What does hotel inclusion actually look like for families?

Compass Hotel Naples is one of the few local properties intentionally working to create a more inclusive experience for families. The hotel has earned Autism Double Checked certification, and that matters because it signals preparation, not just good intentions.

But for me, the most important part was this: the support did not feel performative. It did not feel like anyone was trying to prove something. It felt natural, calm, and built into the experience.

That is what many families are looking for when they travel. Not special treatment. Not a spotlight. Just a place where their child can move through the environment in their own way without everything becoming a moment.

Why does staff training matter so much?

When a hotel invests in autism-specific training, it changes more than policy. It can change the tone of a stay from the moment a family arrives.

Training matters because families often notice right away whether a space feels flexible, patient, and prepared. They can tell when a team understands that communication may look different, that sensory needs may shape a child’s behavior, and that comfort does not always look the same from one guest to the next.

That kind of preparation gives families room to exhale. It helps parents spend less energy explaining and managing, and more energy simply being present with their children.

How did that support show up during our stay?

What stood out to me most was how subtle it all felt. My son sat in the lobby, taking in the environment in his own way. No one rushed him. No one drew attention to it. No one made it feel unusual.

You notice that immediately as a parent. You notice when a space allows your child to exist as they are. You notice when no one is pressuring, correcting, or turning your family into a problem to solve.

That kind of ease is difficult to manufacture. It has to be built into the culture of a place. And during our stay, it was present in a way that let us settle in instead of stay on alert.

What made the pool feel different for our family?

At the pool, something happened that does not happen everywhere. What can sometimes be the hardest part of a hotel stay became the best part for one of my sons.

He was relaxed, smiling, and completely in the moment. My other son found comfort nearby in a totally different way, drawn to the fire feature and content to experience the space on his own terms. Both of them were able to be themselves, side by side, without either experience needing to be corrected.

I got in the water with my son, and for a moment we were not navigating, managing, or anticipating. We were just a family enjoying the moment. That may sound simple, but for many families, it is not a small thing.

Why do these small moments matter so much?

Because they are not really small. They are the whole point.

Families who live with sensory differences, communication differences, or anxiety around new environments often arrive carrying more than luggage. Parents are scanning, planning, adjusting, and trying to stay ahead of the next hard moment. So when a place feels prepared before you even arrive, the shift is enormous.

Inclusion is not just about access. It is about what access makes possible.

• More comfort for children moving through a new space
• Less pressure on parents to explain every need
• More opportunities for siblings to enjoy the same outing
• More room for a family to relax together instead of just cope

That is what stayed with me after this visit. Not one dramatic moment, but a series of small, steady experiences that made our family feel more comfortable and more able to enjoy being there.

Why is inclusive travel still hard to find?

Finding places that work well for families can still be a challenge, especially for families navigating autism or sensory needs. Many destinations may mean well, but families often do not know what a place will actually feel like until they get there.

That uncertainty can make even a short hotel stay feel risky. Will staff understand? Will the environment feel manageable? Will your child be given space? Will you spend the whole time trying to make your family fit the setting instead of enjoying it?

That is why efforts like this matter. They reduce guesswork. They help families feel considered before check-in, not only after something goes wrong.

What can parents look for when choosing an autism-friendly hotel?

If you are planning a local getaway, it helps to look past broad promises and pay attention to how a property supports families in real life.

• Ask whether staff have autism-specific or sensory-awareness training
• Look for signs that inclusion is part of the guest experience, not an afterthought
• Notice whether the property seems calm, flexible, and family-friendly
• Choose places that help your family feel welcome without needing constant explanation

What does Compass Hotel Naples get right?

What Compass Hotel is doing well is thinking about inclusion before families even arrive. That matters more than any single amenity. It means the experience is shaped by awareness, preparation, and consistency rather than depending on a family to advocate for every need in the moment.

For our family, that made the stay feel less like work and more like rest. We got to just be a family. And honestly, that is what so many parents are hoping for when they book a night away.

If your family is looking for more local support, Neapolitan Family also offers resources on sensory-friendly experiences for kids in Southwest Florida, the SWFL Special Needs Resource Guide, and more special needs articles for Southwest Florida families.

Why does this story matter beyond one hotel?

Because families remember how a place made them feel. They remember whether their child was given space. They remember whether they were able to relax, even briefly. They remember whether the experience felt like hospitality or like survival in a new setting.

Compass Hotel is helping move that experience in a better direction. Not by making grand promises, but by creating an environment where inclusion feels visible in practice.

And for families like mine, that can mean everything.

Special Autism Double Rate for Southwest Florida Families

Compass Hotel by Margaritaville Naples has introduced a new promotion. The Autism Double‑Checked Comfort Stay offers up to 20% off accommodations for families traveling with loved ones on the autism spectrum. The offer is available year‑round, based on availability. Learn more here.

Learn more

Margaritaville Fort Myers Beach and Compass Naples Achieve Autism Certification for Inclusive Travel

The post How Compass Hotel Naples Is Creating a More Inclusive Stay for Families appeared first on SWFL Family.

Why does one-on-one time with your tween matter so much?

At this age, girls seem to live in two worlds at once. They are still playful and tender, but already reaching toward independence. Winnie is 11, perched right on the edge of the tween years, and I can feel how much she still needs time with me, even if she doesn’t always say it directly.

Since her baby brother arrived, I have become more aware of how easily everyday demands can crowd out that connection. We do our best to plan little mother-daughter dates: a Target run, a beach fishing trip, takeout in the car. Those small windows of attention matter more than we think.

This day felt like a gift because it gave us hours, not minutes. No dividing my attention. No multitasking. No rushing through errands. Just the two of us, together, for the better part of an afternoon.

What made the drive to Captiva feel like part of the day?

Even getting there felt special. We overpacked, of course, with extra clothes, books, crochet projects, and enough skincare to suggest we were staying a week instead of five hours. That, too, felt true to us.

The drive to Captiva from Naples is lovely in the way Southwest Florida can be lovely when you let it slow you down. We admired houses and water views and became noticers of beauty along the way. Captiva always feels slightly removed from ordinary life in the best possible sense—natural, island-y, and set apart.

At one point, in a very predictable “millennial on a weekend trip” moment, I started imagining a new life for us in one of the beach cottages we passed. Winnie shut that dream down immediately and emphatically. “MOM! NO! We could never.” Her passion made me laugh, and honestly, it was exactly the kind of conversation I had hoped the day might hold: silly, easy, and ours.

