High-pressure professions and adrenaline-junky hobbies can wear you down. Every now and then, you need a chance to hide and relax. The twin Ritz-Carlton Resorts in Naples, FL fuse luxury and accessibility, proving that you don't have to sweat passport control lines to get away for a while. Both the beach hotel and the golf property offer white sand and warm water, but only one makes it enjoyable!

The Tiburon golf courses, Spanish for "Shark," is Greg Norman's creation (thus the name). These 36 holes will challenge veteran golfers without frustrating a weekend duffer too badly. According to the course professional, Roger James, holes #2 and #17 on "Black" (one of two courses, the other being "Gold") are the toughest at the resort. The lucky one, on the other hand, is Black #13. One guest scored a hole-in-one the same day James took me around the two golf courses.

At the other Ritz-Carlton Resort in Naples, the beach is the main attraction. Almost every room has a view of the Gulf of Mexico, and a short walk takes you to soft sands and warm water. The beach property's spa offers a great way to unwind after struggling through the Gold tees' back nine or the perfect conclusion to a day lounging along the shore. A full array of treatments is available, but I suggest Elements, which includes a therapeutic bath, skin brushing, clay mask and massage that will make your hands and feet feel like they are floating.

Despite the conspicuous luxury afforded by the Ritz-Carlton Resorts in Naples, FL, General Manager Michael McMahon has not lost sight of the obligations that accompany success. Thus, his resorts hold what has become the world's largest charity wine auction, the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Also, both resorts offer socially responsible excursions, called "Giveback Getaways." The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, for example, takes guests to the Florida Panther Refuge to spend half a day helping to clear brush, hunt down panther tracks and otherwise support the site. On occasion, a lucky guest will spot one of the cats passing on a trail.

After a day of chipping in at the panther refuge or endangering your handicap on Tiburon, stop by Lemonia for a decadent meal with a delightful, attentive waitstaff. Don't be afraid to ask the sommelier's advice. Even for the wine-savvy, he may be able to bring something to unique to your palate.

Perhaps the most attractive aspect of a trip to the Ritz-Carlton Resorts in Naples is proximity. From New York, Bliss is only a three-hour flight away, making weekend escapes and extended stays easy to put together. Once you arrive, McMahon doesn't want to monopolize your time. Enjoy the resorts, he says, but "Get out on the water, and see Naples from a different perspective while you're here."

Tom Johansmeyer

7/22/08