Children are the most important people in the lives of parents. We would like to give them all the best things that we can because we want them to be happy. And children have this wonderful sense of awe where they can be enamored by the simplest of things, and this is something we adults find heart-warming. The Paradise Coast that comprises of the areas in and around Naples, Florida evokes this kind of awe to children and we won’t be surprised if you will be stricken with this child-like wonder as well.
Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades have things to do for the entire family. So, pack up your sunscreen and sunglasses because the sights here will be very different from what you and the kids see on a daily basis and your kids are sure to love it.
Watch the dolphins frolicking in the Gulf or a manatee as it raises its head above the water, as if greeting the visitors with a warm welcome or a Florida alligator basking on a golf course and see it politely excuse himself when it feels its bothering people. It may be an everyday experiences to those who live here, but these will be magical moments to the children who see these things and these will live forever in their memories.
Some of the best beach wildlife-watching is at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s Naples Nature Center where you and the kids can join a free nature walk with guides. You may also visit the Tigertail Beach Park on Marco Island. This popular area is known for almost a hundred species of wild birds. Amenities found in the beach include kayak and umbrella rentals, snack bars, restrooms, showers, play area, and huts.
If your kids want to see more animals, you can visit Naples Zoo. The zoo has a wide variety of exotic animals rarely seen in other similar places, like the slender horn gazelle, the African honey badger, striped hyena and the cute fosas from Madagascar along with giraffes, zebras, lions, leopards, tigers and more. Feed the long-necked giraffe or and catch feeding time with the keepers at Alligator Bay. Hop on a guided catamaran boat ride through cage-free islands filled with monkeys, lemurs and apes. You can even talk with professional zookeepers to let them educate you about their conservation and animal rescue efforts that they’ve been doing for the benefit of the entire ecosystem of the region.
Explore the only subtropical preserve in North America by visiting the Everglades National Park with your children. It is a well made shelter to Florida panthers, black bear, bald eagles, alligators, crocodiles, snowy egrets, manatees, storks, and many others. Assorted green living spaces enable you to appreciate boat excursions, paddling and kayaking, crisp and saltwater angling and great outdoors in a vast and untamed wild. The Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City serves as entry point to the beautiful Ten Thousand Islands saltwater portion of the park so you don’t want to miss that.
Make enchanting moments on the Paradise Coast with your children as they will recollect these for as long as they live.