What is Captiva Landing at South Seas Resort like for families?

We arrived at South Seas Resort, checked in, got our wristbands, took selfies, and collected fluffy white towels before settling into our cabana. The setup made the whole day feel easy from the start. We tucked away our things, appreciated the resort-style prints and comfortable outdoor furniture, and discovered a generous stash of snacks plus a fridge full of water and soda. We were delighted before we had even stepped into the water.

The water park itself was beautifully designed and felt calm, clean, and well monitored. Lifeguards were visible, which always helps me exhale a little as a parent. The space struck a balance I deeply appreciate: fun for kids, relaxing for adults, and simple enough that the day never felt chaotic.

We loved the three water slides, the giant tipping bucket, and especially the lazy river. Winnie rode the slides what felt like one hundred times. I rode them fewer times, which felt appropriate and honest. Mostly, I watched her from a lounge chair with an ice-cold Diet Coke and a book, looking up often just to see her joy.

The top landing of the slides offers beautiful Gulf views on both sides of the island, which added to that distinct Captiva feeling of being somewhere special. It was the kind of place where you can play hard for a while, then rest in the sun, then do it all over again without ever feeling rushed.

Can a simple resort day become real family connection?

Yes, and that may have been the most surprising part of the day. The fun was real, but the connection was the deeper gift.

At lunch, the slides closed for the daily safety check from noon to 1 p.m., and that natural pause gave us time to settle into our cabana, eat together, and talk. We shared Greek salad, chicken fingers and fries, and vegetable egg rolls—an oddly perfect combination. There was live music and outdoor seating nearby, and even a cool-looking arcade adjacent to the walk-up restaurant, but the calm of the cabana suited us better.

After lunch, we spent more time in the large pool and then circled the lazy river again and again. At some point, we invented games—racing, chasing each other, and looping around the little island of Adirondack chairs sunk into the sand. There is something about a lazy river that lends itself to conversation. You drift, you laugh, you circle back, and nobody is in a hurry.

Connection often happens when there is enough space for it. Not necessarily through deep, dramatic conversations, but through shared silliness, repeated moments, and hours that are not being squeezed between other obligations.

Do you need a big outing to reconnect with your child?

What I came home remembering most is that we never even made it across to the beach. I had warned Winnie ahead of time that I wanted us to take a short walk over at some point, but we lost track of time in the best way. We were too busy playing together and talking.

That felt meaningful to me. The point of the day was not to maximize every amenity or check every box. The point was simply to be with her. We headed back to Naples in the late afternoon, and even the drive home was easier than I expected.

I would absolutely encourage families looking for a getaway that feels a world away from the hustle of Naples to consider Captiva and South Seas. It works well for a day, but I can also imagine it being a lovely place for a few nights. Still, what stayed with me most was not the destination itself. It was the reminder.

You do not need a resort day to build connection with your child. You need intention. You need attentiveness. You need enough margin to say yes when the moment presents itself.

What does connection with a tween actually look like at home?

As summer approaches, I keep thinking about how urgent this feels. Winnie is nearing the years when sports, academics, activities, and friendships will compete more aggressively for her time and attention. Making our home her favorite place to be is part of our work as parents, and so is protecting our relationship while she still wants to spend this kind of easy, playful time with me.

I do not believe connection with my tween girl requires a weekend away at Captiva Island, thankfully. More often, it looks wonderfully ordinary.

• Sitting together on the couch, crocheting and listening to an audiobook
• Running to Publix for butter so we can come home and make homemade biscuits
• Following one of her creative whims when I have the flexibility to do it
• Rolling through the neighborhood after dinner on rollerblades while Dad puts the baby to bed
• Choosing presence over efficiency when a moment to connect appears

Those are the moments that build trust and closeness over time. Those are the moments I want to keep saying yes to this summer, even when no would be easier.

What can parents in Collier and Lee Counties take from a day like this?

For parents in Collier and Lee Counties, especially those raising tweens, this was my takeaway: summer does not have to be packed to be meaningful. It does not have to be expensive, elaborate, or perfectly planned. Sometimes the best family memories come from simply setting aside time and letting the day unfold.

If you are looking for ideas close to home, browse Southwest Florida Family’s family events calendar, explore these day trips for families in Collier and Lee Counties, or cool off with this guide to splash pads for kids in Collier and Lee Counties. If your family loves the water, you may also enjoy our favorite family-friendly beach parks in Southwest Florida.

And if your older child is inching toward the teen years, it is worth thinking ahead about how to protect time together before schedules fill up. Resources like summer camps for teens and tweens in SWFL and educational summer camps in Collier and Lee Counties can help you shape a summer that includes both growth and breathing room.

For me, our Captiva family day trip from Naples was a beautiful reminder that connection is rarely accidental. It asks something of us. Energy. Intention. Enthusiasm. A willingness to pause what feels urgent for what is actually important.

So here is to a summer of saying yes a little more often. Yes to the drive. Yes to the lazy river. Yes to the grocery run, the audiobook, the rollerblades, the small conversations in the car. Yes to all the ordinary and extraordinary moments that tell our children, clearly and repeatedly, I want to be with you.

The post A Captiva Family Day Trip from Naples That Gave Us Real Connection appeared first on SWFL Family.

How can you plan a meaningful Black history road trip with kids?

A little planning turns these sites into powerful family lessons rather than just another stop on the highway. Start with closer destinations in Fort Myers and Naples, then add longer trips as your kids get older and more curious.

• Check hours and events for each site before you go, and watch for special programs on the Neapolitan Family events calendar.
• Pair a heavy stop with downtime – plan a park, beach, or playground afterwards so kids can process big feelings.
• Talk in the car about what you saw, what felt unfair, and how people worked together for change.

What can your family see at McCollum Hall in Fort Myers?

Fort Myers Mural Society Murals at McCollum Hall
NE corner of Cranford Ave. and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33916

McCollum Hall was once a thriving commercial center in Fort Myers’ historic Dunbar community. On the second floor, a large dance hall with a raised stage hosted legendary performers such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. During World War II, the hall also served as a USO for African American troops stationed at Page and Buckingham Fields, and white residents and soldiers came when big bands played.

Today, the Fort Myers Mural Society has transformed the outside of the building with vibrant murals celebrating famous figures from Black history. Kids can walk around the building and spot musicians, community leaders, and scenes from the Dunbar neighborhood, painted by artists Erik Schlake, J.P. Almonacid, and Roland Ruocco.

