Discover Attractions

Most Gulfshore attractions exist compliments of Mother Nature, who endowed the region with miles of swamps, sloughs and waterways that provide prime living conditions for subtropical flora and fauna. Unspoiled preserves, such as Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp east of Naples and Sanibel's J.N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge, afford nature lovers the chance to see wood storks, roseate spoonbills, gators and more, particularly during the temperate winter months. A number of companies offer tours with guides who can introduce visitors to the region's wild side.

When it comes to the works of man, heading the list are the historic Edison-Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers. The properties give modern-day visitors a glimpse back at the lives of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, fast friends and entrepreneurial giants, who escaped frigid northern winters at their adjoining estates in Fort Myers. Museums devoted to shells, local history, the Holocaust, world-class art and teddy bears afford visitors some indoor activities.

Collier County

Chokoloskee

Smallwood Store and Museum, 360 Mamie St., (239) 695-2989. Former trading post of the Chokoloskee Bay area. Gift shop inside museum. $2.50/adult, $2/senior, children under 12 free. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in season, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday-Tuesday during summer.

Everglades City

Museum of the Everglades, 105 W. Broadway, (239) 695-0008. Everglades history is displayed in artifacts and exhibits covering 2,000 years of regional history, from the Calusa Indians through the development of Everglades City. 10 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated.

10,000 Islands Aero-Tours, Highway 29, (239) 695-3296. Fly over the Everglades and experience a fascinating view of Everglades National Park, Big Cypress National Preserve and surrounding areas.

Wooten's Airboat and Swamp Buggy Tours, 35 miles south of Naples on U.S. 41, (239) 695-2781. Since 1953, Wooten's offers 30-minute trips and one-hour private tours through the mangrove and cypress swamps on both airboats and swamp buggies.

Immokalee

Immokalee Pioneer Museum at Roberts Ranch, (239) 658-2466. Originally built in 1914 by Robert Roberts. Depicts a typical South Florida ranch of the early 1900s. Under restoration; visits by appointment.

Lake Trafford Marina and Airboats and Alligators, 6001 Lake Trafford Road, (239) 657-2214. Airboat rides through Corkscrew swamp with alligator sightings. Fishermen love the bass, crappie and bluegill in this 1,500-acre treasure. Open from sunrise to sunset. www.laketrafford.com.

Marco Island

Marco Island Trolley, (239) 394-1600. Hop on the trolley for a narrated tour of Marco Island and nearby Goodland. Re-boarding is free. $17 for adults and $7 for children.

Naples

Aviary of Naples, 9824 Immokalee Road, (239) 353-2215. Brings you within inches of hundreds of species of exotic birds, reptiles and mammals, including wallabies, and a rare Bactrian camel. Disabled accessible. Low-key, self-guided tour on shady paths, with staff available. Air-conditioned picnic areas. Bird nursery. $8/adult, $4/child. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Thursdays and Fridays.

Big Cypress National Preserve, U.S. 41 at Ochopee, (239) 695-1201. A 729,000-acre preserve of cypress swamp, mangroves, sawgrass prairies and natural freshwater rivers. Panthers, snakes, alligators, bobcats, bears, wild boar, deer and a multitude of colorful birds can be observed. Winter swamp walks, hiking and bike trips, and campfire program are available. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Caribbean Gardens, 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, (239) 262-5409. Accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, this 52-acre garden is the only zoo in Florida where you can see all four of Africa's top predators. Also has exhibits on endangered plant and animal species, including the rare Indochinese tiger. Offers entertaining and educational activities such as live animal presentations and the Primate Expedition cruise. $15.95/adult, $9.95/child ages four-15, three and under free. 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. www.napleszoo.com.

Collier County Historical Museum, 3301 E. Tamiami Trail, (239) 774-8476. Interprets the history, archaeology and development of Florida's last frontier. In the Collier County Government Center, the museum features an exhibit hall, a five-acre Florida garden, Orchid House, restored homes, a logging locomotive and a swamp buggy. $2 donation suggested. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; open Saturday. www.colliermuseum.com.

Collier-Seminole State Park, 20200 E. Tamiami Trail, (239) 394-3397. Site of Bay City walking dredge offers interpretive programs, camping, canoeing, pontoon boat tours, nature, hiking, andmountain bike trails, picnic area, grills, fishing and concessions. Electric and water hook-up for campsites; primitive camping available. Rates are $3.25 per day per vehicle up to eight people, $8-$11 May-November, $14-$16 December-April for camping. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in summer.

