7 Best Family Things to Do in Naples

Lowdermilk Park is a family-friendly beach with a park that offers playgrounds, picnic areas, and other recreational facilities where you can spend a whole day in rest and play. The beach is a stretch of powder-soft white sand and deep, dark blue waters 5 minutes north of central downtown that are great for swimming and wading. You can even use the onsite shower facilities after playing in the sand and surf to clean off.

If a family picnic is in the outing for larger groups, you can rent a gazebo and party all day long. It's an ideal place for a beach sojourn with plenty of parking and amenities for the whole family.

Cambier Park is a fantastic place to take the younger kids, with a playground, event facilities, and acres of fun to be had for the entire family. The playground is designed just for preschoolers, and they can spend hours climbing, jumping, swinging, and playing. For older kids and adults, you can head for tennis courts to play a match or just enjoy the nearly 13 acres of parkland in any way you like. Often, the park hosts art shows and music festivals which you can attend to see local performers, arts, and crafts.

Cambier park is a vibrant city cultural center. It offers fun and excitement for the whole family, all in the heart of Naples.

Golisano Children's Museum of Naples is an interactive museum that offers programs and exhibits specifically designed to stimulate kids' natural desire to learn and have fun at the same time. The exhibits and programs change throughout the year so that regardless of when you attend, the kids are sure to find something interesting and exciting. Like many children's museums, a great deal of the exhibits here are hands-on and interactive. It's 20 minutes north of downtown.

Even better, many of the exhibitions are focused on the famous swamplands of Florida. That means kids will get a chance to experience the flora and fauna of the region up close.

Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is one of the best, safest ways to explore the natural swamps of the Florida Everglades as you explore 13,000 acres of preserved wilderness. The sanctuary has been here for centuries and is guided by a 2.25-mile-long boardwalk, which will take you to the largest old-growth forest on the continent, the Bald Cypress Forest. You can also see plenty of native Florida wildlife in its true natural habitat here.

Kids will wonder at the sheer age of the trees surrounding them. They'll also be excited to see all the native plants and animals all around them. It's a thrilling and educational experience for the whole family, 45 minutes northeast of downtown.

Coral Cay Adventure Golf is a great break from education, nature, and historical sites, with 36 holes of quirky and challenging miniature golf to challenge kids and grown-ups alike. Kids will enjoy walking among the waterfalls, tropical flowers, palm trees, and other decorations throughout the course. Even better, if you and your family master the first course, you'll find a second one waiting to challenge you.

The Adventure Golf attraction is open late, so you can even come here after dinner. It's located on Tamiami Trail, just minutes east of downtown.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida offers wildlife experiences that allow kids to connect with nature in a way they never have before and learn all about local ecology. You'll start with interactive, hands-on experiences at the Dalton Discovery Center, where you will begin your education about Florida's nature and wildlife and the delicate balance of the planet we all share. Then you'll take an electric boat tour where you can see the Florida wetlands up close and personal.

For the littlest ones, the Little Explorer Play Zone is among the best ways children can discover nature and conservation. It's in the heart of downtown Naples.

Naples Botanical Garden is a fine way to introduce your kids to the beauty of nature as they explore 170 acres of colorful and beautiful plants from across the world. Here, you'll see plants from Florida, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and many other regions. In the Children's Garden, the kids will get a hands-on, interactive experience exploring plant life. You can also take one of several hiking trails that let you enjoy the garden to its fullest.

Of course, the Butterfly Garden is one of the most exciting and colorful parts of the trip. It's all just 7 minutes south of downtown.