Zoos and Nature Centers in Naples, Florida

Naples on Florida’s Paradise Coast is the perfect place to get close to nature. Here is what you should know about visiting the zoos and nature centers in Naples, Florida.

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a nationally accredited zoo that was voted “Best Place to Take Kids” by Gulf Shore Life and Naples Daily News. Featuring a full day of thrilling shows and exhibits, Naples Zoo offers expedition cruises and botanical tours, as well as opportunities to learn more about reptiles, mammals, and hundreds of birds. The Naples Zoo opens daily at 9:30 a.m., and you are urged to visit early in the day to catch the presentations and see all the exhibits. The zoo closes at 5:30 p.m., and the last ticket is sold at 4:30. Admission is $15.95 for adults, with discounts for seniors and children. Naples Zoo is located at 1590 Goodlette-Frank Road. Visit the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens online at http://www.napleszoo.com/ for more information.

The Park Zoo at the Aviary of Naples has over two hundred exotic birds, dozens of small exotic animals, camels, miniature donkeys, horses, wallaby, ratites, softbills, Galapagos tortoise, and more. Located at 9824 Immokalee Road, the zoo is open Saturday through Wednesday from ten a.m. to four p.m., and admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children. For more information, you can find the zoo online at http://www.aviaryofnaples.com/park.htm.

The Conservancy Nature Center offers boat tours, nature trails and guided tours, daily presentations by naturalists, canoe and kayak rentals, a wildlife rehabilitation center, a nature store, and a discovery center. Located on fourteen acres at 1450 Merrihue Drive, adjacent to Caribbean Gardens, the Conservancy Nature Center is open year round, Monday through Saturday from nine a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Sundays from November through April from noon to four. General admission is $7.50 for adults, with discounts for children. Admission is good for two weeks. Check out the website for the Conservancy Nature Center at http://www.conservancy.org/naples_nature_center.htm.