Low-cost/no-cost Naples-area summer escapes will cool you off quickly
Hot plus sticky equal misery, as most Floridians know. In Collier and Lee counties, where the temperatures last week tucked themselves between a spread of 76 sultry degrees at 6 a.m. to 90 by afternoon, staying cool has been on the daily check list.
That doesn't mean you have to lock yourself in the bedroom with the AC cranked and the drapes drawn. Pair that pursuit of some quick cool-ation with free and low-cost summer fun, family and friends invited.
Ice, ice, baby
You need the big chill. Hertz Arena's recreational rink promises it. Spend a frosty summer mid-day gliding — or waddling carefully, like some of us — around the 200-by--85-foot rink to a background of top pop tunes. And, yes, some nonskaters tag along with their skating families because it's worth the price of admission to feel the freeze from the gallery.
Regular public skating hours are daily except Wednesday. Check the schedule first, however. Freestyle lessons sometimes take over the rink during the week, which cancels public sessions.
Specials include a Saturday night Pizza & Pop Skate 6:30-8 p.m. Its $13 fee includes skate rental, a slice of pizza and a soft drink. There's a late-night Friday skate 9-10:30 p.m. that includes skate rental and admission for $12, and a Sunday family skate 6:30-8 p.m., also including skate rental and admission, for $10.
There's a concession stand for those who skate up an appetite.
How cool is this idea? So cool you'll need a sweatshirt, the rink's publicity advises.
Where: Recreational rinks at Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero
When: 12:15-1:45 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays and 1-2:30 p.m. weekends
Cost: $10 admission and $3 for skate rental; sizes from 8 childs to 12 male adult
Information: skateeverblades.com or 239-948-7825, ext. 1306
Apps & STEM tricks & movies, oh my!
Inside Collier County Public Libraries, cool is a given during the summer. And it's not just thermostatic — its one- to two-hour programs that tackle everything from iPad apps to creating your own sea creatures or starting a food review club.
For example, from the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science MODS STEMobile, there's a hands-on program for K-fifth grade, led by educators who teach kids to make wind chutes and launchers and test them. They learn the science of flight and aviation careers in the process (10 a.m. July 16).
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For teens, there's a talk with teen author Destiny Howell ("High Score"), who can tell you how to get that story from your imagination to print (6 p.m. July 13) and BOTS (books on the shelf) discussions.
Adults can join others in a U.S. History Readers Roundtable, discussing their favorite U.S. history books, fiction and non-, and sharing some great reading possibilities (2 p.m. July 14). Or enjoy movies like "The Pink Panther" (2 p.m. July 26). Don't forget the story times for toddlers with a parent on Tuesdays.
And they're all free.
These programs are scattered around Collier libraries but are open to everyone. The only requirement is online registration.
What and where: Classes, workshops, story times and discussion for all ages rotated around Collier County public libraries.
When: The entire month of July
How: Register in the Events section of the Collier County Public Libraries website, collierlibrary.org
Cost: Free
Opera around the world, right here
With Mephistopheles as a drinking buddy, "Faust' is destined for someplace hot, we know. But we can cool off at the Wang Center watching his trip.
Opera Naples has put together a summer opera film series that takes the audience to some of the best known opera houses in Europe. See La Scala, Baden Baden, the Hamburg Staatsoper and El Real in Madrid, and watch conductors like Christian Thielemann and Ricard Chailly or stars like Renée Fleming and Asmik Grigorian.
Beverages and popcorn make the afternoon even more of a treat; reserve tickets at the opera's website.
Here's the schedule: July 20, "Turandot"; Aug. 3, "Ariadne auf Naxos"; Aug. 17, "Faust"; Sept. 7, "Falstaff"; Sept. 21, "Der Rosenkavalier; Oct. 5, "Rusalka"; Oct. 19, "Elektra." See the website for details on who's starring and where it played.
When: 3 p.m. first and third Wednesdays of each month through October
Where: Wang Opera Center, 2408 Linwood Ave., Naples
Tickets: $22 for adults, $10 for students.
Tickets and information: operanaples.org or 239-963-9050
Swim, slide, splash your way cool
Four cool pools in the county and one in Naples offer the ultimate chill: Just drench yourself.
These pools offer lessons for those who are chicken of the sea, or who want their children to learn. That's a doubly cool option; just call the pool of your choice.
EAGLE LAKES DONNA FIALA EAGLE LAKES COMMUNITY PARK: The newest Collier County aquatic center, based in the park, boasts a sparkling blue 25-yard-by-25-meter heated pool, a children’s activity pool, a wading pool, a 177-foot open slide and a 122-foot closed slide. There's also a 1-meter springboard and a 3-meter springboard.
Where: 11565 U.S. 41 E., Naples
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Admission: $2 adults, $1.50 ages 3-17 and seniors, $1 veterans, free ages 3 and younger
Information: 239-252-3527 or collierparks.com
GOLDEN GATE AQUATIC CENTER: Similar to the one at Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes, Golden Gate offers a 25-yard-by-25-meter heated pool, a children’s activity pool, a wading pool, a 177-foot open slide, a 122-foot closed slide, one 1-meter springboard and one 3-meter springboard.
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays; closed Sundays
Where: 3300 Santa Barbara Blvd., Naples
Admission: $2 adults, $1.50 ages 3-17 and seniors, $1 veterans, free ages 3 and younger
Information: 239-252-6128 or collierparks.com
IIMMOKALEE SPORTS COMPLEX: This pool area of this complex has a new resurfaced and designed activity pool with a zero-depth entry that slopes to 18 inches deep for toddlers that parents will love. There's a competition pool with six lap lanes, a water slide and two diving boards. Serious swimmers, we're looking at you.
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
Where: 505 Escambia St., Immokalee
Admission: $2 adults, $1.50 ages 3-17 and seniors, $1 veterans, free ages 3 and younger
Information: 239-657-1951 or collierparks.com
SUN-N-FUN LAGOON WATER PARK: The crown jewel of Collier County pools, this high-activity venue includes:
Five water slides and a special activity area, The Cove, to let 5-12-year-olds get their energy worked off. The 3½-foot deep Cove has a mesh rope and inflated "lily pad" walkway to navigate, a fountain spray and attached water pistols so kids can target their friends splashing around with them in the pool.
A river float with soaking buckets to keep you drenched unless you're fast enough to paddle out of the way.
A family falls and tadpole pool for quieter activity.
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
Where: 15000 Livingston Road, Naples
Admission: $13 for 48 inches and taller ($11 Collier County resident); $6 less than 48 inches tall; $9 senior (age 60 and older); 48 military; free ages 0-3
Information: 239-252-4021 or collierparks.com
RIVER PARK COMMUNITY CENTER: This center, operated by the city of Naples, holds a solid swimmers' pool, with a six-lane, 75-foot lap capability during prescribed hours. There's also a children's splash play feature with zero, or beach-style, entry, without stairs. It uses geothermal water heating and cooling equipment, and there's a shaded picnic area as well as vending machines for snacks.
When: Now through Aug. 24, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, closed Sundays. Special hours for lap swimmers during that period are 7-10 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.
Admission: Free, except for lap swims, which require a $10 monthly lap fee
Where: 451 11th St. N., Naples
Information: 239-213-3037 or naplesgov.com
Harriet Howard Heithaus covers arts and entertainment for the Naples Daily News/naplesnews.com. Reach her at 239-213-6091.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Free, low-cost, fun ways to stay cool this summer in Naples
