The Naples Botanical Garden is one of the finest botanical gardens in the southeastern United States, spread across 170 acres south of downtown. The curated garden sections represent ecosystems from tropical regions worldwide: a Brazilian garden with exuberant Burle Marx-influenced planting, a Caribbean garden, a Florida garden showcasing native species, and a Southeast Asian garden with lotus ponds and bamboo groves. The overall effect is of travelling through several different tropical worlds in the course of a morning.
The garden is at its best from October through April, when the humidity drops and the flowering is most intense. Allow two to three hours; the garden is large enough that rushing defeats the purpose. The on-site Fogg Café is a good option for lunch. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm. Adults $25, children under 4 free.