Naples and Marco Island Attractions
Naples and Marco Island Attractions
 | Dolphin Explorer 951 Bald Eagle Drive Marco Island, FL • 239-642-6899 Join the Ten Thousand Islands research team on a sightseeing and shelling eco-cruise. Aboard the Dolphin Explorer, adventurers team up with a scientist guide, in an active marine research project, tracking and cataloging bottlenose dolphins. Spot a new dolphin and you might even earn naming rights! Excursions include a stop at a barrier island for shell-collecting. Tours depart from the Rose Marco Marina. Kids under two are free, but a ticket is required for all ages. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Marco Island Watersports 400 South Collier Blvd. Marco Island, FL • 239-642-2359 With outposts at three Marco Island beach resorts, Marco Island Watersports offers a host of aquatic adventures. Tour the Ten Thousand Islands by jet-ski or catamaran, or get a birds-eye view on a parasailing adventure. On tours, participants can spot creatures like dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and exotic birds, and learn about native shells and plants. If you're considering just one tour, guided waverunnner eco-tours (age five and up with an adult) are a definite highlight for any adventurer. Children as young as infants can ride aboard the 49-passenger Calusa Spirit, on a two hour sightseeing and shelling cruise. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Marco Island and Naples Beaches and Parks Naples and Marco Island, FL Sugary white sand, warm Gulf waters and a treasure trove of exotic shells just waiting to be discovered draw visitors to area beaches. In the Naples area, Clam Pass Beach Park and Vanderbilt Beach -- Collier County parks which are convenient to a number of upscale hotels -- are family favorites. Near Fifth Avenue South, city-operated Lowdermilk Park offers a concession area, a playground, volleyball and restrooms. On Marco Island, visitors have a choice of two public beach access points. Located at the Island's North End, Tigertail Beach offers an array of family-friendly amenities at the park proper, like a playground, a snack bar and cabana and water craft rentals. But pack up your gear and wade across the tidal lagoon to Sand Dollar Island, and you'll find a superior stretch of sand that's literally teeming with shells -- a handsome reward for your efforts. Parking is $8 per day at all county beaches. Arrive early to secure a parking spot. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road Naples, FL • 239-262-5409 Giraffes and a black bear exhibit are among the latest additions to this perennially popular Naples area zoo -- a favorite daytrip destination for families. Rent a wagon for the kids and take in the exhibits and shows, from alligator feeding to a presentation of predators, held in an open-air theater. Be sure to budget time for the 20-minute Primate Expedition cruise (included with admission), where you'll travel past islands of monkeys, apes and lemurs. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Sun-N-Fun Lagoon 15000 Livingston Road Naples, FL • 239-252-4021 With so many spectacular beaches in the area, a day trip to the county park might seem an unlikely addition to a family vacation itinerary. But Sun-N-Fun Lagoon, an aquatic adventure zone within North Collier Regional Park in Naples, is a world above your average neighborhood playground. Kids can splash and swim in a variety of pools, ride the curves of five water slides or float long a 1,200-foot lazy river. For smaller children, there's a dedicated "Tadpole" wading pool, with swings and a mini marine-themed water slide. Children under three are free. Kids must be 48 inches tall to ride the full-size water slides. Best For: Tots (0-2)•Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
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