THE JANET EVANOVICH TOUR

Naples-based best-selling author shares her favorite Southwest Florida spots

A Naples resident, author Janet Evanovich doesn’t hold back when talking about why she loves living in paradise. Check out her favorite places to go and things to do in Southwest Florida when she’s not working on her next novel.

aples resident Janet Evanovich has a morning routine much like any other. She wakes up at 5 a.m. and enjoys coffee on her lanai. She eats breakfast prepared by her private chef. She heads to her home office and gets to work on her next New York Times best-seller. OK, so a little different from most routines. Evanovich is the author of more than 60 books, including several No. 1 New York Times best-sellers and even a graphic novel. Known for books that blend a female protagonist, mystery and romance, Evanovich became a full-time Southwest Florida resident with her husband, Peter, in the early 2000s.

“We got a house that was supposed to be a ‘mud season’ house and stayed in it for two months, and then the next year we stayed in it for four months, and then nobody wanted to leave,” Evanovich explains, laughing.

Except for the summers, which she spends in a house in North Carolina, Evanovich lives and breathes Southwest Florida. “I write seven days a week, and I find it very easy to write in Naples,” she says. “The year-round sunshine absolutely helps; it just helps you feel happy.”

Sarah Dunne, a bookseller at Barnes & Noble for five years, met Evanovich at a book signing in Naples several years ago and is a fan of her novels. “As soon as she releases a new book, I have to grab the latest Evanovich,” Dunne notes. She says the Stephanie Plum series in particular is extremely popular at Barnes & Noble. “That sells all the time; we always have it.”

Although you won’t see Evanovich go on many vacations of her own, she has recommendations for any traveler visiting Southwest Florida, or any resident looking to mix up his or her routine.

WHERE TO EAT

When in Southwest Florida, “you have to go to Tommy Bahama,” says Evanovich. Thanks to its laid-back island style and live music, this restaurant chain has the “Florida feel” that vacationers come for.

Two of the must-visit restaurants on Evanovich’s list are Old Naples staples. She recommends Jane’s Garden Café on 3rd Street for breakfast, lunch and a stop by the koi pond; and Ridgway Bar & Grill for dining out on the porch.

Evanovich, who grew up in New Jersey, loves the casual atmosphere of Naples, but when she is looking for more of a city vibe, she goes to her favorite area restaurant: Ocean Prime.

“Ocean Prime to me feels a little cosmopolitan,” Evanovich reports. “I get my city fix by going to Ocean Prime instead of flying to New York or Boston.”

WHAT TO DO

Two things Evanovich enjoys about Naples are the number of outdoor opportunities available year-round, and the number of activities to do with children. “I think that the really big thing about Naples is that you’re outdoors,” she explains. “It’s a resort town.”

Evanovich recommends all visitors try out Naples’ many bike routes and parks, including the Gordon River Greenway. And no Southwest Florida vacation would be complete without a trip to the beach. “We have incredible beaches,” she states. “Our beaches are very underused, and very beautiful.”

Evanovich says when she has her grandchildren with her, she likes to take them to the Naples Zoo, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, and Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. “I think people maybe don’t necessarily think of Naples as being a family, kid place,” she says. “I had always thought of it as being this adult, resort place where you could get dressed up and go out to dinner, but we have so many fantastic family things.”

For nights out on the town, the author recommends catching a show or exhibit at Artis—Naples.

Of course, visitors should be sure to pick up souvenirs to take home after the trip. “I think souvenirs should be fun and as horrible as possible, and you can definitely get that in Tin City,” Evanovich says, laughing. “It has every cheap, crappy souvenir you could possibly want.”

WHAT TO READ

What does this prolific author recommend for travelers who need a good vacation book? Although Evanovich says she doesn’t do a lot of reading—because it makes it difficult for her to focus on whichever book she’s currently working on—she’s enjoying reading a history of the castle that the TV show Downton Abbey is based on. It’s written by its real-life resident, the Countess of Carnarvon. “It’s the history of the castle through the generations,” Evanovich says.

Fans such as Sarah Dunne would recommend Evanovich’s work for any vacationer. “They’re mysteries with a light feel,” she says. “You can bring it to the beach and it won’t weigh you down, and it has everything you want in a story—a little action, a little romance.”

Evanovich’s favorite of her own books is actually not a traditional novel, but the graphic novel she worked on with her daughter, Alex: Troublemaker.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

“It’s a place that really offers whatever experience you want to have,” Evanovich says. “I think Naples can be really glamorous or it can be really casual.”

On most days you’ll find Evanovich working in her fishing shirts from ACE Hardware—“I’m probably the only No. 1 best-selling author who buys her shirts at ACE Hardware,” she says jokingly. But she says part of the fun of Southwest Florida is the ability to wear any outfit, anywhere.

“You can wear anything you want to any restaurant. You can get as dressed up as you want, you can wear expensive jewelry, or you can come in flip-flops and shorts and you can feel comfortable,” she says.

Because of that diversity, Evanovich says visitors shouldn’t be too worried about what to pack on a visit to Southwest Florida. “And if that doesn’t work,” she says, “we have a lot of good shopping!”

“You can wear anything you want to any restaurant. You can get as dressed up as you want, you can wear expensive jewelry, or you can come in flip-flops and shorts and you can feel comfortable.” —Janet Evanovich