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The Western Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands: A subtropical wonderland.
Of course, there's no better place to begin your journey than from Florida's Paradise Coast. Whether your goal is bird watching, fishing, hiking or getting out on the water, this area is home to some of civilization's last outposts as you embark on your adventure into the most beautiful portion of the vast Everglades, the western Everglades and Ten Thousand Islands. A great place to start if you're visiting later this spring is the new Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center on Tamiami Trail, celebrating its grand opening on March 20.
Dolphins and manatees and fish, oh my!
Just as there are many fish in the sea, there is more than one way to see them. Whether you're an experienced paddler who prefers to explore on your own, a novice looking for a well-planned adventure, or an amateur seeking a motorized tour, you'll find just what you want along the Paradise Coast.
Calling all explorers.
The Dolphin Explorer turns ordinary tourists into citizen scientists on a mission to uncover and count the area's many dolphins. These three-hour expeditions give you ample opportunity to view, study and photograph the many bottlenose dolphins that have been named and categorized. Spot a new one, and you get to name it! Trips leave twice daily from Marco River Marina on Marco Island.
By land, by air, by sea.
You'll enjoy fantastic sightseeing from Cruise Naples aboard its Double Sunshine double decker boat, as well as many fishing charters and JetSki rentals and tours to choose from, all departing from the convenient Naples Waterfront location at Tin City. Cruise Naples will also work with you to design your perfect custom on-the-water experience, whether it is just a couple or an entire group. Within minutes of leaving the dock you're likely to spot dolphin, bald eagle, osprey, and many more species of bird and wildlife.
Take flight or climb onboard for an adventure into the pristine wilderness of the Ten Thousand Islands. The "Island Breeze" is a US Coast Guard inspected pontoon boat that can accommodate up to 30 passengers for dolphin and manatee watching, bird watching, shelling and sightseeing. Or, enjoy the peace and quiet of a 42-foot Catalina sailboat where the only sounds are the sea, the breeze and the occasional call of a bird. And there's no better view of the Everglades, Ten Thousand Islands and the Gulf of Mexico than the one you'll enjoy aboard an R-44 helicopter. All are courtesy of Sand, Sun and Sea.
You can also make your own way via canoe or kayak with excursions for paddlers of any skill level along with the many great members of the Paradise Coast Paddlers Club of Southwest Florida. Many area paddling explorations include the Paradise Coast Blueway, Collier County's GPS-marked Paddling Trail system through cypress, mangroves and out to the Gulf of Mexico in a series of six day-trip routes or one long trail route. If you're looking for a guided paddling adventure, check out the many tours offered from Naples through the Ten Thousand Islands by Saltwater Sports.
On April 11, make sure you paddle your way to the 5th Annual Paradise Coast Kayak Festival at the beach behind the Capri Fish House. This free admission event includes guided tours, fishing and camping demos, instruction and a short closed-circuit race. Rental kayaks are available.
This one's for the birds.
Bring your flock to enjoy our flocks along the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge Marsh Trail. A new trailhead and boardwalk provide easy access to the 1.1-mile Marsh Trail and surrounding wetlands. From the trailhead, you can hike, view and photograph wildlife, fish and kayak or canoe.
The new Marsh Trail parking lot is located on U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail), about 2.8 miles east of Collier-Seminole State Park and County Road 92. If traveling from the east, the facility is 2.8 miles west of the Port of the Islands community.
Everglades Area Tours provides motorboat assisted kayak eco tours, kayak camping excursions and kayak fishing trips from its home base at JT' Island Cafe and Gallery on Chokoloskee; and now, they also offer power boat guided birding and eco tours from Calusa Island marina on Goodland near Marco Island, with five trips daily.
Take a walk on the wild side.
There's no better way to get close to nature than through a variety of guided swamp walks in the Big Cypress National Preserve and Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park and free, guided nature walks from the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. These group tours are conducted by trained volunteers who take walkers through unique natural habitats. They're a great way to learn about the area's rare native plants, animals, shells, mangroves and wading birds. During the annual Florida Panther Week in March, rangers from the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, Big Cypress National Preserve and more conduct free guided hikes, tours and even a bike trip through panther territory. Reservations are required, so click on the link below to check out options. You're sure to come away with lots of interpretive information about the secretive life of these severely endangered cats.
Here's a sampling of nature-themed events planned for spring:
Free Nature Trail Walks
Clam Pass Beach Park
Now through April 30
Save the Panther Day at the Naples Zoo
March 6
Florida Panther Week
March 13-20
Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center Grand Opening
March 20
Sea Turtle Homecoming Festival
City of Naples
March 20
Beginning Birder's Workshop
(admission $20/person)
Friends of Rookery Bay
April 6
5th Annual Paradise Coast Kayak Festival
April 11
For a complete list of area attractions, click here.
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