Trip Ideas
Change Forum
I am planning a last minute trip over winter break to Southern Florida. There are 9 of us going (3 adults 5 teenagers, 14,17,18,19,19 + an infant). I think I have decided on the Naples area and have found a house to rent for the week. My question is: Is this an area that will keep very active, young adults, busy for a week? We are coming from cold weather and looking forward to the warmth, but also aren't the "relaxing" type. The house is within walking distance to Vanderbilt beach. Is this a good location to get to other activities, boating, kayaking, hiking etc.? Anyplace they would be able to Wakeboard or surf behind a boat? Day trip ideas? Must sees? Thank You so much...
Book Your Next Trip
Check hotel rates and airfares around the world.
Find a great deal?
Tell us about it.
Hotels
Flights
Packages
Cars
A week in Southern Fl with Teenagers over New Years!
6 Replies | Jump to last reply
|6 Replies |Back to top
|Sign in to comment.
Recent Activity
View all United States activity »
- 1 first time on a plane
- 2 4 Days In L.A. - Please review my itinerary, suggestions very welcome
- 3 Going to New Orleans to EAT
- 4
Philadelphia Old City...but don't stay at the Thomas Bond House
- 5
NYC Trip Report: Solo Female traveller with a penchant for wandering
- 6 NeoPatrick is coming to town--GTG on Dec 29 or 30?
- 7 How bad will DC be during Sping break?
- 8 NYC in Dec. for a first timer
- 9 Help/info needed on Oregon roads
- 10 Snorkel Maui in Jan 2010
- 11 Hawaii in December '09 - 15 days
- 12 Siesta Keys in December
- 13 nyc alone on thanksgiving
- 14 LGA Long-Term Parking
- 15 Après Art Basel: Jungle Island, Miami Zoo or Everglades Alligator Farm?
- 16 Help with rental car Houston to San Antonio
- 17 Broadway Banter
- 18 Travel from Charlotte to Greenville, North Carolina
- 19 where does john waters live. where is his house to catch a view
- 20 Is Esplinade avenue a safe area in the French Quarter?
- 21 Driving Boston-Richmond tomorrow -- any special issues?
- 22 South Florida in February
- 23 Navigating/stopovers on Blue Ridge Pkwy and Skyline Drive
- 24 Best times for snorkeling in Maui
- 25 Fort Lauderdale - Winterfest Boat Parade
Its the perfect time of year to go to FL.
1. The Everglades are not far and worth a trip. Do some research on which part. Airboat tours are on the outside of the park but are a lot of fun.
2. The Naples Zoo is right there obviously.
3. Take the Key West Express from Ft Myers to Key West for a day. Would be a long day but a lot of fun.
4. http://www.babcockwilderness.com/ I took this tour last year and really enjoyed it. Not sure of how much of a drive it is from Naples.
5. Could take a day trip over to Miami and South Beach.
Here is an similar thread
http://www.fodors.com/community/united-states/10-things-to-do-in-or-near-esteroft-myers-with-kids.cfm
there are a lot of miniature golf courses down there.
Im sure there are boat rental places.
Up in Ft. Myers, there is the Edison winter home and Laboratories for folks who are not happy just beaching. Everglades City has National Park trips out into the mangrove swamps and east of there is Shark River area of National Park. Corkscrew Swamp is a National Wildlife sanctuary with raised walkways through a mangrove swamp. These would be fine if it is too cool for beach activities which it might be at that time of year, but if you are from the north, when locals think its cold you'll think its just fine on the beach. There are also places to rent canoes and kayaks to explore the Everglades on your own. Check the park service site, www.nps.gov and click on the everglades.
Emalloy summed it up perfectly. Don’t take me wrong, Naples is quite lovely but rather conservative and known more for golfing. For surfing, you’d have to drive to the east coast and that is just too far, I think. But, as many suggested you can venture out to Everglades. If you do not want to drive, there are tours to Everglades from Naples. Here is one link but there should be others.
http://www.everglades-excursions.com/charters.htm
Also, a fun thing to do for teenagers could be the eco-jet ski tour. (under guided tours)
http://www.naples-boatrentals.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=57
Kyaking is very, very nice around Tarpoon Bay. But again, it is about 1 ½ hr. drive from Naples. http://www.tarponbayexplorers.com/kayak.html
I also agree with the above comments...the Naples area is beautiful, but it's geared more for mature or retired couples....although if you have a car, there are plenty of excursion possibilities (see above). My tip for families who want an active Florida vacation in Winter is the Palm Beach area...there is lots of family entertainment, nice hotels, vacation homes, quaint downtowns to visit in Delray Beach, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth and the ocean is warmer for swimming in the Winter.
The nature conservancy in Naples has a variety of activities. Short nature walks, boat rides, maybe some kayaking. There are several places where you can rent kayaks. I think some of the state parks rent them. If any of the teens like to skateboard there is a good skate park. You might also look into bike rentals. There are some dolphin cruises, and there is a ferry to key west.
There is a bike rental place right in the big strip mall at Vanderbilt and 41. A movie theatre too.
There is an amusement park go-cart place. It isn't very good on the amusement side, but the go-carts might be fun:
http://kingrichardspark.net/
Here is a great orange grove place:
http://www.templecitrus.com/
Ft. Myers beach will have tons of stuff to do such as parasailing.
Here is great marina with a night fishing boat and day fishing boats and a great restaurant across the street where they have one of those claw machines you can put money in to get live lobsters:
http://www.getawaymarina.com/