Attractions in & around Naples, FL
 

We'll be taking our 4 year old granddaughter in January for a few days, staying in Naples. If the weather isn't great, I'd like to take her to some fun places.....can anyone help? We can travel about 20 miles away from Naples if you have a good idea. Thank you

I would take her to the Caribbean Gardens zoo. It's small but has all of the necessary animals. She'll probably love monkey island. Lemurs, gibbons etc are all housed on little islands in a small lagoon and a 20 min boat ride will take you to each one (you stay on the boat for obvious reasons). Also, there are always demonstrations each day and you can touch the animals afterwards. When I was there, they showed an ocelot, hedgehog and sloth.

Anolther option might be the Teddy Bear Museum of Naples. I haven't been, but I'm planning to take my daughter when I'm there over New Year's.

What a wonderful idea! You say we stay on the boat at Carribean Gardens Zoo? Is it easy to see the animals? How would we get there from the Ritz Carlton Naples? Better to drive or taxi? Thanks so much!

Taxis are almost non existant in Naples. The hotel could call you one and you might wait an hour to get it, then wait an hour for another one when you want to return. Car rentals are cheap in Florida. I suggest you get a car while here.

I'm ashamed to admit that having lived here for 27 years, I still have never been to Caribbean Gardens. But I tell everyone else to go there. One of these days. . .

Just to make myself clear, the boat ride is only to see the monkeys. The rest of the zoo is a normal zoo where you walk from attraction to attraction. As for getting there, I know it is located off of US41. I found Naples very easy to navigate so I would drive because I think the Ritz is off of US 41 as well. Parking is free. Here is their website: www.caribbeangardens.com

Have fun!

I visited both websites, Carribean Gardens and the Teddy Bear Museum and they both look like such fun. On Sunday, Dec 9 we need to drive to Sarasota to visit my husband's parents. Looks like a 2 hour drive both ways. So, I'm afraid we'll have to choose either the zoo or the museum. What's your suggestion?

next to "Tin City" (an in door shopping center with a few restaurants and some shops) there is a boat tour that lasts about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. This wouldm be fun for the family.

Take a drive to Sanabel/Captiva, which is about 45 minutes just north of naples. You can tour a nature preservewhere you will see birds and maybe a gator. Also, you can look for seashells on the beach at Captiva (world famous for shelling.

Do the zoo if you have to make a choice, but you could really do both. I hear the Teddy Bear Museum is worth maybe an hour if you stretch it out -- neat, just not a major attraction.

I'm hoping you meant January 9, otherwise you're hopelessly off schedule! LOL

I agree with Patrick - you probably could do both since the zoo is fairly small. But, I would choose the zoo if you would rather not try to.