Harriet Howard Heithaus|Naples Daily News
The next two weeks are school vacation weeks in Northern states, and we, their relatives in Southwest Florida, are ready with the mattresses, the food supply, the beverages. But once they're here, what to do with them?
There is endless side entertainment, especially in open-air Collier County at this time of year. The options range from miniature golf topottery painting studios. Indoors, there's even a children's play at Naples Players' Sugden Theatre, "The Disney Descendants," following the escapades of famous characters' offspring April 1 to April 3.
But we like to add some of our favorites to the mix, places and activities we love and hope your family will, too:
1. Golisano Children's Museum of Naples
You must be accompanied by a child to visit the 30,000-square-foot Golisano Children's Museum of Naples, and during school spring breaks, you have the perfect excuse. You and your young ones can wander through hands-on international exhibits such as the current one on Argentina, with its little confitería of sculpted pastries and a carnicería of meats. Listen to a teacher in an Argentinean classroom and learn, probably to parents' dismay, that children attend school for half-days there.
The outdoors has one of the most enticing spots for kids, two water features with an assortment of things to sail, balance atop a waterfall or splash, and other wet delights. (Pack some extra tissues.) The lawn backs up to a hill ready for good roll; there's an outdoor stage for events; agiant chess set; and the potential for a shower of bubbles when the staff occasionally starts the bubble machines on the terrace above.
Kids can clamber up the climbing tower inside its huge-aEverglades banyan sculpture, and emerge at a vista on the second floor. (Good news for grandparents: They can't climb out there, so there's no escaping their adults.) There's a Build-It room that requires parent-kid teamwork, and a seasons section, with refrigerated winter.
At 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., announcements offer events happening within the hour. Thosecould include some quiet time with an educator's reading of a story in the second-floor library, which is also open to all for a cool-downwith a good book.
Then the kids can jump up and do it all over again.
Where:15080 Livingston Road, Naples
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except Wednesdays; members have early entrance at 9 a.m.
Admission: $12 for children older than 1 year through 17; $10 adults and seniors; $9 military; free for teachers with identification
Tickets: cmon.org or239-514-0084
Insider info: If you enter via the county park drive on days when COVID-19 vaccinations are being offered in the adjacent park, stay in the left lane to reach the museum.
Hidden gem: Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch rich with history
2. Cowboys and constellations
If your grandchildren are here April 9— and even if they're not— it's hard to do better than the starlight program atRoberts Ranch Pioneer Museum in Immokalee. For a maximum of 20 visitors, museum manager Brent Trout explains the critical significance of the stars to both Native Americans and cowboys, whoknew which way to herd and when to turn in for the night because of the position of Orion in the skies.
Trout's interest in astronomy came from his own scary incident in a Missouri state forest with the young woman he was dating: Despite the fact they only wandered in about 1.3 miles to see a picturesque waterfall, they got lost in the advancing dusk, and there was no cellular service, at least until they found their way to a mountaintop. When the park service finally located them, they were 12 miles from their starting point.
That was Trout's mandate to learn steering by the stars— "I vowed to never let that happen again"— and he enjoys explaining them to those of us who don't know a constellation from an asterism. Spoiler alert: She married him anyway.
When: 7 or 7:30 p.m. depending on sunset, Friday, April 9
Where: Roberts Ranch Immokalee Pioneer Museum,1215 Roberts Ave. W., Immokalee
Admission: Free, but reservations are required
Information: colliermuseums.org or 239-252-2611
Don't forget: Bug spray is smart; a blanket is also a good idea. Part of the presentation is outdoors and, although there are chairs, Immokalee's cooler nighttime temperatures may warrant some extra cover.
3. Kayak, camp out
A good way to engage your teen is to let her or him be the lead paddler for an early morning kayak trip, or to challenge them to set up the family tent. Rookery Bay Estuarine Research Reserve has both, although the camping is forfinite dates:next weekend, March 27-28, when its Family Campout offers socially distanced activities and pod areas for tents that can hold up to eight people. (No campfires allowed, however.)
The pandemic has brought out our inner paddling drive: "Kayaking has been off the charts," observed Athan Barkoukis,executive director of the Friends of Rookery Bay. While the environmental learning center is closed and the trails have not been yet groomed for hiking, its waterways are still open.
Watch: Rookery Bay doc on mangroves, 40-year history airing on Earth Day, April 22
Where: Shell Island Road boat launch, Naples
When: 9 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. various days of the week
Price: $65 per adult on provided single or tandem kayaks; $55 children; the tour provides a biologist guide and HD photography
To reserve: rookerybay.org
Something else: There are small-group private boat tours in the $489-499 range that include sunset and moonlight voyages.
4. The Gulf green flash
This is one of those activities certain skeptics deride as snipe hunting, and others swear is true. You and the family can find out for yourself by packing up some picnic gear and blankets and positioning yourself on any Naples area beach about a half hour before sunset. Enjoy some family time, some flying disc toss and a nibble or two— but keep your eyes on the horizon, where the sun is said to create a fluorescent green flash as it dips beneath the waves.
If you don't see it, you'll still have enjoyed a gorgeous evening. And if you do see it, you've enjoyed an amazing evening.
