The Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a nationally accredited zoo in the heart of the city. Though a small space, it offers the opportunity for guests to get up close and personal with a variety of animals. Enjoy a show led by their knowledgable staff, or explore the site on your own for a fun filled afternoon.
Best and worst time to go to Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
The best time to visit is between November and May. This is when the most animal exhibits are available for guests. Plan a morning visit to avoid the severe afternoon Florida heat. The worst time to visit is June through November, when animals are removed from the zoo and exhibits are kept to a minimum.
Must see/do at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
The Primate Expedition Cruise is a relaxing way to make your way around the zoo. The catamaran floats near several islands where you can view monkeys, lemurs and apes interacting naturally. The South African Lion exhibit is popular when they're in town, and the Giraffe Herd exhibit is always great for photos during feeding time.
Admission to Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
General admission tickets are around $20 for adults, $13 for children 12 and under. Discounts are offered for those who purchase their tickets online.
Parking at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
Parking is free at the zoo, and a parking lot is provided on site. However, spaces fill up quickly, so it's recommended that you arrive early in the day. Additional parking is provided in the mall parking lot, which is located directly across the street from the zoo.
Public Transportation to Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
There is no direct bus stop at the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. The Collier Area Transit (CAT) makes a stop, however, at Fleischmann Park, which is across the street from the zoo.
Food at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
A local market manages a small cafe at the zoo, where you can easily purchase salads, sandwiches and healthy snacks. They also offer triple-certified coffee (shade-grown, organic, fair trade). Prices for items range up to $20, but most are reasonable.
Insider tip for visitors to Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
If you've moved to the area and have a local address on your driver's license, you can get free admission to the zoo for the whole family on the first Saturday of every month.
Author Bio: Renee' Novelle is an author and journalist residing in Southwest Florida.
Friends of the Public Garden is a nonprofit organization that formed in 1970 in response to the deterioration of Boston's public parks. Today, the organization partners with the city of Boston to maintain the beauty and splendor of the Boston Public Garden, the Boston Common and the Back Bay's Commonwealth Avenue Mall.
From its headquarters in Beacon Hill, Friends of the Public Garden helps to preserve and protect the parks by repairing fences and fountains, restoring monuments and maintaining trees and foliage. It takes care of 44 monuments and more than 2,000 trees in all three parks. In 2009, the organization spent more than $150,000 on pruning, fertilizing and injecting trees against disease.
The group partners with the city of Boston and is supported largely through private donations. Executive Director Elizabeth Vizza and a board oversee the organization's activities. To join Friends of the Public Garden, residents can make a donation online of $25 or more.
A pastoral oasis in a busy city, Garden in the Woods is a unique destination for nature-lovers, families, or anyone seeking a little serenity. New England Wild Flower Society's "living museum" conserves, protects, and displays many of the area's most beautiful native plants while also featuring rare plants, all along a winding, sometimes hilly gravel path. Figure about an hour for a leisurely stroll throughout the Garden. Guests will enjoy noting the distinct areas including the Idea Garden, New England Rare Plant Garden, Curtis Woodland Garden, and more. There is a Family Activity Area with a few fun prompts for kids, beautiful wooden benches throughout, and three additional short trails for hikers.
Must see/do at the Garden in the Woods
The lily pond is one of the prettiest spots in the garden, and if you're lucky you might see some turtles hanging out there. If you've got kids, check out the Family Activity Area and definitely grab scavenger hunt sheets from the Garden Shop. In summer months at 10 a.m. on alternating Saturdays, kids two to six will love story time, free with admission (check the website for dates and themes). Or take an evening tour on select Thursdays at 6 p.m. to see the blooms in enchanting dusk lighting while collecting gardening tips from the experts.
Best and worst time to go to the Garden in the Woods
Garden in the Woods is open to the public from mid-April to October, and there really isn't a bad time to go (except non-holiday Mondays, when they're closed). Thursdays through July offer extended evening hours. May is your best bet for blossoms including wild blue phlox and pink rhododendrons, making for an especially colorful visit. There are a lot of mosquitos, so visitors may want to avoid going on muggier days or those just after wet weather when these predators are most abundant. Check the website or call ahead to see what's blooming.
