Family/Kids Activities
Artis—Naples
5833 Pelican Bay Boulevard
800.597.1900
Overview: features many wonderful children’s activities including Youth Chamber concerts, Youth Orchestra, Youth Chorus, Youth Symphonia, Make-and-Take (create art and learn about featured exhibits) and Magic Carpet – an opportunity for children 3-9 to enjoy small ensembles. Art Smart summer camp for grades 2- 5 offers an exciting visual arts program. The ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Naples Philharmonic also performs Family Concerts at a reduced ticket cost and in a shorter time frame. ‬
Bowland Beacon
5400 Tamiami Trail North
239.597.3452
Overview: this bowling center has 24 Lanes, an 8 lane boutique bowl area (perfect for kid’s birthday parties), weekly specials events, bowling leagues and open bowling. One of the highlights is the Extreme Glow Ball events. It is a smoke free environment with an all-day restaurant. There is also a full range of snacks, a full-service bar and large screen HD TV’s to cover all the major games.
Bowland Woodside
8525 Radio Lane
239.455.3755
Overview: it offers a smoke free environment with an all-day restaurant plus a full range of snacks. Big screen HDTV’s cover all the major games and there is a full-service bar. This bowling center has 40 lanes, a boutique bowl area (perfect for kid’s birthday parties), weekly special events, bowling leagues and open bowling. Extreme Glow Ball is one of their special events.
C’MON Children’s Museum
15080 Livingston Road
239.514.0084
Overview: the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon) is Southwest Florida’s first museum devoted for children and families to learn through play. With hands-on exhibit galleries, the museum invites visitors of all ages to journey through the swamps of the Everglades, weave through a maze, climb a two-story banyan tree, or experiment with the water play station. Children can become a weather forecaster, a farmer, a chef, a fisherman, an artist, an architect or a veterinarian; explore the cold of an igloo, the whoosh of the wind, the sound of the sea, the effects of water and the colors of the rainbow. Throughout the day special activities encourage our guests to get involved, try something new and be energized. The museum is fully accessible to all children regardless of their physical or learning abilities.
Cambier Park
775 8th Avenue South
239.213.3058
Overview: located in the middle of downtown Old Naples, this park is awesome for kids of all ages. There are two huge playgrounds, baseball field, basketball courts, shuffleboard lanes, tennis, and a band shell. The park is host to many activities during season including Art in the Park, free music, and Movie night. The Norris Tennis Center and von Liebig Arts Center are also on park grounds.
Coral Cay Adventure Golf
2205 Tamiami Trail East
239.793.4999
Overview: the perfect place to take the kids. Enjoy a fun game of miniature golf in a tranquil, tropical setting among the caves, reefs, waterfall and harbor. The concession area has snacks, drinks, ice slush, ice cream, a crane machine and more.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
375 Sanctuary Road West‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
239.348.1522
www.corkscrew.audubon.org‬‬‬‬‬
Overview: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a 13,000 acre preserve and is home to the largest remaining stand of old growth bald cypress in North America. A 2.25 mile boardwalk trail is open to the public daily and is great for birding and hiking. State-of-the-art Blair Center welcomes over 100,000 visitors annually, and includes: tea room, picnic tables, nature store, lobby art gallery, restrooms, two classrooms, multi-media theater, educational exhibits, and bird viewing. Special educational programs are offered.
Lowdermilk Beach Park
1301 Gulf Shore Boulevard North
239.213.3029
Overview: a great beach park to bring kids to offering 1,000 feet of pristine beachfront, picnic tables, a playground for the kids, volleyball court, concessions, shaded Tiki huts and a wonderful duck pond. There are also restrooms, outdoor showers, a handicapped beach wheelchair ramp and ample parking.
Naples Botanical Gardens
4820 Bayshore Drive
239.643.7275
Overview: Summer Camps for Kids – connect with the natural world through art, science, exploration and play. It is the perfect camp for budding scientists, explorers, horticulturists and chefs. Camps are designed for students ages 5-12 years old. Kids of all ages will find and learn something new each time they visit the whimsical Smith Children’s Garden. Kids and family enjoy the weekend drop-in W.O.N.D.E.R. program in the Smith Children's Garden and for the wee ones there are wee W.O.N.D.E.R. classes that meet once a month and offer a fun, hands-on way for young children and their caregivers to explore plants and the natural world.
Naples Depot Museum
1051 5th Avenue South
239.262.6525
Overview: set in Naples’ restored Seaboard Air Line Railway passenger station, the Depot welcomes visitors back to the railroading boom days and explains how Southwest Floridian used technology and transportation to conquer a vast and seemingly impenetrable frontier. Seminole dugout canoes, a mule wagon, antique swamp buggy, restored rail cars and exciting interactive exhibits tell the story of how trade and travel transformed Naples. Also located on site is the Naples Train Museum, featuring an interactive model layout and train ride for children.
