everglades place to stay/do April 2009

I am planning a 3 1/2 day 4 night trip to the everglades april 11-14

arriving the 11th MIA in afternooon leaving early am on 15

spend night of 14th near airport.

a couple of questions: is the a good amount of time? too much? not enough? is this time of year still good for great nature viewing.

particularly interested in animals and unique adventure but like comfort as well.

can you tell me what are the very best of the best not to be missed experiences? Done the (dissappointing) airboat before

can you give me an outline of the places to visit in an order that makes sense shark valley, everglades city, homestead flamingo? other?

what lodging would you reccommend?

Thank you!!!

everglades place to stay/do April 2009

I have been to the area several times. Try to visit Fatahattchee (sp?) Strand (Off tamiami trail) and Shark Valley (the tram tour is good value). You have to lodge somewhere in Homestead as the Flamingo Lodge cottages still have not been rebuilt. Then you drive the 20+miles into the Park proper. Any of the trails are great -- Anhinga Trail is easy walking. Pahaokee Outlook will offer great birding.

Alligators are everywhere. Talk to the Rangers! Airboat rides are not permitted in the Park, but the boat trip is enjoyable. Mosquitos should be tolerable, but take plenty of OFF!

Enjoy your stay -- it is a lifetime experience.

Terri B.

everglades place to stay/do April 2009

I would start by taking your car over to the Everglades City area. There you would want to take advantage of the boating opportunities (check out the website. 2 nights in Everglades City. Then a long day between EC and Florida City with stops in Shark Valley, Clyde Butcher Gallery and similar. One night in Florida City and then the Anhinga Trail and as much of the way to Flamingo as you like.

You could cut the EC to one night and spend a night in the upper Keys. Would permit you to snorkel.

That is a perfect amount of time to see most of what the everglades has to offer. Here%26#39;s the ideal trip for what I%26#39;d recommend:

The afternoon you arrive, just hang around Miami/Miami Beach and see some of the touristy things that the city itself has to offer. On the 12th (first full day), drive to Florida City (about 45 minutes from downtown) and see the southern part of Everglades National Park. Go get a milkshake at Robert is Here, visit the Everglades Alligator Farm, and then go into the park itself (follow signs). Pass by Anhinga trail at first, and follow the road down to Flamingo. Along the way are many trails/wildlife viewing observatories. Make sure to stop at Pay-hay-okee, Pine Glades Lake (an unmarked turn-off between Pinelands Trail and Pa-hay-okee, take dirt road to lake/small parking area). Go in the afternoon and you will probably see deer and maybe panthers. Then go in the Royal Palm turnoff, and take it to the fork...instead of going down the main road, turn off towards Dan Beard Research Center. Follow until the right turn, where you will not take the turn but continue going straight on the dirt road until you get to the gate. Park out of the way and walk about 200 meters to the open prairie, which is a great place to view bobcats, deer, foxes, and panthers shortly before dusk. Then visit Anhinga Trail which is nearby, and call it a day in the southern part of the park.

The next day, take US Highway 41 from Miami west. Stop by Shark Valley in the morning, and then proceed into Big Cypress National Preserve. Turn left on Loop Road, which is about a 2-3 hour scenic drive through some of the most diverse ecosystems in Florida. Along the way visit the Tree Snail Hammock Trail, and stop at some of the sloughs to take some amazing pictures. Once back on the highway, stop at Kirby Storter boardwalk to view wildlife, and stop by the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge Visitor center. If you don%26#39;t mind spending the night in Naples, continue north towards Corkscrew Swamp, a 3.5 mile trail where you%26#39;re sure to see lots of wildlife around dusk. Spend the night in Naples, and the next morning visit Everglades City (take a boat tour of the Ten thousand islands from there), and if you%26#39;re into hiking you can hike part of the Florida national hiking trail in Big cypress. You can see literally hundreds of alligators and the occasional large mammal along this trail. Go back to Miami that night, and you%26#39;ll be in business for the flight on the next day. Spending three days in the everglades is good if you want to see the best of it without camping in the wilderness....but definitely spend more time in the northern half of the everglades, not in the southern part (near Florida City entrance) which is cool but a lot more crowded and less wildlife. Remember, not all of this is in Everglades national park, but all is the everglades. Big Cypress National Preserve contains more of the everglades ecosystems than the national park itself does.