Why visit Fort Mose Historic State Park with kids?

Fort Mose Historic State Park – “African-American Community of Freedom”
15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, FL

• Fort Mose was the southern destination of the Underground Railroad to freedom.
• It is the site of the first legally sanctioned free Black community in what is now the United States.
• It served as a safe haven for enslaved people who escaped the English colonies.

The state park includes a museum, visitor center, and interpretive exhibits throughout the grounds. As you explore, your family can learn how people risked everything to reach this community and secure their freedom, long before the Civil War.

What makes the Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center so powerful?

Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center and Lincolnville Historic District
Lincolnville Historic District, St. Augustine, FL

“If you haven’t been to the Lincolnville Museum, then you haven’t been to St. Augustine,” the elderly Black museum guide stated at the door of this impressive collection of artifacts and information about the history of Black Americans.

Located in the heart of the Lincolnville Historic District, which was settled by freedmen after the Civil War, the Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center tells more than 450 years of Black history. Exhibits trace stories from the empires of West Africa and early Black presence in colonial Florida through the Civil Rights era.

Your family will see jars of sediment and soil preserved from beneath sites of lynchings of innocent Black men, an actual Woolworth’s lunch counter where a sit-in took place, and the fingerprints of Martin Luther King Jr. taken after his arrest during a peaceful protest in St. Augustine. The museum is housed in the historic Excelsior School Building, the first public Black high school in St. Johns County, opened in 1925.

• The surrounding Lincolnville Historic District was founded in 1866 by formerly enslaved people.
• It became known for Black-owned businesses created in response to segregation.
• It served as a focal point of the Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine.

What will kids notice at Kingsley Plantation in Jacksonville?

Kingsley Plantation
12713 Fort Caroline Rd., Jacksonville, FL

Kingsley Plantation, part of the National Park Service, sits on Fort George Island and includes the plantation house, kitchen house, barn, and ruins of 25 original slave cabins. The island’s history stretches back more than 1,000 years to the Timucuan Indians, but the preserved buildings date to the plantation era.

The plantation was named for Zephaniah Kingsley, who operated it from 1813–1839. Kingsley used a “task” system, in which enslaved people were given specific daily tasks and could then work at a craft or tend their own gardens. They often kept the proceeds from selling their produce or handmade items. His wife, Anna Madgigine Jai, was purchased as a slave, freed in 1811, and became a successful businesswoman who owned property and helped manage the plantation.

When Florida became an American territory, new laws discriminated against free Blacks and placed harsh restrictions on enslaved people. Those laws eventually led Kingsley to move his family, including Anna and their children, to Haiti (now the Dominican Republic), where their descendants still live today. Walking among the cabins and buildings gives older kids a concrete sense of how people lived, worked, and resisted on this land.

How does the Wells’ Built Museum share Orlando’s Black history?

Wells’ Built Museum of African American History and Culture
511 W. South St., Orlando, FL

The Wells’ Built Museum is housed in what was once a hotel and entertainment venue for Black visitors who were not allowed in many other establishments because of segregation. It was built by one of Orlando’s first practicing Black physicians.

• Famous performers such as Bo Diddly, Ella Fitzgerald, and B.B. King stayed and performed here.
• Exhibits include Civil Rights memorabilia, art, and artifacts.

This is an especially good stop if your family enjoys music. Kids can imagine the energy of a packed nightclub while learning how Black travelers relied on safe places like this hotel.

What can you explore on DeLand’s Black Heritage Trail?

African American Museum of the Arts and DeLand Black Heritage Trail
325 South Clara Ave., DeLand, FL

The African American Museum of the Arts in DeLand holds more than 150 African-related artifacts and a rotating exhibition space for Black artists. It’s a small museum with a big impact, especially for children seeing familiar and new stories told through art.

Outside the museum, the DeLand Black Heritage Trail offers self-guided cycling or walking routes connecting local Black heritage sites. Highlights include the museum’s own Dr. Noble “Thin Man” Watts amphitheater and the Moses Sun mural celebrating the joy of jazz. The mural was painted by Moses Sun, artist-in-residence with Stetson University’s Creative Arts Department.

• Check ahead before visiting – thanks to a $1 million renovation grant, exhibits and access may change.
• Older teens interested in the arts may want to explore internship opportunities at the museum.

How does the Riley Museum and Smokey Hollow honor a lost community?

John G. Riley Center & Museum for African American History and Smokey Hollow Commemorative Site
419 E. Jefferson Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301
www.rileymuseum.org

The Riley House was built around 1890 on the edge of a thriving Black neighborhood called Smokey Hollow. Its owner, John Gilmore Riley, was formerly enslaved and later became a respected educator, civic leader, and one of the few African Americans in Tallahassee to own property at the turn of the century.

Riley acquired seven major downtown parcels, including the land where he built his home. Today, the Riley House stands as a legacy of the growing Black middle class of his time. Next door, the Smokey Hollow Commemorative Site tells the story of the surrounding community of Black-owned homes, whose residents were forced to relocate in the 1950s when the Apalachee Parkway was built.

• The park features three “Spirit Homes” – frames of shotgun-style houses typical of Smokey Hollow – each with maps, photos, and history.
• There is a community garden, remembrance fountain, and fruit and vegetable trees.
• Tours of Smokey Hollow are included with Riley Museum admission.

Through tours, events, and history trails across Tallahassee, the Riley Center & Museum guides visitors from the antebellum period through Reconstruction and the Civil Rights era from the often untold perspective of African Americans.

Should families visit Rosewood today?

Rosewood, Florida
Near Cedar Key, less than an hour west of Gainesville, FL

In 1923, Rosewood was the site of a devastating racial massacre. After a white woman accused a Black man of attacking her, white residents and others formed a mob that hunted Black residents, lynched several people, and drove survivors to flee to nearby towns. The town, including all Black-owned homes and businesses, was burned and destroyed.

The land was later unlawfully sold or given to remaining white families. Today, almost nothing remains of Rosewood except a sign marking the historical site, erected more than 70 years after the massacre. This stop is best for older teens who are ready to discuss hard truths and the lasting impact of racial violence.

Can a college visit to FAMU be a history lesson?

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)
1601 S. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32307
www.famu.edu

FAMU is a public, historically Black university founded on October 3, 1887, and has been rated the #1 HBCU by U.S. News & World Report for four years in a row, out of 103 HBCUs. A campus visit can double as both a history lesson and an early college tour for teens.

