Naples Yacht Club Named One of East Coast’s Best

The Naples Yacht club in Naples, Florida was recently named by Boatline.com as one of the best yacht clubs on the east coast.

Boatline opens their report by detailing how boating clubs offer numerous opportunities to meet like-minded people. As a luxury vessel with plenty of outdoor space, a yacht is designed to welcome and accommodate groups of people. There are waterfront clubs along the east and west coast that are designed specifically for yacht-sized style charters. The scene results in gatherings of boaters who enjoy fishing, sailing, and cruising.

To highlight their three selections on each coast, Boatline looked at the facilities, activities, social opportunities and body of water where each club was located. Often yacht clubs follow a membership-based model. It can require a monthly or annual fee. In addition to a spot for your boat, some clubs have docks, fitness centers, recreational parks and activities along with it. The theme centers around attracting boat enthusiasts with extensions that offer other interactions.

The Naples Yacht Club dates back to 1947. It was the first of its kind in the area. In 2019, the club completed a major renovation that restored the clubhouse, increased the views of Naples Bay, and created more outdoor space. This club is also a founding member of the Florida Council of Yacht Clubs.

"The Naples Yacht Club is known for sailing opportunities, incredible seafood buffets and fine dining, charity galas, ladies’ luncheons, fashion shows, and much more. In addition, the club maintains reciprocity status with other Florida yacht clubs that offer free boat slips," Boatline explains.

They maintain a full social calendar with various events throughout the year. Membership is by invitation only. There is currently a waitlist. The Naples Yacht Club, named best on the east coast, is located on the Gulf of Mexico at 700 14th Ave. S. Florida.

Florida is the country's third most populated state with over 22 million people. The weather, plus the coastlines, make the area attractive to those seeking warmth year-round.  You might think that coastal living is prohibitively expensive. But that's not always the case. Thrillist recently reported on affordable coastal towns and the results show two Florida beach towns are the most affordable in the country.

In order to create this list, Thrillist researched Zillow information to find "which US beach towns have some of the lowest real estate prices at the current moment." They note that while major markets like Miami saw a significant increase in real estate prices since the pandemic, there are plenty of more quaint beachside towns where you can find reasonably priced waterfront properties.

This Atlantic-facing, east coast beach destination had a median home price of $256,550. In fact, Daytona Beach is the first spot mentioned on Thrillist's list. They highlight Daytona's close proximity to Orlando and Jacksonville if you crave some bigger city happenings. The area intends to change its image from being a spring break destination to something a bit more high-end.

The last spot featured by Thrillist was Deerfield Beach. With a median home price of $297,138, Deerfield Beach benefits from being close to large markets like Palm Beach where prices have significantly increased. "Not only does this spot feel more local than many others along the coast, it’s also home to one of the best beaches in the area (it’s even been awarded the “Blue Wave” designation)," the article explains.

The other towns highlighted here were spread throughout the country. Port Arthur and Freeport, Texas offered the cheapest real estate price for their bayside and gulf area. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Swansboro, North Carolina were two other southern Atlantic coast destinations that are affordable (but more expensive than Florida).

Though these two Florida beach towns are amongst the most affordable, they are also unique in their own right. Let's take a dive into the waters of each one.