sticking out from under a beach umbrella. From the time my forefathers crawled out of the peat bogs of Ireland and began their steady trek to South Carolina, we have been a heat-seeking tribe. One of my favorite memories is of the time my dad, on a gray Sunday afternoon in February, suddenly looked up from the travel section of the paper and said, "We need to go to Florida." Six hours later, we were all buying new bathing suits in the Miami airport. The best part about a trip like this isn't the beach or those fruity drinks or even the envy of your friends when you return three days later with a sunburn under your sweater. The best part is cheering along with the 188 other sun-starved pilgrims on the 737 when you hear the words "Ladies and gentlemen, the weather in Miami is a sunny 84 degrees."
Of course, the one drawback of going south for the winter is that you'll arrive smack in the middle of high season, with inflated prices and bigger crowds. It's still doable--especially if you choose a destination like Naples, Florida, which offers hotels and restaurants in every price range.
Naples, Florida is one of my family's favorite destinations. Whether your family wants to take a stroll on a beach, check out manatees or even wrestle with alligators (handbags not included), this town is informal, family-friendly and boasts an average February temperature of 68 to 76 degrees.
NAPLES, FLORIDA
Activities in Naples, located on the Gulf of Mexico in southwest Florida, revolve around the water--which is as placid as a lake and as warm as a bath. The city is accented with numerous public beaches like Lowdermilk Park and Clam Pass Beach Park, featuring a half-mile boardwalk leading through a wilderness are. You'll find plenty of shells, and the stately mangrove trees often stretch over the water, dropping their seedlings or "sea pencils" into the Gulf.A good way to orient yourself is with the Trolley Tour (239-262-7300). Naples has so many waterways and canals that in some of the elegant dining and shopping areas, especially around Venetian Bay, you'd swear you were in Italy. The reality is that you're on the edge of the Everglades; on a two-hour cruise of nearby Estero Bay (239-992-2200), we saw manatees, dolphins and a host of birds, including the exotic roseate spoonbill.
Visitors to The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, a nonprofit center dedicated to preserving and protecting native wildlife and their habitats (239-262-0304), can see wounded animals being rehabilitated (we saw a pelican with a blue prosthetic beak) and rent a kayak to explore the nearby waterways.
Up for a full-scale swamp safari? Numerous companies offer daylong tours, but Everglades Excursions (239-262-1914) includes a jungle cruise with helpful commentary from your guide, a fun airboat ride through the Ten Thousand Islands and a gator-wrestlin' show.
At the end of the day affordable hotels abound and many are within walking distance of beaches and the charming downtown area of Olde Naples. Families who can afford to splurge will never forget a stay at The Ritz-Carlton (239-598-3300), which has a kids' program and themed parties are included with the kids' program. For more information about area hotels and attractions, call Visit Naples at 800-605-7878. Be sure to request the "Family Fun Guide to Naples" (no connection to this Web site).
Wherever you stay, the best way to end a day on the Gulf is with a view of one of Naples' most spectacular natural shows (free every night). Whether you're dropping a line off the 1,000-foot-long Naples Pier, eating at a dockside restaurant or strolling the beach barefoot, nothing dazzles like the sight of the sun setting over the water.
Kim Wright Wiley specializes in family travel writing and lives with her two children in North Carolina.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated August 2005.
