Nature-lovers looking to escape to Florida for family fun can discover breath-taking scenery and attractions in and around Naples. Located in the southwest with the wilderness of the Everglades just a short drive away, Naples is the perfect spot to uncover Florida’s wild side.
Local botanical gardens, pristine beaches and nature centers can be easily reached, including Wiggins Pass State Park with its tropical birds, fish and hiking areas just a 30-minute drive away. Further inland, Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is home to alligators, otters, and white-tailed deer scattered among pine flatwoods and North America’s largest Bald Cypress forest.
The Everglades National Park, one of Florida’s most famed natural attractions, is a nearby neighbor to Naples with outdoor activities and wildlife to explore. Along the Anhinga Trail, visitors can spot turtles, herons, and alligators, while the Shark Valley’s 65-foot observation tower offers the best views of the glades.
Kayakers and canoers can take to the waters of Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge, where Florida manatee, peregrine falcon and sea turtles are easily found. Marco Island, the largest of Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands, boasts beautiful beaches, unspoiled parks and a half-mile boardwalk to observe local wildlife in its natural habitat.
Naples Botanical Garden is a tropical haven of seven ecosystems, including mangroves, marshes, and untouched forests. More than 300 species of exotic and native plants, hundreds of animals and a water garden filled with water lilies, lotus, and papyrus, make this botanical garden a must-visit attraction for all ages.
The Cove Inn on Naples Bay offers an ideal family-friendly base to explore southwest Florida’s natural beauty. The 89-room property has recently revealed major renovations and is one of only a few waterfront hotels in historic Naples Bay. Nestled in Crayton Cove just eight blocks from the beach and Naples Pier, this boutique-style condo hotel is ideal for exploring the best of Old Naples and the surrounding nature spots just a short drive away.
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