Naples, Florida is a warm, sunny and absolutely stunning destination to visit on your next weekend getaway. Although you could definitely fill more than two days here with fun activities, it is a great amount of time to sample it all. This two day Naples, Florida itinerary with kids has fun for the whole family and it covers the beach, fine dining and more.
We visited the city of Naples as a family in November as a birthday getaway my husband planned for me. He picked where to stay, and some of what to eat and do and he knocked it out of the park. I wish we had more time and I’m already planning the next trip back. A sure sign of a good trip.
Naples is just about three hours south of Tampa. We took a small road trip and drove down Saturday morning, then drove home Sunday night. This is what worked best for us but always make sure you do what works best for you.
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Day One
It is always important to start the day off with a good meal. On day one we had granola bars in the car for breakfast but if you are in town already then grab hotel breakfast or try Baleen. Baleen was my second choice for brunch and it looks cute with great food. Or, one of my favorite ways to save money when traveling is to pick a hotel that provides breakfast.
Bird Garden of Naples
For the first stop head out to the Bird Garden of Naples. This is the furthest activity from downtown Naples but it is worth the drive. To start you’ll get to meet and hold the ambassador birds. These are birds owned by locals and they bring them to the bird garden to socialize them with people. You can meet the birds and ask questions and if it is ok with the owners, you can hold the bird too.
Then the owner of the bird garden will lead everyone out to the bird cages. Make sure to bring along some unsalted almonds or blueberries so that you can feed the birds from your hand. Large almonds work better than sliced almonds because they are easier for the birds to grab.
There are SO MANY BIRDS! From parrots to emus, it was so fun to see their bright feathers and watch them eat the almonds we fed them. The Bird Gardens are free to visit but they welcome donations, and best of all they work closely with conservation efforts for different bird species.
Celebration Park Food Trucks
For lunch we stopped by a fun spot called Celebration Park. Here there is a collection of permanent food trucks, a bar and open air seating right on the water. Located on a canal off the coast there can occasionally be a nice breeze to enjoy while you eat. I chose to try the firecracker chicken and fried rice from the Dragonfly food truck. I thought it was delicious and had a perfect small kick when I asked for low heat. My toddler enjoyed some but ultimately decided it was too hot for him.
My husband had the Maine Shack lobster roll from the Maine Shack food truck. Robin and my toddler agreed it was absolutely delicious. Definitely a spot worth visiting.
Beach
After lunch we checked into the hotel with the intention that after we were settled we would head over to the beach. Our hotel, Inn on Fifth even offers a shuttle to the beach, but the pool was calling our name. It was really fun to splash and play in the pool together. The deck was really cute with lots of chairs, umbrellas and couches. The only downside was that it was pretty busy and slightly crowded. Luckily the guests were super understanding of my toddlers splashing.
Whichever option you choose, I’m sure you’ll have a blast. Naples beaches are some of the best beaches for shelling in all of Florida, Sanibel island in particular.
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Dinner: Osteria Tulia
For my birthday dinner, Robin made reservations at Osteria Tulia. This Italian restaurant comes highly recommended just about anywhere it is mentioned and it definitely lived up to the hype!
The restaurant is located on 5th Ave, just down the street from the hotel actually. The atmosphere was moody and dark inside and it’s definitely an upscale spot. We brought both our kids with us, which can be a bit hectic, but our server did a great job being patient and was very kind to my toddler.
I tried the special of the day which was a chicken and bacon dish served with kale, potatoes and a sauce. It was absolutely delicious!
Day Two
Breakfast
We had a light breakfast at the hotel before we checked out but there are so many delicious looking places to eat.
Walk the Town and Shop
Fifth Avenue in Naples, Florida is lined with cute shops and restaurants. If you like shopping or browsing then this is a great spot to walk and look around. Another great spot to explore is Tin Market. This is a unique spot on the water with stalls full of treasures.
