Naples, on Florida’s gulfshore, is the perfect place to get close to nature. Imagine planning your next nature vacation and exploring all that Southwest Florida has to offer. Cruise and sail through bays and estuaries, take nature walks and go bird watching along beaches and wetlands, see the Everglades, and more.
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. If you love spending time in the great outdoors, you’ll love these Naples 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. Veterans Community Park
This pretty park is located west of the Cocohatchee River and is one of the busiest green spaces in Collier County. There are seemingly endless activities to enjoy, including tennis courts and sports fields, a dog park, and a roller rink.
3. Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
Naples Zoo is a nationally accredited zoo and yet much more than a walk-through zoo. The nonprofit institution also features a full day of fun activities, exhibits, and attractions. 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.
4. 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.
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 and this park makes a great day out for wildlife lovers.
6. 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.
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!
7. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park is a popular destination just north of Vanderbilt Beach that boasts one of the most pristine stretches 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, such as brown pelicans, that gather here every year. If you’re traveling by boat, you’ll appreciate the boat ramp that can be used for a small fee.
8. Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is an unmatched outdoor classroom. The 2.25-mile boardwalk has a private C.L.A.S.S. section and a designated upland education trail. Additionally, you’ll find the Blair Audubon Center and The Weslyn Strickland Outdoor Education Center that lend the opportunity for participants of all ages to explore pristine habitats and engage in informative seminars and presentations.
9. Charlie C. Anthony Park
Enjoy a lazy day by the Gordon River when you visit Anthony Park. It’s the perfect place for a picnic or sporting activities. This pristine park in Naples has both tennis and basketball courts, as well as several picnic shelters. Bring your rods to Anthony Park to make use of the fishing pier, or take a leisurely walk around the trail. There is also a playground to keep your children active and happy.
10. Everglades National Park
America’s Everglades is 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.
Take a kayak tour to explore the park, or drive the Tamiami Trail for an easy and low-cost way to spot the area’s wild inhabitants.
11. Fleischmann Park
Fleischmann Park is one of the best parks in Naples for sports lovers. With several indoor and outdoor facilities, it has spaces to keep everyone in your family active and entertained. In addition to two playgrounds, a splash zone, and several picnic pavilions, Fleischmann has courts or fields for a plethora of group sports.
Racquetball courts, softball fields, volleyball courts, basketball courts, and even pickleball courts fill this 15-acre park with plenty of options for fun. The associated Community Center also has two dance studios and a game room.
Naples Preserve is also one block away, making these two parks a great pairing for a full day out in the Naples sun.
12. 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 and nature exhibits. Visit to explore by kayak, take a boat cruise, and join nature walks.
13. North Collier Regional Park
This park is jam-packed with fun activities for all the family. Here, you’ll find soccer and softball fields, plus a fitness complex and a children’s play area. The 2.5-mile walking trail is accessible to all, and the butterfly garden is a peaceful place for an afternoon stroll.
Sun-n-Fun Lagoon — a popular waterpark — is also located here, and you’ll welcome the opportunity to splash around and cool off in the hot Florida weather. The picnic pavilions make a great spot to refuel before continuing on with your adventures. And, pets on leashes are permitted in the park, so no member of your family has to miss out on the fun.
14. Lowdermilk Park
Lowdermilk Park is a beautiful beachfront area that is popular with both residents and visitors. It has a little something for everyone in your family to enjoy. There are two playgrounds for the children, and athletes have access to two sand volleyball courts.
Lowdermilk Park also has picnic tables, benches, restrooms, and shower facilities. If you’re planning an event, there are even gazebos for rent to ensure your group has a place in the shade.
15. Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park
For another fun-packed park, check out Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park. This park is managed by Collier County Parks and Recreation Division with accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).
The biking and walking path makes it easy to explore the picturesque lakes and ponds at this park, and you’ll also find facilities to play soccer, baseball, tennis, and basketball. The aquatic center is a can’t-miss part of the park where your family can zip down the waterslides and splash around in the pools.
16. Clam Pass Park
For a park that combines nature, wildlife, and a pristine beach, Clam Pass Park is a top pick. There are 35 acres of coastal park to explore. The white sandy beach is easily accessed via a 0.75-mile boardwalk, and guided nature walks are also offered so you can spot the flora and fauna that call Clam Pass Park home.
Make Naples Fl Your Base For Your Next Outdoor Adventure
All of these adventures are right in your own backyard when you stay in Naples. You’ll find that a Naples Florida Vacation Home is the perfect “home base” for taking day trips further afield. 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!
