Page 28 - May-June 2025 Life In Naples Magazing

from the Florida sun. And don’t forget about your local library to maintain and
enhance their literacy skills, prevent "summer slide," and foster a lifelong love of
Kid-Approved: reading!
4.Cool Off at Water Parks and Splash Pads
Top Summer Activities Nothing beats the summer heat like a water park or splash pad!
Sun Splash Family Waterpark (Cape Coral) – Featuring thrilling slides, a lazy
river, and a toddler-friendly splash area.
Sunsplash Waterpark (Naples) – A fantastic place for young kids, with water
for Families in Southwest Florida slides, fountains, and shallow pools.
Centennial Park Splash Pad (Fort Myers) – A free and fun splash pad located
by Michelle Avola-Brown, Executive Director, near the Caloosahatchee River.
Naples Pathways Coalition Eagle Lakes Aquatic Park (Naples) – A great community pool with slides and
water play areas.
ummer is the perfect time for families to make Pack sunscreen, towels, and plenty of water to make the most of these water-filled
lasting memories, and Southwest Florida offers an adventures!
Sabundance of kid-friendly activities to keep everyone
entertained. From beachside adventures to interactive 5.Go on a Family Friendly Hike or Nature Walk
museums and nature explorations, there’s something for Exploring the natural beauty of Southwest Florida is a wonderful way to teach
every family to enjoy. Whether you're looking to beat the kids about wildlife and conservation.
heat, get outdoors, or explore something new, these top Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve (Fort Myers) – A shaded boardwalk trail filled
summer activities will keep kids engaged and active all with turtles, birds, and occasional alligator sightings.
season long. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (Naples) – A unique wooden boardwalk through a
breathtaking cypress forest.
1.Explore the Best Beaches for Families CREW Bird Rookery Swamp (Naples) – An easy trail with tons of wildlife
viewing opportunities.
Southwest Florida is known for its stunning beaches, and summer is the
Myakka River State Park (Sarasota) – Features a canopy walk, airboat tours, and
perfect time for a seaside adventure.
plenty of picnic areas.
Lovers Key State Park (Fort Myers Beach) – Calm waters, white sand, and These trails offer shaded walks and the chance to see Florida’s incredible wildlife
plenty of space for kids to run and play.
up close, but an evening walk with the kids (wearing reflective clothing or vests and
Clam Pass Park (Naples) – A fun tram ride to the beach, plus shallow, calm
carrying flashlights) requires little pre-planning.
waters perfect for little ones.
Bowman’s Beach (Sanibel Island) – A great spot for shelling and nature 6.Enjoy a Day at a Family Friendly Farm
walks. Many farms in Southwest Florida offer fun, hands-on experiences for kids.
Caspersen Beach (Venice) - An excellent spot to find prehistoric sharks' Farmer Mike’s U-Pick (Bonita Springs) – Seasonal fruit and vegetable picking,
teeth, plus nature trails traveling through freshwater and saltwater marshes, plus fun farm activities.
mangrove areas, and tidal flats. Southern Fresh Farms (Fort Myers) – A great place to feed animals, play on the
playground, and shop for fresh produce.
2.Discover Florida’s Wildlife Hunsader Farms (Bradenton) – Features a petting zoo, pony rides, and seasonal
Kids love animals, and Southwest Florida has plenty of places to get up close fruit picking.
and personal with fascinating creatures. Visiting a farm is an excellent way to teach kids about agriculture while enjoying
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens – A family favorite, with giraffe feedings, fresh, local produce.
boat rides, and a fun playground.
Gatorama (Palmdale) – An exciting place to see (and even feed!) alligators 7.Have a Movie or Bowling Night
and crocodiles. Sometimes, an air-conditioned escape is the perfect way to wind down after an
Manatee Park (Fort Myers) – A great spot for viewing manatees in winter, active day.
but still fun for a picnic and butterfly garden exploration in summer. Top Family Entertainment Centers:
Shy Wolf Sanctuary (Naples) – Offers a chance to learn about rescued Regal Hollywood 20 (Naples) and AMC Merchants Crossing (Cape Coral) –
wolves, foxes, and exotic animals. Both offer summer movie programs with discounted family-friendly films.
For an extra adventure, take a dolphin-watching tour or go on a mangrove HeadPinz Entertainment Center (Fort Myers & Naples) – A mix of bowling,
kayaking trip to spot birds, crabs, and manatees in their natural habitat. laser tag, and arcade games. Check out www.KidsBowlFree.com.
Bowland Centers (Multiple Locations) – Affordable bowling fun with special
3.Visit Hands-On Museums and Science Centers family rates.
When the summer heat is too much, indoor attractions provide a cool and Many of these locations have special summer deals and promotions for kids.
educational escape.
Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon!) – A two-story wonderland 8.Plan a DIY Backyard Adventure
For days when you don’t want to go far, turn your backyard into an adventure
filled with interactive exhibits, a treehouse, and an imagination play area.
zone!
IMAG History & Science Center (Fort Myers) – Features a living lab with
Obstacle Course – Climbing wall, ropes, tire flip, hula hoop, objects to climb over,
sea creatures, a dinosaur exhibit, and fun science experiments.
through or under. Encourage the kids to come up with some ideas too.
Edison and Ford Winter Estates (Fort Myers) – A blend of history and
DIY Water Park – Sprinklers, inflatable pools, and water balloons make for hours
science, where kids can explore inventions and beautiful gardens.
of fun.
The Wonder Gardens (Bonita Springs) – A mix of history, wildlife, and Outdoor Movie Night – Set up a projector and watch family-friendly movies
botanical gardens that kids will love. under the stars.
These locations make learning fun and engaging while providing a break Scavenger Hunts – Create a fun nature or treasure hunt for the kids to enjoy.
With some creativity, you can come up with lots of ways to keep your kids’ brains
and bodies active this summer and limit hearing the dreaded, “Mom, I’m bored!”
For more information, please visit www.NaplesPathways.org and www.HandsFreeFlorida.org
If you have any specific questions, email me at Michelle@NaplesPathways.org
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