Naples eXtreme Family Fun Spot
1221 5th Avenue South
239.774.0061
Overview: has one of the largest selections of boat rentals in the area. They offer a sunset cruise, beach and shelling cruise, wildlife/dolphin cruise and fishing charters. Bike rentals and Segway Tours are also available. You can rent kayaks and paddleboards or enjoy one of the tours they have. Their aquatic summer camp features the hottest new water sports. Beach and birthday parties can also be arranged.
Naples Pier
25 12th Avenue South
239.213.3062
Overview: one of Naples’ most known and popular attractions. This is a great spot for kids; fly a kite on the beach, enjoy fishing from the pier (no charge), birding, people watching, grabbing a snack at the concession stand, and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico.
Naples Zoo
1590 Goodlette-Frank Road‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
239.262.5409
Overview: a Naples’ premier attraction located close to downtown. The zoo features a full day of wildlife experiences all in a tropical setting. Children can meet the animal keepers, watch alligators being fed, go on a primate expedition cruise, feed giraffes, and see special shows like ‘Snakes Alive’. Paw Prints in the Sand allows children to create stories in the sand using animal tracks. Various concession stands, several playground areas and a very cool gift shop make Naples Zoo a place you will want to visit many times.
Norris Center
755 8th Ave. S.
239.213.3058
Overview: the Community Center has an auditorium with stage, 2 meeting rooms, a dance studio, conference room, game room, and art gallery, and an amphitheater. The tech center offers many cultural and recreation classes including, creative arts, adult dance, acting, languages and martial arts. During holidays there are a variety of camp programs and special performances for families. The center is home to Gulfshore Playhouse and other local theater groups.
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
300 Tower Road
239.417.6310
www.rookerybay.org
Overview: there are many self-guided walking and canoe trails, birding and wildlife photography opportunities here. The 16,500 sq. ft. Environmental Learning Center, visitor center and marine laboratory provide on-going educational programs and research. Ranger-led programs examine shells, sea turtles, dolphins, manatees, and more. There are boardwalks and land trails and the Brigg’s Nature Center is located here.
Silver Spot Cinema
9118 Strada Place‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
239.592.0300
Overview: this state-of-the-art theatre offers full-service dining and lounge, large leather movie chairs, reserved seating, and amazing sound. There are also many great places to eat around the cinema including pizza and ice cream. You will enjoy films like never before in one of the 12 movie theaters.
Sugden Community Theatre
701 5th Avenue South
239.263.7990
Overview: home of the Naples Players, who perform affordable, high quality amateur theatre and provide educational and enrichment opportunities. KidzAct, their youth theater, provides children ages 4-18 classes in the afternoons and Saturdays during the school year, and in four two-week sessions during the summer to develop performance skills and to provide opportunities to perform on stage.
Sun & Fun Lagoon
North Collier County Regional Park
15000 Livingston Road
239.252.4000
Overview: a fun-filled waterpark that offers 5 water slides including the Sting Ray which is the fastest and most exhilarating totally-enclosed water slide in the park. Or take the Sea Lion, the longest slide in the park that takes you down in an inner tube. A more relaxing alternative is Sunny’s River which is a 1,250 linear foot lazy river that encircles the park. Turtle Cove is a fun-filled pool with floating lilly pads, and water cannons. Tadpole Pool is for the younger kids as it is a cool 18 inches of water with a slide, swings, dumping buckets, and animal rides.
Swamp Buggy Races
Florida Sports Park
8520 Rattlesnake Hammock Road
239.774.2701
Overview: the Florida Sports Park provides a venue for motor-sports, concerts, festivals and much more. Aside from racing, their venue and events provide an outlet for local charities and civic organizations to raise funds for their respective cause. Swamp Buggy race tickets are available online. The Naples Boat Show is also held here.
The Conservancy, Inc.
1495 Smith Preserve Way
239.262.0304
www.conservancy.org
Overview: The Conservancy is a not-for-profit grassroots organization focused on the critical environmental issues of the Southwest Florida region with a mission to protect the region’s water, land and wildlife. The von Arx Wildlife Hospital treats in excess of 3,300 injured, sick and orphaned animals each year and releases about half of them back into their native habitats. The 21-acre nature experience is a celebration of all our natural treasures in the region – our water, land, wildlife and future. The Nature Center is also listed on the Great Florida Birding Trail. There is also a hands-on science museum, boat tours, lectures, and nature trails.
von Liebig Art Center
585 Park Street
239.262.6517
Overview: various galleries exhibit high-caliber contemporary art with a focus on Florida art. The center is open to the public six days a week throughout the year and admission is free. The center provides visual art experiences through exhibitions, educational programs and outdoor festivals. Special studio art classes for children are offered throughout the year. ARTScool features accredited art instructors who provide your child with individual attention and weave academics into artistic sessions. These classes are offered throughout the summer.