- An educated guide leads adventurers on an
Everglades Day Safari Eco-Tour starting as early
as 7:45 a.m. daily from Sanibel Island, Fort Myers
Beach and Naples. This all-day adventure includes
a riverboat ride into the mangrove estuaries,
a nature walk in a Cypress swamp and a complete
lunch with native appetizers. Also, enjoy an airboat
ride into the sawgrass prairie and a search for
birds, alligators, snakes and butterflies. $99.95,
adults; $89.95, seniors 60 years and older; $79.95,
children. Reservations requested. 472-1559 or
(800) 472-3069.
- (within walking distance of our home) Daily:
8 a.m. to sunset, 365 acres of saltwater wetlands,
4500-foot boardwalk and nature trails, 240 ft.
observation pier on the river, interpretive center,
restrooms, picnic tables. Weekend kayak rentals
October-May. Free admission. At the end of S.E.
23rd Terrace, just north of Midpoint Memorial
Bridge, Cape Coral. 549-4606.
Spend a day traveling by kayak with a professional
naturalist through back bays, aquatic preserves,
wildlife refuges, creeks, bayous, rivers and mangrove
forests to see otters, osprey, bald eagles, alligators,
manatee and more. Pick-up and delivery at convenient
locations. $50 a person full day (shorter tours
available). Reservations required. 694-5513 or
visit their website.
Daily: 8 a.m.-sundown, canoe, kayak, bicycle
and fishing rod rentals, guided kayak tours through
Estero Bay and to Mound Key. Daily: 9 a.m.-noon,
morning fishing trip and boat tour on the Estero
Explorer; 1-2 p.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m., backbay
ecology trips. First Friday of the month: 10 a.m.,
3-hour bicycle tour of Black Island. Reservations
required. 8700 Estero Blvd., between Fort Myers
Beach and Bonita Beach. 765-1880.
Manatee Park
Visitor Center with gift shop and kayak rentals
open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free guided walk through the native plant habitats
every Saturday at 9 a.m. Kayak clinics every 2nd
Saturday and gardening workshops every 4th Saturday
of the month. Space limited; register/info: 432-2038.
Canoe launch and fishing pier on the Orange River,
picnic shelters, butterfly garden, and more. Parking
75 cents an hour, $3 maximum a day. No pets. State
Road 80, 1 1/2 miles east of Interstate 75 (exit
No. 141, old No. 25), Fort Myers. Information
update line: 694-3537.
- Features marine exhibits, such as a touch tank
and aquariums. Hours are 10 a.m. -4 p.m. Wednesday
through Friday and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. Free
admission; donations accepted. Volunteers welcome.
Three-hour tours of commercial fishing fleets
will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesdays. Reservations
required. Tour donation is $10 for adults, children
free if accompanied by an adult. 718 Fisherman's
Wharf, Fort Myers Beach, under the north side
of Matanzas Pass Bridge. Call 765-8101.
- Nature center and guided beach and trail walks.
Mondays-Fridays, Oct. 1-Nov. 15: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.;
Mondays-Saturdays, Nov. 15-April 15: 8:30 a.m.-4
p.m.; Monday-Saturday, April 15-June 1: 8:30-4
p.m.; Mondays-Fridays, June 1-Oct. 1: 8:30 a.m.-3
p.m. Nature center admission is $3 for adults
and free for children under age 17. Dolphin watch
and natural history boat cruise daily. Cruise
costs are $20 for adults, $10 for children. Reservations
required. Daily cruise information: 472-5100.
3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road. 472-2329.
Charlotte County
Babcock's
Wilderness Adventure - Enjoy a 90-minute swamp
buggy tour through the Babcock Ranch and Telegraph
Cypress Swamp. All tours are by reservation only.
November-April: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Experienced guides
offer in-depth descriptions of birds, animals,
plants, and the horses and cattle that are raised
on the ranch. Visitors can see panthers, alligators,
bison, and other animals. A three-hour, 10- mile,
off-road eco-bike tour is also available during
dry months. Call for schedule. 8000 S.R. 31, Punta
Gorda. (800) 500-5583.
Collier County
Briggs Nature Center - Hands-on exhibits, nature trails,
guided walks, live snakes, half-mile boardwalk,
butterfly garden. Mondays through Saturdays 9
a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission is $7.50 for adults (includes
admission to Naples Nature Center), $1 for children
ages 3-12 and free for children under age 3 and
Conservancy members. $35, yearly family
- Regular hours: info-files center open daily 7
a.m.-5 p.m. an 11,000-acre natural ecosystem.
$7, adults; $5.50, full-time college students;
$5, Audubon members; $3.50, ages 6 to 18; free,
children younger than 6. 375 Sanctuary Road, Naples.
Thirty miles east of Naples off Immokalee Road
- County Road 846-or Exit 17 off Interstate 75.
(941) 348-9151.
Hands-on exhibits, special nature programs and
presentations offered daily. Canoe rentals and
nature trails. Daily naturalist-guided trail walks
and boat tours through a mangrove forest. Mondays-Saturdays
year round: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Admission is $7.50
for adults (also includes admission to Briggs
Nature Center); $2 for ages 3-12, and free for
children under age 3 and members. $35 yearly family
membership. 14th Avenue North, off Goodlette-Frank
Road. Call (941) 262-0304, Ext. 233 or go to www.conservancy.org.
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