What sets FAMU apart is its legacy of providing access to high-quality, affordable education. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. In addition to the main Tallahassee campus, FAMU has a College of Law in Orlando and pharmacy and public health programs with sites in cities including Crestview, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami.

Walking the campus, your family can talk about how education has opened doors for generations of Black students – and how your child’s own goals might fit into that story.

What will the Naples Depot Black History Baggage Car offer local families?

Naples Depot Museum and the Naples Depot Black History Baggage Car
Naples Depot Museum, Collier County Museums
1051 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102
www.colliermuseums.com/Locations/Naples-Depot-Museum

The Naples Depot baggage car was built in the 1920s and once carried mail, suitcases, and trunks on southern train routes. It was purchased from the Atlantic Coast Line by Southern Railway and later donated to Southwest Heritage, Inc. After a careful refurbishment, the Depot became a popular local venue and, in 2004, was turned over to Collier County to become part of the museum system. The Naples Depot Museum opened on January 7, 2011, in the restored Seaboard Air Line Railway passenger station.

Today the museum welcomes about 16,000 visitors each year, telling the story of how generations of Southwest Floridians used transportation and technology to build communities in what was once a remote frontier. It is also the perfect home for Collier County’s first space dedicated specifically to its Black history.

The Tenth Street/Goodlette Road corridor near the Depot has traditionally been home to Naples’ early Black communities, and the railroads were a significant employer and source of social mobility for African Americans locally and across the country. The new Black History Baggage Car will share stories of the African Americans whose contributions were essential to the development of Collier County, in the very neighborhood many Black residents have called home for more than a century.

For more background on this project, you can also read our feature on the Naples Depot Black History Baggage Car.

How can Collier and Lee County families keep the conversation going?

These Florida Black history trips are just a starting point. Keep stories alive at home with books, activities, and local experiences that highlight Black leaders and communities year-round, not only in February.

• Choose age-appropriate reads from 25 books for kids that celebrate diversity and Black History Month.
• Try hands-on learning from STEM activities for kids inspired by Black innovators to connect history with science.
• Plan more local adventures using our best day trips for families in Collier and Lee Counties guide.

Whether you start with a quick drive to Fort Myers or a longer journey to St. Augustine, each stop gives your child another piece of Florida’s full story – and a deeper understanding of how Black history shapes the world they live in today.     

The post Florida Black History Trips: 10 Destinations for Collier and Lee County Families appeared first on SWFL Family.

Revisiting LEGOLAND Florida with an Older Kid

My daughter turned 11 in September, and I wondered how a day at LEGOLAND would hit now that she’s five years older. Would the mention of a day trip to the park still illicit squeals of joy? I decided to find out.
We planned to travel to Lakeland anyway on Oct. 31 for the state elementary school cross country race and stayed at a nearby Hampton Inn. Winnie was decidedly pumped to spend the day after the race at LEGOLAND when I confirmed the trip, but I was curious if many of the rides geared toward younger kids would still hold the same appeal for a fifth grader. Thankfully, a few other families from her school’s cross country team also decided to spend the day at the park.

Our hotel was about 10 minutes from LEGOLAND. Because of LEGOLAND’s special Halloween events, we decided to arrive 20 minutes before the park opened. We spent time taking selfies and enjoying a clear, crisp, very-Florida-cold morning.

Because I anticipated the park getting busier as the day progressed, we made a beeline for our favorite rides before sauntering around the park and taking in the scenery. At 10 a.m., after what felt like forever, the park opened, and we headed straight for our favorite ride: The Dragon. Set in LEGOLAND’s medieval-themed area, The Dragon is a short, fast entry-level roller coaster. We rode it three times in a row.

We progressed through all our favorite rides, running around the park and enjoying some time before the crowds arrived. The weather remained cold, but clear and sunny. Unfortunately, because of the weather, I knew we wouldn’t make it to the water park that day. Our blood is very thin and resists any activity that requires us to remove our sweatshirt layer when the temperature dips below 75 degrees.

Our favorite rides at LEGOLAND are what I would consider low-level roller coasters and are as follows:

• The Dragon
• Coastersaurus
• The Great LEGO Race

We rode these roller coasters so many times that I lost count. And Winnie continued to ride them with friends, without me. Even as the number of people in the park increased, these rides still boasted minimal wait times (10 minutes or less). LEGOLAND attracts families with young children who don’t necessarily enjoy fast and somewhat intense rides. On Feb. 27, LEGOLAND is introducing another ride geared towards older children called Galacticoaster – it’s an interactive, immersive experience, and I can’t wait to try it out with my kids.

Many of the rides geared toward smaller children listed wait times of 30 minutes or more. Thankfully, the actual wait times were often far less than advertised on the digital displays around the park. The rides designed for older children and adults, though, listed wait times of 15 minutes or less. For Disney-goers, 30 minutes is nothing. LEGOLAND enthusiasts, though, know that 30 minutes seems like an eternity.

Reasons I love LEGOLAND

• The park is absolutely doable in a day. You can get there in about 2½ hours, spend 5-7 hours at the park, and get home by 7:30 or 8 pm.
• You can walk from end to end in less than 10 minutes. If you want to go on a ride at the opposite end of the park – no big deal!
• Rides are happy and fun with low-ish wait times (depending on the day).
• The parking lot is relatively close to the entrance. Logistics at LEGOLAND are not an issue.
• The rides are enjoyable for a variety of ages.

Rides I would recommend for older children

• Merlin’s Challenge
• LEGO Movie Masters of Flight (simulator)
• Mia’s Riding Adventure
• Battle of Bricksburg
• LEGO Ninjago
• Battle of Bricksburg
• Unikitty’s Disco Drop

Winnie and I loved our day at LEGOLAND. I probably would not go two days in a row, but I would go with her again. For our family, fun with an older “tween-ager” is all about our own level of enthusiasm, even in the midst of various moods or whims. Regardless, Winnie had a blast – lots of squeals of delight! We are looking forward to going again soon.

The post LEGOLAND Florida: Still Fun for Older Kids? appeared first on SWFL Family.

Every year the invitation comes. This fall, I finally said to my shellfish-loving, beachcombing self, “Why not?” I packed a bag and went.

Chincoteague Island is barely 71/2 miles long and half a mile wide. Across a narrow channel lies Assateague Island, with 37 unbroken miles of dune-fringed beaches and maritime forests rich with wildlife; most remarkably, the ponies.

