questions - swimming and vacation in Naples, FL November

[cricketwife]

TLDR: Is it reasonable (weather wise) to expect to be able to swim daily in a heated pool in Naples, FL the week of Thanksgiving?


Long version - Back in late March, I booked a trip to FL for the week of Thanksgiving.  It was going to be 3 days at Legoland (my boys' dream!!) and 2 days in Naples so we could visit the Cypress swamps (another of their dreams).  FF to now and while I'm not cancelling Legoland yet, I think the chances are very, very slim that we will be in a situation where I feel comfortable with that.  So I'm trying to plan a contigency plan and would like to do 6 nights in Naples. I'd like it not to cost a fortune, but it looks like it's going to be even more than Legoland.  It looks like Naples has plenty to do and would be fun.  My boys LOVE to swim and don't get to often.  When I look at airbnbs, it's about $700 more (total) to find a place with a heated pool than a place with no pool, or a condo place (I really don't love communal pools).  While we can afford it, it's A LOT, especially given that this was supposed to be a Legoland trip and is now just a Florida trip. And given that Legoland looks to be about $400 more expensive if I push it to next year.  I really want to still get my kids to Legoland in 2022, if possible.  They are 5 and 7 now so we are in the prime window.  But doing this trip and having it be $$$ and then also doing another trip to Legoland is really adding up.  I would much prefer an airbnb with a pool if we will actually be able to swim, but definitely don't want to shell out if we aren't going to get use of the pool.  Is swimming a reasonable expectation? 


Other ideas on places to stay that would be less $$ but still give us access to the swamps?  We are flying in and out of Ft. Myers. 


And if anyone has any Covid-friendly suggestions of activities in Naples or the area, I'd love to hear them!

[nicolewi]

We have been to Naples in March a couple times, but not since 2016. I don't know about November. Can you look at the weather averages? wunderground.com and similar should be able to show weather info by past date.

We were there pre-Covid, but obviously beaches are awesome and great places to have fun and distance. You can look for shells all over, and walk on the Naples pier on the main beach. Tigertail Beach on Marco Island is nice to especially look for shells. There are some beaches north of Naples with nice playground areas (can't remember names offhand).

Pre-kids, DH and I even did a day trip to Sanibel Island from Naples. It's just a little over an hour if you just want to do some outdoor exploring.

Not sure how crowded it would be, but there's a really great playground right in the main shopping area of Naples.

We did not do the zoo or botanical gardens (we were focused on beach), but they do have both.

You can visit the South Naples Citrus Grove. Just look at trees and outdoor shop for citrus. Not a major attraction but still fun. They used to have juice and ice cream samples; maybe not with Covid.

We enjoyed visiting Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, but I do think many of the activities were inside. Not sure if you are okay with masking inside for that. Some things are outside.

We drove down to the everglades to just look at allligators at some kind of park right off the road. The alligators were down below in a river and you looked at them from up high (so they couldn't get to the people). I didn't find that to be super exciting but it's outdoors. I don't remember the name of the park but if you are into it I'm sure you could find info.

There should be lots of places with outdoor dining and/or take-out options.

[cricketwife]

Thanks, nicolewi! Lots of great ideas! I've looked at the temps and it looks like highs of 80, so I guess my question is does that feel warm enough for swimming? I feel like with a heated pool, yes, but temps can be so tricky if you're just looking at numbers. It's 96 here today so 80 sounds cold, lol!!!

[longtimenopost]

My mom has a condo near Fort Myers so we're down there often. We swim in the heated pool in her complex no matter the time of year.  I think Naples is one of the more expensive areas to stay, so I'd check the surrounding areas, especially if your only real draw in Naples is the Swamps because that could be a day trip even if you stay further North. That said, we have been to the Naples zoo and we really enjoyed it. There's a playground and the exhibits are pretty spread out.

I agree with Sanibel island, and your boys might like the Pirate cruise (Salty Sams's, Fort Myers) - we did it last year and my girls had a blast. It's a "real" pirate ship.

I haven't spent much time at beaches in Naples, but my favorite beach further North is Junkanoo beach a little south of Fort Myers. Waaay less crowded than Fort Myers. If they like shell collecting - I'd go to Barefoot Beach. 

[nicolewi]

Well, living in Wisconsin, I would vote that 80s are DEFINITELY warm enough for swimming! My kids would absolutely swim down to at least the low 70s in a heated pool.

[mccallister84]

Aug 30, 2021 12:28:32 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

Thanks, nicolewi! Lots of great ideas! I've looked at the temps and it looks like highs of 80, so I guess my question is does that feel warm enough for swimming? I feel like with a heated pool, yes, but temps can be so tricky if you're just looking at numbers. It's 96 here today so 80 sounds cold, lol!!!

And on the flip side, in November 80 is going to feel so warm to you! I think you would be fine swimming.

[VillainV]

Heated pool would be fine year-round. There’s a decent chance that you’d be fine swimming in an unheated pool in November (well, your kids would, might feel awfully chilly to an adult). There are a few threads in the Disney board about swimming in November that you might find helpful.

[waverly]

My kids swam in a heated pool when the temps were 45 lol. The pool was 80. So yes you should be fine in a heated pool as long as the pool is set warm enough.

[sakura]

If you drive out to Shark Valley visitor center you can get up close and personal with the gators. They will be sunning on the same path you walk on with nothing separating you. Eek!

Naples is too built up for my taste, but the beaches are nice. A Old Florida place that I like is Weeki Wachee Gardens. We stayed in an Airbnb on a canal that had kayaks included and we kayaked from there to Hospital Hole to watch manatees. So many manatees, it was unbelievable. It was a great outdoor experience in the swamp and way cheaper than Naples. From there, Pine Island has a nice beach and playground.

[shauni27]

my son went swimming this past weekend when it was 62 degrees and the water was about the same. He stayed in for an hour. Little Maniac. Kids are weird.

I would absolutely be fine with swimming in a heated pool with temps in the 70s and 80s, lol

[cricketwife]

Thanks for the reassurance, all! I think I'm traumatized from our most recent airbnb experience we we rented a home semi-locally and had a freak spell of weather in the 70s and that was definitely too cold for swimming! We were all miserable! (unheated pool there)