Naples All-Ages Fun: 5 Things to Do With Kids in Naples

The city of Naples, Florida, is part of the Paradise Coast with 80 miles of beaches, sprawling parks, scenic places for fishing, and cultural attractions for all ages. For kids, there is a huge selection of fun things to do, from outdoor activities in the sun to exploring local sites and museums. Read below to check out a few of the most popular things to do with kids in Naples.

Golisano Children's Museum

Discover the Golisano Children's Museum for interactive and immersive exhibits designed to engage, entertain, and educate. The children's museum, known as CMON, has nearly 40,000 square feet of exhibits that include exploration of art, the beach, the Everglades, and more. Kids can problem-solve in the Inventioneer's Lab, explore the cosmos in the Race to Space, and step into the World Cafe to learn about cultures and foods from across the globe.

When preparing to visit the Golisano Children's Museum of Naples, plan to spend at least half a day enjoying the exhibits and activities. Outside food isn't allowed, but snacks are available in the Museum Shop. Be sure to leave time to enjoy the park, walk the Naples trails, and have fun at the Can U Dig It Playground.

Naples Zoo

The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is adjacent to the Gordon River Greenway Park with parking off Goodlette-Frank Road. The zoo sits within the city's historic tropical garden, which was originally founded in 1919. When the animal exhibits were introduced 50 years later, special attention was given to conserving plant life while creating a place where visitors could come and see magnificent mammals, reptiles, and birds.

The zoo features favorite animals like lions, tigers, bears, zebras, alligators, and three different types of tortoises. Visitors have opportunities to feed a giraffe, meet an anteater, and enjoy the Seated Safari Show. There is much to see and do for kids, from exploring the Backyard Wildlife Habitat to seeing the alligators fed and taking the Primate Expedition Cruise.

When school is out throughout the year, the zoo offers Camp WILD for children ages five to ten. Camp WILD is a place where kids can look behind the scenes at the zoo, meet new animals, and have fun.

Sun-N-Fun Lagoon

The beaches of Naples, Florida, are beautiful, but for a laugh-out-loud, fun-in-the-sun day, plan a visit to the Sun-N-Fun Lagoon. It's the only water park in Collier County and a must-do for kids of all ages. The Sun-N-Fun Lagoon sits off Livingston Road in the North Collier County Regional Park, just south of the Golisano Children's Museum.

The water park has five slides, a lazy river with two circular paths, a lap pool, and the Family Falls, a relaxing four-foot deep pool area located away from the slides. Turtle Cove is for kids ages five to twelve and is one of the most popular attractions in the park, while Tadpole Pool is for ages six and younger.

Coral Cay Adventure Golf

Naples is known as the "Golf Capital of the World," with nearly 90 18-hole golf courses within the city. While the adults may be content to play a round at the Tiburon Golf Club or the Lely Resort Golf and Country Club, the kids may appreciate a mini-golf experience. Coral Cay Adventure Golf can be found minutes from Naples Bay and the Olde Naples neighborhood with its condos, business district, boutiques, and restaurants.

Coral Cay Adventure Golf has two 18-hole courses: the Cave Course and the Falls Course. It's open daily, weather permitting, from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. The sprawling mini-golf complex offers scenic holes with bridges, reefs, water features, caves, and harbor views.

The Coral Cay Adventure Golf center is the only mini-golf site in Naples, but other courses are nearby in Marco Island and Bonita Springs.

Naples Botanical Garden

One of the best parks in Naples, the Naples Botanical Garden is located in the southern region of the city near the golf course homes of the Windstar community on Naples Bay. The lush gardens span 170 acres and include three lakes, walking trails, and The Preserve, 90 acres of ecosystems plus a meandering paved path, sandy trails, and the Sönne Family Ghost Orchid Boardwalk.

Bring the kids out to explore the many different gardens, from the Brazilian with more than 50 species of plants to the Caribbean with the Ware Palm Collection and the Asian Garden with its winding paths, flowering trees, ornamental plants, and stunning water features.

The Naples Botanical Garden is the youngest garden to receive the Award for Garden Excellence from the American Public Gardens Association.

Keep Active and Have Fun in Naples

The Gulf Coast community of Naples is known for its white-sand beaches, but there's a wide array of things to do in Naples for all ages, especially kids. The plethora of outdoor activities in Naples is ideal for kids to enjoy running around and having fun. Explore the botanical gardens, spend the day at the zoo or water park, discover new things at the children's museum, and don't miss out on a round of mini-golf. Naples has it all.