Take a walk on the wild side at special places with unique habitats and ecosystems where you can explore Florida’s flora and fauna while hiking, paddling, cycling, swimming, camping, horseback riding, or simply relaxing in nature’s beauty. Do yourself a favor: Research each location to plan a visit tailored to your interests and needs.
(Area code 239 unless otherwise noted)
Collier County
Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
375 Sanctuary Road W., Naples
348-9151 • corkscrew.audubon.org
Big Cypress National Preserve
Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center
33000 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee
695-4758 • nps.gov/bicy
Oasis Visitor Center, 52105 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee
695-4111 • nps.gov/bicy
Collier-Seminole State Park
20200 Tamiami Trail E., Naples
394-3397 • floridastateparks.org
Conservancy of Southwest Florida
1495 Smith Preserve Way, Naples
262-0304 • conservancy.org
Conservation Collier Preserves
252-2961 or 252-2979 • collierparks.com
CREW Land & Water Trust Trails
4600 Corkscrew Road, Immokalee
657-2253 • crewtrust.org
Delnor-Wiggins Pass Recreation Area
11135 Gulf Shore Drive, Naples
597-6196 • floridastateparks.org
Everglades National Park Gulf Coast Visitor Center
815 Oyster Bar Lane, Everglades City
695-3311 • nps.gov
Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve
137 Coastline Drive, Copeland
695-4593 • floridastateparks.org
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
300 Tower Road, Naples
530-5940 • rookerybay.org
Lee County
Bunche Beach Preserve – San Carlos Bay
18201 John Morris Road, Fort Myers
leegov.com/parks
Caloosahatchee Regional Park
19130 N. River Road, Alva
694-0398 • leegov.com/parks
Cayo Costa State Park
Captiva
941-964-0375 • floridastateparks.org
Conservation 20/20 Preserves
leegov.com/conservation2020
Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve
East end of S.E. 23 Terrace, Cape Coral
549-4606 • capecoral.net
Hickey Creek Mitigation Park
17980 Palm Beach Blvd., Alva
694-0398 • leegov.com/parks
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel Island
472-1100 • fws.gov
Koreshan State Historic Site
3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero
992-0311 • floridastateparks.org
Lakes Regional Park
7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers
533-7575 • leegov.com/parks
Lovers Key State Park
8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach
463-4588 • floridastateparks.org
Manatee Park
10901 State Road 80 (Palm Beach Boulevard), Fort Myers
690-5030 • leegov.com/parks
Matanzas Pass Preserve
199 Bay Road, Fort Myers Beach
- leegov.com/parks
Rotary Park Environmental Center
5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral, 33914
549-4606 • capecoral.net
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers, 33966
533-7550 • sloughpreserve.org
Go Wild in Town
Nearby places to get in touch with wildlife
Collier County
Bird Sanctuary of Naples
1060 Purple Martin Drive, Naples
813-841-1911 • birdgardensofnaples.org
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
1590 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples
262-5409 • napleszoo.org
Shy Wolf Sanctuary Education & Experience Center
Visitation is by appointment only.
855-749-9653 • shywolfsanctuary.org
Lee County
The Butterfly Estates
1815 Fowler St., Fort Myers
690-2359 • thebutterflyestates.com
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers
275-3435 • calusanature.org
Everglades Wonder Gardens
27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs
992-2591 • evergladeswondergardens.com
Shell Factory & Nature Park
16554 N. Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers
995-2141 • shellfactory.com
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