The Conservancy Naples Nature Center, 1450 Merrihue Drive, includes many hands-on interactive museum exhibits, wildlife rehabilitation center and nature trails on a 14-acre site. The museum provides daily guided tours of the nature trails and exhibits. The Swamp Theater offers a multimedia presentation of swamps. Boat tours of the Gordon River are included. Admission is $7.50/adult, $2/child ages three-12, and free for children under three and members. Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Nature Center is open noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, November through April.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road, (239) 348-9151. An award-winning 2.25-mile boardwalk meanders through an ancient cypress forest. See colorful wading birds, black bears, hawks and alligators. Nature store; guided hikes available from November-April. $10/adult, $6/college student, $5/Audubon member, $4/ages six-18, children under six free. 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily Oct. 1-April 10. 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 1-Sept. 30.

The CREW Land & Water Trust manages the CREW Marsh Trail System at 4600 County Road 850 in northern Collier County, (239) 657-2253. 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. www.crewtrust.org.

Everglades Excursions, 1010 Sixth Ave. S., (800) 592-0848 or (239) 262-1914. Full- and half-day safaris to the Everglades. Departs 8 a.m. daily from Naples and Marco Island for full-day trips or half-day morning trips. Day trip includes a jungle cruise through the Ten Thousand Islands, a narrated tour of Everglades City, lunch and a visit to the Smallwood Store and Museum. Also included: an airboat tour through sawgrass prairies, an alligator show and wildlife exhibits. $59/adult half-day, $49/child half-day, $99/adult full-day, and $69/child full-day. www.everglades-excursions.com.

Everglades National Park, 40001 State Road 9336, (305) 242-7700. The third-largest park in the United States outside Alaska features visitor centers, programs and activities, trails, lodging and camping, boating and fishing. services. Several entrances lead into the park. www.nps.gov/ever.

Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve Park, 137 Coastline Drive, (239) 695-4593. A cypress and mixed-hardwood swamp that features a boardwalk through the original cypress forest. Canoe trips from October-March. Guided tours available. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Florida Sports Park, 4750 County Road 951, (239) 352-8105. Celebrating 50 years of swamp-buggy races. Also a variety of special events and concerts. Times and days vary.

King Richard's Fun Park, 6780 N. Airport-Pulling Road, (239) 598-1666. This medieval-themed amusement park comes complete with miniature golf, a go-cart track, and more. Tickets for rides, value and family packs available. An outside admission pass is available for $24.95, $15.50 for seniors. Noon to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

London Helicopters, 100 Aviation Drive S., (239) 643-4468. Tours start in Naples and journey to Fort Myers Beach, the lighthouse on Sanibel Island, and down the coast to Bonita Beach, Naples, Keewaydin Island, Marco Island and back to Naples Airport. Tours of the Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands also offered. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Tours start at $95.

Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Drive, (239) 643-7275. In the midst of developing an accredited museum on its 160-acre site just minutes from downtown Naples. Currently offers a Florida Gardens outdoor exhibit, workshops and site tours. A butterfly garden will open soon. Call for information on special programs. $7 for adults, members free. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter. www.naplesgarden.org.

Naples Horse and Carriage Rides, 1450 Whippoorwill Lane, (239) 649-1210. Leave from City Dock and tour Old Naples. Also available for weddings and special occasions. Seasonal hours.

The Naples Museum of Art, 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., (239) 597-1900. The museum at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts features 15 galleries, entrance gates by Albert Paley, spectacular works by Dale Chihuly, resource room and museum store. Call for hours. $8 adult, $4 student. www.thephil.org.

The Naples Preserve, 735 Eighth St. S., (239) 261-4290. Saved from development, this green space between U.S. 41 North and Fleischmann Boulevard features a visitor's center and an elevated boardwalk, allowing visitors to see native flora and fauna in a pristine scrub oak community. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, 10 a.m to 4 p.m.

Naples Trolley Tours, 1010 Sixth Ave. S., (800) 592-0848 or (239) 262-7300. See the best of Naples on board a fully narrated trolley tour covering more than 100 points of interest. Step off the trolley at any of its convenient stops to shop, dine or browse; then re-board. $18/adult, $8/ages four-12, children three and under free. 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. www.naplestrolley.com.

Palm Cottage, 137 12th Ave. S., (239) 261-8164. Built in 1895, this is a pristine example of tabby, a mortar made with shells. Walter N. Haldeman, publisher of the Louisville-Courier Journal, constructed this Victorian house. Suggested donation is $6. Guided tours available. May-October, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday. November-April, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.