Attractions

FORT MYERS BEACH

Matanzas Pass Wilderness Preserve, 161 Bay Road, offers 42 acres of unspoiled wilderness. Dedicated in January 1979 as a sanctuary for native plants and animals, and as a learning resource for the Lee County community. Visitors have enjoyed its beauty since. Open seven days a week from dawn to dusk. (941) 461-7400.

Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Museum, 718 Fisherman's Wharf, features touch tanks, boat tours and a shark tank. (941) 765-8101.

GASPARILLA ISLAND

Boca Grande Lighthouse is a historic and picturesque structure on the beach, surrounded by parkland. (941) 964-0375.

NAPLES

Aviary of Naples, 9824 Immokalee Road, brings you within inches of hundreds of species of exotic birds, reptiles and mammals, including wallabies, coatimundis and a rare Bactrian camel calf. Compact, disabled accessible. Low-key, self-guided tour on shady paths, with helpful staff available for questions. Picnic areas. Bird nursery. $8/adults, $4/child. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Thursdays and Fridays. (941) 353-2215.

Big Cypress National Preserve, U.S. 41 at Ochopee, is a 729,000-acre preserve consisting of cypress swamp, exotic mangroves, sawgrass prairies and natural freshwater rivers. Panthers, snakes, alligators, bobcats, bears, wild boar, deer and birds can be observed. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (941) 695-2000.

Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, is the place for great family fun. The 52-acre garden exhibits endangered plant and animal species from tigers to zebras along natural paths. More than a walk-through zoo, the garden offers entertaining and educational activities throughout the day including live animal and multimedia Safari Canyon presentations, Scales and Tails show, Meet the Keeper series, Alligator Bay feeding, ZooKey audio tours and Primate Expedition cruise. $14.95/ adults, $9.95/ages 4-15, free/3 and under. 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (941) 262-5409. www.napleszoo.com.

Collier County Historical Museum, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, preserves and interprets the history, archaeology and development of Florida's "last frontier." Located in the Collier County Govern-ment Center, the museum features a permanent exhibit hall, a five-acre historical park featuring a native Florida garden, Carolyn Craighead Orchid House, a Victorian gazebo, restored homes, a logging locomotive and a swamp buggy. $2 donation suggested. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. (941) 774-8476. museum@colliergov.net.

Collier-Seminole State Park, 20200 E. Tamiami Trail, site of Bay City walking dredge, offers interpretive programs in season, camping, canoeing, pontoon boat tours, nature trail, hiking trail, mountain bike trail, picnic area, grills, fishing and concessions. $3.25 per day per vehicle up to eight people, $8-$11 May-November, $14-$16 December-April for camping. 8 a.m. to sunset. (941) 394-3397.

The Conservancy Briggs Nature Center, located in Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve at 401 Shell Island Road, features an interpretive center, a half-mile boardwalk through rare plant communities and a butterfly garden. Guided canoe trips and pontoon cruises are offered frequently, as are field trips, lectures and camps. Canoe and kayak rentals available. Admission is $3, $1/children 3-12, free for Conservancy members. For both Naples and Briggs conservancies, admission is $6, $2 for children and free to Conservancy members (good for admission to both centers if used within seven days). 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sun- day (January-March). (941) 775-8569. naturecenters@conservancy.org.

The Conservancy Naples Nature Center Museum, 1450 Merrihue Drive, includes The Conservancy Museum of Natural History, Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and short nature trails featuring a broad variety of native Florida trees and plants on a 14-acre site. The museum provides hands-on daily guided tours of the nature trails. Boat tours of the Gordon River are offered. Admission charge, good for both Naples and Briggs, is $6, $2/ages 3-12, free to Conservancy members (good for admission to both centers if used within seven days). 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday (January-March). (941) 262-0304. naturecenters@conservancy.org.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road, features an award-winning 2.25-mile boardwalk that meanders through an ancient cypress forest. See colorful wading birds, black bears, hawks and alligators. Also see Florida's first "living machine" lavatory and a fully stocked nature store. $8/adults, $5.50/college students, $5/Audubon members, $3.50/ages 6-18, free/children under 6. 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. (941) 348-9151.

The Crew Land & Water Trust manages the Crew Marsh Trail System located on County Road 850 in northern Collier County. The trail system consists of five miles of natural hiking trails through pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks and along the 5,000-acre Corkscrew Marsh. A primitive campsite is also available. Trails are open sunrise to sunset seven days a week. No admission fee. (941) 332-7771. www.crewtrust.org.

