Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park

Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida

We are camped right next to Monument Lake, not ten feet from the shore to the door. Gators float lazily by, coots swim nervously by and our cat, Funny Face, stares out the window in disbelief. The door was left open one day and she didn’t even consider diving out. This campground is one of the best camping areas in Big Cypress Preserve for wildlife watching.


  


Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida

Shark Valley, Everglades National Park, Florida You can ride a tram through Shark Valley for twenty bucks a head, or take advantage of that big senior discount and ride for nineteen bucks a head. We decided we would ride our bikes for free. It was only 15 miles, wildlife at every turn, a gorgeous day, and one of the primo bike trails in America. Where else can you watch a gator fight right at the bike rack. This whole river of grass area is awesome. I am so glad digital camera’s were invented. If I had to pay for development of all the photos I’m snapping, I would go broke. Everything in the swamp eats anything that doesn’t eat them first. If you go out early in the morning, you can witness the fittest surviving as the sun is rising. This is truly sucking the juice out of life.

Highlands Hammock State Park, Florida

The semi-authentic wild places in the world have one thing in common, a large incubator. They have enough land mass to support a healthy population of wildlife, workable eco-systems, and limited access. Although places like Highlands Hammock State Park offer glimpses of historically wild Florida, visitor pressure has tamed it into submission. There is not enough land here to offer any promise of a true wilderness experience with wildlife sightings at every turn in the trail, but it is still an enjoyable place to visit. Early mornings are the best time to hike the swamp boardwalks before the crowds come tromping through. In the days early hours you only hear bird songs, woodpeckers tattooing, hawks screaming, and the sound of silence, which can be very refreshing.