Family Fun!!

Naples has many entertaining, educational and fun activities to offer your whole family.  You may find the beach or swimming pool will hold the interest of the kids most of the time but your visit will be less monotonous when you take the time to plan and explore some of the other family-friendly activities available to you in Southwest Florida.  Oh don't get me wrong, you want to some of your time on our beautiful beaches with the white sugar sand, palm trees and mild currents.  You may experience a dolphin sighting; enjoy a bit of shelling; take a refreshing swim in the gulf; or build a memorable sand castle as a family.  And don't forget to take advantage of our majestic sunsets.  Although you may hear these common words - "I'm bored!" from your children if you don't mix up the activities a bit. 

Here are a few suggestions to help you plan your stay--

•  Coral Cay Adventure Golf:  spend the morning or early evening (when it's not so hot in the summer) to take in a game of putt-putt (adventure golf).  It's great fun for the whole family.  Coral Cay offers two different courses, open 10 am- 11 pm daily and is only minutes east of downtown Naples at 2205 Tamiami Trail East ~  239-793-4999 ~ coralcaygolf.com
• King Richard's Family Fun Park:  Everyone will find something to enjoy at King Richards! It features a variety of games, entertainment and services including laser tag, batting cages, go-kart race track, Dungeon Drop, rock climbing wall and an huge game room.  It's a great place to take children 8 and older since many of the activities may have height requirements.  It's conveniently located between Vanderbilt Drive and Pine Ridge Road on Airport Road (6780 N.) ~ 239-598-2042~ kingrichardspark.net
• Sun-n-Fun Lagoon:  This enormous water park is located off Livingston Road in North Naples in the North Collier Regional Park and is filled with many water features to keep everyone busy for hours.  Enjoy shooting water pistols or dumping buckets on one another while you keep yourselves refreshed in one of the four pools; floating in the lagoon; sliding on one of the large slides.  There is also a tadpole pool for little ones.  Spend the day and enjoy lunch at the snack bar.  Call for hours of operation.  15000 Livingston Road ~ 239-252-4021 ~ colliergov.net
• Naples Pier:  The Naples Pier has been a community landmark since 1888.  Enjoy the view of the beaches for miles from the vantage point of the pier or fish from the pier that extends 1,000 feet into the Gulf of Mexico anytime of the day.  Frozen bait is available on the pier and you do not need a license to fish from the pier but you will need your own gear.  You may catch a small shark, red fish, grouper, catfish, snapper and . . . . This is also a great place to watch one of our memorable sunsets.  The Pier is located at 25-12th Avenue South ~ 239-213-3062
• Naples Botanical Gardens:  Be inspired and captivated by 170 acres of tropical garden features designed by some of the finest landscape architects in the world.  You will find gardens cultivated from Brazil, Asia and the Caribbean as well as a Water Garden filled with water lilies, papyrus and lotuses plus 90 acres of restored natural Southwest Florida habitat.  Your children will enjoy the interactive children's garden with it's two story tree house or the Butterfly house where butterflies may actually land on your shoulder or taking a walk through the preserve and trails.  This is a beautiful place and one of a kind.  You will want to plan a whole day of fun around this amazing Florida natural experience.  4820 Bayshore Drive ~ 239-643-7275 ~ naplesgarden.org
• Naples Zoo and Carribean Garden:  This is no ordinary walk-a-bout zoo.  Your family will enjoy hand feeding the giraffes; coming eye-to-eye with apes, zebras, tigers and bears; or participate in alligator feedings; watch a show; or cruise through the island of monkeys in the tropical jungle of this historic botanical garden originally created by Jungle Larry himself.  Located across from the Coastland Mall and Fleishman Park at 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road ~ 239-262-5409 ~ napleszoo.org
• Everglades Island Airboat Tours and Totch's Island Tours:  Take a guided airboat tour in a small airboat with cushioned elevated seats through the back country seeing the natural wild habitat of the everglades or an open water trip to the private island of Totch's for shelling and lunch.  For reservations and information contact 1-866-626-2833 or 239-695-2333 ~ Evergladeairboat@aol.com ~ www.airboateverglades.com ~ 929 Dupont St. (off State Road 29 just before the Everglades Bridge)
• Cruise Naples- JetSki Tours:  See dolphins, manatees, pelicans and more.  Journey through the vast mangroves on a guided tour through Naples Gordon River and the Coastal Waterways that can be customized to meet your needs with beach picnics, water and shelling adventures.   Older children may prefer to explore on their own enjoying a day on the open waters.  Located at 1200 5th Avenue S.  ~ 239-263-4949 ~ cruisenaplesflorida.com
• Naples Boat Charters:  Reserve a day of private sightseeing, fishing or a sunset cruise for up to 6.  See Naples from the water.  A spectacular experience for all.  For reservations contact 239-593-7475 ~ www.naplesboatcharters.net
• Tour Naples by Trolley, Sedway or Sea:  Naples Trolley offers different tours at different times of year.  You will need to contact them for more information but it is a treat to see Naples in an old fashion trolley.  Or tour on a Sedway while wearing a wireless headset for a safe, fun and informative tour of historic downtown Naples.  Or spend the entire day on an airboat touring the Everglades enjoying the natural wildlife and habitat.  Located at 1010 6th Avenue S.  ~ 239-262-7300 ~ www.experience-naples.com.
• Boat Rentals at Park Shore Marina:  Rent and captain a high quality cruise or fishing boat if you enjoy exploring on your own.  Or the marina offers offshore and backwater fishing charters and guided sightseeing tours as well as kayak rentals, ship store, fuel dock, bait, tackle and sundries.  Conveniently located on the north side of the Village of Venetian Bay at 4310 Gulfshore Blvd. N. ~ 239-434-0724 ~ www.naplesflboatrentals.com

As you can see there is quite a bit to do in Naples without even venturing to Marco, Fort Myers or many of the surrounding Southwest Florida areas.  We also invite you to enjoy the shops and restaurants on 5th Avenue South; Third Street South and the Mercato in North Naples.  You may also want to spend a morning on one of the many golf courses in our town or take the children to one of our Community Parks which all include playgrounds and other activities.

If you are not planning your trip this year, you will want to add the Golisano Children's Museum of Naples (C*MON) to your list.  It is scheduled to open in February 2012.  It will be an educational interactive museum for children that will encourage exploration, and enhance curiosity in an engaging meaningful fun way for all those who visit.  www.cmon.org ~ 239-514-0084