Page 56 - Travel Guide to Florida 2020

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

ATTRACTIONS
Most of the attractions in Southwest Florida
are outdoor venues or learning centers,
which educate and inform visitors about the
region’s bountiful nature and wildlife.
Take Naples, for instance, where the
most visited attractions include the Naples
Botanical Garden and Naples Zoo. The
garden showcases subtropical vegetation
in settings that reflect the culture of Brazil,
the Caribbean, Asia and Florida. The zoo
began as botanical gardens in 1919 and
today is home to wild animals from around
the world.
The Collier County system of museums
occupies five unique venues in Marco Island,
Naples, Everglades City and Immokalee—all
of them family-oriented. The town’s most
family-friendly museum, Golisano Children’s
Museum of Naples, sits next to every kid’s
favorite, the Sun-n-Fun Lagoon water park in
North Naples.
Naples is known, too, for its superlative
golfing opportunities. Besides playing lush,
natural golf courses, adults and kids alike
can get their game on at various golf schools SIX MILE CYPRESS SLOUGH PRESERVE, FORT MYERS • THE BEACHES OF FORT MYERS & SANIBEL
and programs in the area.
In Fort Myers, the Edison and Ford Winter At Lee County Manatee Park in North Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium and
Estates, one of Southwest Florida’s finest Fort Myers, watch manatees from the Sarasota Jungle Gardens.
treasures, offers guided and self-guided observation deck and boardwalk or rent Bradenton’s history dates back to
tours. Nearby, the IMAG History & Science kayaks and paddle out to see them coming Hernando de Soto, and a national historical
Center combines science and history with and going into the “bay.” The area is site recalls his first landfall. The Bishop
programs that include virtual reality, especially interesting during the winter Museum of Science and Nature and Parker
touch-tank, animal encounters and stingray months; the colder it gets the more Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat Aquarium
feedings. It’s a one-stop museum that appeals manatees there are. nicely displays de Soto-related exhibits, plus
to adults and children alike. The world-class Peace River Botanical & prehistoric animal recreations. The
The Mound House cultural museum, a Sculpture Gardens lies on a lovely riverside aquarium is a second-stage rehab center for
restoration of a 1906 home, is the oldest estate in Punta Gorda. rescue manatees before they are released
standing structure on Fort Myers Beach. See For families in Sarasota, the canopy into the wild.
the rich history of the Calusa Indians who boardwalk in the Children’s Rainforest Stroll along Bradenton Riverwalk for
built a shell mound on the property some Garden at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is a views, play areas, and easy-to-absorb
2000 years ago. Go inside and take a peek. don’t-miss. Other family musts include the learning experiences.
Bradenton’s Cortez community retains
its feel of an Old Florida fishing village with
INTERNATIONAL a working waterfront and maritime
museum. A number of charter boats depart
GATEWAYS from the docks to take you deep-sea or back-
bay fishing.
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ): srq-airport.com Head east of town for a little extreme
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), Fort Myers: flylcpa.com adventure at TreeUmph!, an aerial obstacle
course with zip lines.

54 2020 TRAVEL GUIDE TO FLORIDA