Took the kids kayaking at Flamingo Everglades park and it was a great experience. Dock Master Rueben was very helpful and made sure we were prepared and safe before heading out. TAKE MOSQUITO REPELLANT!!!! PSA: Entrance to the was free due to it being July 4. read more

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Everglades National Park is truly breathtaking; there are barely words to describe it. I've been visiting this park since I was a kid and have been more times than I can remember, and it never loses its magic. The entrance fee is $35 per vehicle, and once you enter, I highly recommend stopping by the Visitor Center to check which park ranger tours are available that day and to get updates on weather conditions. The park map will be your best friend; aside from certain areas, cell service can be very spotty to completely nonexistent. I've explored almost all the trails throughout the Glades, and I definitely suggest packing accordingly and bringing plenty of snacks and water. If you're looking for an unforgettable experience surrounded by wildlife and natural beauty, this is the place to go. Every visit leaves you feeling serene, relaxed, and completely in awe of nature. read more

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Absolutely an American treasure. I get a peaceful feeling visiting here, but I also feel energized by the amazing flora and fauna. As a dedicated border, I was delighted to find so many unusual birds here. The Ranger at the front gate glanced at my annual pass and handed me a free map. I didn't realize how important that map was until I found myself off the grid, which was marvelous. The number of different types of habitat was eye opening, and well explained on the map. Highly recommended. It's as impressive as the grand canyon. read more

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I live so close to the Everglades National Park that I should visit more often. I decided rather than shopping today, I would take time to enjoy the park. No line at the park entrance. Fee is $35 per car, unless you have a yearly or lifetime NP pass. There were quite a few cars parked at the Anhinga Trail entrance. Luckily, the vultures were sparse and they were all focuses on a pick up truck with trash bags in the back. They were not on any other vehicles. (When the vultures are here in the spring, they will pull on rubber seals and windshield wipers on vehicles. ) I'll post a separate review for the Anhinga Trail, which is close to the south entrance of Everglades NP. It has a gift shop and ranger lead tours during the day. There is no food available inside the park. read more

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I liked the Everglades a lot more than I expected. I am not a person who loves heat or humidity, but the beauty won me over in the end. There is so much to see here. Unique wildlife and vegetation and experiences you just can't have elsewhere. You will be hot, you will be sweaty, but you will see things that you may have never seen before. It will be worth it. We were lucky enough to be traveling with bicycles and I definitely recommend that if it's an option for you. There are lots of places within the park that have great bike rides and the wind against your skin will really help the combat the temperatures and the moods. There are lots of walkways for wildlife viewing that you should definitely take advantage of because it was my experience that you will see more and see better in the Parks then you will forpaid experiences. The Everglades are absolutely enormous, which gives you lots of options and opportunities. If you haven't visited, you definitely should. read more

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We came here during January 2025 on a road trip between Miami and Key West - just to drive through and do a couple of quick trails was all the time we had. The Visitor Center provided a lot of information on the park, and it was quickly apparent that we would have to come back sometime and dedicate ourselves fully to exploring it with our usual enthusiasm. There seemed to be plenty of trails to hike, and so many sights to see. We managed to go to the Anhinga Trail and take our time on that very easy walk. There were plenty of alligators, anhinga birds, turtles, fish, and other wildlife in a rather concentrated area. This just whetted our appetites for a return visit and some more involved hikes. This park has a lot to offer, on land and on the water - give yourself a couple of days at least to take in everything this beautiful part of our country has to offer. read more

I enjoyed visiting this National Park. There are two main roads to explore Everglades National Park on. There main road goes all the way south to a location called Flamingo. I saw American Crocodiles at the Flamingo campground area near the water's edge. Anhinga Trail is a fun, easy hike with opportunity to see wild reptiles and birds. The trail is lots of boardwalk safely away from the alligators. Mahogany Hammock Trail is another easy hike on boardwalk through very old trees and plants. There is an old mahogany tree there that is the oldest species of mahogany in the United States. Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook Trail is another trail with a boardwalk. Great opportunity to be immersed in the wetland habitat. The second road is in the northern area of the park. It goes out to the Shark Tram Road where you can wait for a tram to ride on a guided tour. Or you can rent bicycles to ride on the tram road. With bicycles, you can stop and go however you want. Look for the gem of the park. The Anhinga Bird. It is a bird with a long neck that dives in water to hunt for food. To dry its feathers off, it perches somewhere and spreads its wings. read more

