Survive Family Travel: 5 Things To Do in Naples, FL
We just spent 8 beautiful days down in Naples, Florida. There was beautiful weather and lots of delightful opportunities to make memories. Here's my list of Top 5 Things To Do in or around Naples, Florida.
1. Naples Beach - 33rd Ave entrance.
Get to the 33rd Ave beach before 9am if you do not have a beach parking pass. Starting in 2018, seasonal visitors (snow birds) and vacationers are not able to buy an annual beach parking pass. If you get there early, you have a greater chance of snagging one of the approximately 7 metered parking spots. Parking is $2.50/hr - cash or credit at the meter at the entrance.
33rd Ave is the best beach to frequent because there is the least amount of foot traffic. It is a nice stroll down to the point where you can watch the boats leaving Gordon's Pass and see gigantic beach-front mansions that are currently on sale for a cool $33 million.
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In case you have some extra spending money.
The beach is clean, often nearly empty, and there's a little sheltered area that is perfect (read: no waves) for toddlers and young kids to splash in near the point.
No bathroom or amenities of any kind. Bring water to drink, snacks, a bag for shells. IF you want to be close to a bathroom, crowds, volleyball, head down to the pier around 12th Street. But don't say I didn't warn you.
Still clean-ish, homeless people living under the pier, tons of tourists.
We have visited Brambles' Tea Room several times and it never disappoints. Delicious food, great tea (I don't even really like tea. Like, it's just flavored water, right? But this stuff is delicious!).
They have a wonderful lunch menu. We typically order hot chocolate and a kid sandwich tower for my 8yo daughter, and my mom and I end up sharing an adult sandwich plate and get our own pots of tea. The kid tower comes with a sweet little chocolate pastry on top.
Hours are somewhat limited. If heading in around lunch time, call to make a reservation. If you like to gamble like I do, stop in without a reservation around 3pm. They're typically starting to empty out.
Okay, not exactly in Naples, but this is worth the short drive to Marco Island. Kids and parents get to dress up in pirate clothes (hats, scarves, vests) and get tattoos (facepaint/body paint) included with the cost of the cruise. Plastic pirate swords are also for sale before the adorable pirate ship ("Black Pearl") disembarks.
The actors on the ship do such a great job of entertaining the children by making them feel like active participants in a pirate adventure. There's stolen treasure, pirate words (ARGH!, matey, ahoy, starboard, etc), and fighting off a rogue pirate by spraying water cannons as he circles the ship in a raft. All to the soundtrack of Pirates of the Caribbean.
We saw dolphins on our little cruise around the harbor, but I'm not sure that's typical.
Good for ages 3-12, although, my 12yo was the oldest one there by a year or two. 1.5-2hrs. Includes a small treat at the end. $10-$23/pirate.
Corkscrew Swamp is a short drive north of Naples and is 100% worth the drive. If you want a low-key nature adventure, this is perfect for you. There is a stroller and wheelchair-friendly boardwalk through the swamp, nice bathrooms, and a little cafe at the nature center.
Strangler Fig growing around old-growth cyprus.
Entrance is $14 for adults, $4 for kids 6-18 yo, free under 6 yo. There are several tour options available through Corkscrew.
Grainy cell-phone photo of a HUGE alligator!
We opted for the free tour, which was guided by an amazingly well-informed gentleman naturalist. Guys, he was such a gem. He was full of so much information and presented in such an interesting way that my 8 yo and 12 yo were captivated for the entire tour. I don't think I had to correct any behavior or say "Just listen!" or "We'll get something to eat AFTER we listen" or "No lollipop if you keep whining!"
Don't let his face fool you, he loved this and asked to do more "stuff like this".
Afterwards, I got compliments from all of the retired folks on our tour. I never get compliments on my kids' behavior guys. They LOVED it.
We saw videographers filming a new special about Corkscrew for PBS - the closest the kids have gotten to Hollywood. Minds blown!
Really cute gift shop - rewarded the kids with a Adoubon Society coloring book full of birds and an owl-shaped eraser. Total win.
BONUS: There is a well-stocked, unfrequented, and clean! kid's play area tucked off to the side in the nature center. It has lots of toys for toddlers - 8yos to play with, and lots of chairs for mom, dad and grandparents to relax in after the tour.
This place is fun, kid friendly, has amazing shakes, really good burgers.
I didn't get any photos of this place, but here's what came up in my google search:
All rights to the people who shared these on Google. Linked on image.
Donut burger. My BIL tried it. What's not to like? Kids had giant hotdogs and left a drawing under the glass tabletop like hundreds of other visitors from around the world. Casual. Fun. Delish.
Another kid-friendly restaurant. Super casual, kid menus, gourmet Mexican-ish cuisine, tvs, 2-for-1 margaritas. Adults order 2 to 4 tacos (each ~$4) with names like Philly Coss Taco (incl. cheez-whiz), Buffalo Taco, Backyard Taco (bbq pork), and my husband's favorite the Chicken Pancake Taco. In true Minnesotan style, this last one reminded my husband of the "Breakfast on a stick" he had gotten at the State Fair a few years ago. Amazing.
It's loud. It's busy. Expect to wait if you don't call ahead. We waited about 40 minutes - 30 of which was spent walking around the adjacent Publix grocery store to keep the kids occupied.
Once you're seated, it's fabulous and wonderful. Enjoy!