The Everglades National Park by Donald Saunders
Just about an hour's drive from the bustle of Miami you will find one of America's most unusual national parks covering more than one and a half million acres of southern Florida. The Everglades National Park is one of the most diverse ecosystems to be found anywhere in the world and is simple a wonderland for wildlife.
Great Blue Herons, American Egrets and White Pelicans are a common sight in the park as of course are alligators which find a plentiful supply of food along the edges of the miles of freshwater sloughs.
There are also many hiking trails through the famous mangroves and paths such as Anhinga trail allow hikers to get a close-up view of one of the freshwater sloughs. Although this particular trail is only about a half mile long through the saw grass it is a wonderful walk and you find not simply alligators but also turtles and many other species along the way.
One unique feature of the park is to be found in the fact that both alligators and crocodiles, which are often mistaken for one another, co-habit in reasonable peace and perhaps surprisingly this is the only place on Earth where this happens.
Although many people believe that the Everglades National Park is entirely composed of marsh and swampland this is not in fact the case and it also includes an area called Pine Forest which is the higher areas of the park and consists of species such as slash pine, palmetto and others.
On of the most beautiful areas of the park in to be found close to Mahogany Hammock where a short hiking trail offers a wonderful view of trees growing within the saw grass marshes and providing fascinating areas of dappled shade and a close-up view of royal palms, strangler figs and other hardwood hammocks.
If in addition to day hiking you also enjoy camping then the park provides over 200 campsites and, as long as you abide by the rules as far as speed and wash are concerned, you are even allowed to use a small motorboat in the park. Care needs to be exercised however because the park is also home to a large number of beautiful manatee which the park is eager to keep from being harmed by careless boaters.
Unlike many of America's national parks one of the best times of year to visit the Everglades is during the winter months when the temperature is pleasantly in the mid 70s and the air is relatively dry. In the summer by contrast the temperature can hover uncomfortably in the 90s with the humidity way up towards 90%.
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Florida Tourist Attractions : Big Cypress National Preserve, The Everglades by Kenneth Ng
While preexisting development is allowed to proceed, with limits, in this 1139-sq-mile preserve, its federal protections generally keep it feeling just about as wild and natural as the Everglades park. And that's a good thing, since the rains that flood its wetlands are integral to the ecosystem that keeps the Everglades green and lush and vibrant. Recently, the park entered into an interesting 'Sister Park Understanding' with a similar park in Guatemala, Laguna del Tigre National Park. The two parks share closely related habitats and management issues, and will now be able to share technical assistance and resource expertise.
About 45% of the cypress swamp (which is not a swamp at all but a group of mangrove islands, hardwood hammocks, islands of slash pine, prairie and marshes) is protected preserve. Great bald cypress trees are nearly gone from the area, as lumbering and other industries took their toll before the preserve was established. These days, dwarf pond cypress trees fill the area.
Why is it called Big Cypress then? Because of the size of the preserve, not the cypress trees within it. Resident fauna include alligators, snakes, wading birds (white ibis', wood storks, tri-color herons and egrets), Florida panthers (rarely seen), wild turkeys and red cockaded woodpeckers. Find more information at the Big Cypress Visitor Center (941-695-4111; 8:30am-4:40pm), about 20 miles west of Shark Valley, or at the National Preserve Headquarters (941-695-2000; 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri), just east of Ochopee.
You'll find 31 miles of the Florida National Scenic Trail, maintained by the Florida Trail Association, within Big Cypress National Preserve. From the southern terminus, which can be accessed by car via Loop Rd, the trail runs 8.3 miles north to the Tamiami Trail, passing the Big Cypress Visitor Center. There are two quite primitive campsites with water wells along the trail. Off-road vehicles are permitted to cross, but not to operate on, the FNST. For the less adventurous, there's the short Tree Snail Hammock Nature, Trail, off Loop Rd.
On-road vehicles can drive on Loop Rd, a potholed dirt road, and Turner River Rd, which shoots straight north off the Tamiami Trail. There are wildlife-viewing opportunities along the entire stretch of Turner River Rd, especially in the Turner River Canal, which runs along the east side of it. The road leads to the northern area of the preserve where off-road vehicles are permitted.
Author : Kenneth Ng
Spectacular Florida Everglades By Wayne Gilbert
The unique Florida Everglades National Park is one of the premier natural attractions in the state of Florida. This is one of the most unique natural habitats in the United States, and it is home to a large number of species of wildlife, marine animals, plants, and fish. In fact, in the Florida Everglades, you can find sixty-eight threatened or endangered animals, which depend on this ecosystem to survive.
Tourists who visit the unique Florida Everglades can take chartered airboat rides, fishing trips, and other types of tours to get up close and personal with the wildlife of the area. Many guests are thrilled to see manatees and alligators as they travel through the swamps of the Florida Everglades. One of the most appealing aspects of a trip to the everglades is the solitude you can experience. This is a large national park, and even though it draws many tourists, they spread out over all of the different areas of the park, so you can get away from the crowds with a visit to the Everglades.
One of the best ways to experience the unique Florida Everglades is through a guided sightseeing tour. Everglades tour guides are experts about the area, and they know where to take you to give you the best chance of seeing wildlife. They know where some of the most rare species are at different times of the year. You will want to pack your camera to capture pictures of all of the flora and fauna you will see.
Do you love to go fishing in Florida? There are many areas in the unique Florida Everglades where you can fish to your heart’s content! In the Everglades you can fish for shark, trout, drum, flounder, snook, redfish, and many other species. Bring your best pole, because the fish in the Everglades are huge! Remember to take an experienced guide with you to find the best spots, and also avoid protected areas since the Everglades are part of a national park.
Do you want to have the chance to swim with dolphins? The unique Florida Everglades gives you that chance! There are several coves where the adventurous traveler can get in the water and experience these wonderful marine mammals in person. This amazing experience can be yours in the Florida Everglades. With all of these amazing attractions, it is no wonder that thousands flock to the unique Florida Everglades each and every year on their vacations!
Wayne Gilbert is a Florida native with over 30 years of backcountry experience. His website about Airboat Rides is one of the most popular Florida Everglades attractions.
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