The 10 Best Parks & Nature Attractions in Naples

Naples, on Florida’s Paradise Coast, is the perfect place to get close to nature. Imagine planning your next nature vacation exploring all that Southwest Florida has to offer. Cruise and sail through bays and estuaries, take nature walks and go birding along beaches and wetlands, see the Everglades, and more.

Nature & Parks in Naples

For many people, getting close to nature is the #1 reason for visiting the greater Naples area, but other well-loved highlights are the great beaches, upscale shopping, art, culture and fun family attractions. To better plan your vacation, visit all of our Naples Florida Vacation Homes Vacation Ideas guides to Restaurants & Dining, Beaches & Parks, Arts, Culture & Events, Shopping, Golfing, and Family Fun.

You’ll love these Naples, FL parks.

1. Big Cypress National Preserve

The freshwaters of the Big Cypress Swamp, essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades, support the rich marine estuaries along Florida’s southwest coast. Protecting over 729,000 acres of this vast swamp, Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities that are home to a diversity of wildlife, including the elusive Florida panther.

2. Collier County Parks & Recreation

Collier County Parks and Recreation Division with accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). One of only 140 park and recreation agencies in the country to currently hold national accreditation.

3. Naples Botanical Garden

Naples Botanical Garden is creating a world class paradise that combines delightful cultivated tropical gardens with beautifully restored natural habitats. The Garden connects people and plants through display, education, conservation and science. It will be a community gathering place and an exceptional venue for exploring our natural world as well as enjoying special events, traveling exhibitions and performances.

4. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

Delnor-Wiggins is a popular destination boasts one of the most pristine stretch of beach in the world. Every day, this tropical beach paradise beckons visitors to partake in vast peaceful views of the Gulf of Mexico, and experience the many shorebirds and wildlife that gather here every year.

5. J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

“Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, the non-profit Friends of the Refuge organization, supports environmental education, services, and land conservation at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Education and conservation efforts may extend beyond the complex’s borders.

6. Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is an unmatched outdoor classroom. Our 2.25 mile boardwalk with a private C.L.A.S.S. section, designated upland education trail, Blair Audubon Center and The Weslyn Strickland Outdoor Education Center lend the opportunity for participants of all ages to explore pristine habitats and engage in informative seminars and presentations.

7. Everglades National Park

America’s Everglades – The largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Everglades National Park protects an unparalleled landscape that provides important habitat for numerous rare and endangered species like the manatee, American crocodile, and the elusive Florida panther.

8. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida was founded in 1964 by a small group of concerned citizens fighting to protect the beauty of our region. Today it has grown to be one of Florida’s largest and most respected environmental organizations.

9. Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens

Naples Zoo is a nationally accredited zoo and yet much more than a walk-through zoo. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable institution also features a full day of fun activities. The paved path winds nearly a mile past rare and beautiful animals residing within a historic tropical garden of exotic plants first planted in 1919 with a fascinating history.

10. Cambier Park

Located in the heart of Fifth Avenue South, Cambier Park offers all the best of a public park, a mini resort, and a community center rolled into one, without feeling, being set up, or really looking like any of them. This park offers a tennis court with the Arthur L Allen Tennis Center, five shuffleboard courts, two bocce courts, a softball field, a band shell, a covered pavilion, open green space, and a children’s playground that has so much to offer that your child will never want to leave!

Conclusion

All of these adventures are right in your own backyard when you stay in Naples. Get back to nature on Florida’s Paradise Coast. Plan a day trip and discover the Everglades, a World Heritage Site. Boat through cypress swamps, where you’ll spot alligators, eagles, manatees, storks, turtles, and peregrine falcons.

Visiting Naples?

You’ll find that a Naples Florida Vacation Home is the perfect “home base” for day trips. Choose from daily, weekly, or monthly vacation home rentals — you select the dates that fit your schedule. Naples Florida Vacation Homes sleep from 2 to 10 people, and include fully equipped kitchens and laundry facilities. Shop at the convenient local grocery stores and have fun making and packing lunches and snacks for your hikes, biking, and boating adventures — and save money, too!