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In all the years I've lived in Florida I had never been to the Everglades national park . To get in entry is 35.00 but you can purchase a yearly pass for just 80.00 . I did enjoy the walk however it was grossly hot. I would recommend going in the winter as it was so hot and humid and also spray yourself with bug repellent as the mosquito are waiting to eat you alive. Everglades National Park, located at the southern tip of Florida, is a vast subtropical wilderness known for its unique ecosystems and abundant wildlife. It protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats, including the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere. The park is a designated World Heritage Site, Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Significance. River of Grass: The park is famous for its sawgrass prairies, a vast, slow-moving river of water and grass. The park contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere, providing crucial habitat and coastal protection. Freshwater Sloughs and Marl Prairies: These areas are vital for alligators and other wildlife. Tropical Hardwood Hammocks: These are islands of higher, drier ground within the wetlands. These unique ecosystems are characterized by pine trees and fire-adapted vegetation. Florida Bay.The park's coastal area includes Florida Bay, a large body of water with extensive seagrass meadows. Saltwater marshes that absorb both marine and freshwater. Everglades National Park is home to a wide array of animals, Alligators in the park's freshwater habitats. American crocodiles Found in the coastal areas. Florida panther that is endangered big cat . Manatees are like gentle giants inhabit the park's waterways. Also the park is a haven for numerous bird species, including the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, and anhinga. Ghost orchids, Cape Sable seaside sparrows, and Florida leafwings are Unique plant and animal species found only in the Everglades. Best time to visit: The dry season (December to April) offers comfortable weather and opportunities to see a wider variety of wildlife on the Everglades Safari Park blog. Entrance: Visitors can enter through the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center (near Homestead) or the Shark Valley entrance (near Miami). Activities: Hiking, biking, tram tours, boating, kayaking, camping, and fishing are popular activities. Shark Valley: A great place to see wildlife, including alligators, turtles, and birds, along a 15-mile loop road according to the U.S. National Park Service (.gov). Gulf Coast: Explore the Ten Thousand Islands by boat. Flamingo: Offers opportunities to see manatees, American crocodiles, and various bird species. Anhinga Trail: A popular boardwalk trail for viewing alligators and birds read more

Everglades National Park - Parks Near Me - Homestead, Florida

The third largest national park in America such a beautiful place in are country full of beauty from plants to trees so beautiful alligators are awesome in their surroundings birds of all kinds just beautiful. Then there is flamingo Bay the gem of park the whole bay was beautiful read more

Of course this is one of a kind park as the Everglades ecosystem is the ONLY ONE in the world. The Ernest Coe Visitor Center located just before the entrance to the park (aka the booth where you pay) is a great introduction to what awaits inside. They have a very informative 18 min movie that beautifully highlights the scenery and wildlife. They have a gift shop with souvenir as well as snacks (sandwiches, candy bars, water bottles and the like). The price for snacks are reasonable. The park is extensive, so this is a whole day event, so make sure you packed lunch and plenty of snacks. There are different trails and sections to explore by walking, canoeing and motor boats. There are also several tours available each with a different focus. Wear comfortable shoes, hat, and mosquito repellent. read more

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World heritage site! Just learned that when I got here. Amazing ecosystem for a bunch of plants and animals that are so essential here in the south. The visitors center is small but got the junior ranger and the theatre. If you wanna see alligators or birds head down towards the royal visitor center and they're just laying out and about, safe distance but good enough for great pics! read more

Everglades National Park was so much better than I was expecting. We had half a day to spend here, so we stayed in Homestead and entered through/spent our time in the Royal Palms portion of the park. Plenty of good spots to visit here, and we had a wonderful time. The highlight of our time here was doing a Wet Walk at Cypress Dome. We booked a tour with the Everglades National Park Institute for $40/person, and it was one of the most incredible experience. Our tour guide took us through the water (which was surprisingly clear), and we got to explore the area and see all the nature. We never felt unsafe, and it was such a memorable experience. Highly recommend. The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is a great first stop when visiting through the Royal Palm entrance. It's a large visitor center filled with great information, clean bathrooms, friendly rangers, and a good bookstore. The Pahayokee Trail/Overlook was a quick walk with decent views of the Everglades. If you have limited time, this one could be skipped. Definitely recommend stopping at the Royal Palms Visitor Center as this is the starting point for both the Anhinga Trail and the Gumbo Limbo Trail. You'll find clean bathrooms and some vending machines here. There were also some ranger-lead events being held here too. The Anhinga Trail was our favorite trail. Easy, approx 1 mile walk through the wetlands and is the epitome of the Everglades. We saw plenty of alligators, crocodiles, and other wildlife here. No shade cover so make sure you have some sunscreen, your hat, and some water. The Gumbo Limbo trail is an easy 0.4 mile loop that has more of a rainforest vibe. Super beautiful but not what you picture when you think of Everglades. It definitely gets hot and humid, so come prepared with water, a hat, and sunscreen. Overall, a wonderful national park completely worthy of a visit. read more