5. Key Marco Cat and friends
This cat has a museum attached. The Key Marco Cat is a statue of pre-Columbian origin found by a 1896 anthropological expedition, a marvelbecause it had been so well preserved and because it opened a window to one of the earliest cultures that has called Marco Island home. Despite the fact it was left to the Smithsonian Institution, the Marco Island Historical Society built its museum with a facilities to show the cat/human artifact. It's here for an extended stay, and the room of exhibits around it will give the whole familya look at a unique society on an island that once lived byits fishing prowess.
There's a postcard mural outdoors where the family can center itself among leaping dolphins and seabirds to smile and wave "Wish you were here!"
After that, thereare abundant beach opportunities with Tiger Tail and South Marco beaches close by. If you can time your visit for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3,Marco Island Center for the Arts rolls out its8th Annual Cars As Art show. Wear sunglasses to so you're not blinded by the polish and chrome, and be ready for questions from the kids about that stick in the middle of the floor.
Where: Marco Island Historical Museum, 180 Heathwood Drive, Marco Island, free; Marco Island Center for the Arts, 1010 Winterberry Drive on Marco Island; free
6. Corkscrew Swamp Nature Sanctuary
Corkscrew Swamp Nature Sanctuary is the forest you've seen in Walt Disney movies, but it's real. Look below your boardwalk and you may see a congregation of juvenile alligators lolling in the pockets of sunlight. Bring your camera-equipped phonebecause the creature watching and variety of plant life are fascinating. You'll also want it because the boardwalk maps are now online for downloading.
This is the place where you challenge your kids into aphoto show competition,and let the winner choose where you eat out that night. Or download the sanctuary's scavenger hunt for kids.
We've seen green herons and wood storks. Bobcats, river otters and armadillos call the place home. There are said to be some 34 kinds of mammals here, including the Florida panther, which rarely materializes— although two appeared in the past week. Those who stand still and stay quiet if they spot onewill get to see the graceful cat in action, darting away from them.
The preserve's programs are still on hiatus during the pandemic, but its trails and Blair Nature Center are now open, as is the gift shop, with limited hours. Reservations are required to keep social distancing in practice.
Where:375 Sanctuary Road W., Naples; watch for the north turn off Immokalee Road
When: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. daily
Admission: By reservation only;$17; $10 full-time college student with valid school ID;$6 ages 6 to 14; military and National Audubon members, $14
Reservationsand information:corkscrew.audubon.org/visit and 239-348-9151
Don't forget: Bug spray, sunblock, a hat
Did you know?Water loss at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has put wildlife at risk. New research points to the problem
PANTHER SIGHTING: Rare surprise: Florida panther seen east of Bonita Springs
7. Baker Park kids playground
The fairly new Baker Park close to central Naples has serenewalking paths,picnic spots and a panorama hill from which to survey the city and its airport.
One of the biggest gems, however,may be its children's playground, laid out over soft rubber foundation and featuring pliant and flexible equipment to keep the experience as safe as possible. Toggleup a climbing rope with rubber grips; shootdown a tarp slide with net siding; crawl around a rope web; grab a seat on a spinning disc.
Then, when everyone's tuckered out, the group can stroll over to its resident bronze scorpion sculpturefor a selfie session.
Where:50 Riverside Circle, Naples
Admission: Free
Baker Park opens in Collier County
Baker Park opened Tuesday, October 29, 2019, in Collier County.
Jon Austria, jaustria@gannett.com; 239-227-7803
8. The airborne vacation
If you're in the mood for a splurge and want to command your teen's respect for half a day, take him or her parasailing. At least five companies offer the treat in Collier and Lee counties, and prices vary according to— yikes! — how much line you want. The longer the line, the higher you soar.
Sample prices, from Marco Island Parasailing, are $90 for 600 feet of line and $100 for 1,200 feet of line. To ride shotgun in the boat carrying the parasailers is $45. Type "Parasailing Naples FL" into your favorite search engine and decide what port you want to soar from.
9. Celebration Park
With kids, this food truck park is the spot for lunch when it's less crowded. But with adult friends in tow, it's the place for a casual dinner and drinks from the outdoor bar while you're waiting to pick up your grub. Greek, seafood, Mexican, barbecue and more: everyone has a choice. At nights there's usually entertainment during the visitor season, and the place is a mural lover's dream, with local artwork everywhere.
When: Opening at 11 a.m., with closing hours that vary by day of the week
Where:2880 Becca Ave., Naples
Information:facebook.com/CelebrationParkNaples
10.Naples Airport's military museum
If you have older children who are studying history in schools, the Naples Museum of Military History is a trove of memorabilia, from uniforms to models of sailing ships to World War I a bicycle that troop messengers used. It covers a span at least from the Revolutionary War through the War in Iraq and the mission in Afghanistan.
There are 10,000 historical artifacts dating from 1775, includinguniforms, correspondence, medals andexotic models of airplanes and weapons from both sides of battles. A docent is on duty to talk with you and answer questions. It brings a tangible edge to the issues young students are reading about, and it'sgood discussion territory for the entire family.
Related: Naples military museum previews plans for its own home
Where: 500 Terminal Drive, Naples,in the commercial terminal of Naples Airport
When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays and noon-3 p.m. Sundays
Information: 614-205-0357 or naplesmuseummilitaryhistory.org
Admission: Free, but donations are always appreciated
Harriet Howard Heithaus covers arts and entertainment for the Naples Daily News/naplesnews.com. Reach her at 239-213-6091.
