You will be missing the verticals of the west as everything in Florida is horizontal (including most of the people!). Most of what you will see will be beaches and palm trees unless you get out into the Everglades. Surprisingly, though, you don't need to go as far as the National Park to get the Everglades experience. We were in south Florida for 10 days and found more than enough to fill every day from dawn to dusk between Naples and Ochopee along US41.
On Marco Is. walk north along Tiger Beach up to the point for osprey, ibis and other wading birds. In a nearby neighbourhood there are nesting burrowing owls on some of the undeveloped lots; and box tortoises, too.
Just off Marco Is is Rookery Bay Preserve. From the interpretive centre, there are short trails through the south Florida scrub where we saw an arm-thick Eastern Diamondback eating a rat.
Don't overlook the Naples Botanical Gardens. It's a great morning out.
Just a little further afield, down US41 is the 10,000 Islands NWR. In many ways we felt like we were back on the Serengeti, except the grasslands are wetlands and, rather than mammals, there are a myriad birds and gators. Great morning sunrise from the lookout.
The Loop Road further down 41 towards Clyde Butcher's is phenomenal - if the water levels are high enough, the birds and gators are right at the roadside. Along the Loop Road are Gator Hook and Sweetwater Steand. Clyde's place, itself, is worth the drive, to see his gallery and his property.
Fakahatchee Strand - fantastic Boardwalk.
Further afield still is Corkscrew Swamp - another fantastic boardwalk with plenty of habitats and wildlife.
Although these will all require driving, they are easy walks – great for aging parents.