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Wow! Absolutely beautiful. I had the opportunity to visit the Everglades this past weekend, and it was well worth the time and effort to get there. As I learned, there are 9 types of ecosystems in the Everglades - with various types of flora (e.g. different trees like the gumbo limbo, cypress, pine, palm, mangrove) and fauna (e.g. anhinga, purple gallinule, manatee). Visiting the Everglades can be expensive. The Everglades has a $30 entrance fee per vehicle, but is included as part of the annual National Park Pass. This is the minimum cost if you want to do everything DIY. However, if you want to do an airboat or regular boat tour - this is additional money, so you will need to factor this when considering costs. There are 3 entrances to the park - the most popular being the Ernest Coe entrance. The Ernest Coe entrance is a little over an hour's drive from Miami (if taking the toll roads). The Ernest Coe visitor center here has the largest selection of gifts, so make sure to visit here if you're into naturey souvenirs. My advice is to go to this visitor center at the beginning...otherwise it may be closed by the time you depart the park. If you're needing to go to Flamingo, it's about a 45 minute drive from the Ernest Coe entrance. My friend and I spent a good 6 hours at the Everglades. I would have wanted to stay longer, if I could. I hope to be back again! read more

Finally made it down to the Everglades. We've been to many National Parks across the US. If you're going here to see Awe-Inspiring views.... well, maybe not the place to go. I thinks this one is more about the "environment". We did a educational guided tour on day one. We learned a lot. On day 2, we drove to Flamingo, did some walking/hiking, had lunch and then worked our way back - stopping at the most popular sites and doing a little more walking. If you're a canoe (or Kayak) person, then this place is for you. We weren't prepared and it was a very windy 2 days - so that was not in the cards for us. read more

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Everglades is one of those places you need to visit once in your lifetime. Bucket list? Check! So here's to my 1800 review! Do research before you go, the park has various entrances and prepare based on what you'd like to do: hiking, camping, airboat tours. Prepare yourselves to see some gators and cool birds along the way. Stop at Everglades City for a nice meal or bring food with you for a picnic, there aren't many options in the park. Wear comfy shoes and clothes, a hat, sunscreen, brig water! For me, the place is breathtaking, quiet, beautiful nature, very unique! Love the marshes and the canals with beautiful vegetation and birds. And gators. It is one of a kind experience that is hard to describe. If you are in the area, visiting the park could be a cool activity! read more

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Florida is home to one of the most unique ecosystems: Everglades National Park. This place has been on my bucket list since I was a little girl. Now that I have visited the park as of June 2024, I was ecstatic to have seen alligators and crocodiles and other wildlife NOT at a zoo. The park was so vast that it needed four entrances. The park rangers were amicable & enthusiastic about this subtropical wilderness and its habitants. The only deterrent for me was the biting flies. No amount of bug spray would keep those things away. Lol. My daughters and I entered through Shark Valley and rode the 15 mile loop on bicycles that I rented. We missed out on camping on a chickee ("a wooden platform positioned above the water where you can set up a tent"). I was good with that., You've got some homework and planning to do if you intend on visiting. For example, in June the weather was hot with scattered clouds, but lower visitor numbers. For more info visit https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm read more

It was amazing!! So many trails. So many animals. Staff was informative and helpful. We can't wait to go again!!

Very disappointing. We booked a trip to the Everglades from Miami Sourh Beach via Get your guide, we were promissed a ride with the speedboat, a presentation with the alligators and some free time for snacks. The speedboat was correct even though we did not get to see any alligators. After the speed boat, they gave us 15 min before the return to Miami. Which means, we did not get to see the presentation, did not get to buy any snacks and left the Everglades hungry. Have to add, that we left Miami in the morning with a 25 min delay... and our driver did not stop playing with his phone the hole trip... definitely a rip of... Sad we did not have the time to enjoy... if you are planning on going, you should go with your own car or else... read more

