About Marybeth, National Geographic Author, Writer

Curious Explorer. Award-winning author.

Gutsy Traveler: A woman, like travel expert Marybeth Bond, stands among purple flowers, raising her arms and smiling in front of a wooden building in bright sunlight.
Polar bear tracking and snorkeling with beluga whales in the northern Canadian Arctic.

Marybeth knows travel. She has hiked, biked, dived, danced and trekked across all seven continents – from the depths of the Flores Sea near Komodo Island to the summit of Kilimanjaro.

More recently, she tracked polar bears and snorkeled with beluga whales in the Canadian Arctic, then kayaked among icebergs in Antarctica.

Somewhere in between, four years of studying in Paris earned her two degrees – and a taste for good wine and strong cheeses.

Twelve books (three with National Geographic), countless travel articles, and numerous TV and radio appearances have built her devoted fanbase. She won the esteemed Lowell Thomas, Gold Award for the Best Travel Book of the Year from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation.

Woman on cliff in front of a monastery in Bhutan
Yesterday’s Video below. A decade or more later. Is Marybeth still GUTSY? Here in Bhutan.
Marybeth in Antarctica with penguins, snowy mountains, and water—just the kind of moment travel expert Marybeth Bond would capture in a travel video.
Kayaking and camping near penguins in Antarctica.

Yesterday….

Naples is a place with two Ritz Carlton’s, private clubs crowded with Bentleys, Rolls-Royces and  Ferraris and tons of shopping areas boasting Tiffany’s, Cartier and  Louis Vuitton.  Oh yes, there are also lovely beaches and exquisite dining.

Shopping, dining and beaches are Naples major attractions. Check out the chic boutiques on Third Street South or Fifth Avenue with little courtyards and street side dining areas.

Lamborghini Naples, FL

A Taste of History

I passed on the shopping and wandered  through the beautifully landscaped streets of Old Naples among the renovated old wooden cottages and out to the Naples Pier that juts far out into the Gulf of Mexico. It was crowded with locals fishermen from teenagers to seniors, as well as noisy pelicans and dolphins hanging around for a handout.

The Naples Pier was built in 1889 and it wasn’t until 1918 when a shell road was constructed that linked Naples to Fort  Myers. In the 1920’s the Tamiami Trail finally connected Miami, Naples and Tampa.

Naples Pier, Florida

Interestingly enough, massive tourism to Florida didn’t begin until the 1950’s with the invention of air conditioning  and insect repellent.

Tin City, with a river walk, restaurants, boat trips and kitschy tourist shops  (similar to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco) was formerly a bustling area for local fishermen with oyster processing factories.

Tin City, Naples, FL

Lap of Luxury 

Voted repeatedly as the Best Place to Watch the Sunset, the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Resort’ s beachfront bar is packed at sunset. Dig your toes into the sand and toast another great day at the beach.

The spa at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Resort is one of the best in town. I have to say that the 90-minute massage I had there ranks among the best of my life. Really!  It’s a good thing I don’t live in Naples, or I’d empty my bank account indulging on more massages.

Naples, Florida Sunset

Everglades National Park 

One morning we left Naples early to avoid traffic. Yes, even Naples has heavy traffic during the “snowbird” season from January to April. We drove thirty miles south of Naples to the Everglades National Park, the place to go for an airboat, kayak or boardwalk excursion into the mangrove swamps to look for alligators.  We took an airboat ride through the swamps and saw some masked critters along the way. The perfect activity for adults and kids alike!

Everglades Boating

Marybeth Bond