The Best Kids Activities

An open-air catamaran is about the easiest boat day there is with kids: room to move, shade, and wide decks for spotting dolphins. Pick a daytime sightseeing cruise, a shelling trip to a quiet barrier-island beach, or a sunset sail, and let the Gulf do the entertaining.

A restored Old Florida garden in Bonita Springs, first opened in 1936, where kids walk shaded paths past flamingos, alligators, parrots and tortoises, most of them rescued animals. It's small, calm and walkable: a gentle half-day for younger children.

Professional-standard turf fields that host youth soccer, lacrosse and football tournaments year-round, plus food, drink and space to run around between games. Worth a look if your family travels for sports, or just wants to watch a match.

Two-hour guided paddles made for families with kids 4 and older. Every trip starts with a lesson, then the guides lead stand-up paddleboards and two-person kayaks around Naples or Marco Island, looking for dolphins, manatees and coastal birds along the way.

A narrated hop-on, hop-off trolley with 17 stops across Naples' beaches, historic sites and shopping districts. Kids like riding it; parents like that nobody has to park, and that you can hop off wherever the day takes you.

A 1920s clam and oyster plant turned waterfront market, with tin-roofed shops for souvenirs, casual seafood with river views, and the boats coming and going on Naples Bay. Many of the area's boat tours leave from here, so it pairs well with a cruise.

A 15-acre riverside park near downtown with a splash pad, playgrounds and picnic shelters, a 1.3-mile loop trail and a bridge onto the Gordon River Greenway. Free to enter, with restrooms: the go-to playground stop between beach days.

A family-owned ice cream parlor making small-batch ice cream since 1979, with classic and creative flavors, sundaes, shakes and fresh waffle cones. The reward at the end of a beach day.

A 2.25-mile boardwalk through North America's largest remaining old-growth bald cypress forest, with trees more than 500 years old. Kids watch for alligators, otters, deer and wading birds without ever leaving the boardwalk, which also takes strollers.

The most kid-ready beach park in Naples: a playground steps from the sand, volleyball courts, picnic tables and gazebos, a snack bar and restrooms. Beach access mats make it easy with strollers and wheelchairs.

An indoor sports arcade where kids test their skills at golf, baseball, football, basketball and hockey with real equipment and score tracking. A good rainy-day pick for competitive families.

A 213-acre county park with a modern playground, a 2.5-mile walking trail, sports fields and the Sun-N-Fun Lagoon water park. Lots of space for kids to burn off energy.

Safari-themed mini golf in Bonita Springs, with waterfalls, caves and interactive features that keep younger players interested through all 18 holes.

Ben & Jerry's at Venetian Village serves the classic flavors, plus sorbets, sundaes and shakes, on the waterfront. Take your cones for a stroll along the bay.

A comfortable cinema at the Pavilion with reclining seats, the latest family films and plenty of snacks. Air-conditioned shelter from a summer storm.

A ping pong lounge with professional-grade tables, ready for a family tournament. Good fun for older kids and teens on a hot or rainy afternoon.

A family-owned farm where kids pick their own strawberries and tomatoes in season, walk the sunflower fields and join festive events through the year. Check what's in season before you go.