We’re in the dog days of summer – the lazy, hazy, humid, unbearably hot, melt-your-face-off, 1,000 degree, surface of the sunny days of summer. Welcome to July in Naples! So, what are some ways families can stay cool and continue to enjoy quality time together without sacrificing basic levels of human comfort? Fortunately, Southwest Florida has lots of fun activities to beat the heat in July 2021.
The ingenuity of parents never ceases to amaze me. Naples mom Kristen Potoften sets up a water day outside with an inflatable slide, mini pool, sprinkler, and water balloons for her four children. “It’s a fun surprise for my kids and a chance to get outside in the mornings before the sweltering heat of mid-day. It allows them to exercise, play together, and get energy out, even on the hottest of summer days. Sometimes, we invite neighbors or friends for water days, and it’s always a summer highlight.”
Giant group beach days also are popular with SWFL residents during the summer. Kids can play together while the moms talk. “I love meeting up early in the day with friends at Horizon Way Beach on Gulf Shore Boulevard North,” said Lauren Odor of Naples. “Until about 10:30 a.m., portions of the beach are shaded by high-rise buildings. We often see lots of wildlife there – manatees, dolphins, snook, and one day last summer, we saw a spotted eagle ray jumping and swimming down the beach.”
Emma Handsel gets creative in the kitchen to keep her family cool. “We make a lot of ice pops from scratch – constant batches freezing and readily available,” she explained. “I also freeze yogurt tubes for a quick, yummy, purposeful treat. They’re great for an easy poolside snack when we have friends over.”
The afternoon summer rains bring even more chances to cool down. “I let my kids play in the rain when I’m certain there’s no lightning close by,” said Ann Marie Bray, a mom of two. “We splash in puddles and get muddy, and then follow it up with a quick dip in the pool.”
There are lots of activities and places to enjoy in the summer months in Southwest Florida, and the following lists in various categories are by no means exhaustive, but simply a jumping-off point.
Beaches
Many families in Florida recognize the value of quick and easy beach access. We have daily opportunities to cool off in the Gulf of Mexico, providing a summer highlight for our children easily, along with a way to connect with other families. Favorite beaches typically include full facilities, plenty of parking, and showers. Go early – go often!
• Vanderbilt Beach. The popular spot offers a giant parking garage, bathrooms, beach access, and lots of people! The party atmosphere at sunset each night is high-energy and eclectic.
• Lowdermilk Beach Park. You’ll find covered pavilions, lots of picnic tables, two playgrounds, outdoor showers, and bathrooms, which make this beach a favorite among families.
• Lovers Key State Park. This state park has trails, kayak and standup paddleboard rentals, extensive facilities, a boat ramp, and concessions.
• Barefoot Beach. Nestled just past a planned beachfront community in far north Collier County, this beach access point fills up quickly, so plan to arrive early. This beach offers bathrooms, ramps, and relatively limited parking.
• Wiggins Pass State Park. This picturesque state park fills up early, so be sure to arrive around when the park opens at 8 a.m. Fishing is available in certain areas, and a boat ramp also is available. There are plenty of pavilions, grills, and bathrooms for park visitors.
• Horizon Way, Vedado Way, Via Miramar, and Seagate Beach access points on Gulfshore Boulevard North. These county beaches are relatively quiet on weekday mornings, and though there are no bathrooms, there are shaded beach areas until about 10:30 a.m
Indoor play areas
Children can enjoy playing freely, meeting new friends, and expending excess energy at several area locations this summer. Check the individual websites for times, prices, and special events.
• Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon). Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Wednesdays, C’mon is a popular daytime play spot for parents who enjoy air conditioning and their energetic children who enjoy creative and imaginative play.
• Whiz Kids. The indoor play zone in Naples typically is open for free play during the week from 4-7 p.m. and on the weekends from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Gymnastics World. Open gym on Friday nights is a fun family activity. Supervised children up to age 5 can visit from 6-7 p.m. on Fridays for $9. Children ages 5-14 can come to open gym from 7-9 p.m. on Fridays for $10 (parents may drop off or stay and watch).