We needed to a lot more time to explore the main part of this park. I would have liked to have taken the boat ride at Flamingo (also need to go to western part of the park near Everglade City). As it was we got a chance to explore the Coe visitor center, the Royal Palms area and the Nike missile site on this visit. The Anhinga trail was great. Lots of wildlife - birds and gators to be seen if you are there in the morning. The nearby Gumbo Limbo trail was also interesting. We then drove out to the Nike missile site that was open from 10am-2pm. We were surprised that they actually have a refurbished missile in one of the launch barns and other historical displays. The volunteer docents were enthusiastic and ready with plenty of stories. On previous trips to the park we have gone to Shark Valley and rented bikes but this time we were going to just pop in on our drive back to Fort Myers but the entrance line in the afternoon was so long we bailed out - one car out one car in (go first thing in the morning!). This is the time of year to visit - bugs were minimal. read more

Visited in May 2023. I suggest going two days, which is what we did. One day to the Shark valley entrance, rented bikes and did the 15 mile ride to the observation tower and back. The heat can be taxing, so be careful. Our second day (free since we paid our 30 dollars fee on day 1, keep your receipt) we went to the Ernest Coe entrance and did the drive down to Flamingo and stopped and hiked a few short trails along the way. We enjoyed our visit, but heads up, the Everglades is a bit different than most national parks, I would say a bit more subtle (flat) maybe not as majestic as some oarks, but still worth experiencing. read more

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We booked the boat tour several weeks in advance. There were about 15 people on the boat, and we were all trying to get pictures of the alligators which was not overly easy or comfortable. The boat ride was great though and it was nice to have a breeze in the heat. The guide was great at making sure to point out any alligator nearby. There was an adorable gift shop and it was not poorly priced at all. There was a wildlife show where someone showed us snakes and alligators and a BABY ALLIGATOR omg so cute. He told us all kinds of facts, it was super fun and informative. The other thing that wasn't a perk was that actual park was such a far drive from the boat ride. read more

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Upon arrival . Chris Otero greeted us a the gate. Gave me all the info I might need. First time going, I drove from Houston. Such a great experience. I love it so much. Be kind and pick up after yourself. Very clean park. read more

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Great place to bring the family. This is a great park with lots of nature, wildlife and there is so much to see. I moved back closer recently and vsiiting a olot of the local parks and restaurants and this place is definitely a place to visit! read more

This park is huge and has a lot to offer! We visited Shark Valley, the Ernest Coe Visitor Center, and the Flamingo visitor center. We could have easily spent another day poking around the parks little trails and overlooks. Shark Valley: we rented bikes and rode the 15 mile loop. Totally flat, totally worth it to get a good workout in and see some crocodiles! Ernest Coe area: really nice visitor center. We had lunch on the back porch overlooking the pond. There was a beautiful breeze and rocking chairs! We missed the Nike Missile site tour and hope to do that next time we are here (tours are 10-2pm). Flamingo: it was the end of the day so we didn't get much time here but we loved the skulls they had on display in the visitor center, the cute camp store, and the beautiful ocean view! read more

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Often overlooked by visitors to the Florida Keys, Miami, and South Florida in general, Everglades National Park is worth fitting into your travel plans when in the area. The national park is so large, there are 4 visitors centers, each offering something a little different depending on where you enter. I visited the Ernest Coe Visitors Center which is one of the more southern located centers closer to Homestead, Florida. Having been to many of the US National Parks for comparison, this visitors center is perfect with regards to amenities including a ranger station, educational displays, restrooms, a gift shop, educational film, and a viewing platform out back. All in all, it is a welcoming environment with ample space for visitors and plenty of parking. While this part of the park offers wildlife viewing opportunities, I would suggest planning out what you wish to get out of your visit in advance so you can plan accordingly and dedicate the proper amount of time to your visit. We had wanted to do the tram tour (need to go to the Shark Valley Visitors Center closer to Miami), but all the advance tour spots were booked up for the day, so it gives me something to look forward to on a future visit to the area. Everglades National Park is definitely worth a visit to check out the habitat and wildlife unique this area. read more

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Despite having been to Florida several times as a visitor and having lived here, I had it visited Everglades National Park until recently. We took one of the paid bmtours from Everglades Institute which is a nonprofit partner that works with the park. We got to stop at several different sights along the way and saw a lot of wildlife despite the unseasonably wet weather. Interestingly there are also old military installations on site from the Cold War which were staffed by volunteer veterans who had a lot of knowledge and experience to share. I learned a lot about other Florida ecosystem on the tour and at the visitor center and left with a new respect for the state's natural environment. We spent a full day mostly only doing the north part of the park and are already making plans to go back and see more! read more