Admission to the Garden in the Woods
Admission is just over ten bucks for adults and just under for seniors over sixty-five. Kids aged three through seventeen are about five dollars, and those under three are free. Your entrance fee includes a guided walk at 10 a.m. Tuesday through Friday or at 2 p.m. on weekends. Park in their lot for free. You'll do fine on the main, one mile gravel path with strollers (but be ready to push up a few steep spots), and there are three additional short trails for those in appropriate footwear.
Wildlife at the Garden in the Woods
Plants. This "living museum" features many native plants to be cultivated and studied as well as rare species that are showcased and protected. In addition to the many flowers, ferns, trees, and other flora and fauna, you may see squirrels, chipmunks, butterflies, huge dragonflies, cardinals, and more. Each week that passes brings different blossoms; repeat visits yield unique experiences. Check the bulletin board at the entrance as well as the website to learn what flowers are blooming during your visit and look for those as you explore the gardens.
Insider tip for visitors to the Garden in the Woods
Wear bug spray; enjoy the garden, but don't let the mosquitos enjoy you. Nature-fiends will love the Garden Shop's collection of tools, books, and whimsical items, including fun stuff for the kids. Also, peruse the website for details on a variety of programs including specialized educational series, exclusive visiting hours for artists, gardening demonstrations, and more.
Author's bio: Deborah Jarvis is a freelance writer who grew up and currently lives in the Greater Boston Area. She never pahks her cah in Hahvahd Yahd and tries not to drive like she's from Boston if she can help it. She doesn't have much of a green thumb unless you count dandelions and crabgrass, so she really appreciates gardens cultivated by the experts.
Located on Blackberry Ave., next to Kauffman Park in University City, the Green Center is an arts and environmental education organization. The Green Center helps people understand nature through hands-on experiences and restoring native habitats. Educational events are held on a regular basis. Call or go to the website for a schedule of events.
Green thumbs of all ages will find something to enjoy at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. Displays under the massive geodesic dome transport visitors to tropical climates, even in winter. The outdoor gardens at the 14-acre site showcase native plants, shrubs and trees as they change with the four seasons. The center hosts workshops, educational forums and special events and is a popular location for weddings and other celebrations.
How to get to Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
The site is accessible from Interstate Highway 235 in downtown Des Moines. Take the East Sixth Street/Pennsylvania Avenue exit south to Des Moines Street. Head west on Des Moines Street to Robert D. Ray Drive, then north to the botanical garden. There's free parking at the site. Local transit routes stop along East Grand Avenue, but it's a walk of about eight blocks to reach the gardens from there.
Best and worst times to go to Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Stop in during one of the special events or festivals to enjoy additional activities along with viewing the gardens and regular displays. Weekends tend to be more crowded; pick a weekday afternoon for a quiet stroll.
Admission to Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
The site is open daily all year long, except for major holidays. Tickets are in the $3 to $5 range, with children 3 and younger admitted free. Garden members enjoy free admission. Group tours are available.
Must see/do at Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
The Conservatory inside the dome highlights a wide variety of rare and unusual tropical plants and flowers, including orchids. For a change of pace, check out the center's extensive collection of bonsai trees. Outdoors, the Conifer and Gravel Garden offers a unique view of more than 200 evergreen shrubs and plants.
Other places to visit near Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
Restaurants, bars and shops are plentiful in the nearby East Village district. Visit the Iowa State Capitol and learn about the state's past at the State of Iowa Historical Museum.
Food at Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
The Trellis Café offers lunch Tuesdays through Sundays. The menu features fresh, local ingredients and changes monthly. Most items are in the $5 to $11 range.
Insider tip
Don't forget to stop in the North Gallery, which features rotating exhibits of photography and art based on nature themes. Keep an eye out for a number of sculptures that are showcased within the gardens.
Author's bio: Melanie Lageschulte is a freelance writer and editor. She is an Iowa native and has lived in Des Moines for 15 years.
In the Northwest Woods section of East Hampton is a true hidden gem. LongHouse Reserve is about 16 acres of gardens and art works. Founded by Jack Lenor Larsen, a renowned textile designer, art collector and author. The gardens surround Mr. Larsen's house which double as his private residence and the reserve's offices. Sculptures, plant collections, ornamental borders and decorations make for a magical tour. There is also an educational focus and programs. It never quite looks the same as the last time you were there.
