was really a very special trip for a number of reasons. I am excited to share our Naples family vacation including all of the activities and memories we created at this place. We would for sure return in the near future.

This trip was a very special trip for us. Especially during the chaotic time of the pandemic. We were able to get out as a family and go to a safe resort. The drive from our home was about 5 1/2 hours. Our children were well entertained with their Fire Tablets that stayed charged the entire ride. They were able to get along during the ride as we packed our truck up with snacks, sandwiches, and movies. Everyone was so excited to get out of the home after being in the home for several weeks.

Naples Vanderbilt Beach is definitely a vacation to remember.

We were able to do all new things and experience something new together as a family. Austin was able to put his feet into the Gulf of Mexico sand for the very first time. Watching him get excited while he played in the sand was everything. His favorite activities in the sand were building sandcastles. He even tried tasting the sand. The sand was everywhere and for a moment I didn’t mind it.

Hubby enjoyed some football tossing back and forth with Jr and Lisa. Lea and Livie played in the sand and made sand cookies. I was able to sit back and relax while watching my family create new memories. The weather was absolutely amazing. We enjoyed soaking up the sun while eating our favorite snacks on the beach.

Our children had so much fun with one another. This is why we just love beach vacations.

Our children also enjoyed surfing the waves. The resort had lots of beach toys that were left over for children to play with. They played with the snorkeling gear and pretend as though they were going snorkeling. I love how they were created and use their imagination.

I admire their relationship that they have and how they are able to grow and blossom together. It truly brought me joy watching them by happy especially during the craziness of the pandemic. I don’t think that many families were prepared for the pandemic, therefore, I am truly grateful for this experience.

We were able to sleep in late on most mornings, then get up to complete some homeschooling. We then would typically spend our early afternoons at the beach and cool off at the pool in the evening. The pool and hot tub was mediocre. It really wasn’t anything fancy and definitely nothing to write home about. However, we enjoyed every minute of it.

We stayed at the Vanderbilt Beach and Harbor Club In Naples.

This is a 44 condominium resort with two-bedroom condos on both the Gulf of Mexico and Naples Bay.
we stayed in the building that was directly on the Gulf of Mexico. We were able to enjoy some good rest and relaxation in the spacious room.

Our condo was a two-bedroom, two baths, with a large eat-in kitchen, dining area, and living room area. There was one master suite, and the other bedroom had two twin beds. The living had a sofa bed. The condo also had a large laundry area with washer and dryer included. We loved the large screened-in balcony it had with a bright ocean view. We were able to see the waves kissing the shore right from our bed. Although the room was a bit dated, we truly enjoyed our week there.

We enjoyed having the ability to cook our own food since many of the restaurants in the area we’re close. We went grocery shopping at the local Publix and Walmart which was a mile and a half down the street.

Each morning, I prepared breakfast for my family. My children enjoyed cereal, bagels with eggs and grits. For lunch on most days we made sandwiches and soup. For dinner, I prepared fish and vegetables. There were a couple of times where we utilize the grills down on the patio. We were able to grill up some veggie hotdogs and burgers before hitting the beach. The resort also provided a Keurig with several K pods. I truly appreciated a nice cup of coffee every morning.

Since the pandemic has stricken travelers ability to travel, the resort only had about seven families occupied in total! Therefore, we had the ability to truly enjoy the resort and the amenities. Unfortunately, since the pandemic some of the amenities were not assessable such as the fitness center and activity center. Everyone maintained their social distancing requirements when in common areas such as, by the pool.

The resort was located in the prime area of Naples. The area consisted of residential properties which made it great for family walks in the morning and in the evening. There were several restaurants, however, they were all closed.

When the sun went down, we would enjoy a family walk. While walking, we admired the beautiful multimillion-dollar homes on the Gulf Point. We would stop and look. Our children would say “mommy imagine we lived there and there.”

That simple statement held so much weight at the time because I started to think back when I was a child. I used to think the same way. I realized that children do this, this is normal. However, I believe that children only grow as far as their imagination allows them to. I explained to my children that the sky is not the limit. I was able to use that time to encourage them to know that they could truly achieve greatness in this life. You just have to have the courage to pursue your dreams.

This vacation to Naples was a very relaxing one. Since many attractions were closed we had the opportunity to truly enjoy each other on vacation. Many times we are consumed by the attractions and activities that we fail to truly enjoy one another’s presence.

We will definitely be back to visit again.

If you’re planning a beach trip soon, I encourage you to take a look at the sugar-white sandy beaches of Naples Vanderbilt. There are many resorts that overlook the Gulf of Mexico. Vanderbilt Beach and Harbor club definitely have all the things you’ll need to enjoy the Gulf Coast.

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