The Everglades is not just about mosquitos and alligators. This unique environment is full of beauty and mystery. The third largest national park in America (about 2,400 sq. miles!) is the Everglades. Most visitors don’t even scratch the surface of this park unless they have a boat.You can still explore the park in one day. Drive through it and take short walks to look for alligators and manatees. Take a trip on an airboat or kayak. It is hoped that you have enough time to enjoy all the park offers.Everglades, a vast wetland fed by Lake Okeechobee’s water. For hundreds of years we have been invading its beauty. Around a century ago, canals were built to divert water away from the lake and into the cities. This has drastically changed this delicate ecosystem. In the process, animal populations declined, with some species on the brink of extinction.It is important to keep in mind the efforts made by the Everglades Conservation and Restoration Program when you visit and enjoy the Everglades.Ernest F. Coe Visitor CenterThe visitor center is a good place to start, just as you would with any national park. You can get valuable information about the services offered, and also find out what’s happening in the park.It’s a great place to learn about the Everglades. Stay for the 15-minute River of Life film, which gives a great overview of this park. Coe Visitor Center provides details on ranger-led park activities, including boat tours and rentals.You can purchase books, postcards and insect repellant to ensure that you have the best experience in the park. Nearby, you can find many of the most popular hiking trails.The Best Hiking in the WorldEverglade Trails allows for a hearty exploration. Be sure to bring plenty of water, and be aware of the changing weather. Florida weather is unpredictable, particularly during the rainy season. Bug repellents are a must when visiting one of America’s most beautiful climates. For the summer months, hats and sunscreen are essential.Anhinga Trail, a 0.8 mile easy trail that is partly paved with boardwalks and leads to a section of wetland. This is a good way to see alligators, and the Anhingas bird that the Anhinga Trail is named for.Gumbo Limbo Trail: This paved trail meanders along a jungle-like canopy of royal palms and ferns. The 0.4 mile trek begins at the Royal Palm Visitor Center about 4 miles away from the park’s main entrance. Pahayokee Overlook, a raised platform located on a boardwalk circuit that offers amazing views of the “river grass,” is an elevated observation area. The main entrance is located 13 miles away.Mahogany Hammock Trail: This boardwalk meanders along dense hammock hardwoods that resemble a jungle. Gumbo-limbo, air plants and the U.S.’s largest mahogany are among the lush foliage. About 20 miles away from the park’s main entrance.Check with the Visitor Center for the most recent developments on the trail’s availability.Bike RideEnjoy the wetland breeze on one of the many bicycle trails that are available in Flamingo. These include the Long Pine Key Nature Trail and the Snake Bight and Rowdy Bend Trails.It is divine to watch birds.You will be able to enjoy some of the most spectacular birdwatching in the entire world. More than 300 bird species live in or migrate through the park. The Homestead (Royal Palm Area) and Flamingo Districts are some of the best places to bird watch.Your bird-watching itinerary should include the Anhinga Trail and Eco Pond. Also, Mrazek Pond. Mahogany Hammock. Snake Bight Trail. Paurotis Pond. Shark Valley is home to a variety of magnificent wading bird species.Kayak around Ten Thousand IslandsTen Thousand Islands covers over 35,000 acres in the southernmost tip of Florida. Ten Thousand Islands is a national wildlife sanctuary in the north, and Everglades National Park in the south. These islands, which number hundreds and not thousands, are a great place to relax in nature. A maze of Mangroves awaits you in this beautiful location. Due to its location, it is also the least explored area of the park. When available, boat tours run through part of the park. If you can get on one of the tours, keep an eye out for manatees, bottlenose dolphins, and crocodiles.Tamiami Trail Scenic DriveThe Tamiami Trail, which traversed the Everglades in 1928, was considered an engineering feat. It was the only way to get from Tampa, Florida, to Miami, at the time. The Tamiami Trail offers a variety of landscapes, including pinelands, saw-grass swamps, and abundant waterbirds. You might even catch sight of an alligator soaking up the sun in a roadside canal. There are still remnants from the tourist traps that were popular in the 50s and 60s, and there is a lot of man-made kitsch. You can also ride on an airboat and go gator spotting. Skunk Apes, Everglades version of Big Foot.
