(All photography is by John C. Jones)
There is only one Everglades in the World.
"Everglades National Park is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. The area boasts rare and endangered species, such as the American crocodile, Florida panther, and West Indian manatee. It has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance, in recognition of its significance to all the people of the world" http://www.nps.gov/ever/
The southern 1,500,000 acres of the original Everglades were dedicated in 1947 as the Everglades National Park. It is a fact that, hundred years ago, this wetlands was a major part of a 5,184,000 acre watershed that covered almost a third of the entire state of Florida. The Everglades consist of a shallow sheet of fresh water that rolls slowly over the lowlands and through billions of blades of sawgrass, and the total Everglades area is up to 3 million acres.
There are four entrance centers into the Everglade National Park.
Directions to the Ernest Coe Visitor Center
Homestead, Florida
40001 State Rd. 9336 Homestead, FL 33034-6733
Visitors coming from the Miami area and points north should take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south until it ends merging with U.S. 1 at Florida City. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336/SW 344th St.) and follow the signs to the park. Visitors driving north from the Florida Keys should turn left on Palm Drive in Florida City and follow the signs to the park.
Directions to the Flamingo Visitor Center
Flamingo, Florida
Visitors coming from the Miami area and points north should take the Florida Turnpike (Route 821) south until it ends, merging with U.S. 1 at Florida City. Turn right at the first traffic light onto Palm Drive (State Road 9336/SW 344th St.) and follow the signs to the park.
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Directions to Shark Valley Visitor Center
36000 SW 8th St. Miami, FL 33194
Shark Valley Visitor Center is located on Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail / SW 8th St.) 25 miles west of the Florida Turnpike extension, exit 25A (from the north) and exit 25 (from the south). From the Naples area, take U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) approximately 70 miles east to Shark Valley.
Directions to the Gulf Coast Visitor Center
Everglades City, Florida
The Gulf Coast Visitor Center is located 5 miles south of Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) on State Road 29, in Everglades City. From Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley), take exit 80 (State Road 29) south and proceed 20 miles to Everglades City. Once in Everglades City, follow the signs to the park. The visitor center is on the right.
The above links will tell you if there are camp sites available, facilities available, etc.
If camping is what you had in mind, picnic tables, grills, tent and trailer pads and restroom facilities are available in certain areas of the park. Recreational vehicles are permitted, but there are no electrical, water or sewage hook-ups. Contact the Everglades National Park at 305-247-6211 or the Tropical Everglades Visitors Center at 305-245-9180 or 800-388-9669.
For those just wanting to see the Everglades, just drive to one of the locations outside of the park that have Everglade boat rides, and take a tour. (Please make reservations first, of course.) You can be back in your car in less than two hours and going down the road to other things in Florida to see.
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There are no shortage of air boat rides any where near the Everglades.
This is the company I recently used. (Click logo below for web site)
The Everglades National Park, the third largest park in the nation covers more than 2,000 square miles and holds a beauty incomparable to any other place in the world. Serving as home to nearly 300 varieties of birds, 600 kinds of fish and more than 40 indigenous species of plants, the Everglades is a nature lover's paradise.
For more information.
Happy Traveling.