Everglades Excursions, 1010 Sixth Ave. S., offers full- and half-day safaris to the Everglades. Departs daily from Naples and Marco Island at 8:30 a.m. Day trip includes a cruise through Ten Thousand Islands, a narrated tour of Everglades City, "Taste of the Everglades" luncheon and a visit to the Smallwood Museum. Also included: an airboat tour, an alligator show, wildlife exhibits and much more. Admission prices vary. (800) 592-0848 or (941) 262-1914. www.evergladesexcursions.com.

Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, is the third largest park in the United States, outside Alaska. It features visitor centers, programs and activities, trails, lodging and camping facilities, boating, fishing, food and bookstores. There are several entrances to the park, so call or visit the Web page for more information. To get a real feel for what the park offers, plan on staying at least one full day. (305) 242-7700. www.nps.gov/ever.

Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, 137 Coastline Drive, is a cypress mixed hardwood swamp that features a boardwalk through the original cypress forest. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Sunday. (941) 695-4593. fssp@mindspring.com.

Florida Sports Park, 4750 County Road 951. Celebrating 50 years of swamp buggy races. Also a variety of special events and concerts. Times and days vary. (941) 352-8105.

Lake Trafford Marina Inc. and Airboat Adventure, 6001 Lake Trafford Road, features airboat rides through Corkscrew Swamp and guarantees several alligator sightings. Fishermen love the bass, crappie and bluegill in this 1,500-acre treasure nestled in Collier County. Open sunrise to sunset. (941) 657-2401. www.laketrafford.com.

London Helicopters Inc., 100 Aviation Drive S., offers tours that start in Naples and journey to Fort Myers Beach, the lighthouse on Sanibel Island, and down the coast to Bonita Beach, Naples Beach, Keewaydin Island, Marco Island and back to Naples Airport. Tours are also offered of the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands. Get a bird's-eye view of local wildlife, including manatees and dolphins. (941) 643-4468.

Naples Horse and Carriage Rides, 1450 Whippoorwill Lane, leave from the City Dock and tour through Old Naples. Also available for weddings and special occasions. Seasonal hours. (941) 649-1210.

Naples Trolley Tours, 1010 Sixth Ave. S. See the best of Naples on board a fully narrated trolley tour covering more than 100 points of interest. Expert guides turn back the pages of history to Naples' days when Ponce de Leon, the Calusa Indians and Gasparilla the pirate were an exciting part of the area. Deboard the trolley at any of its convenient stops to shop, dine, or browse; then re-board and continue with the tour. A boarding pass allows passengers to get off as many times as they like to enjoy the shopping and sightseeing. $16/adults, $7/ages 3-12, free/children under 3. 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. (800) 592-0848 or (941) 262-7300. www.naplestrolley.com.

Nautilus Boat Tours, 179 S. Bay Drive. Cruise the calm backwaters to discover the fantastic eco-nature and sunsets while catching sight of dolphins, manatees and birds. Lunch cruises, custom-designed private and corporate parties and weddings are available. Adult admission is $20. AAA, military, group and student discounts are offered. Ask about annual yearly memberships. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (941) 597-4408. nautilusbt@aol.com.

Palm Cottage, 137 12th Ave. S., built in 1895, is a pristine example of tabby, a mortar made with shells. Walter N. Haldeman, publisher of the Louisville-Courier Journal, constructed this Victorian house. It became the winter residence of Haldeman's foremost editor, Henry Watterson, who won the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1917. Suggested donation is $5. Guided tours available. Call for times. (941) 261-8164.

Seminole Indian Casino, 506 S. First St., hosts around-the-clock exciting game action. High-stakes bingo, live action poker and low- and high-paying game machines. Full-service restaurant with live entertainment nightly. Free transportation from six convenient shuttle locations. (800) 218-0007.

Ted Smallwood's Store, 360 Mamie St. Historical site of Chokoloskee Bay area. Tigertail gift shop. $2.50/adults, $2/seniors, free/12 and under. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. (941) 695-2989.

Teddy Bear Museum of Naples, 2511 Pine Ridge Road. Bears in all shapes and sizes are to be found in this unique museum in every conceivable medium imaginable: fabric, crystal, wood, marble and bronze. The collection consists of more than 5,000 items. $8/adults, $6/seniors, $3/children. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. (941) 598-2711.