No visit to Florida would be complete without seeing
the grandeur that is the Everglades. Renowned throughout the world, the vast "river
of grass" is a subtropical wetland that is home to hosts of rare birds, mammals
and reptiles. The park encompasses 1,506,539 acres, making it the third largest
park in the National Park System. The slow moving river of water flowing through
South Florida gives rise to diverse ecosystems. Coastal and saw grass prairies,
mangrove swamps, tree islands, pinelands, hardwood hammocks and coastal estuaries
are all located within the lands the Calusa Indians called Pa-hay-okee, meaning
"grassy waters."
Everglades National Park has five separate entrances, each a gateway into a different
area of the park. The main entrance to the southern portion features a wonderful
visitors center, which contains some very informative exhibits and shows educational
videos throughout the day. This portion of the park also showcases some of the most
popular hiking trails, including the Anhinga Trail where many alligators and migratory
birds congregate, and the Mahogany Hammock where the largest known mahogany tree
in the country is located. In the northern portion of the Everglades, Shark Valley
is the main attraction. A Tram Tour runs from this terminus several times daily,
and offers a great way to see some of the diverse wildlife and habitats in the park.
In addition to hiking and tours, camping in the park can be a great adventure. Three
campgrounds, at Long Pine Key, Flamingo and Chekika, offer both tent and RV campsites
with full hook ups, and for the more adventurous, primitive backcountry camping
is available at almost anywhere in the park with a permit. If luxury is your aim,
the Flamingo Lodge offers both motel rooms and cottages within the park, and the
lodge also offers a full service marina and houseboat rentals. Seven canoe trails
thread through the southern park region, including the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway.
Canoe rentals are available at Nine Mile Pond and Westlake, or if you prefer a guided
trip, through North American Canoe Tours.
