So you've moved to Naples. You know about the beaches, but what else is there to do?
1. Naples Historical Society and Historic Palm Cottage
If you'd like to know a little bit about the history of the city you've just moved to, the Naples Historical Society is one of the best places to visit. One of the sites the society maintains is the historic Palm Cottage, which is right near the Naples Pier. Built in 1895, it's Naples' oldest house and showcases genuine 19th century architecture and exudes the charm typical of the Victorian era. The cottage's 3,500 square feet is filled with furniture, appliances, antiques, and art. Take a tour provided by one of the docents and learn about the city, its culture, and its history.
Address: 137 12th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102
2. Golisano Children’s Museum
The Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, known by the acronym “CMON,” opened in 2002.
Its mission was and is to provide an exciting, inspiring environment where children and their families play, learn, and dream together. The museum is filled with interactive and hands-on exhibits that provide a fun experience for children, encouraging them to learn through play. All museum exhibits meet Florida’s Sunshine State curriculum standards, and all are accessible for individuals with developmental, hearing, physical, social/emotional, and visual challenges.
CMON features a weekly program called Mini-Wonders Workshops, which are set up to help children become kindergarten ready. CMON Educators closely follow the guidelines set out by local school districts and child development advocates to guide in learning the essential skills that enable the transition from Pre-K or home-based learning to a formal kindergarten classroom.
Even though Mini-Wonders is focused on 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children, kids of all ages will love the Golisano Children’s Museum, because there are activities exhibits of all types to allow them to use their active children's imaginations. They can imagine, for example, what it's like to enter occupations and careers such as doctors and engineers. They can study scientific occupations by learning about nature, space and the universe through experiencing various exhibits.
But whether they’re learning about science, farming, medicine, art, zoology, or outer space, kids of all ages will be sure to have a great time.
Address: 15080 Livingston Rd, Naples, FL 34109
3. Naples Depot Museum
The Naples Depot Museum, established in 2000, rests inside a restored station once used by the Seaboard Coast Line Railway. It was the arrival of the Seaboard Coast Line Railway and its competitor the Atlantic Coast Line in the latter half of the Roaring '20s that was the catalyst for settling Naples and Collier County 40 some years after the Naples Pier put the city on the map in the first place.
Its goal is to explain how generations of Southwest Floridians used technology and transportation to conquer the vast and seemingly impenetrable frontier that was the Everglades, out of which Naples and Collier County were carved.
Exhibits include Seminole dugout canoes, a mule wagon, antique swamp buggies, restored rail cars and interactive exhibits which tell the story of how trade and travel transformed Naples from a sleepy village of 300 into today’s glittering Gulf Coast resort. There’s also a lovely selection of restored vehicles, including an antique swamp buggy and a genuine 1950s Chevrolet.
The museum also hosts another activity , the Naples Train Museum. This privately operated museum features an interactive model layout and an outdoor train ride for children – and adults below the height limit. The Naples Depot Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is conveniently located in downtown Naples.
Address: 1051 5th Ave S, Naples, FL 34102
4. The Revs Institute for Automotive Research & Historical Study
The Revs Institute is an auto museum, but it's more than just that. It's a place to view the evolution of society through the lens of the evolution of the automobile. The three-floor building in which the museum is located is dedicated to showcasing 112 iconic and historically-significant automobiles that date as far back as 1896 with some models as recent as 1995.
There are four different areas of the Revs Institute for Automotive Research as shown in the diagram below.
Revs Institute is open from 10:00 to 4:00 Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Because visitors should plan for 1.5 – 2 hours to experience each gallery in its entirety, the last available appointment each day is at 2:00 pm. Admission is $20, and if you're an automobile enthusiast, the Revs Institute is a must see for Naples residents and visitors.
Address: 2500 Horseshoe Dr S, Naples, FL 34104
5. Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
The Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is located just north of Marco Island
and stretches across 110,000 acres of pristine mangrove forest, uplands and protected waters, encompassing 40% of Collier County coastline. The Reserve is committed to preservation through research, education, and land protection as one of the last untouched mangrove estuaries, protected and unspoiled by human activity.
70,000 of the 110,000 acres is open water, with the remaining 40,000 acres comprising marine and estuary habitats such as hammocks, marshes, and mangroves. The Reserve is home to approximately 150 different bird species, including many endangered ones as well as other animal species native to Southwest Florida, the Everglades, and its estuaries. Its estuaries are formed where local rivers and streams meet the ocean, creating a brackish environment with wildlife unique to that environment.
Explore the unique ecosystem of Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve via boat and daily kayak tours that offer an up-close and personal experience in nature. Private tours are available upon request.
Address: Rookery Bay, 300 Tower Rd, Naples, FL 34113
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