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Bring your bug spray!!!! And sunscreen. This was a different type of national park than we have visited before. We were able to visit two out of three visitor centers. We saw manatees, crocs, birds, turtles, and lizards. read more

I only went for a few hours so it's hard to fully assess it accurately, but I did go through the Homestead entrance which is the main one and checked out some of the key highlights in that area. Note that park entrance is $30 per vehicle but the path is good for seven days so going one day isn't really gonna make it a sweet deal and this is a Park that you could spend several days in. Of course the highlight of the Everglades is taking in all the natural beauty and creatures and that's exactly what I did during my visit. Highly recommend taking the popular Anhinga Trail if visiting briefly as it I truly is your best shot at seeing some cool wildlife. read more

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I came here totally unprepared. After driving for a while after paying for the entrance fee, that's how I felt. I was told they have kayak rental here and I only came in just for that. Since I didn't plan for anything else to do, I missed out on what this park truly offered. I think I need to come back here, may be camping to spend days and nights. That's being said, Kayak rental was fun. Except when motor boats pass by, water was calm and enjoyed nice and quite time. Rental staff was friendly and nice. Park staff I talked was knowledgeable but made me regret I am only staying a half day here. No mountains, mostly flat, of course but I liked this park. read more

Everglades National Park - Kayak rental - Parks Near Me - Homestead, Florida

Everglades National Park is full of adventurous activities. When I visited I was dating a Viet Nam veteran. He loved to be out in the swamp with us in our flip flops trying to navigate through muddy waters. I couldn't see my feet and freaked out wondering if I was going to get snake bit. We didn't do tourist stuff that I preferred where we were supervised! He always wanted to travel the unbeaten path! I'm glad I had the experience but wouldn't want to be in that situation again. I'll take a airboat ride or swim with the Dolphins in my next life. I'm recommending! read more

We love national parks so visiting the Everglades was one of our favorite things we did in the Miami area. We started at the Flamingo Visitor Center where we rented a kayak from Flamingo Adventures and kayaked to Coot Bay. We were hoping to see crocodiles, but we didn't. It was still a great place to kayak. We did see a lot of manatees when we got back to the marina. We basically went backwards through the park since we drove to the end first, but it was easier to do it that way when we had to make a reservation to kayak. We hiked the Mahogany Hammock, Pinelands, and Anhinga Trails. All of them are short, flat, and easy. You'll see the swampy areas. We saw an alligator right in the middle of the Anhinga Trail. We wanted to go to the Pay-Hay-Okee lookout tower, but it was closed. We also couldn't go to the Shark Valley area because it was closed. The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is a good one to stop at. It's bigger and right by the entrance. Make sure to stop by Robert Is Here after you're done for the best tropical fruit milkshakes and Knauss Berry Farm for cinnamon rolls. Don't bother with the Everglades Gator Grill. We also did and airboat tour on a different day near the Shark Valley area with Coopertown Airboat Ride. I highly recommend doing one. We saw lots of alligators and it was really cool to be out in the swamp. This is definitely one of the more unique national parks. We love hiking which you won't find much of at this park, but it's still a great place to visit. I want to go back to see Shark Valley and the Gulf Coast areas of the park. read more

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This area of Everglades National Park offers a lot of different trails to hike through the various different ecosystems in the park. Make sure to stop at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center for all of the information they have on the park. Don't forget to bring your bug spray, long sleeves, and sunscreen...you're going to need it to get the most out of the incredible experience that this section of the 1.5 million acres of Everglades National Park has to offer. read more

What a stunning day Im having at the Everglades National Park! Everglades National Park is a unique and beautiful place located in southern Florida. Spanning over 1.5 million acres, it is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. The park is most well-known for its vast expanses of sawgrass marshes, cycling slowly from wet to dry season and back again. This area provides important habitat for a wide diversity of wildlife, including wading birds, alligators, crocodiles, panthers, and more. read more

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For all the times I visited Miami, I never actually visited the Everglades. But since it has been a new goal for my wife and I to visit as many National Parks as possible, we made sure this time we made a stop. We pre-booked the Tram tour of the north Entrance at Shark Valley. First off, there are NO SHARKS. So don't get confused. I liked this tour as you are driven through a pretty busy trail, which is only either accessible by foot or on bikes. It's 7 miles each way and even in "winter" it was HOT. We saw a ton of alligators and birds. While on the tour, the guide recommended seeing the South entrance as well, which is drivable. We did the Anhinga Trail, this is beautiful! We saw a few more alligators here as well. We did finish the drive to Flamingo. I did not think this area was worth making the drive. We did not see anything else here. Overall, this park is HUGE, but not super accessible without a boat. read more

