While Naples is known for its pristine beaches, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary - known for its ancient cypress forest and colony of nesting American woodstorks. Nature lovers will find plenty to like at this preserve. Located 30 miles northeast of the 11,000 acres of marshland is home to 600-year-old trees, otters, alligators and a beautiful collection of endangered birds. A boardwalk cuts through the sanctuary on which you can take a self-guided tour and get a feel for what Florida was like before it was developed. Naturalists are stationed throughout the boardwalk to answer questions. Recent visitors say it takes about three hours to walk the sanctuary's nearly 3 miles.
The Sanctuary’s is within the Big Cypress Swamp and they contain the country’s largest remaining stand of 400 to 700 year-old virgin bald cypresses. A two-mile long boardwalk passes through the sanctuary and through distinct environmental areas including pinelands, freshwater marshes and wet prairie, cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks. The main attraction here is the boardwalk, constructed of sustainable wood. If you have ever wanted to experience the Everglades, but were too scared to venture out for fear of disturbing a sleeping alligator or stepping on an unsuspecting snake, then the walkway wanders through habitats that include prairie marsh and pine flatlands and continues into the heart of the old-growth forest, offering a taste of primeval Florida. Today, the boardwalk of a little under 2 miles provides walking access through (actually 'over') pine flatwoods, wet prairie, pond cypress, bald cypress, and marsh ecosystems within the sanctuary. If you spend a couple of hours to take theself-guided tour along the boardwalk, A nature center educates you about this precious, unusual habitat with a dramatic re-creation of the preserve and its creatures in the Swamp Theater. The sanctuary is a 'gateway site' for the Great Florida Birding Trail. It is an important breeding area for the endangered wood stork and other wetland birds. It also has wintering passerines, including the painted bunting. Numerous wading bird species can be found in the wetlands of the sanctuary, including the yellow-crowned night heron, black-crowned night heron, tricolored heron, great egret, and snowy egret. Specialist birds include limpkin, barred owl and, in summer, swallow-tailed kite. The sanctuary visitor center is a Living Machine demonstration site.
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The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens was opened in September 1969 in Naples, Florida, in what was once the gardens for botanist Dr. Henry Nehrling's collection of plants. The gardens were neglected after Nehrling's death, but reopened in 1954. Animals were added in 1969, and the gardens were reopened as a zoo. The zoo has about 70 species, though not all of these are on display at any given time. The main path is about a mile long, and winds past the main animal exhibits through a tropical garden first planted in 1919. Primates in the zoo are housed on islands in a manmade lake, and can be viewed from catamarans when visitors take the Primate Expedition Cruise.
The Naples Zoo is laid out with one major loop about 1 mile long that winds through the botanical gardens past the main exhibits. The main exhibits, going clockwise around the main loop, Predators and lush gardens in one of the only zoos where you can enjoy views of animal habitats from a catamaran. Spend half a day exploring the natural wonders of the Naples Zoo. This conservation zoo is home to a large number of plant and animal species. The Naples Zoo began when Dr. Henry Nehrling bought the site in 1919 with the intention of creating a haven for nature to “preserve what is still left.” Throughout the 20th century, the zoo and its surrounding gardens have built on its collection of flora and fauna and retains its focus on conservation. Walk around the camouflaged enclosures to admire fierce and intriguing species. See the rare honey badger, an incredibly savage predator that is found in only four zoos in America. Try hand-feeding the tall giraffes or delight in the snapping jaws of alligators as they are fed by their keepers. Explore and engage with different animal species including lemurs, leopards and hyenas. Fans of the movie "Madagascar" will surely recognize one of the Naples Zoo's inhabitants, the fosa, in Petrof's Primate Pavilion exhibit. The exhibit is also home to another Madagascar native, the lemur. As you walk around the grounds, stop and check out the rare Indochinese tigers and a collection of other interesting mammal. If you're looking for an educational experience, take in a live show, where zookeepers show off some of the zoo's animals. You can also watch live feedings. Nationally accredited as both zoo and botanical garden, Naples Zoo plays host to creating a truly memorable experience through diverse educational presentations, guided cruises, special animal encounters and more. As a natural crossroads for families, biologists, and educators, Naples Zoo plays a critical role in nurturing appreciation for the natural world by providing an educational nature experience for people of all ages. The unique combination of lush, tropical flora and exotic animal habitats creates a beautifully inspiring backdrop for visitors to connect with nature and to enhance their understanding of wildlife and the habitats in which wild animals live. After all, if we can inspire our guests to make just one change toward the conservation of our natural world, then we have succeeded at a most important task. Clam Pass Park is a beautiful beach access point in the North Naples. This park is also one of the most popular beach access points much like Vanderbilt Beach. Clam Pass boasts 35 acres of coastal habitat and preserves that habitat by providing beach access from a three-quarter-mile boardwalk to the sandy beach.
The boardwalk runs through a mangrove forest of salt-tolerant red, white and black mangroves. It also has a tidal bay area that acts as a breeding ground and nursery for marine life, wildlife, specifically many species of birds. Clam Pass Park is tucked away behind the Naples Grande Beach Resort. You can walk or take a free tram from the parking lot down a three-quarters-mile long boardwalk through a mangrove forest. Then, from the shady mangrove tunnel, you emerge on a sunny day to a beach with sand that is blindingly white and water impossibly turquoise. The pass itself is a narrow river-like opening in the mangroves, shallow enough an adult can stand at the center except at the highest tide. If you hop into the waters of the pass, you are gently swept away by the tide. If the tide is coming in, you float into a shallow mangrove-fringed lagoon. If the tide is going out, you float out into the Gulf, which remains shallow for a great distance. The kids will love the wooden boardwalk or tram ride through a mangrove forest to access the beach. A half-mile stroll along the Clam Pass boardwalk leading to the beach offers an opportunity to view marine life, coastal birds, and butterflies before reaching a 3,200-foot stretch of white sand beach. Clam Pass Park abounds with wading shorebirds, eagles, hawks and osprey. It’s a natural “lazy river” adventure, where the pull and depth of the water is safe but still fun. A good snack bar and a beach-gear concession area are a perk of sharing the beach with an upscale hotel. On the other side of the pass, the beach stretches on for miles, lined with seagrape trees and foliage. Visitors thin out after a short distance, so if you dream of having a beach to yourself, this is for you. Because this is the beach for the Naples Grande Beach Resort, regular folks benefit from exceptional amenities intended for hotel guests. There’s a little cafe with sandwiches and drinks, and not outrageously priced. A concession stand rents chairs, umbrellas, Hobie cats and more. If you want to explore the wilder part of the park beyond the boardwalk, you can rent a canoe or kayak and get a more up close view of the 35-acre park. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida offers guided nature walks Monday through Saturday from December to April. |
Naples Private ToursThere are plenty to do in Naples, here is our recommended points of interest for Groups of friends and family to get together and enjoy. Categories
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