* Photography provided compliments of the Greater Naples Marco Island Everglades CVB
Southwest Florida Travel - Things To Do and Explore While Visiting Florida
If you are feeling adventurous while visiting the Laplaya Beach & Golf Resort and are seeking to explore the beauty of southwest Florida, within a short drive consider the Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a nearly 7,000-acre wildlife refuge on Sanibel Island just 40 miles northwest of Naples from state road I-75 . It's home to 291 species of birds, more than 50 types of reptiles and at least 32 different mammals. Another popular attraction only 40 miles north of the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort is the Edison-Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida which offers an extensive botanical garden, a laboratory and a museum. The estate showcases information on the lives, friendships, inventions and fascinating history behind two of the world's most remarkable men. Visit the estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford in the heart of the City of Fort Myers, Florida, the City of Palms.
The Collier-Seminole State Park just 17 miles south of Naples, Florida features a wealth of vegetation and wildlife typical of the Everglades, plus a forest made up of tropical trees. Hiking, bicycling, and canoeing trails offer opportunities for visitors to explore the park´s remarkable wilderness. The park has canoe rentals along with a boat ramp that provides access to the Blackwater River, where anglers can enjoy both freshwater and saltwater fishing. Campers can spend the night in a full-facility campground; youth/group and primitive campsites are also available. The picnic areas have pavilions and grills for use on a first-come-first-served basis. The park is located on U.S. 41, 17 miles south of Naples. Contact the Florida Park Service Information Center for general inquiries. For information about Collier-Seminole State Park, please call 239-394-3397.
Naples, Florida wasn't always so posh - you can learn about how Naples grew up at the Collier County Museum, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, where a 1910 logging steam locomotive, a 19th-century trading post, Seminole chickee huts and a vintage swamp buggy recall days not so long ago when this town was created by intrepid hunters and fishermen. The hunters invented the swamp buggy to get them through the Everglades' river of grass. Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mon. - Fri. and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sat. Call (239) 774-8476.
Another great sightseeing adventure a short drive from the LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort is the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve Florida State Park, on Janes Memorial Scenic Dr., just west of Copeland off State Road 29. The park is the setting for the stranger-than-fiction book 'Orchid Thief' and its spin-off movie adaptation, starring Nicholas Cage and Meryl Streep. It provides a boardwalk and bike trail into its wild setting that includes rare, wild orchids. Hours: 8 a.m. - sunset, daily. Call (239) 695-4593.
Head north on Route 29 to Immokalee, Florida where Haitian culture prevails and Lake Trafford lures fishermen and nature lovers. Airboats & Alligators at Lake Trafford Marina, 6001 Lake Trafford Rd., can provide the ride. Airboat rides are available 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. Call (239) 657-2401.
About Florida Vacation Travel - Southwest Florida Everglades
The beautiful Florida Everglades are subtropical marshlands located in the southern portion of the state of Florida in the United States. The Southest Florida counties it encompasses are parts of Monroe, Collier County where the LaPlaya Beach Resort in Naples is, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties.
You can see this natural beauty of South Florida yourself on Captain Bob's Excellent Adventure - This Everglades adventure takes you for an hour-long ride on a small airboat deep into the swamps surrounded by alligators and birds. Also included is an interactive reptile show. This half-day ecotour is educational and exciting for the entire family. For more information call 239-437-2095, or email the concierge at concierge@laplayaresort.com