Cold snap doesn’t keep people away from Naples beach and Fifth Avenue South at end of 2025

NAPLES, Fla. —

Temperatures dipped near freezing overnight on the Gulf Coast, with highs struggling to climb out of the 50s on New Year's Eve. But the cold snap didn’t stop people from heading out to some of Naples’ most popular spots.

At the beach, several people bundled up to enjoy the view, while others took things a step further, including one skimboarder who hit the water despite the chilly conditions.

“I’m skimboarding the waves. They’re looking pretty good today, so I decided to come out,” said Kaden Moore of Naples. “My hands and feet are pretty cold, but my wetsuit’s doing most of the work.”

Visitors from up North said the temperatures felt mild compared to what they’re used to back home.

John and Cathy Boland, visiting from Ohio, said the weather wasn’t cold at all by their standards.

“It’s beautiful out here,” Cathy Boland said. “It feels great to have our feet in the sand and not be back in Ohio where it’s 20 degrees.”

A family visiting from Michigan stayed warm by playing beach volleyball, saying the weather was much nicer than what they left behind.

For those not interested in the wind and cold water, shopping became the alternative.

Fifth Avenue South was busy throughout the afternoon, with stores crowded and some shoppers waiting in lines that wrapped around buildings.

Jamie and Tony Riccardi, visiting from Chicago with their children, said the cooler temperatures helped make the shopping decision easy.

“I didn’t want to go to the beach, but she did,” Tony Riccardi said. “So we’re walking around.”

Several teenage girls said they waited about 30 minutes to get into one store, choosing shopping over the beach because of the cold.

Despite the cooler temperatures, both the beach and Fifth Ave. South remained busy throughout the day.

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