Day trips from Naples

The two walkable streets of old Naples, lined with restaurants, boutiques and ice cream. Go for an early dinner and a stroll. The beach at the end of 12th Avenue South is a few blocks from Third Street; the pier itself is closed for rebuilding until at least mid-2027.

The Gulf Coast gateway to Everglades National Park. The new Marjory Stoneman Douglas Visitor Center opened in December 2025, replacing the one Hurricane Irma destroyed in 2017. It's open daily 9 am–5 pm.

• Ten Thousand Islands boat tour: a 90-minute ride through mangrove islands with the park's concessioner, Everglades National Park Adventures. Confirm the departure point when you book.
• Airboats: these run on private land outside the park. Several operators are based in Everglades City.
• Entrance fee: the park charges $35 per private vehicle for 7 days. Check whether it applies to your tour.

Make it a full day with lunch in Everglades City, or add a stop at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on the way back.

A resort island with wide beaches. Tigertail Beach and South Marco Beach have Collier County lots ($10 a day for non-residents, paid by phone). Note that Residents' Beach is for members only (renters of a month or more), so short-stay visitors should use the county lots.

Famous for shelling and the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The causeway toll is collected electronically, with no cash. Ding Darling's Wildlife Drive is open 7 am–7 pm and closed on Fridays, and costs $10 per vehicle. Sanibel is still recovering from Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, so check that beach parks and lots are open before you drive up.