Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Cape Romano Dome House, is an architectural wonder that attracts many visitors. From the outside, it looks like six white pods scattered across the sandbar. Constructed in 1981 by Bob Lee, the domes were built to be a vacation home and featured part of an innovative system called “startop homes” which was founded by Lee. Due to its unique design, the house has become a landmark and it remains standing despite efforts to demolish it due to its location on an eroding shoreline.

The Gulf Coast Visitor Center provides visitors and locals with a wealth of information about the area. From boat tours and mangrove eco-adventures, to archaeological sites and hands-on programs for children, this visitor center has something for everyone. The center also provides local shoppers with expert advice on which shopping area is best suited to their needs. With regular activities like kayaking, seining, fishing trips, bird walks and much more.

At the Collier-Seminole State Park you can picnic, hike, bicycle, canoe, camp, view wildlife, fish, and boat. Among the facilities are an RV park, four pavilion picnic shelters, a boat ramp, and a campground with youth, group, and primitive campsites.

Ted Smallwood Store is not only an interesting historical landmark but also a popular tourist attraction. Located near the Everglades National Park and Ten Thousand Islands, Ted Smallwood Store was originally constructed in 1906 as a trading post and served as the primary general store for miles around. It is now recognized as one of the oldest standing structures in Collier County as well as being listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.

Chokoloskee Island is one of the most beautiful places in Collier County, Florida. Located in the Ten Thousand Islands area near Marco Island, this small island sits on the doorstep of some of the best fishing, birding and exploration in Southwest Florida. Visiting Chokoloskee Island is a great opportunity to soak up all that Florida’s river and coastal ecosystems have to offer: mangroves and mudflats, bald eagles and ospreys, dolphins and manatees.

Big Cypress National Preserve is a stunning destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Spanning over 720,000 acres, it is the largest national preserve in the United States East of the Rockies. Within its vast expanse, visitors can experience varied habitats like swamps, estuaries, pinelands and prairies teeming with an abundance of wildlife. This treasureland of natural beauty also boasts spectacular views such as watery grasslands and cypress strands that will mesmerize any visitor.