Five awesome spring break outings close to Naples
1. The Bird Gardens of Naples
An undiscovered treasure, The Bird Gardens of Naples is located in Corkscrew Swamp with a variety of flora, fauna, bees and butterflies. Your family will enjoy a walking tour of the gardens filled with educational information and photo opportunities. All ages will have the opportunity to see, learn and interact with more than 300 parrots from around the world. Tours last approximately two hours with several miles of walking trails that can be traversed with a stroller if necessary. If weather allows, groups can enter the large macaw aviary with opportunities to take photos and hold birds.
Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and don’t forget your sunscreen and bug spray. Feel free to bring unsalted nuts to feed the birds, no peanuts please. There is no fee for the tour, but donations are greatly appreciated.
Visits are by appointment only and begin at 11:00 a.m. Thursday through Sunday excluding holidays. For more information and to book a tour, check http://birdgardensofnaples.org or call (813) 841-1911.
2. Conservancy of Naples Brunch and Boat
We all know about the Conservancy of SWFL, but do you know about their Brunch and Boat Tours? Boats leave the Conservancy at 11am or noon on Sunday. You’ll meander down the beautiful Gordon River docking at iconic Gordon’s Restaurant where you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy a delicious brunch before you reboard for the ride back. Once you get back to The Conservancy, you can explore the Dalton Discovery Center, the new Kids Play Zone or even take another, longer electric boat ride!
The price of brunch is not included in Conservancy admission and is paid separately at brunch. Adults are $19.99, children are $9.99. Conservancy Nature Center admission is $12.95 for adults, $8.95 for kids 3-11, Conservancy members are free. Boat and Brunch trips are scheduled for March 1, 8, 15 and 22.
Reservations are required. For more information call 239-262-0304 or check www.conservancy.org. The tours are subject to weather conditions and tides and children must be at least 2 years old to board the boat.
For more information on Gordon’s including the brunch menu, check www.gordonsontheriver.com.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is located just south of the Naples Zoo on the Southwest Corner of Goodlette-Frank and Golden Gate Blvd.
3. Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
With an estimated population of only 120-160 panthers remaining in the wild, all in South Florida, the Florida panther is one of the most endangered mammals in the U.S.
In 1989, the US Fish & Wildlife Service purchased 24,300 acres from the Collier family to become the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, under the authority of the Endangered Species Act, to protect the Florida panther and its habitat.
Two hiking trails are open to the public on the refuge including a 1/3 mile wheelchair and stroller accessible loop trail. Your family will enjoy a leisurely walk through hammocks, pine flatwoods and wet prairies. The best time to visit is in early spring when wildflowers bloom. Deer, bears and the occasional panther tracks can be found along the longer trail with Red-shoulder hawk, swallow-tailed kite and osprey flying above. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to observe wildlife. Call (239) 353-8442 to check the status of the trails.
The Refuge is located at 3860 Tollgate Blvd., Naples. Get off at Exit 80. Turn left on State Road 29, heading north. The refuge trails will be located on the left-hand side about a half mile down the road. The trails are open from dawn to dusk all year long. For more information check www.fws.gov/refuge/florida_panther/.
4. The Naples Depot Museum and Naples Train Museum
The Naples Depot Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is in downtown Naples. The Museum is located in the restored Seaboard Air Line Railway passenger station.
Inside the museum your family will find Seminole dugout canoes, a mule wagon, antique swamp buggy, restored rail cars and interactive exhibits telling the story of how trade and travel transformed Naples from a village of 300 to what it is today. The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and admission is free.
The privately operated train museum features an interactive model layout and train ride for children. At any given time there are 10 trains operating simultaneously on the layout. Kids can operate a variety of train accessories from buttons located on the front of the layout making the visit interactive and even more fun. The Train Museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission is adults $7, children 6 and older $4. Children under 6 are free. Admission includes a ride on the outdoor train.
The Naples Depot Museum and Naples Train Museum are located at 1051 5th Ave S., Naples. For more information call (239) 262-6525 or check museums@colliergov.net.
5. The Revs Institute for Automotive Research
Ask 100 people if they’ve ever heard of The Revs Institute and 99 will look back blankly. Newly opened in March of 2014, the Revs Institute for Automotive Research, Inc. is dedicated to the study and celebration of the automobile–arguably the most important technologic object of the 20th century. On view to the public is the Collier Collection–over 100 of the most influential automobiles ever created. To enhance the visitor’s experience, many exhibitions have specially designed interactive displays and artifact showcases within the four themed galleries.
If desired, guided tours through the exhibit space are led by knowledgeable docents and take a minimum of two hours to complete. The Revs Institute is housed in a multi-level, purpose built 80,000 square foot facility at 2500 S. Horseshoe Drive in Naples.
The Institute is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Advance reservations are required), General admission is $17, docent-led tour $20, faculty, students and active military $12, children 8 and under are free. (Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times) For information and to make reservations, call (239) 687-REVS or purchase tickets at: www.revsinstitute.org.