Things To Do In SW Florida

Southwest Florida is one of the best places in the country for bird watching. The area is in the path of one of the world’s most traveled flyways, which means migrating birds from across the globe travel across our skies. To get great views of birds flying across Southwest Florida, check out these five amazing places for birding in the area.

Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

375 Sanctuary Road, Naples

Often making it into the top 10 places to bird-watch in the United States Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary is a favorite birding destination for amateur and seasoned bird watchers.  In addition to being a wonderful spot for bird watching, Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is also known for ease of viewing. As one of the world’s last old-growth bald cypress forest, this sanctuary is home to wood storks, white ibis, and red-bellied woodpeckers year-round. During migration season, you’ll also find warblers, painted buntings, and summer tanagers from the two-mile long boardwalk that works its way through upland, wetland, and cypress forests. read more

No matter how old your kids are it’s always a great idea to get your family involved in the community. Service projects are a great way to teach your kids empathy while also showing them the importance of giving back to their community. Whether your kids want to help other local children, the environment, or area animals, you’re sure to find a wonderful community organization in Southwest Florida that is perfect for your family.

Humane Society Naples

370 Airport-Pulling Road North, Naples

The Humane Society Naples offers a variety of fun volunteering opportunities to kids ages 12 and up. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 can take part in the Feline Fan Club volunteer program, while students who are 16 and over have more opportunities, including dog enrichment, socializing cats, taking part in the reading program, or performing administrative duties. For more information, call 643-1555.

Rotary Park Environmental Center

5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral

The Parks and Recreation Department in Cape Coral accepts volunteers of all ages to support several of their community programs, including the Rotary Park Environmental Center. While most volunteer opportunities through the department are geared toward adult participants, children are perfectly suited to assist with nature trail cleanup at Rotary Park. For more information, call 549-4606. read more

Wether you’re a local or just visiting Southwest Florida collecting shells at the beach is always a favorite past time, so I’m sure you probably have tons of seashells lying around. Put some of those awesome beach finds to good use this summer by making some adorable crafts with your kids. There are so many amazing ways to repurpose shells. That’s why I have gathered up some of the cutest seashell crafts I could find just for you. Whether you want to turn them into some adorable artwork or useful home décor, I’ve got a project for you on this list!

Summer Shell Art | Coastal Kelder

 Crab Magnets | Red Tart Art

Sand Dollar Coasters | The Soccer Mom Blog

Seashell Keepsake Jar | Moms Who Save

Tropical Seashell Fish | Crafts by Amanda

Seal Shell Flower Wall Art | My Pinterventures

Paper Plate Fish Bowl | Kid Friendly Things to Do

Painted Seashell Accessories | Polkadot Chair

Seashell Candles | Lolly Jane

Melted Crayon Seashells | Fun at Home with Kids read more

Southwest Florida is home to so many wonderful nature preserves full of interesting plant life and animals. While these parks offer may a variety of learning experiences for kids, hiking as a family can often be tricky. That’s why I’ve outlined the best nature hikes for families in the area. Each of these hikes are simple treks that offer tons of opportunities for an easy interaction with nature in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples.

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

7751 Penzance Boulevard, Fort Myers

Enjoy the wonders of nature in southwest Florida on the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. The beautiful hike traverses over 3,500 acres of intermingled wetland and upland ecosystems on a boardwalk trail. One of the wonderful aspects of this hike is the fact that the slough changes with the seasons. The dry season is from October to May, while the wet season runs from June through September. During the wet season, the slough slowly filters rainwater to Estero Bay.

Rotary Park

5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral

This beautiful nature preserve in Cape Coral is home to 97 acres of salt marsh and upland, giving hikers wonderful views of a variety of Florida wildlife in Rotary Park. read more

The beach is definitely our best feature here in southwest Florida, but sometimes you need to get out of the sand to have fun in the water. Cape Coral, Naples, and Fort Myers are all home to some great water play parks. On top of big water parks with slides and lazy rivers, we also have a few amazing free options for water fun.

Sun Splash Water Park – Cape Coral

400 Santa Barbara Boulevard, Cape Coral

With more than 14 acres of attractions, this huge water park has something for everyone. Whether your family wants to relax on a lazy river ride or get an adrenaline rush on a high-speed flume, each member of the family is sure to have a blast at the Sun Splash Water Park. There are so many attractions, you could spend the entire day exploring. The park is open weekends from March to September.

Fellowship Park – Cape Coral

2110 Chiquita Blvd. S.,   Cape Coral

Fellowship Park is located at Cape Christian Church. Open to the public seven days a week this park features two shaded play areas and a splash pad as well as basketball courts. There is also a café right in front of the splash pad where you can sit and watch the kids while they cool off. read more