Let the Everglades
Enchant You
Time from Bradenton: 2 hours 45 minutes
(to Everglades City)
Torrential rain and hordes of mosquitos
make the inhospitable
much of the year. But in winter, the
“River of Grass” can be magical for
outdoorsy, adventurous families hoping
to get a glimpse of wildlife, including the
endangered Florida Panther or American
Crocodile, black bears, bobcats and, of
course, alligators.
The Everglades covers 1.5 million acres;
a good home base for exploring it is
quirky , home to one of
four entrances to
(as well as to the country’s smallest
post ofce). Take an airboat ride - a kid
favorite but note that they are really loud
- or a guided kayak, ca-noe or boat tour
through the majestic mangrove tunnels of
the .
At the national park’s
entrance, 40 minutes east of Everglades
City, (via the Scenic Drive),
hop aboard the wildlife-viewing tram,
which follows a 15-mile loop and stops
at a 65-foot observation tower. Or, skip
the tram and hike or bike instead. You
can rent bikes in the park, and there are
short nature walks off the main tram road.
Ten minutes from Everglades
City is the western entrance to Big
, boasting
great canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking
and swamp buggy tours. Hike the aweinspiring
boardwalk trail at
, Florida’s
largest, where the boardwalk ends at
an alligator pond and observation deck.
The
2.5-mile boardwalk has been called the
most scenic of the Everglades’ trails.
The sanctuary also offers guided walks
and swamp buggy tours. For dolphinloving
families, the
out of Marco Island is a must. The tour
lets your kids be dolphin researchers for
an afternoon, helping the boat’s crew
members count all the dolphins they see.
Everglades vista
Everglades airboat ride
Everglades ten thousand islands