Rookery Bay is another nature preserve near the town of Maples on the Gulf Coast that we visited on our Florida trip. It is home to one of the few intact estuaries in North America with a well-preserved mangrove forest with its own special ecosystem. In fact, where the fresh waters of rivers and streams meet the sea in warm climates, a unique habitat is formed that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Basic info
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a state-protected coastal habitat for many unique plant species, endangered animals, amphibians, reptiles, and over 150 species of birds that live in mangrove forests and on many barrier islands. It is adjacent to Marco Island, just outside of Naples.

Not long ago, wildlife dominated the then sparsely populated Southwest Florida. But the area has changed drastically in the past few decades as development has accelerated as more and more people have discovered this paradise and moved here to live.
And when in 1963 they wanted to build a road around Rookery Bay, the local community and private investors bought a small piece of pristine land to leave it untouched.
In the end, the road was never built, but it was the beginning of preserving the local nature for posterity. In 1980, these lands were taken under state protection and the area of the reserve was significantly expanded.

Visitor Information
- Rookery Bay Preserve address: 300 Tower Road Naples, FL 34113 (point on map)
- Open daily from sunrise to sunset
- Cost to visit: free of charge
- Official website: rookerybay.org
Visitor Center

Today the Rookery Bay Preserve is home to an Environmental Learning Center with laboratories and classrooms, and a Visitor Center with a large aquarium, interactive exhibit with informational and educational exhibits and nature study materials.
And here’s what to do at Rookery Bay:

- Hike the trails among the wildlife
- Watch birds and other wildlife
- Picnic
- Go fishing
- Take a guided boat tour
- Kayak, sea-board, or boat
- Visit one of the Keewaydin Island’s largest barrier islands
- Spend the night in nature at one of the campsites
- Go geocaching
Trails
There are also several trailheads in Rookery Bay – one very small one near the Visitor Center and three more on Shell Island Rd:

- Briggs Boardwalk (point on map)
- Shell Mound Trail.
- Monument Point Trail

We took a quick walk on Shell Island and then took a leisurely stroll along the wooden decks at Briggs Nature Center, taking in the unique nature around us.

The Briggs Boardwalk trail traverses all types of Florida landscapes, from pine forests to swamps. We saw a blue heron on it.
Related posts
Twin Peaks Hills
Mission San Diego de Alcala
Napa Valley
How to get on the Jimmy Fallon show?
Old Town San Diego
Popular Posts
Sports in Los Angeles: Hockey, basketball, baseball, and soccer in the USA. L.A. sports clubs and stadiums
Today I will share information on how to go to a stadium and see a hockey or baseball game, or visit other interesting sporting events in this city. Anyone who has been to the city of dreams has probably met outdoor athletes jogging and playing…
Free observation deck of Los Angeles – how to get to Universal City Overlook and what you need to know
If you are going to travel around the West Coast of the United States and are choosing what to see in Los Angeles by car, we suggest taking a drive on the famous Mulholland Drive and stopping at the Universal City Overlook. Along with the…
Palm Springs hotels – where to stay, our tips and advice
Palm Springs is a tourist conglomeration of 9 cities in the state of California USA, which is located 180 km east of Los Angeles in the Colorado Desert, next to Joshua Tree National Park. The Coachella Valley, where the town of Palm Springs is located,…
Miami or Hawaii – which is better to choose for a beach vacation in
Today I will tell you which beach resort in the U.S. is better to choose for a vacation – Miami or Hawaii. To make the right choice, it is worth evaluating all the features of travel to America: how and how much to fly to…
Best hotels in Honolulu, Hawaii (USA, Waikiki)
The best hotels in Honolulu – five stars – guarantee a luxurious vacation in Hawaii, USA. In the article I will also give examples of good hotels in Honolulu, where you can stay at a lower price, but also remember your vacation at the beach…
Best hotels in Hawaii 5 stars – review of the best hotels on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Lana’i and the Big Island
Hotels in Hawaii are worth choosing carefully. My review includes the most magnificent and luxurious 5-star hotels throughout the Hawaiian Islands – Halekulani on Oahu and its tourist hub in Honolulu (Waikiki Beach), Montage on magical Maui, the magnificent Hyatt Grand on secluded exclusive Lanai,…