25.7 degrees North (Latitude), and 80.6 degrees West (Longitude)
Did you know that Florida is home to
11 national parks, memorials, monuments, seashores, and more? It was tough to decide which places to visit, but we agreed that
Everglades National Park (ENP) was a must-see. Since we had only one day to visit the park, we had to make the most of of it.
Shark Valley is located in the northernmost region of ENP. Several of our guides books mentioned that this was the easiest and most accessible place to observe wildlife. We had planned to rent bikes, but there was a huge storm passing and renting bikes was not advised and strongly discouraged. We chose to hike instead. Just 2 minutes into our walk along the Shark Valley Tram West Road we began to have what we refer to as a 'National Geographic Experience'. We were in the midst of many alligators and their young! At one point, as we were admiring a cluster of young gators, I distinctly remember wondering out loud, "Where is the mother?" Within seconds she rapidly approached, scaring my older son, Reid, and I up onto a park bench. While my husband grabbed our youngest son, Tanner, and ran backwards as fast as he could. Alligators are impressive creatures. A typical adult gator weighs about 750lbs, and measures approximately 13ft in length.
Gators ought not be confused with crocodiles, but the average person may find it difficult to distinguish the difference between the two, especially from afar. There are some general guidelines to keep in mind; Alligators prefer fresh water and are usually seen in the eastern part of Florida. Crocodiles can tolerate saltwater and are usually found in the southern half of the state.
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| Young Alligator |
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| Gator with young (right of photo) |
In addition to these beautiful reptiles, on our visit to the Everglades, we also saw several species of
wading birds, large
banana spiders,
Anhingas, and several species of
turtles. Wildlife abounded along this flat paved road. It's hard to imagine that there would have been more wildlife to see had we spent more time in the park. Planning our trip towards the latter part of the rainy season increased our odds of wildlife sightings significantly. Consistent rainfall leads to high water levels which enable wildlife to disperse over a greater area. Thanks to the abundance of water, we encountered all sorts of creatures on our trip.
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| Red-bellied Turtle |
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| Anhinga |
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| Banana Spider |
After an exciting day in the northern area of the Everglades, we headed to
South Beach (SoBe) to meet our friends for a delicious dinner at
Puerto Sagua. We enjoyed traditional Cuban dishes like ropa vieja, yuca, plantanos, & torta Cubana. The atmosphere at this neighborhood restaurant is comfortable and their prices are moderate for SoBe.
With our stomachs completely full, we continued on down the highway to Key Largo, where we had reserved a cozy cottage at
Bay Harbor Lodge. September is officially the beginning of their slow season, so we took advantage of low rates, and had the place to ourselves. Our quaint tropical efficiency was equipped with a full kitchen, in/outdoor eating areas, and kayaks for use in the bay.
We were tempted to stay at the Bay Harbor and play all day, but
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was so close, we had to try our hand at snorkeling in the nation's first underwater sea park. Some locals recommended
Quiescence Diving Services - diving and snorkeling outfitters. After visiting their site and reading their tag line, "Tired of diving in a crowd?", we decided to book a day trip out to the coral reefs. This is a good time to mention that hurricane Igor was approximately 300 miles off shore that week. Throughout our trip, Igor had contributed to large waves, rough tide, and great surfing. True to their advertisement, Quiescence operates small boats for less crowded experiences, and we were excited for a more intimate experience. Unfortunately, the rough tide made our boat ride very extremely uneasy, and my husband became seasick almost immediately.
Side note: If you are prone to seasickness, it may be best to book a tour through the JP State Park on a larger sea faring vessel. Tanner and I worked pretty hard against the wave surges to get out to the coral reef, but caught some good glimpses of their beauty, albeit for only a few minutes. Joe and Reid hung back, closer to the boat where Reid reported that,
"Dad fed the fish!". At least we all saw the beautiful mangroves on our way out to the reef.
After getting our land legs back, we headed over to
Cannon Beach and explored the remnants of an early Spanish shipwreck approximately 100 feet offshore. All that snorkeling made us hungry and
Denny's Latin Cafe served up delicious authentic Cuban food.
The southern tip of Florida was beautiful and welcoming. We all agreed Florida is a natural history paradise, with white sand beaches, and crystal clear blue water! Our recommendation is to stay away from amusement parks, and explore Florida outdoors. There is so much to see and do!
Que te vaya bien!
