Naples activities for elderly dad?
 

I'm visiting my 82-year-old father in Naples tomorrow and wondered if anyone could suggest low-impact activities for us. We typically sit on the beach (at Pelican Bay), walk (very slowly and carefully) down 5th Avenue, and go out to eat, but I would be interested in finding a few diversions that don't require much walking. Any thoughts? Thanks!

You could take the ranger guided (9am daily) canoe trip in Barefoot Beach park (collier county park) - you go out on the inland waters with a guide. Might be too strenuous unless you do all the paddling. Done it w/ 70y/o parents numerous times and they do fine.

You could also rent a pontoon boat to explore the inland waters.

There is a newish boat ride on US 41, right across from the Pewter Mug which goes along the Cocohatchee River and back bay. I haven't done it, but it is quite popular.

Just here for a day or longer? There are concerts in Cambier Park downtown most Sundays these days and sometimes on Saturday. If you're here over the weekend be sure to check Friday's Showcase section in the Naples Daily Snooze (I mean News).

Thanks! Sounds like a good idea to get him on a boat of some kind. . . I'll also check out the "snooze"!

Why don't you visit the art museum? There's a Dale Chihuly glass exhibit on display now that is amazing. I know that you can get wheelchairs if you call ahead, if your father gets tired of walking through the galleries. www.thephil.org is the museum's website.

Ahhh -- the Phil! That exhibit looks great and I'm interested in the Matisse exhibit too. My father isn't much of an art lover, but maybe I can expand his horizons. . . Thanks!

A lot, I guess, depends on how active your father is. We charter a 40' powerboat and took my 87 y/o mother out for a day of fishing and snorkeling. When she got on the boat she asked the captain if she could ride with him on the flying bridge. Not only did she climb up the ladder but but she drove the boat, reeled in a couple of fish and with the help of a floatation vest and the first mate snorkeled for the first time in her life. All in all, she had a ball and talks about doing it again.

Wow! Sunnyboy, your mom is definitely in an entirely different category from my dad! He is a relatively healthy person, but lacks both strength and stamina and gets almost no exercise (despite the prodding of his extremely active and line-dancing wife). Sadly, our main activity usually is getting from the car to the restaurant.

How about theatre? There is a really fun production this weekend at the Norris Center of PumpBoys and Dinettes. It has a sort of country twang to it, but it is a terrific audience pleaser. Your dad might have a heart attack though, when the "Cupp Sisters" waitresses sing their song "TIPS".

I'm not part of this group, but I highly recommend it -- very talented group. Tickets are available at the door for $15 -- Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

Patrick, you are an unbelievable resource! That's another great idea. Thanks so much!

Patrick,
Going to Naples May 2-9th, wondering where the norris center is and will the play still be there? A bunch of girl (ha) 50ish, thought it would be fun to do.

Nope. Pump Boys ends tomorrow night. It's been playing three weeks.
The Norris Center is the new community building in Cambier Park (where the band shell is just below 5th Avenue South.

The Naples Players will be doing How the Other Half Loves your weekend (opened this week for four weeks), at the Sugden right in the middle of Fifth Avenue South. It's a fun broad farce about marriage infidelity -- with a major twist, the stage is two different houses at the same time. There is a dinner scene with six people, where the two guests swivel back and forth between two sets of hosts -- theoretically the two dinner parties are on two different nights, but the audience sees them simultaneously. It's a lot of fun.

You can buy tickets online www.naplesplayers.org
I guess that's working, I've never tried it.

Thanks a bunch Patrick, I will order up some tickets. Are you in the play?

Nope. I'm directing The Fourth Wall which will open May 25 in the studio theatre at the Sugden.

Hey Patrick! I just wanted you to know I took the parents to the Pump Boys and Dinettes on Saturday night and it was a big hit. Thanks again!