Wellness Comes First at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Naples, FL By Diane Hayden, PhD
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any years ago, someone told me there were only 7 beaches in the world that had the following: white sand as soft as satin, tranquil breezes, abundant sunshine, and temperatures that rarely dropped below 75 degrees. I’m not sure if there’s only 7, but I can tell you I found one of those beaches when I moved to Naples, Florida. When you step onto that pristine, silky sand for the first time, it’s something you’ll never forget. While I have the luxury of living here, I wanted to experience it from the view of a vacationer. I had the opportunity to do just that at the Edgewater Beach Hotel this past week. Laura Radler, GM, made our stay unforgettable with the many wonderful touches she provided! A 125 all-suite hotel situated on seven miles of white-sand beach, the Edgewater Beach Hotel offers guests a variety of activities as well as a tranquil setting to leave the stress of daily life behind. Believe it or not, there are very few beachfront hotels in Naples, so the Edgewater is truly one of a kind. What’s even better about this hotel – their strong focus on wellness. It makes perfect sense as Naples is a Blue Zone. Blue Zones are known across the globe as hotspots of rare longevity in the people that live there due to their diet and lifestyle. The Edgewater Beach Hotel provides an ideal environment for those seeking the best wellness hotel in Naples. They have developed a program of Wellness Retreats including wellness events, overnight wellness packages, Wellness Wednesday Happy Hours, Yoga on the beach, private guided meditation sessions, and self-care 38
Natural Nutmeg - January/February 2021
wellness podcasts that were recorded right at the hotel. This wellness program was created in tandem with local experts and intended to help travelers feel their best while away from home. The Edgewater offers two heated swimming pools, a stateof-the-art Fitness Center, private and group personal training, in-suite massage, Holistic Nutrition, bike rentals, paddleboard and kayak rentals, and can also arrange water sport rentals, fishing charters, and other fun activities. We rented bikes and rode about two hours through the beautiful Moorings and Park Shore neighborhoods past awe-inspiring Banyan trees whose limbs arched overhead across the road. Even better, though, was relaxing on our cabana bed watching the gentle waves of the Gulf roll onto shore and taking in the dazzling sunsets from our private balcony. Everywhere you looked from this resort was a breathtaking view.
There are only a handful of places that I can remember staying where the views were so spectacular, I didn’t want to leave the room. This was one of them. The balcony stretched from the entire length of our bedroom to our living room. Imagine opening your eyes each morning to seeing miles of sea and sand stretched out before you. Just incredible. Just to give you an idea of the size of the balcony – it includes two Adirondack rocking chairs, a small breakfast table with two chairs and two chaise lounges! The suite also features a spacious living room and modern kitchen with a full-size refrigerator, microwave and granite counter breakfast bar. And maybe the best part of the Edgewater was sitting around the fire pit at night having lively discussions with the other guests. For me, that’s priceless and rarely experienced in most hotels or resorts where I’ve stayed.