Horse-lovers worldwide know of the wild ponies of Chincoteague, and the “Saltwater Cowboys” (plus a few cowgirls!) who watch over them. Each year before dawn in late July, the Cowboys, members of the island’s volunteer fire department, begin rounding up the 150 feral ponies that roam free on the Virginia side of Assateague, and herd them along the beach for their swim to Chincoteague for Pony Penning Days. Also called Pony Swim Week, it swells Chincoteague’s regular population of 3,340 to over 50,000. Most of the ponies sold at auction go home with their buyers, but a few with the strongest bloodlines are reserved as “buybacks;” that is, the buyer gets naming rights and donates the pony back to the herd.

This year, the highest selling buyback in history was a pinto filly for $100,000. Proceeds help care for the pony population and support the Chincoteague Fire Company. The week’s most dramatic event is the Return Swim, witnessed by tens of thousands of spectators on boats and on shore.

With its 500-year history of pirates and oystermen, Chincoteague is a place out of time. Reliable maps and the Chamber of Commerce insist that it’s a real place, but for me, it’s nothing short of mystical.

Morning coffee with homemade biscotti from the local farm market taste like heaven from my spot on the screened porch as the sun rises over the creek, where a lone fisherman glides by, his boat barely rippling the mirror-smooth water. Most of the vintage cottages and vintage-styled island homes are understated in weathered tones, many with rooftop widow’s walks and large screened porches.

Misty of Chincoteague

The wild ponies of Chincoteague became legend when a newborn gold and white palomino pinto captured the heart of a visiting writer named Marguerite Henry in 1947. Her first book, Misty of Chincoteague, remains among Amazon’s best-selling children’s horse books. Misty is still with us, in a sense, as her taxidermied figure lives forever in the Museum of Chincoteague. Her heritage dominates the bookstores, gift shops, galleries, public monuments, and her birthplace, the Beebe Ranch, where some of her descendants serve as greeters.

I’m lucky to be here during the quieter fall roundup, when the ponies again cross the channel for wellness checks and vet care. I meet a third-generation Saltwater Cowboy named Hunter, who runs Cowboy Cruises. His pony tour snakes through creeks, bays, and coves where small groups of stallions and their mares graze in the salt marsh and tidal pools. He can recite the name, heritage, and habits of each one. The wild ponies of Chincoteague, he explains, are neither wild nor true ponies. They’re feral, because they receive care from humans. Local legends say they survived a shipwrecked Spanish Galleon, but most likely they’re descendants of standard horses that evolved into a stockier, shorter breed to adapt to harsh seacoast conditions. Horses shorter than 14 hands (56 inches) are called ponies.

Family-friendly happenings, besides the carnival and events of Pony Swim Week, include the Blueberry Festival (July), the Oyster Festival (October), clam digging, fishing, hiking, and kayaking year-round. The Assateague Lighthouse is open for climbing in summer, and there’s clear viewing of rocket launches from NASA’s nearby Wallops Island Flight Facility.

What to bring home?

A knobbed whelk shell, of course! Whelks date back 540 million years — way before dinosaurs! No need to pity the beachcomber (me) who visits during a calm week and finds no whelks: many roadside stands are piled with them for a couple of dollars each. For young horse-lovers in your life, grab the book Misty of Chincoteague, and as many pony replicas as will fit in your carry-on. Sadly, my doggy friend Alba did not fit into mine.

chincoteague.com
cowboycruisecompany.com
nasa.gov/wallops/visitor-center

The post Chincoteague Island: Wild Ponies & Coastal Charm appeared first on SWFL Family.

In my view, Savannah’s four seasons are Spring (all flowers and romance), Summer Vacation, Holiday, and glorious October, when the humidity and summer crowds disappear, the days are often beachy-warm, and the nights have just the right touch of chill.

Ghostly things

October is perfect for a ghost tour in one of the most haunted cities in the world. The bony fingers of bare tree branches draped in ghostly tangles of Spanish moss make you shiver just a bit more. Two walking tours are designed especially for families with kids. On the Fraidy Cat Ghost Tour, local guides tell the tales and secrets of those who lived and died either tragically or mysteriously hundreds of years ago (and possibly never left?). The perfect amount of spookiness earns all the feels with thousands of five-star reviews (madcattours.com). The Grave Tales Ghost Tour will both spook you out and make you laugh with ghostly tales of goings-on among the gravestones, historic homes, restaurants, and inns.
ghostcitytours.com/savannah/grave-tales-tour

“Where’s Noble’s Bones? A Bone-Chilling Scavenger Hunt” happens each Saturday in October at the beautiful Wormsloe State Historic Site. Kids and grownups follow clues to find lost “bones” of the plantation’s first owner. Prizes are involved. Free with admission to Wormsloe.

Quidditch, anyone?

Each October, the Georgia State Railroad Museum and Savannah Children’s Museum transform into a Harry Potter-style wizarding world. Immersive activities involve potions and spells, wand-making, muggle studies, owls, and other magical creatures. Games include Frogwarts Quidditch and Frogwarts Summon. This year’s event is on Sunday, October 19. For advance tickets to Frogwarts visit https://bit.ly/Frogwarts2025

Both museums are in Tricentennial Park along with Battlefield Memorial Park. Savannah Children’s Museum, designed for kids 18 months to 10 years, is a massive outdoor play-and-explore museum, built into the ruins of the old Central of Georgia Railway repair shops. There’s an exploration maze, puppet theater, art maker space, sensory garden, nature kitchen, and activities that include the museum’s mascots, Tippy the Tortoise and Pogo the Turtle.

The huge Georgia State Railroad Museum includes historic steam and diesel rail cars, with train rides on weekends through November, and a vintage handcar ride on the railroad track (think Wile E. Coyote vs. the Road Runner). Artifacts and exhibits tell a century of stories of railroad history and technology, industrial slavery, and segregation. The complex operates the oldest functioning railroad repair and restoration facility in the U.S.

The “See 3” pass is good for any three of Coastal Heritage Society’s participating museums over a three-day period, including Georgia State Railroad Museum, Savannah Children’s Museum, Savannah History Museum, Revolutionary Battlefield Memorial Park, and Old Fort Jackson. chsgeorgia.org

Old Fort Jackson, 10 minutes from downtown, is one of the oldest standing brick forts in the U.S. With its impressive collection of tools and weaponry, it’s very cool to visit —never mind that it lost to the British in the Revolutionary War and to the Union in the Civil War. Still, historical interpreters proudly offer daily weapons demonstrations and, sometimes, to the delight of passing riverboat passengers, they unleash some awe-inspiring cannon fire.