• InPlay Family Fun. This indoor play area on the corner of Santa Barbara Boulevard and Radio Road is open this summer for open play Monday-Friday from 3-8 p.m., but call before you go as the schedule can change to accommodate camps and events.
Indoor activities
• Collier County Public Libraries. In-person events are back at Collier libraries as of this month! The lineup isn’t yet back to pre-pandemic levels, but there are several story times and even a showing of Karate Kid. In addition, there is a summer reading program for all ages. Visit any location for information to find out about prizes and incentives.
• Crafts. Both Michaels and Joann Fabrics provide accessible online activities, tutorials, and classes in the comfort of your home. Some have a small fee, and some are free. Visit their websites for more information. Sign up for a free Creativebug account using your Collier County library card. Creativebug is an online resource filled with art classes; there classes for every age group, along with family projects.
• Bowling. HeadPinz and Bowland Beacon participate in the Kids Bowl Free summer program. Sign up at www.kidsbowlfree.com.
• Movies. Every Tuesday and Wednesday throughout the summer, Regal Cinemas Naples, Regal Gulf Coast, and Regal Belltower offer $1 kids’ movies. You can even buy tickets ahead of time. Check out the full schedule at www.neafamily.com. Both Silverspot and Paragon theaters in Naples continue to offer private theater rental for $99 for three hours. Select from any streaming service on your personal device for no additional cost, or watch a current release for the price of rental plus tickets. Paragon offers theater rentals starting at $99 for specific movies, or $199 for current releases for up to 20 guests.• Skating. Fort Myers Skatium and Hertz Arena offer recreational ice skating to the public at various times throughout the month of July. Public roller skating times are offered on weekends at Spinz in Fort Myers, Friday through Sunday.
We have lots of parks that contain water features, along with pools and resorts available for day use in Collier County. However, at times, water features, splash pads, and various pools close down for maintenance. Please call Collier County Parks and Recreation or the City of Naples (depending upon the park’s location) before planning your trip.
• Sun-N-Fun Lagoon. The wait is over – our most fabulous local water park finally will be open at some point in early July! We’ve missed the slides, the lazy river, the splash pad, and all the other things that make this park so great. Once officially reopened, the water park will operate daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Baker Park. Located in the heart of central Naples near the corner of Central Avenue and Goodlette-Frank Road, this park has wide open space for kids to run, along with a small splash pad. After the kids play, they can cool off in the splash pad before heading home.
• River Park Aquatic Center. This pool in the center of Naples (operated by the City of Naples) offers a slide, lap swimming, a splash pad area with beach entry, and – perhaps most astonishingly – free general admission year-round. It has been operating at 50% capacity, so be sure to arrive early.
• Fleischmann Park. This park features a large toddler play area, climbing rock, and – best of all – a splash pad for when kids get super sweaty and hot. Additionally, there is a sunshade covering almost all of the playground area.
• Eagle Lakes Community Park. This large, relatively new community pool and the park offer two water slides, a lap pool, diving boards, and perhaps the best splash pad beach entry pool for children in Collier County. So much fun and reasonably priced! A shaded lounge chair area makes this pool a must-add to your summer bucket list.
• Golden Gate Aquatic Center. This local pool has two big slides, a giant pool, and a large children’s splash pool with fountains and water features.
• Sunsplash Family Waterpark. This Cape Coral park boasts 14 acres of water slides, speed rides, a splash pad for little ones, and a lazy river. Sunsplash is open every day from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in July.
• Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa. Book a day of fun in the sun, and enjoy full use of 3 acres of water features, including a pool, water slides, and a lazy river. Poolside drink and food service, free Wi-fi, parking validation, and lawn games are included in the day-use passes.
• Naples Grande Beach Resort. The hotel offers day-use passes to the local community that includes beach access and complimentary beach lounge chairs, along with a family pool, adults-only pool, and poolside food and beverage service. Day passes also include the use of the fitness center. Check out www.resortpass.com for additional hotel day pass options.