Florida Everglades Vacations

Florida Everglades

Many people think of the Florida Everglades as a huge swamp of stagnant water that is home to all sorts of nasty creatures.... thanks to the images that Hollywood has given us over the years.

The Everglades is in fact a vast ecosystem that consists of a shallow, slow moving river, up to 40 miles (64 km) wide and seldom more than waist deep. Think of shallow streams of water grass bounded by mangroves, teeming with wildlife and a perfect habitat for creatures that prefer a solitary existence with plenty of natural cover.

The water is the heart of this wilderness, and the rise and fall in water levels determines the life cycle of the native plants and wildlife.

However, for the visitor who is serious about getting the maximum enjoyment from their visit, then a canoe is the best way to see the Everglades. For a different perspective, there a many trails that allow visitors to get  far closer to the unique habitat and its creatures. The trails are excellent for biking and being quite flat, walking the trails is not arduous, but the trails are quite long, with the popular Shark Valley being 13 miles (21km).

Be prepared to take the time on the trails to appreciate what the Everglades has to offer.  Bicycling or taking a guided tram tour are excellent ways to see the park's highlights. 

Florida Everglades Highlights

Shark Valley is a 13-mile paved road through the park and provides a fine introduction to the park.  To see a greater assortment of plant and animal life,  enter the park through the main entrance, collect a trail map and spend at least a day exploring from there.

The Anhinga and Gumbo Limbo trails are highly recommended to first-time visitors. They both start 3 miles (5km) from the main entrance and are each a half-mile (800 m) round trip. Gumbo Limbo Trail has an emphasis on the flora as it passes through growths of gumbo limbo trees, royal palms, ferns and orchids.  

The popular Anhinga Trail passes through an area with more water and wildlife than most parts of the Everglades. Alligators, river otters, lizards, turtles, egrets, herons and other animals abound, making this one of the top trails for wildlife viewing. 

Visitors should try and include the 7pm program in their visit. This talk and slide show is presented by one of the park's rangers at the Long Pine Key Amphitheater. It gives a detailed introduction to the park's history, its resources and the wildlife.

Florida Everglades - Getting There

Miami and Fort Lauderdale on the eastern side, and Fort Myers on the western side, are the closest cities serviced by international airports. Access to the park is via personal vehicle or tour operator transport. The park may be explored by personal vehicle, commercial tour bus, bicycle, motor boat, or canoe. There is NO public transportation in the park.