Things to Do in Naples, Florida

At the northern part of the Ten Thousand Islands on Florida’s gulf coast, there is magical world of pristine, unspoiled, mysterious mangrove forests, protected waters, and uplands. The Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve occupies 110,000 acres of one of the last remaining North American mangrove estuaries undisturbed by human activity.

Rookery Bay is formed where streams and rivers meet the sea, creating a unique, magical habitat. This wonderful estuarine world surrounded by scrub and hammocks is home to some very special animals, including about 150 species of birds, many of which are threatened and endangered. These animals thrive in the estuarine environment and surrounding upland hammocks and scrub found within the reserve. Take a tour of Rookery Bay and learn more about the research conducted to protect and preserve this rare natural oasis.

Address: Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 300 Tower Rd, Naples, FL 34113, 239-530-5940

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is located in a magnificent tropical garden planted in 1919, many years before the animals came to the establishment. Today, you can stroll along the paved path for almost a mile past 70 species of rare, beautiful animals that live surrounded by exotic plants from their natural habitats. You will come close to everyone’s favorite creatures, including lions, giraffes, pythons, monkeys, and bears.

You will also get to admire some rare creatures not commonly seen such as an Asian meat-eating and barking deer or the fosas of Madagascar. You can board a catamaran that will take you to the monkey island located in the artificial lake, where primates live their noisy lives.

Address: Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd, Naples, FL 34102, 239-262-5409

Lowdermilk Beach Park is one of Naples' most popular beachfront parks.

Address: Lowdermilk Beach Park, 1301 Gulf Shore Blvd N, Naples, FL 34102, 239-213-3029

The Revs Institute for Automotive Research celebrates the history of American automobiles. Visitors can come and see more than one hundred of the most significant cars built between 1896 and 1995. The automobiles on display at Revs are part of the Collier Collection and are some of the most important cars ever built – sometimes only a small number of these cars were manufactured.

The Revs Institute aims to advance the study of automotive history and, besides cars, contains over one million exhibits such as specialized research books, images, and documents on the history of automobiles. A large team of restoration technicians keeps all cars in the collection in perfect working order, and many of them demonstrate their superior engineering at various car races all over the world.

Address: The Revs Institute, 2500 Horseshoe Dr S, Naples, FL 34104, 239-687-7387

The Bird Gardens of Naples is dedicated to the welfare and conservation of wild parrots in captivity and offers an outreach and placement program that looks after the birds in a safe environment. Located in Corkscrew Swamp, the Bird Gardens of Naples boasts a variety of beautiful vegetation and flora that create a natural environment for the parrots and attract an array of fauna, bees, and butterflies.

Visits to the Gardens are by appointment only and allow guests to enjoy a two-hour guided tour of the facility and interact with more than 300 birds from around the world. Stroll through the gardens, which have miles of winding walking trails, and soak up the beautiful surroundings in which these magnificent birds live. The Bird Gardens of Naples is one of the best romantic things to do in Naples, Florida.

Address: Bird Gardens of Naples, 1060 Purple Martin Drive, Naples, Florida 34120, 813-841-1911

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting Southwest Florida's unique natural environment and quality of life. Established in 1964 by a group of concerned citizens, the Conservancy focuses on the protection of land, water, and wildlife that is endemic to the Southwest Florida area, and they are involved in environmental policy, science, education, and wildlife rehabilitation.

The Conservancy has a Nature Center that can be visited to learn more about the environment and the work the Conservancy does. They offer a variety of fun activities and programs to enjoy, including electric boat tours, kayak tours and rentals, nature trails, cinema days, daily educational programs, and the Dalton Discovery Center. Special events can be hosted at the Conservancy Nature Center, and a Little Explorer’s Play Zone will keep the kids occupied for hours.

Address: Conservancy of Southwest Florida, 1495 Smith Preserve way, Naples, Florida 34102, 239-262-0304, Facebook

The Baker Museum is a highly acclaimed fine arts museum in Southwest Florida that showcases an array of modern and contemporary art. The three-story, 30,000 square-foot museum is home to 15 galleries, which house a variety of world-class exhibitions, permanent collections, and traveling exhibits.

The museum also has a glass dome conservatory and an educational resource room. Designed by Albert Paley, the entrance gates to the museum are artworks in and of themselves, and three Dale Chihuly installations are dotted about the site.

Dedicated to stewardship and scholarship, The Baker Museum offers a wealth of educational programs for all ages, including talks, lectures, workshops, classes, and symposiums.

Address: The Baker Museum, 5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard, Naples, Florida, 800-597-1900 / 239-597-1900

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is considered to be one of the most pristine beaches in the world.

Address: 11135 Gulfshore Drive, Naples, FL 34108, 239-597-6196

The Bird Rookery Swamp Trail is a nature trail that runs through one of CREW Land and Trust’s protected regions and offers more than 12 miles of excellent hiking and biking trails with which visitors can explore the area. The trail consists of crushed shell paths, an 1800-foot boardwalk, and sandy/grassy berms that were once old tram roads and now wind through the swamps, showcasing the area beautifully.

The surrounding maple-cypress swamps are home to myriad wildlife, including alligators, bobcats, otters, panthers, and white-tailed deer, as well as an array of amazing birdlife. Activities that can be enjoyed include hiking, trail biking, horseback riding, photography, geocaching, birding, and wildlife watching.

Address: 1295 Shady Hollow Boulevard, Naples, FL 34120, 239-657-2253