Wiener dog races

How much do Savannahians love their doggies? The springtime Dog Carnival draws thousands, and there is even a historic tour for dogs and their humans. oliverbentleys.com.

October has two wiener dog events: The Wiener Dog Races and Costume Contest on the Riverfront on Oct. 11, and the more laid-back Wag-O-Ween, Oct. 25-26, which also draws costumed dogs of all varietes and their humans go trick-or-doggie-treating at over 100 businesses throughout downtown. Wiener dogs (dachshunds) are not particularly fond of following directions, so watching their humans try to inspire them to move at all, much less in a straight line, you will laugh your tail off. Fees apply to race contestants only; spectating, costume contests, and other activities are free.

Pirate Shenanigans

Despite Savannah’s sophistication, there’s not an ounce of elegance on nearby Tybee Island. It celebrates the 1950s with sherbet-colored cottages, seafood shacks, and sea oat-covered dunes, plus its circa 1733 lighthouse and crumbling fort dating back to the Spanish-American War. And its festivals. Best for kids is the annual Tybee Island Pirate Festival and Parade, which is Oct. 11 this year. There’s a pirate encampment, face painting, kids costume contest, juggling, puppet shows, sword show, and carnival. The parade starts at 3 p.m.

Inside Tips

There is always plenty to do, eat, and buy along Savannah’s historic Riverfront where the sight of incoming cargo ships and blasts of airhorns are breathtaking. Be sure to score free samples at the candy, fudge, and popcorn shops, hop aboard the free riverboat shuttle for a short trip across the river and back, and enjoy Octoberfest happenings Oct. 4-19. You will need a car to visit Tybee, Wormsloe, or Old Fort Jackson, but for everything else you can walk or grab the DOT, a free off and-on-trolley that makes 20 stops around the Historic District from the river to Forsyth Park connectonthedot.com.

Much more at visitsavannah.com

The post Top Family-Friendly Things to Do in Savannah This October appeared first on SWFL Family.

In other places – really faraway lands drenched in centuries of history, from Europe to the Far East – sightseeing by carriage has been a must-do experience for visitors, but traffic and animal welfare concerns created a real dilemma: how to hold onto the charm while keeping humans and horses safe.
Guadalajara, Mexico, was among the first heritage-rich cities to transition to a new, battery-operated horseless carriage. The fancy covered “calandrias” are all velvet and gold, with embossed leather seats and costumed drivers. In Brussels, Belgium, a joint venture between a carriage company and city officials resulted in a carriage inspired by the electric carriages of the 1830s. The first ones rolled out last year. Mumbai, India, now has eVictorias, reflecting the opulence of the original horse-drawn Victoria carriages in 1700s Bombay. Scores of other cities around the world are moving in that direction.

Mount Dora

The historic Central Florida town of Mount Dora, founded in the 1880s as a winter retreat for wealthy sportsmen, was the first town in the U.S. to introduce the new horseless carriages. Two very creative entrepreneurs, a pilot and a real estate agent, established the Olde Mount Dora Carriage Company to create a Victorian-style, clean, and green carriage service that complements the city’s charm. The shiny white carriages that rolled out in 2022 have a fun sense of glam with available extras such as treat boxes, chocolates, wine, and sparkling wine.

Mount Dora has so many themed festivals year-round that it is known as the Festival City of Florida. Magic is especially in the air during the holidays, as the entire town immerses itself in over two million lights! mountdoracarriageco.com; www.mountdorabuzz.com/fall-festivals

Retiring the Reins

Chicago, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Breckinridge, Colorado, Key West, and many international cities, including Montreal and Toronto, already have bans on horse-drawn carriages. In gracious southern cities, including Savannah, Charleston, Key West, St. Augustine, and Biloxi, concerned citizens, animal welfare activists, and civic leaders are in heated discussions to ban or restrict horse-drawn carriages.

Philadelphia’s last horse-drawn carriage company ceased operations in 2023. Meanwhile, animal advocate Janet White, founder of Carriage Horse Freedom, was already working toward bringing e-carriages to her native city. Her Philadelphia e-carriage tour program is anticipated to start in 2026. Until then, her first e-carriage Caroline is busy appearing at special events and visiting other cities where interest in e-carriages is high. www.carriagehorsefreedom.com

Royal Carriages of New Orleans decks out their mules, a cross between a horse and a donkey known for their strength and hardiness in extreme temperatures, to pull their carts. They’re not elegant, but they are very cute. Still, there are movements to either ban cars or the mule-drawn carriages (or both) in the French Quarter.

Last month, after decades of accidents, animal injuries, and deaths, the Central Park Conservancy in New York officially advocated for the ban of horse-drawn carriages from Central Park, citing visitor safety and a kinder future for the animals.

So here’s my question: Is the new e-carriage awesome enough to reconcile the graceful ambience and Old-World charm with 21st century realities? Janet White is sure of it. Maybe the enchanting clip-clop of hooves could be achieved with an audio loop. And come to think of it, a splendidly appointed e-carriage could be more appealing than riding directly behind a horse’s rear end.

Personal, Slow, and Meaningful

A few places where horse-drawn carriages make sense

Due to public health and safety and animal safety issues, horse-drawn carriage tours are no longer compatible with the realities of modern, heavily trafficked areas. While it’s time to turn the page on their use in city tourism, some rural horse-drawn carriage destinations still exist.

Cars have long-been banned on Mackinac Island, which is eight miles long and three miles wide. Mackinac Island Carriage Tours is the world’s oldest and largest continually operated horse and buggy livery with approximately 100 carriages and more than 400 horses. Their high-stepping hackneys are bred for their power and serenity. When the tourists and summer residents leave, most of the horses go on vacation until spring (mict.com). In Amish country, Abe’s Buggy Rides in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, offers country rides through Amish farmland and sites dating to the 1700s. It’s a kids’ favorite and pets are welcome (abesbuggyride.com). And to book the absolute ultimate in private royal horse-drawn carriage experiences, Windchase Farm, headquartered in Central Florida, provides exquisite White Shire horses and liveried carriages for milestone events anywhere in the state. Drool over the photos at windchase.farm.

The post Why Horseless Carriages Are Making a Comeback appeared first on SWFL Family.

