I am not a sit-on-the-beach-with-a-cocktail person. Here are things to do in and around Naples, Florida that keep you actually moving.
I have been to this corner of Florida twice now and both times I came as someone who cannot sit still. No offense to the people who do the beach chair and Jimmy Buffett playlist thing. That is a perfectly valid vacation. It is just not mine.
This guide covers the Naples to Everglades City to Marco Island stretch of southwest Florida and is aimed at people who want to be active, see wildlife, find the trails that are not on the first page of Google, and maybe stumble into a quirky roadside stop or two along the way. I am not a local. I am a tourist who likes to move and asks a lot of questions. This is what I found.
The Kayaking: Do This First
The Everglades kayak tour was the highlight of both trips. I went out with Adventure Paddle Tours, one of the few outfitters that launches directly into the Everglades marshes rather than the more accessible oceanside routes. That distinction matters. The mangrove routes they take you through are unlike anything I have done in a kayak anywhere.
I want to be honest: this is not a gentle paddle. I consider myself to be in decent shape and I was tired by the end. The mangroves require real effort, you are navigating tight channels, paddling against resistance, and working the whole time. But you are also seeing alligators from close range, watching birds land a few feet away, and moving through ecosystems that most people never get into. Our guide was genuinely great at spotting wildlife and getting us as close as safely possible. I saw dolphins on the water and manatees on a separate outing. Worth every bit of effort.
If you are going to do one activity in this area, make it this one. Book ahead especially in peak season.
The Hikes
Marsh Trail, 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Short, accessible, and genuinely beautiful. This trail is probably two miles out and back and runs through open marshland with elevated views over the water. It is one of the best birdwatching spots I found in the area. Herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, all of them just doing their thing while you walk past. The path is wide and well maintained so you can move at whatever pace you want.
This is a great sunset hike. Go in the last two hours of daylight and the light on the water is incredible. Also, a solid option for families since it is not technically demanding and the wildlife makes it interesting for kids.
Big Cypress Boardwalk
Slightly longer than the Marsh Trail, around two to three miles, and a completely different feel. The boardwalk takes you through a cypress forest and at some points the canopy closes over you completely, which on a hot day is genuinely welcome. You are walking above the ground the whole time so no mud, no water, just a solid path through some of the most atmospheric landscape in Florida.
There is a nature center at the trailhead where you can sit on rocking chairs and look out over the preserve before or after your walk. Good for families. Good for anyone who wants something easy but genuinely interesting. I did this one twice and did not regret it either time.
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park: The Alligator Road
This one is less obvious and more rewarding for it. Drive down the dirt road into Fakahatchee Strand until you reach a gated road. From there you can hike to an old cabin and a little dock on the water. The gator situation here is not subtle. We saw them consistently along the whole stretch, sunning on the banks, in the water, everywhere. If you want to see alligators in their actual habitat rather than from a tour boat this is the place.
The preserve itself is one of the largest in Florida and protects old-growth cypress strands that feel genuinely wild. Keep your eyes open, stay on the path, and do not get too close to the water’s edge.
The Florida Trail: A Serious Hike
The Florida Trail runs from the southern tip of the state all the way to the panhandle, hundreds of miles of designated trail through some of the most varied terrain in Florida. We did the beginning of the northbound route (ending if you’re going southbound) the section near the Everglades that ended up being about 13 miles total, following the orange trail markers out and then looping back on a connecting trail marked in blue.
The orange trail section was excellent; this is the Florida trail we stayed on this trail for 7 miles before we looped back. It’s very well-marked, interesting terrain, and depending on the time of year you may be walking through the cypress with water around your ankles which sounds like a nuisance and is actually one of the coolest hiking experiences you will have (but bring water shoes). When we went the water levels were low from a dry season so we got the path without the water, which made it easier but also made it clear how much the landscape depends on rainfall.
The blue connector trail was harder; this is not hiked as often as it’s not part of the Florida trail but rather a connection trail to loop back to the ranger station. Many people will hike out and back on the main trail, this trail you can only get to if you commit to the full 12–13-mile loop as it does not meet up with the Florida trail till mile 7. Not technically difficult but the path was less defined, we were doing some bushwhacking by the end, and after 10 miles our legs had opinions. The blue markers were consistent enough that we never felt truly lost but we definitely had moments of uncertainty. Do not attempt this section if you are not comfortable with trail navigation.
One tip: the turnoff from the orange trail to the blue trail happens at a picnic area. When you see the picnic table turn left. We walked past it looking for something more obvious and added unnecessary distance to an already long day.
We ran into two guys doing a multi-day section of the trail, full packs, meeting up the way they did every few years to knock out a stretch together. That kind of thing happens on long trails and it is one of the reasons I love them.
Eagle Lakes Community Park, Naples
This one is more neighborhood park than wilderness but it earned its place on this list because of the running. There are about two miles of winding paths around several lakes and you can loop them as many times as you want without it feeling repetitive. The lakes attract a ton of birds, herons and egrets and anhingas standing around like they own the place. Public parking and public bathrooms on site which is always a plus.