Lunch/Brunch
Since we visited on the weekend brunch was open so we had brunch at Jane’s Cafe on 3rd instead of a true lunch. The restaurant is located in a cute pink building with a beautiful large fountain out front. Unfortunately, the food, atmosphere and service didn’t live up to the hype for us. The food was good but nothing special or amazing and the kids’ meal was impractical. Who puts shredded cheese on a turkey sandwich? It all fell off the moment he tried to take a bite!
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
After lunch we headed over to the Naples Zoo and it was the perfect place to spend a couple of hours with kids in Naples. My favorite activity was getting to feed the giraffes but we also enjoyed the primate cruise. During the primate cruise you get to take a boat ride around several islands. Each island has a different type of monkey or lemur in their natural habitat and the water acts as a natural barrier.
Feeding the giraffes is an extra cost but it is very worth it in my opinion. I does go fast but you can ask the guides any questions you would like.
For a small city I felt like the zoo had a lot to offer with several big cats, the giraffes and orangutans that can spray onlookers by pushing a button for fun!
There is also a playground near the entrance if you have an active toddler that needs to burn some energy like we do!
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Sunset at the Pier
After a fun few hours at the zoo we headed to the beach for our last activity of the weekend: the sunset! Sunsets on the western coast of Florida are truly stunning. You can watch the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico from the eastern side of the United States. The Naples Pier was badly damaged in hurricane Ian and as of our visit in 2023, it wasn’t repaired yet. However the crowds still came out to watch the sun set over the beach. The sky turned a stunning orange and pink as my toddler and husband played in the water. I played with my younger son on a blanket on the sand as we enjoyed the warm evening air.
There were older couples, young families and everything in between there to enjoy it with us. People were friendly and chatting, it was really heartwarming to see.
There is public access to the beach from the pier along with a parking lot across the street.
Dinner
We had to drive home that same evening so we grabbed some fast food on our way out of town. However, there are so many amazing looking restaurants to try so if you have time these are some of the best restaurants to eat in Naples.
Best Places to Eat in Naples, FL
- Turtle Club (steak and fish)
- Bha! Bha! (Persian food)
- 21 Spices (indian)
- Sea Salt (seafood and pasta)
- Tacos and Tequila Cantina
- Gelato and Co. (gelato and desserts)
More Things to do in Naples:
Up above are our top picks for things to do in Naples, Florida. If you have enough time, maybe an extra day or two in Naples, here are some of the other best things to do that we considered:
– Naples Botanical Garden
– Airboat Tour in the Everglades
– Hike in Lovers Key State Park
– Walk the Nature Trails at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
– Marco Island Historical Museum
Where to Stay in Naples, Florida
Inn on Fifth
AHH! We stayed at the Inn on Fifth and we have only good things to say about our stay, the hotel and the amazing staff here.
We visited for my birthday and right before our visit, my husband emailed them letting them know as well as to mention that if they had any upgrades available we wouldn’t mind being upgraded. And boy did they deliver. We were upgraded to a club xxx room which gave us access to the breakfast and snacks from the hotel and a concierge service on top of all the other hotel amenities.
When we first arrived there were some chocolates and a stuffed animal for our son on the bed. Then after we got back from dinner there was a birthday surprise! They provided the sweetest charcuterie board as well as a bottle of champagne for us to all enjoy. Seriously, it was all so amazing.
Our room was large and had plenty of space for us and our two sons. We had a small balcony which looked over Fifth Avenue South and we could enjoy the amazing weather. During our visit we enjoyed a fun afternoon in the pool and the turn down service made bed time a breeze.
Family Activities in Naples
This was such a fun two day Naples, Florida itinerary, there is so much to do in Naples! From the beautiful beaches to delicious restaurants to access to Everglades National Park there is no shortage of family activities when you come to visit. I feel like Naples would make a great place to revisit each year. It is a laidback, small town beach feel but with so many family friendly things to do in Naples so you can choose to relax or go out. Nature lovers as well as art lovers will have the best time.
