Everglades, the 3rd largest national park in the lower 48 states and one of wetland experience located in Florida. Here you will find mangroves and sawgrass marshes. It is also well known for its wildlife, which includes everything from alligators to interesting bird species and even the Florida panther. From these hundreds of options, how can you distill taking only a few to give yourself the best experience on your trip? You can do a bunch of outdoor adventures and other fun stuff in the Everglades, such as hiking, kayaking, wildlife watching; it is all here! Ideal for nature lovers, families to explore the wild together and anyone thirsty for adventure!
Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail
Even though it is named the Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail, this five-mile loop provides an excellent paddle for kayak and canoeists. The trail can be paddled in four to five hours, which makes it suitable for a day trip. Spread out a picnic and enjoy local flora, fauna as you cruise the extensive marshlands mangrove islands. The route has tight mangrove tunnels to provide a challenge for more experienced paddlers, marked by white PVC pipe markers.
Ernest Coe Visitor Center
Ernest Coe Visitor Center – A hub of activity and information at one end of Everglades National Park. A good starting point for a hike, learning about activities in the park, and exposition of what can be seen. The visitor center has a gift shop with water, snacks and insect repellent (you will have to buy some if you don’t bring your own; mosquitoes love the hot humid climate of this area).
Flamingo Visitor Center
It is 38 miles via the road from Ernest Coe Visitor Center and well worth it to drive down. There are many things to see along the way. Unique experiences that you can only have in Flamingo Regular manatee sightings also occur here – fresh water mixing with salt as it flows into the marina. The slow-moving “sea cows” often come up for air, perfect for picture taking! On the way out, be sure to catch a meal from Flamingo’s food truck with its Florida Bay background.
Pa-Hay-Okee Trail
Pa-Hay-Okee Trail -For panoramic views of the “River of Grass.” Beautiful! This 0.2 mile walking short path culminates in an observation platform with stunning views over the modest expanses of Everglades National Park landscape below It also shows the park’s various types of vegetation without doing harm to its fragile ecosystem. Great for beginners and experts alike, this hidden gem should not be overlooked on your Everglades adventure.
Ten Thousand Islands
Situated in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands are a chain-like series of tantalizing island creations. Many are relics of a drowned shoreline, some grew organically on oyster bars. Aren’t these a beautiful, remote island nation: sandy white beaches with lots of adrenaline adventures like kayaking and exploring the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway. You are allowed to pitch a tent on the beaches, and also sleep under open sky — a real wilderness experience. More timid explorers might prefer the park’s seat-boat tours at its Gulf Coast Visitor Center.
Cycle Everglades National Park
Cycle five trails in Everglades National Park at leisure Cycling is a great way to explore the parks and see some of Northern Australia’s wildlife in their natural environment, as well as bask under the warm NT sun. Pick from 3 to 15 mile trails for beginners, experienced hikers and all types in between. Rentals are easy to come by if you don’t have a bike of your own.
Shark Valley Tram Tour
Take the 2-hour guided, ranger or naturalist led tram tour of Shark Valley Drive the 15-mile loop through this River of Grass to see wildlife in heat-soaked comfort-especially alligators. A visit to the iconic observation tower with panoramic views of the surrounding mangroves and wetlands wraps up your sojourn. The trail to the observation tower is great for wildlife viewing and open to all skill levels.
Airboat Tour
Top 10 Tours in Everglades National Park, Airboat Tour. The most popular and exciting thing to do at the park is take an airboat tour. It’s a must-do while you’re there! They are propelled by an enormous fan at the back, and navigate through mangrove tunnels where you can get nice low angles of some of the various species in this park. This is one of the most beautiful scenery tours in Tasmania and provides an unforgettable family experience as well.
Anhinga Trail
Wildlife enthusiasts should not miss Anhinga Trail. This brief 0.8-mile stroll directly through sawgrass wetlands presents possibilities to identify gators and snakes as well as birds, fish, tracks of turtles – allife dwelling in the wild habitats Vibrant wildlife pools above and below the surface, which are visible in crystal clear water. Picnic areas near Royal Palm Visitor Center; restrooms on site.
Kayak Eco Tour
This short kayaking eco tour on the calm waters at Everglades National Park. Our fully guided kayak tours are accessible for all experience levels and explore you through mangrove tunnels, open wetlands, with an abundance of bird watching opportunities as well as the opportunity to see wildlife. Looking out on the alligators—the park is one of only two places in the world where both gators and crocs share water due to its fresh brackish-water habitat.
Sunset at Everglades National Park
Relish stunning sunsets at Flamingo from the sand beach along Florida Bay. This high seawall provides a nice view not only of the long and fiery sunset that happens over Florida Bay every night but also, due to its height, an unobstructed perspective on The Everglades overall. Other great viewing spots for sunsets include Sisal Pond or as a short jog along Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook Trail (we did this one right at the end) away from Dante Fascell Visitor Center; otherwise there are some places driving down towards Flamingo Scenic Road. Beautifully scenic and peaceful environments which are great for experiencing the natural beauty of Everglades National Park at every step.
Best Time of Year to Visit Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park: Visit during the dry season (December – April) to enjoy cooler temps, less bugs and better wildlife sightings. Although busier, the dry season provides perfect weather to discover the variety of ecosystems in this park via outdoor activities.
Where to Stay in Everglades National Park
Homestead and Florida City offer convenient access to Everglades National Park. Accommodations and restaurants are available elsewhere in these areas, 20 minutes to Ernest Coe Visitor Center; one hour from Shark Valley Visitor Center. To be near Everglades City and the Gulf Coast Visitor Center, stay on Florida’s west coast if you plan to kayak.