Good option for an easy morning run or walk when you want to move without committing to a full hike.
Tigertail Beach, Marco Island
I have to tell this story properly because it is both a genuine recommendation and a cautionary tale.
Tigertail Beach sits at the north end of Marco Island and is not like the rest of Marco Island. You cross a little bridge, walk through a nature area with protected dunes and marsh, and arrive at a beach that feels like it belongs to a different era. Walk about a half mile to the left the path will lead you to the main beach where people will have beach chairs and a more conventional setup. The right side, the true Tigertail Beach, is a natural sandbar situation that feels genuinely private and wild.
To get to the right side you have two options. You can walk around through the main beach, staying dry the whole way but is definitely over a mile walk in hot sun. Or you can cut across the water channel that separates them.
We chose the water crossing. At low tide this is reportedly manageable. We went at high tide. What we thought would be a waist-deep wade turned into a situation where 60% was waist deep, another 20% was chest deep, and the remaining stretch required actual swimming while holding a beach bag above our heads. People on the other side were waving us toward the sandbars. We were problem-solving our way across in real time. We made it. We were soaking wet. It was absolutely worth it and also completely avoidable. We walked the long way around to get back at the end of the day regardless of the tide!
If you want to get to the natural side of Tigertail Beach: go at low tide or walk around. If you go at high tide and decide to swim anyway, bring a raft with a solid bottom so you can push your stuff across without destroying it. The beach itself on that side is spectacular. Bring a football. You will have room to throw it.
Goodland: The Town Worth Finding
Goodland sits just off Marco Island and has a completely different energy than Marco proper. Marco can feel a little polished and resort-oriented. Goodland has genuine Florida charm. Smaller, less curated, more local.
The Crabby Lady and the Little Bar are both worth eating at. Good food, good vibes, good service, the kind of places where you actually want to sit for a while. On Marco Island itself the Snook Inn is a solid waterfront option. And if you end up in Everglades City, City Seafood is exactly what it sounds like: simple, fresh, fried, and good. The kind of place that does not need to be anything other than what it is.
The Quirky Stops
The Skunk Ape Research Headquarters
Yes, this is a tourist trap. Yes, you should stop anyway. The Skunk Ape is the Florida version of Bigfoot, a large hairy cryptid that has allegedly been spotted in the Everglades for decades. The research headquarters is a roadside shop full of statues, merchandise, and an enthusiastic commitment to the bit. I bought a two-dollar figurine for my car. The staff working there were delightful and happy to answer questions. Be a tourist and get the photo with the statue out front.
Ochopee Post Office
Just down the road from the Skunk Ape headquarters is the smallest post office in the United States. It is the size of a bathroom, staffed by one genuinely lovely person, and fully operational. I brought a postcard, bought a stamp, and mailed it for around 75 cents total. The postmark says Ochopee, Florida. Worth every second of the stop.
The Libraries
I recommend libraries everywhere I go and I know this makes people laugh. The Marco Island library is excellent. Good resources, local programs, a genuinely nice place to spend an hour out of the sun when the midday heat gets serious. South Regional Library was also a nice stop off with a quiet place to get some things done and great facility. I found the Naples regional library a bit busier, I think there is more programs for high school and college kids, which is great for the community but made for a busy library with not as much space to setup.
In a place like southwest Florida where the summer heat can shut down outdoor activity by noon, having an air-conditioned library with free wifi and local information is more useful than people give it credit for.
When to Go
I have been here in January and in late April and they are genuinely different experiences.
January and February are the sweet spot for active trips. The temperatures are manageable, the bugs are minimal, and you can hike in the middle of the day without suffering. Some days will be cool enough for a light layer. Some will be shorts weather. The variability is part of it but the outdoor conditions are about as good as Florida gets.
April is starting to push into real heat. By the time I left at the end of April the bugs had gotten noticeably worse and the midday hours were becoming difficult for outdoor activity. You start shifting your schedule to early morning hikes and evening walks, which works but limits you.
If your goal is beach weather, April through May is lovely and the water is refreshing. If your goal is to actually do things outside all day, plan for December through February.
Getting Around
You need a car. This area does not work without one. The distances between Naples, Marco Island, Goodland, Everglades City, and the various parks and trails are too spread out for anything else.
Biking is possible in some areas, particularly closer to Naples where there are legitimate bike paths, but the stretches further south get sketchier with traffic. Worth doing if you have a specific route in mind but not a primary way to get around.
The Honest Summary
Southwest Florida does not get the attention that Miami or the Keys get and that is part of what makes it interesting. The Everglades kayaking alone is worth a trip. Add the Florida Trail, Fakahatchee Strand, Tigertail Beach, and the Goodland food scene and you have a genuinely full active itinerary that has nothing to do with sitting on a resort beach.
Florida is not just a beach vacation if you do not want it to be.