Best car museum to wild Florida: 5 bucket list things to do this season in Collier County
A relative or friend tells you they're heading down to Southwest Florida for a few days.
One of the first things you'll think about is where should you take them to eat, where to visit and what to do? To help out, here's a bucket list of places to consider. And these are fine to stop by anytime but especially during season (i.e. the places outdoors, when the heat and bugs are much more tolerable).
5. Tin City a slice of Old Florida
Long before Naples was a popular tourist destination, it was a fishing town and the hub for that industry was where Tin City now sits. The tin-roofed shopping village sends visitors back to those simpler times, with unique stores where you can buy everything from a round candle featuring your favorite sports team to homemade soap. More on Facebook or Instagram.
4. Naples Botanical Garden brings beauty to light
Sitting on 170 acres, this botanical garden founded three decades ago in East Naples offers a respite from hectic days. The Garden is actually made up of smaller, separate gardens that represent various natural habitats and ecosystems. And Naples Botanical Garden features exhibits throughout the year. More at 239-643-7275 or naplesgarden.org.
3. Revs Institute is auto heaven in Naples
This place is a car lover's heaven. And Auto Trader recently named it the No. 5 best auto museum in the world and No. 1 in Florida. The Revs Institute may not look like much on the outside, a gray concrete bunker, but it's the inside that counts. The collection is not only impressive for its cars but how they represent automotive history. There's the French 1896 Panhard et Levassor Wagonette; the 1934 Chrysler Airflow Imperial CV‑8 Coupe, the first full-size U.S. production car to incorporate streamling in its design to minimize air resistance; and the 1974 powder blue Jorgensen Eagle 7400 USAC that won the 1975 Indianapolis 500. Revs is among the top auto museums in the U.S. Take a break from the busy Southwest Florida traffic for a walk down memory lane. Reservations required. revsinstitute.org or 239-687-7387
2. Naples Zoo offers animals close up
I've been to zoos from San Diego to my native Detroit. What I love about the Naples Zoo is the animals are close up, right there in front of you. It's also the perfect size, offering a morning or afternoon well spent. And if you're tired of walking, take the boat cruise among islands home to various primates. For express entry, buys tickets online. Zoo hours are 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with last timed entry at 3:30 p.m. napleszoo.org or 239-262-5409
1. Wild Florida: Rookery Bay, Fakahatchee, Corkscrew
To many, Florida is beaches, pink flamingoes and Disney World. But the Sunshine State is so much more, an exotic place that must have been really wild (literally) hundreds of years ago. So you'll need to take visitors to at least one of these natural treasures: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Fakahatchee Strand State Park and Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center.
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road, has a 2.5-mile boardwalk to see nature up close and personal. More at corkscrew.audubon.org or 239-348-9151.
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, 300 Tower Road, offers boat tours, kayaking and more. The environmental center has been closed for renovations since late October 2023. rookerybay.org or 239-530-5972.
Fakahatchee Strand in Copeland, about an hour drive from downtown Naples, is worth the trip. The largest state park in Florida at 120 square miles, it offers a unique look at wild Florida and the winter is the best time to go, with wonderful weather and fewer bugs. orchidswamp.org or 239-695-1023
Dave Osborn is the regional features editor of the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram and Threads @lacrossewriter and on Twitter @NDN_dosborn.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: What are 5 best things to see in Naples: Here's our bucket list
