A new school year will be here before you know it and with it comes opportunities to start fresh on every front. However, before you dive into hectic school, work, and life schedules once again, consider treating yourself and your family to a back-to-school vacation to sunny Naples, Florida. This Gulf Coast destination is a fan-favorite stop on the map for travelers year-round, but there’s something extra refreshing about a trip this way before the school year gets into full swing. Whether you’re a family with a shared passion for time on the sand, you can’t wait to explore local museums or you have hearts for nature, you’ll find reasons to linger and enjoy quality time together in Naples this year.
Savor Sunny Afternoons on Vanderbilt Beach
If nothing sounds more revitalizing for your back-to-school getaway than time with your toes dug into the sand, you’ll find Naples is packed with shorelines to explore. While you’ll have plenty of options to choose from, Vanderbilt Beach often tops traveler lists with good reason. Located at 100 Vanderbilt Beach Road, this family-friendly beach park is open from 8:00 am until sunset daily and provides guests with access to 5-acres of outdoor recreation opportunities for just a $10 parking fee. It’s a dog-free beach that’s set up with convenient foot showers and restrooms on-site as well as bike racks and a life jacket loaner program if you have plans to get out on the water. Beach wheelchairs can be rented here as well so everyone in your traveling crew can enjoy the day with ease. You’ll love that Vanderbilt Beach Park is spacious, but you’ll still want to arrive early so you can get your beach chair in a prime location for great bird watching and sandcastle building too.
Explore the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples
For back-to-school travelers who are looking to add stops to the itinerary that are equal parts engaging and educational, you can warm up your little one’s thinking mind with an afternoon at the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. This incredible hands-on learning center is located at 15080 Livingston Road in the North Collier County Regional Park and is open to the public Thursday through Tuesday from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. The Golisano Children’s Museum is a non-profit organization that’s been entertaining and educating families since opening in 2002. In total, the museum has over 30,000 square feet of interactive learning space for guests to enjoy across two levels. Many of the exhibits on-site have been developed by child psychology experts to successfully foster curiosity, empathy, self-esteem, and creativity throughout a visit. General admission is $25 to explore everything the museum has to offer. Some of the many exhibits to look forward to include an area focused on jobs related to agriculture, a Mother Nature’s House interactive zone with a focus on the changing seasons, a family resource library, a fire rescue exhibit, a replica produce market and an Everglades space where little ones can learn more about Florida’s lush landscapes and incredible creatures.
Sign up For a Family Fun Run for a Good Cause
Travelers who are planning their back-to-school vacation to Naples to align with free time over Labor Day will want to consider signing up for the Fostering Success Labor Day 5K while they’re in town. If your family enjoys friendly competition for a good cause, this is an event you won’t want to leave off the list. The race will be hosted at Baker Park starting at 7:30 am on September 2, 2024. Make your way to 50 Riverside Circle for a 5K run or walk where your registration fee supports education and enrichment activities for children in Naples that are a part of the foster care system. The race is open to seasoned runners and beginners alike with early bird prices for sign-ups beginning at $35 for adults and $15 for students. When you register, you’ll receive a race packet and a t-shirt. If you’re running with little ones in tow, there’s a 1K option that doesn’t require any sign-up at all.
Immerse Yourself in Nature at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
When you’re looking to connect with nature during your back-to-school adventure, time spent at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary might just end up being the highlight of your getaway. Located at 375 Sanctuary Road W. in Naples, this protected and pristine destination offers guests access to the heart of the Everglades ecosystem. For more than 70 years, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has been a haven for fragile habitats and wildlife species as well as a place that fosters an appreciation for the great outdoors in its visitors. You won’t want to miss out on strolling along the 2.25-mile boardwalk that provides you with a pathway right through rugged old-growth bald cypress forest that’s considered the largest in all of North America. You’ll want to have your binoculars in hand for this family outing as the sanctuary is home to everything from deer and red-bellied turtles to otters and alligators as well. There’s also a wide variety of bird species that inhabit the area with designated gardens in place to check out as well. With more than 13,000 acres available to be explored at the sanctuary, you won’t have any trouble finding something that fascinates everyone in your traveling crew here.
Book Your Trip to Naples Today
When travel plans bring you to Naples, the team at Naples Vacation Properties is ready to help you get settled into a home-away-from-home that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations at every turn too. Reach out today to learn more about our inviting portfolio of property options available and to begin turning plans into a travel reality soon!