Decades ago, the Jensen brothers set him up to humorously depict the kind of fisherman who waits too long at the bait shop for shrimp big enough to suit them. He valiantly took wind and weather beatings until he started losing fingers, toes, and then one limb and then another. His replacement didn’t reign long before Hurricane Ian took him. But today, “Mr. Bones the Third” is not giving up. He’s perched in the same spot as his ancestors, in his t-shirt and jaunty cap, hoping for some selfie-takers to pass the time while he waits for decent size bait.It’s been 2 years, 9 months, and 10 days since Hurricane Ian flattened Sanibel and Captiva Islands. As one who’s convinced that her DNA is infused with Sanibel sand and ground-up mollusk shells, it took me every bit of this time to summon the courage to revisit my sacred places there. It was hard but, inspired by Mr. Bones the Third, I went. Here’s what I found.

Octopus Love

Do not, I beg you, miss a chance to meet the Giant Pacific Octopus (GPO) who took up residence at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and Aquarium last November. Never have I fallen so in love with a creature that was not a puppy or a newborn baby squirrel than this magnificent, brilliant, mischievous creature. The largest species of octopus in the world, a GPO has eight arms, nine brains, and three hearts, and its arms at maturity can reach the height of a two-story building. Oh, and it has blue blood, which may account for its superior and maybe slightly snooty attitude.

How mischievous are these guys? Consider this anecdote about the museum’s first resident Giant Pacific Octopus, shared by the museum’s senior aquarist Carly Hulse with the Sanibel-Captiva Island Reporter in January 2021:

“Her arms are covered with sensorial suckers, (which) are loaded with taste buds. Tactile enrichment is super important because as she gets older and stronger, we want her to feel comfortable with us and our veterinarian, (so that) procedures are less stressful for both her and the staff. With tactile enrichment, I simply allow her to explore and taste my hand and reinforce this with some tasty salmon. Once, when she realized I was out of salmon, she threw her poop at me and retreated into her den. Just like a little kid, she was testing out her boundaries with me.”

The GPO is in the mollusk family. Its only shell-like part is its small, parrot-style beak made of keratin, so even at 90 pounds it can squish its enormous self through a hole smaller than a lemon. Among its other superpowers are its ability to change color and manipulate objects, like unscrewing jars (even from the inside!) and working puzzles.

After the hurricanes, a massive fundraising campaign exceeded all expectations getting the museum not just back up and running but even more spectacular than before, with more living aquariums, the enhanced Hall of Shells from its collection of some 600,000 shells, and thrilling new programs. Do. Not. Miss!

Need More Octopuses?

Well, who doesn’t? Two great options are back. Sanibel Sea School re-started its wonderful half and full-day marine biology-based beach and sea-life experiences for families, adults, and “sea squirts” age 4 and up. Adventures in Paradise offers the 2 1/2-hour Sea Life Encounter boat trip for net-dipping in the shallow grass flats just off the Causeway. The estuary is a breeding ground for tiny crabs, shrimp, seahorses, pufferfish, and even octopus.

Resort Perfect

Sundial Beach Resort is a perennial fave because it has everything: big beachfront pool, cabanas, poolside grill, access to bikes, kayaks, and other beach recreation, and delicious dining overlooking the gulf. Exceptional family activities include arts, crafts and games, tennis, pickleball, a fitness center, and spa. Right now, there are excellent quiet season discounts and Florida resident package deals on one, two, and three-bedroom suites.

Beachy Eats

Among the local businesses that barely missed a beat after the back-to-back hurricanes is Cheeburger Cheeburger, with its 100-plus varieties of milkshakes and sundaes, burgers, and iconic beach fare. Kids love sitting on the famous bright-yellow 1999 Indian Chief motorcycle that was featured in movies and Chiquita Banana commercials, and the perfect meal ends with a trip to the ice cream sundae bar atop a 1959 red Corvette.

Pinocchio’s Original Italian Ice Cream is back with its famous Dirty Sand Dollar, PB&J, and other flavors with an animal cracker cookie on top. A newer place, The Shack, rocks frozen custard and a vast menu of shakes, cakes, and floats, plus hot dogs, barbecue, and chicken sandwiches.

Which beach?

Bowman’s Beach Park is Sanibel’s most popular family beach with ample parking, playground, grill, and picnic areas, a super-wide beach, restrooms, and showers. A picturesque boardwalk to the beach crosses a pretty creek and protected sand dunes. Families with gear can rent a beach wagon at one of several spots on the islands.

RESOURCES

▶ jensensmarina.com
▶ sundialresort.com
▶ cheeburger.net
▶ pinocchiosicecream.com
▶ sanibelshack.com
▶ sanibelseaschool.org
▶ adventureinparadiseinc.com
▶ leegov.com/parks/beaches/bowmansbeach

The post Family Fun at Sanibel & Captiva Islands appeared first on SWFL Family.

Sand dunes but no sea turtles

Those dramatic snow-white dunes at White Sands National Monument near Las Cruces, New Mexico, aren’t sand at all. They actually make up the world’s largest gypsum dune field, dating back to the Ice Age.

Look for roadrunners, coyotes, jackrabbits, foxes, and (my fave) Dipodomys merriami, also known as Merriam’s kangaroo rat. If you see one, try not to frighten the little guy. When startled, it can jump up to 10 feet in the air!

Indiana Dunes is America’s newest national park, just upgraded in February from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Gorgeous 200-foot sand dunes (of actual sand) stretch for 25 miles along Lake Michigan’s South Shore, about 50 miles from Chicago. Adjoining the lake are stunning prairies, pine forests, oak savannahs, and more than 2,000 species of wildlife. nps.gov

Attention sports fans: check out the brand new Mascot Hall of Fame in Whiting, Indiana, about halfway between Indiana Dunes and Chicago. Among the mascots you’ll meet are Slider (Cleveland Indians) and Mr. Met (New York Mets). mascothalloffame.com

Oh, and who could pass up joining about 250,000 others for Whiting’s annual Pierogi Fest, July 26-28? A pierogi is a yummy Slavic potato dumpling, and the locals celebrate it with a pierogi. pierogifest.net

Lady Liberty’s torch & toes

Wait till you see what’s new on Liberty Island! The Statue of Liberty’s original torch and full-size replicas of Lady Liberty’s face and left foot are among the highlights of the brand new interactive Statue of Liberty Museum, just opened this spring. Tell the kids – it’s perfectly okay to get a selfie while seated on her toes. If you want access to the lady herself, including the actual crown and pedestal, get your tickets ASAP! Liberty Island (home of the Statue of Liberty and the new museum) and Ellis Island (home of the National Museum of Immigration, the American Family Immigration History Center, and more) are accessible only by ferry. Traveler alert: stick to the official ticket site, statuecruises.com.

