We continued our day trip to Naples, Florida with a trip to the Naples Botanical Garden. The easy 45-minute drive from Fort Myers Beach made it a good destination and we had such a fun time that we can’t wait to go back. This large garden consists of 170 acres open to the public daily. Often on vacation we spend too much time running around from attraction to attraction that we don’t stop to take a breath, looks around at the beauty in nature, and just enjoy being in the moment. The Naples Botanical Garden makes you literally ‘stop and smell the roses.’ At first I wondered if my kids might lose interest quickly, but they loved it and could have stayed longer if we had the time. There is something for everyone here and it would be a great trip to take with multi-generations. Here are a few of our favorite spots in the garden:
The Vicky C and David Byron Smith Children’s Garden
My girls loved this vibrant part of the garden and we even went back to it after we saw the rest of the gardens. They were expecting to walk around a garden and not be able to touch anything or go off the path but they were so surprised that touching and play is encouraged in this section. Their favorite spot in this section was the tree house.
They loved climbing in it and going across the wooden bridge.
We walked through the butterfly house and saw many colorful butterflies flying around us in a lovely enclosure. One even landed on my daughter’s back!
There were lots of colorful flowers, which is such a treat since just days earlier we were freezing in New Hampshire.
They even got to water the flowers.
There are so many places that will keep them busy throughout the Children’s Garden.
If your kids need help exploring the garden, they can play a Bingo game that will lead them around the garden making observations about what they see.
Your kids will be able to play for so long, so you may need a spot to sit down and relax for a while. Luckily, the garden has many comfortable spots to hang out.
The Marcia and L. Bates Lea Asian Garden
This was my favorite section of the gardens. This section reflects the cultural, spiritual, and botanical diversity of Southeast Asia. We felt like we were in another world as we walked through the bamboo and banyan trees, and looked at the groves. There is a Japanese temple ruin.
and we loved the Thai pavilion in the lotus pool.
My girls really got into the mood. Especially my older daughter, who is obsessed with her yoga class at home! Namaste…
The LaGrippe Orchid Garden
I am fascinated by this part of the garden because I have never managed to keep an orchid alive. There were colorful orchid species from all over the world and I wish I could show you what they smelled like. It was intoxicating!
The Caribbean Garden
The Caribbean Garden section was vibrant and made us feel like we were on a tropical garden. There were vibrant colors and serene places to rest.
Steel drums added more hands-on experiences for the kids.
There was also this beautiful pergola draped with colorful purple flowers.
Being a dog-lover, it warms my heart to see that the Naples Botanical Garden has Dog in the Garden Walk Days. It’s the perfect location to bring your furry little friend out to socialize with other dogs and spend the day with the family. Dog hours are Sundays 9-11:30am, Tuesdays 8-11am, and Thursdays 3-5pm.
Tips for Planning Your Day:
-Sunscreen or a hat is recommended.
-Although there are water fountains placed throughout the garden, you may want to bring some bottled waters.
-If you are there for a concert at night, bring your own seating.
Admission: $14.95 Adults $9.95 Children 4-14
Hours: 9am-5pm daily, but 8am-5pm on Tuesdays
Berger Shop in the Garden open 10am-5pm daily
Fogg Café open 9am-5pm daily
Address: 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, FL 34112
Phone Number: (239) 643-7275 (make sure this is the main number and not a fax)
Website: www.naplesgarden.org
A warm thank you to the Naples Botanical Garden for having us as guests. As always, all experiences and opinions are 100% my own.
