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Naples, Florida Parks and Beaches.

Although billed as the West Coast's Palm Beach, Naples' greatest treasures are not found in boutiques but in the 10 miles of powdery "sugar" sand public beachfront, famous for its shell gathering, and the beautiful tropical surroundings.

Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area offers beachcombing plus many other water activities.  This well-maintained 189-acre Naples, Florida park has guarded beaches, barbecue grills, picnic tables, a boat ramp, an observation tower, rest rooms with wheelchair access, bathhouses, showers, and lots of parking. Fishing is best in Wiggins Pass, at the north end of the park. Rangers conduct sea-turtle walks in summer and kayak tours year-round.

Rookery Bay is an area of mangove islands that shelter rare birds and marine life.  Maintained as a national estuarine research reserve, this Naples, Florida park offers boardwalks and a nature center.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is an 11,000-acre wilderness area and wildlife sanctuary of the National Audobon Society.  The sanctuary contains the largest known stand of virgin bald cypress (some more than 500 years old) and a large colony of American wood storks nest here seasonally. 

Everglades National Park excursions depart from Naples, including airboat rides through the Ten Thousand Islands, and a cruise through saw grass prairies and mangroves.   

Collier-Seminole State Park offers an hour-long pontoon boat ride through early pioneer settlements and Everglades surroundings.

Caribbean Gardens is a 52-acre botanical garden opened in 1919 that also serves as the Naples zoo.  A 20-minute boat tour of an island of primates, and the feeding of alligators are highlights.

Lovers Key Beach is as picturesque as beaches come, with soft white sand and shade trees to the waterline. 

Be sure to check out Naples, Florida vacation rentals by owner houses, villas and condos for luxurious, yet affordable accomodations - many times less than the cost of a cramped, stuffy, less-than-clean hotel room. 

DIRECTORY OF NAPLES, FLORIDA PARKS AND BEACHES:

BAREFOOT BEACH PRESERVE
Lely Beach Road
Bonita Springs, Florida
Greater Naples, Florida parks
239.498.4364
   
This is a quiet place, with picnic tables, nature trail, learning center, butterfly garden, and refreshment stand.

BONITA BEACH PARK
27954 Hickory Boulevard
Bonita Springs, Florida
Greater Naples, Florida parks
239.949.4615
www.leeparks.org

Between Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs, this 2.5-acre beachfront park features a boardwalk and swimming area. Sand dunes and coastal vegetation surround a gazebo and eight picnic shelters.

CARIBBEAN GARDENS:  THE ZOO IN NAPLES
US41 and Fleischmann Boulevard
Naples, Florida parks
239.262.5409

DELNOR-WIGGINS PASS STATE RECREATION AREA
COLLIER-SEMINOLE STATE PARK
20200 E. Tamiami Trail (US41)
Naples, Florida parks
239.642.8898

CORKSCREW SWAMP SANCTUARY
11100 Gulf Shore Drive N at Rte. 846
Naples, Florida parks
239.597.6196

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
Main entrance SR 9336 from US 1 at Florida City
Shark Valley and Everglades City entrances off of US 41
Greater Naples, Florida parks
239.695.3311

This national treasure of 1.5 million acres of preserved subtropical wilderness is within easy driving distance of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  The Everglades is essentially a slow-moving fresh-water river, and half of the park is comprised of water.  Cape Sable is the southernmost tip of the U.S. mainland.  From Cape Sable the park extends 45 miles north along the Gulf of Mexico and 30 miles east, including Florida Bay.

The park is home to more than 350 species of birds, alligators,crocodiles, snakes, manatees, dolphins, sea turtles and more.  Four visitor centers offer information that can enhance a visit to the park.

Ernest Coe Visitor Center
40001 SR 9336
305.242.7700

Flamingo Visitor Center
38 mi. SW of the Ernest Coe Visitor Center on SR 9336, with a marina opening onto Florida Bay
239.695.2945

Gulf Coast Visitor Center
Everglades City
239.695.3311

Royal Palm Visitor Center
4 mi. inside park on main park road
305.242.7700

COST:  $10 per vehicle.  OPEN:  generally 8-5.

LOVERS KEY STATE PARK
8700 Estero Boulevard
Greater Naples, Florida parks
239.463.4588
www.floridastateparks.org

Lovers Key offers beautiful remote beaches, canoeing and kayaking, tidal lagoons fringed with mangroves, diverse aquatic animals, bathhouses, picnic shelters, and hiking.

ROOKERY BAY
Shell Island Road
Naples, Florida parks
239.775.8569