Boston Tea Party

The four-day Boston Harborfest, one of the country’s largest Fourth of July festivals, features more than 200 family-friendly events (many are free) including reenactments such as the Redcoats Changing of the Guard, performances, strolling musicians, Boston Harbor tours, and, of course, the very tasty Chowderfest! bostonharborfest.com

Just 30 minutes away is the Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts, site of the opening battle of the American Revolution. All summer long there are living history tours and musket firings. On July 4th visitors can witness the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. nps.gov

Cannon blasts and plenty of fudge

Fort Mackinac, the site of two years of battles in the War of 1812, is on super-charming Mackinac Island (pronounced Mack-in-awe). Except for the fort’s seriously impressive reenactments involving cannon blasts and soldiers all over the place, the island is a throwback to a bygone era with gardens spilling over with lilacs, the fragrance of fudge, gracious inns, and the clip clop of horse-drawn carriages (no cars!). On July 4th there are fireworks and a world-famous stone-skipping tournament. If you plan to enter (there’s a category for kids 12 and under), I suggest you start practicing with this inside tip from Kurt Steiner, the Guinness World Record stone skipper: “pick a very smooth flat-bottom stone, between 1/4” and 5/16 ” thick, weighing 3 to 8 ounces.”

Mackinac Island’s many fudge shops offer free samples, so the locals call us tourists Fudgies. I don’t care, do you? Fudgie alert: this year’s Mackinac Island Fudge Festival is October 2-4. mackinacisland.org

Giant forest

I’m not a fan of General William Tecumseh Sherman (he torched some perfectly lovely towns), but the General Sherman Tree is a whole ’nother thing. The 2,500 year-old giant sequoia 24 

tree in California’s Sequoia National Park is reportedly the largest living single stem tree on earth, and it doesn’t stand alone, so to speak. The General’s neighbors in the Giant Forest include five of the world’s 10 largest trees. Consider going during the sixth annual Dark Sky Festival in Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Parks, August 23-25. Otherwise, weekdays get the smallest crowds. visitsequoia.com

No mooses, no meese

…But there are plenty of moose (yep, that’s the plural), plus beavers and foxes in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan. Want to skip fireworks this year and share a remote wilderness with about 1,500 of those majestic creatures? As a special bonus, Isle Royale, the largest island in Lake Superior, is a National Park Service wolf restoration location. The wolf pack is still small, though, so sightings are rare. Accessible by boat or seaplane from the town of Houghton, Isle Royale is a dream destination for hiking, camping, canoeing, and kayaking, and even shipwreck diving. Check out the excellent wilderness ranger programs for kids. nps.gov

240th annual Fourth of July parade

No town has a more legitimate claim to the title Most Patriotic Town in America than Bristol, Rhode Island, about 20 miles from Providence. Cases in point: its July 4th parade, started in 1785, is three hours long; the centerline of the main route is painted red, white, and blue; the town is draped in more bunting and flags than anyplace else on earth; and there are enough soldiers, muskets, drums, and bugles to satisfy even the most avid parade freak. Stake your spot early; you’ll be sharing the moment with 200,000 or so of your closest patriots. explorebristolri.com

Free days!

Are you a fourth grader (going into fifth grade this September), or related to one? You and your family get in free at all U.S. national parks, preserves, and lands through the Every Kid in a Park program. Veterans and those 62 or better: check into the free and low-cost lifetime passes.

The National Park Service celebrates its anniversary on August 25 with free passes for everyone. nps.gov.

The post Patriotic National Park Vacations for Families to Explore This Summer appeared first on SWFL Family.

Florida Beach Horses

Horseback riding on the beach is one of those bucket list memories. You only have to travel as far as Bradenton to enjoy this fantastic experience. Participants can walk, trot, canter, and swim with the horses, depending on their riding experience level. Many horses are rescues, and there are horses for every type of rider.

8400 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton
(941) 527-9621
www.floridabeachhorses.com 

C Ponies

Take the family horseback riding through Palma Sola Bay in Bradenton. You will ride the horses as they swim, something they love to do. There are day rides and sunset rides.

8400 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton
(941)773-5196
www.cponies.com

Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables

Free tours of the national landmark hotel are offered by the Dade Heritage Trust every Sunday at 2 pm. Visitors can relive the hotel’s early days and rich stories of the city’s past. Reserve your tour on Eventbrite. If it shows that tours are sold out, call 305-910-3996 and they should be able to fit you in.

1200 Anastasia Ave, Coral Gables
(855) 969-3080
www.biltmorehotel.com

Venetian Pool

Hundreds of thousands have enjoyed this unique pool since it opened in 1923. Spring water from an underground aquifer fills the pool daily with 820,000 gallons. The pool has two waterfalls, rock formations, and cave-like grottos.

2701 De Soto Blvd, Coral Gables
(305) 460-5306
www.coralgables.com/attractions/venetian-pool

Coral Castle

Coral Castle was created in the 1920s by an eccentric artist named Edward Leedskalnin. More than 30 sculptures are made from oolite limestone, including a nine-ton gate, a Polaris telescope, and a sundial that shows the time of day to the minute and the seasons and solstices. There are also stone celestial sculptures. It’s a great castle for young kids to enjoy since they can’t break anything. Guests can take a tour or wander.

28655 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead
305) 248-6345
www.coralcastle.com

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art & Circus Museum

The museum and the grounds are free every Monday. Guests can enjoy this massive 66-acre campus in Sarasota which recently opened a new Greatest Show on Earth exhibit at the Circus Museum. The estate also includes the 1920s mansion Ca’ d’Zan, the Historic Asolo Theatre, the Bayfront Gardens, and more.

5401 Bay Shore Rd, Sarasota
(941) 359-5700
www.ringling.org/visit/venues/museum-art

Florida Aquarium

We are near one of the best aquariums in the state. Guests meander through various habitats that feature everything from playful otters and colorful roseate spoonbills to tiger sharks, turtles, a vast array of fish, and more. There is a coral reef, a shoreline habitat and an opportunity to pet the stingrays.

701 Channelside Dr, Tampa
(813) 273-4000
www.flaquarium.org 

The post 7 Best Day Trips for Families in Collier and Lee Counties appeared first on SWFL Family.