About Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
An amazing world exists within the pristine mangrove-fringed waterways, uplands and freshwater wetlands that can be found only a few miles away from downtown Naples. This estuarine environment, where rivers meet the sea, provides an ideal setting for visitors to enjoy a variety of outdoor learning experiences and outstanding recreational activities, including boating, kayaking, birdwatching and more. A good way to start exploring the 110,000 acres of coastal lands and waters enclosed within the Reserve is a through a visit to the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, a 16,500 square-foot facility with research laboratories, classrooms and 140-seat auditorium two-story visitors center. The visitor center offers a variety of hands-on experiences, including 2,300-gallon aquarium and interactive exhibits that shine a spotlight on the native plants and animals in the region as well as research and stewardship efforts ongoing within the Reserve. Also at the center is a nature store, art gallery, picnic area, butterfly garden, and an observation bridge which leads visitors across Henderson Creek to the Snail Trail and creekside viewing platform.
