Everglades safari park fishing10/28/2023 ![]() Guided boat tours take guests to different keys for on-land outings, but most activities are wetter, like snorkel reef tours and stand-up paddle boarding through mangroves mazes at Jones Key. One of the most aquatic parks in the country, Biscayne National Park is 95 percent water, awash with shipwrecks, more nautical wildlife than Finding Nemo, and the largest coral reef in North America. What to do nearbyĪn apt pitstop outside the east entrance of the park, Robert Is Here is the self-described “Disney World of fruit stands,” featuring an array of tropical fruits and a milkshake counter where guests can mix and match produce like guava, mamey, jackfruit, dragon fruit, banana, coconut, and canistel.īetween Everglades and Miami is another smaller national park that flies a lot further under the radar. The Davidson Resorts property draws guests with its bay-front suites, two pools, dock-to-dish dining, a tiki bar, and one of the only sandy beaches on the Keys. A bit more luxe, Baker’s Cay Resort is a tropical paradise on nearby Key Largo. Outside of the park, comfortable accommodations can be found near all of the entrances, including cottage suites at Port of the Islands Resort near Everglades City, and all manner of chain properties between the main Ernest C. In the Flamingo area, at the southern nexus of the Florida coastline, trails include the bay-hugging Guy Bradley Trail, where manatee sightings are common, and the Coastal Prairie Trail, one of the longer treks in the park at 7.5 miles one way along a defunct road to a quiet beach. ![]() Said tower is accessible via narrated tram rides or bike rentals, both from the Shark Valley Visitor Center. While you won’t see any sharks in the Shark Valley section of the park, located smack dab in the inland midst of the park’s sprawling marshland, you’re highly likely to spot alligators basking along the 15-mile paved loop road that leads to a 70-foot observation tower. Anhinga Trail, close to the east entrance nearest Miami, is a crowd-favorite 0.8-mile boardwalk loop through a sawgrass marsh, where visitors are practically guaranteed to see an alligator or two (including some those that typically sun-bathe right next to the trail in the dry season). From the Flamingo area, paddlers have the opportunity to see crocodiles as they wind their way up Buttonwood Canal to Coot Bay, or out into Florida Bay, where Bradley Key is the only island available for landing.įor those who prefer dry land, there are still plenty of options throughout the park. The Gulf Coast teems with tree-lined paddle trails, including the five-mile Sandfly Island Loop and those along Turner River. Canoeing and kayaking are popular excursions, and guests are able to bring their own, or rent from within the park, at the Gulf Coast area or Flamingo. A majority of the trails are aquatic ones, for paddle sports and boats. Yes, there are hiking trails, but most are short and all are flat-Florida, after all, is the flattest state in the country. Unlike some of the iconic national parks in the west, with their soaring peaks and deep canyons, Everglades is the type of national park where water is the star. The best things to do in Everglades National Park Despite the drastic weather changes, a visit in the summer has its pros too: lusher landscapes, decreased crowds, prime boat tour conditions, and opportunities to spot more alligators in the water, rather than on dry land. Higher water levels also mean wildlife is more dispersed, and ranger-guided programs drop off as some facilities enter a seasonal hibernation. Aligning with hurricane season, from May through November, this is when thunderous weather is more likely (afternoon downpours are a common, albeit fleeting, occurrence), humidity is over 90 percent, mosquitos and flies are swarming, and temperatures soar to average highs of 90 degrees. Captain Manny was the highlight of our US East Coast tour.The wet season, conversely, transforms the Everglades into a watery wonderland. He really made our airboat tour a memorable family moment we will always cherish. He was able to show us an alligator from close while still being respectful of this incredible reptile: a thrillingly fascinating experience. He was not just reciting a script, but he really knew his stuff as he could answer all our questions. His love for the nature he works within was genuine and evident. And he was so effective in doing so that on the way back, my husband voted to go for the fast trail! At each stop, he was full of interesting explanations and stories about the animals and plants of the Everglades, about how humans have been living in the area, and much more. Manny was clear and friendly when he explained the rules, and at the first stop - having read our feelings from the body postures - he reassured my husband who was a bit scared of the speed, also by sharing some personal stories. We were a family of four, with kids of 10 and 7 years old.
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