A (mostly) Kids' Guide to Naples, Marco Island & The Everglades: Second Edition (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780990973126)

This all-new, outrageously colorful, super-charged Second Edition of A (mostly) Kids' Guide to Naples, Marco Island &The Everglades is a family guidebook like no other It's packed with awesome things to do, see and experience, from sophisticated Naples to the deep, mysterious Everglades, including festivals, parades & happenings, plus more than 150 websites and phone numbers. The 80-page family guidebook features Seminole Indian reservations and cowboy ranches...a children's museum and discovery centers... wild swamp expeditions and fancy sailing yachts, an amazing, world-class kids' botanical garden, and family-friendly theater stages. You'll discover remote islands, spectacular beach parks, and a gazillion other experiences, from sophisticated Naples to the wilds of the Ten Thousand Islands.

From the very first chapter: "Everything You Need to Know: Some of it is Quite Weird," every page is a visual feast, combining practical ideas and inside tips on free things to do with freaky factoids, fascinating legends and hilarious quizzes.

Several spokes-creatures, including Marigold the loggerhead turtle, Freckles the hermit crab, a roseate spoonbill named Rosie, and Marrrge the Pie-rat jump into the conversation, dispensing insightful, intelligent (and often impertinent) commentary and ideas.

Grownups and kids of all ages should expect to encounter the unexpected, such as a real-life polka-dotted, walking fish wearing lipstick, seashells hanging on trees, and even a kid-friendly geocache containing dinosaur poop.

Unlike oh-so-boring guidebooks, this book wastes no space on hours and prices, which are always subject to change. Instead, there's a handy listing of websites and telephone numbers for the regional, state and national parks, tourist bureaus, and the 150-plus attractions, outfitters and resources mentioned in the book.

Author Karen T. Bartlett's deep sense of place and humorous style will charm every member of the family, and even grownups without children, as she writes from her perspective as an award-winning travel journalist, a storyteller and a mom. This book is a must for anyone planning a visit to Southwest Florida, as well as newcomers and locals who want to discover more exciting things to do and see in their own backyard.