Naples California Waterways American Flag at Sunset

When the sun goes down on behind the houses of the Naples, California waterways, the orange-yellow filtered light creates an eerie, soothing mood that's highlighted by the American flags that wave in front of Naples mansions.

Naples is but one of half a dozen or more Naples cities in the U.S. But this Naples resonates with Californians. It is not a big tourist attraction, though one of its offerings definitely brings tourists and locals to enjoy the Naples waterways and canals. The Gondola Getaway cruises are one activity that is known far and wide, offering romance or just plain fun..

The other event that takes place in these canals is the Naples holiday boat parade the 2nd Saturday each December. People absolutely love this homespun event that fills the bridges and canals with merriment.

Shown above is a lazy Saturday evening summer sunset in Naples. Looking down the channel at the lovely homes, a flag gently flows in the breeze with no cares whatsoever.  A gondolier just passed by with a young, smiling couple who were talking and looking ever so in love.  This golden colors, the splashing sounds, the last moments before it turns dark... these are some of the beloved memories of Naples, California sunsets.

Naples, a region of Long Beach, was built as a vacation paradise in the early 1900's as Naples history shows. It offered entertainment, hotels, and like its beach counterparts, included a bit of decadence. During the prohibition, there was plenty of liquor to be had by the offshore rum-runners who brought the booze in by boat. The Red Car train brought vacationers to the beach from L.A. and on either side of Naples were amusements in Seal Beach or Long Beach.

Tourists were a short-term audience. The goal was to lure potential homeowners away from the city and to the beach. Like other beaches in California, those who owned the land saw the greatest return on investment in selling homes versus creating permanent fun zones.

All this info is to help us understand why today you will not find hotels in Naples. The land is valuable and the cost of a room would have to cost a fortune. What you see when you visit are some stores along 2nd Street and a few side streets. But Naples is primarily houses, mansions and wealthy homes both on and off the water. 

In the photos above, you'll see lots of bay as you look to Naples. If you can call anything in Naples a beach, it would be tiny. The beaches shown are located on the Belmont Shore side of the bay looking over to the waterfront house of Naples. And like most beaches in California, they are not nude beaches, do not permit dogs, and there is no smoking on the beach.

For tourists, the joy of Naples is its canals. In the waterways you can take a rental kayak or book a gondola ride and get your best tours. As you glide through the smooth waters of the canals, passing under a series of bridges, you'll often see residents sitting on a patio deck of a home, sipping wine and cooking steaks. They'll often wave and say hello as you pass by. Do take your camera for some fun pictures of the canals, bays and houses.