![]() If you camp on the beach, be careful not to step on sea turtle nests and expect to be joined by dolphins if you swim or cruise off the shore. North America's largest subtropical wilderness makes every vacation adventurous by offering kayaking, swimming, snorkeling, sailing, and hiking. The Everglades, which runs from Lake Okeechobee through Miami to Florida's Southern tip and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is known as the River of Grass. It's no wonder that the Florida Everglades offers afresh experience every day, with its calm wetlands, isolated islands, and deserted beaches. However, bring mosquito repellent or netting, and be prepared for drenching rain regardless of the season. The dry season, which lasts from November to March, is always beautiful and mild. In the summer, you will find yourself swatting mosquitos off your bloody arms, and no-see-ums can be even worse, making even the most hardened of hearts insane.Īs a result, there are fewer visitors during these months. Some National Park services, such as the remote Flamingo Visitor Center, are only staffed seasonally. The weather is so hot and humid from April to October that even brief excursions can be exhausting. The Visitors Center website is nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/ you Should Need to Know about the Florida Everglades. When You GoĬall: Shark Valley Visitor Center at 30 tram ticket reservations, 30 Or, bring your bike or rent one upon arrival and explore at your own pace.Įither way, keep your eyes open for surprises one of our fellow Shark Valley tram tour participants spotted a python (an invasive species becoming a major problem in South Florida), which sent our guides springing from the vehicle in pursuit. Jump back on the tram and enjoy more miles of scenery before returning to your starting point. With no tram at the moment to whisk you away, you'll need to use your feet and common sense to maintain a safe distance. The naturalist identified wild edibles such as cocoa plum, as well as hazards like the Manchinel tree, whose rain-soaked leaves can actually burn your skin with dripping toxin.Īfter descending from the high altitude (by Florida standards), walk the canopy-covered trail near the tower, and peer through shady trees for the resident gator. He even entertained with Everglades love stories, playing the roles of gossiping gator gals and big-hearted anhinga hubbies to explain mating and relationship rituals taking place like a sawgrass soap opera.Īt the midway point, exit the tram and meander up the massive spiral walkway of the Shark Valley tower for a bird's-eye view 45 feet above the wild expanse of the sawgrass prairie. Our naturalist offered insightful knowledge about early settlers and human interaction with the land while pointing out birds and other wildlife. It's amazing to see how quickly, despite its log-like appearance a wild gator (an Everglades speed bump, our guide joked) can transform into an eight-foot leaping lizard, powerfully launching itself (thankfully, away from our tram) in the blink of an eye. The open-air vehicles offer great wildlife photography opportunities, pausing and even backing up to make sure you get up-close views of basking alligators from the safety of the tram. You'll feel you're deep in the wilds of the Everglades, but riding in comfort with the breeze in your face. Hop aboard the Shark Valley Tram, and you get a two-hour tour along a 15-mile loop, led by an informative naturalist.
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