Being in southwest Florida means being very close to nature. The region implements extensive conservation efforts to make sure the wildlife and their habitat are duly protected. You can experience a piece of the beauty of the region’s treasures if you and your family visit the Collier Seminole State Park. Located along Tamiami trail in Naples, this 7,271-acre park promises vast open clearings, swampy rivers and amenities for the whole family – and it’s just 17 miles south from the downtown. The Collier Seminole State Park is all in all a relaxing place where you and your family can bring your RV’s and go for picnic camps and hiking.
Wildlife and Trails
The park is teeming with amazing wildlife. In the park you can spot the, Big Cypress fox squirrel, raccoons and the Florida Black Bear. The birds are especially interesting too and there are several species that can be found, perfect of you are a wildlife photographer of sorts. The birds that can usually be seen include the endangered brown pelican, the bald eagle, wood storks and woodpeckers. However, the highlight of the park would probably be the presence of the alligators. Not to worry though because these reptiles generally avoid populated areas and will only attack after intense provocation.
You can catch these animals and the spectacular view if you take one of several wilderness trails that the park offers. In these trails, you can go biking, hiking and even just jogging. No matter how you explore this amazingly vast park, all will help you appreciate the perfect scenery the entire park has in store for all their visitors.
Historical Site
Within the vicinity of the Collier Seminole State Park lies the Bay City Walking Dredge. This was an area that was instrumental in the construction of the Tamiami trail back in the 1920’s. Today you can see industrial steel parts and other construction materials that were left over from the construction a hundred years ago. The park was declared home to a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark because of this.
Campgrounds
The park has vast open fields where people can bring their RV and camp together. This is great if you want to start a bonfire at night while watching the stars and maybe exchange a ghost story or two with you campmates. Picnics are great by the day and you can even canoe your way into the afternoon with lots of waterways through mangrove forests that lead to the Blackwater River. There are also park programs where rangers talk about the park’s flora and fauna and provide education to the attendees that would surely make everybody value Mother Nature even more.
If you are thinking of visiting the Collier Seminole State Park or similar parks like these in Naples, Florida, head down to our article section as we tell you more about the places you can go while in Florida. Also, do check out our Tourist Guide Section where we show you all the other nice places you can go, and for your ears, we have our podcast the Divine Naples Daily with Rich and Matt.