The ongoing pandemic has definitely taken a toll on a lot of businesses and public places since a consumer's mindset to buy anything outside of essentials or to visit a public place like a park or beach, has crippled down significantly. Now by living with what has become the new normal, it is commendable on how these businesses and public places continue to remain open and cater to the general public by following the safety standards. It is now all the more important that we as customers, support these heroes during these dark hours to mankind. If you are in southern Florida, you don't want to miss this iconic National park. Being the third largest National park in the contiguous US, this place has so much to see and one day won't be enough to get through the entire park. We entered the park through the Ernest Coe visitor center through Homestead and rangers like Andy give an overview of the park and different spots that you can stop at. We started off with the Anhinga trail where we had good wildlife sightings of Cormorants, Alligators and American purple gallinule. One of the rangers Paulie was such a nice gentleman who walked alongside us, explaining the history and about the various wildlife of the Everglades. We drove through the 38 mile stretch that ends with the Eco pond, while stopping at the various trails. We watched the sunset and returned late in the evening. We couldn't cover the Flamingo visitor center side of the park and plan it for some other day. read more

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This park is OK. I only made it to the first Visitor's Center however, because it was $30 to go further into the park. I was not going to spend that much for me to go down the road by myself. The Ernest F. Coe Visitors Center is located outside of the park's ticket booth. It has a lot of parking and is very nice. It has some indoor exhibits, a ranger's station, a gift shop and an outdoor gazebo with rocking chairs that over looks the water. The Center has restrooms and was very clean and organized. The Park Rangers are also very friendly. I wish I was able to explore more but the price was a bit steep. It is a beautiful place and a very scenic route that is off of the beaten path up to that point though. read more

Went to ENP. Took boat ride out through everglades with park services. Amazing. Captain and first mate awesome. read more

Everglades National Park - Flipper - Parks Near Me - Homestead, Florida

Everglades National Park isn't flashy like a tall mountain or showy like a deep valley. The park is wildly misunderstood by the nearby citizens of Miami who think it's full of dangerous snakes and alligators and do not visit. Thanks to our guides, the seemingly boring scrubby forests and endless "sea of grass" transformed before us to a viscerally spiritual space. It was awe-inspiring, breathtaking and transformative. You should visit but make sure you use a guide to help you see the beauty. I can't say enough about the Cypress Tour we had through the non-profit, The Evergreen Institute. It was very reasonably priced and changed our whole perspective. Give them a call before you go. It will make a dramatic difference in your experience. read more

Everglades National Park - Amazing Cypress tour! - Parks Near Me - Homestead, Florida

Ranger Lulu Luis greeted us on our arrival. She is a fantastic representative of the NPS! Super welcoming and informative. Our visit to the park exceeded expectations. It was beautiful and we saw tons of alligators, anhingas, herons, egrets and cormorants. Highly recommended! read more

Visit to the Everglades We planned on visiting this National Park during our trip to Florida last summer. Believe me, after seeing the giant mouse in Orlando for five straight days I was ready to see some gators! Everglades National Park offers a lot of variety to see and do. We arrived at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center around noon and got a map of the park. We started off on a self-guided tour/hike at the Royal Palm Anhinga Trail. This was where we saw a couple of alligators around the sawgrass marsh, it was summer and gators are staying cool in the vegetation, the trail was less than a mile long (0.8 miles round trip) and on a paved trail and on an over the water bridge. It was amazing to see the gators... a nice gentleman pointed them out to us, otherwise, we would've completely missed seeing it because the gators were so still underneath the plants. We then went on to other sites, Pa-Hey-okee overlook, Mahogany Hammock, and to the end of the road, Flamingo Point. We saw manatees at the boat dock at Flamingo. That was cool. We also saw the storm damaged Flamingo Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is only infrequently and irregularly open and at the time it was open. It was sad and yet fascinating to see the effects of Hurricane Katrina as documented in pictures. We then signed up for a boat tour with Flamingo Adventures (separate review). If visiting during the summer bring insect repellent. Luckily, there was a general store by the dock and I was able to purchase a can of spray. Apply them especially at the Mahogany Hammock trail. omg! I cannot stress enough I'm telling you those mosquitos are blood thirsty. There are fewer mosquitoes at the Royal Palms but omg! the swarm of giant grasshoppers! This national park should be a "must-see" on everyone's list. Always an adventure! Review #1762 read more

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