- HubPages»
- Travel and Places»
- Visiting North America»
- United States»
- Florida
Day Trip to the Everglades Ideas
I admit it. Going down to Miami for spring breaks, my only "plans" usually involved boozing, fist pumping, and laying out on the beach, hungover. Those days are a big blur of good times but looking back at my trips to Miami, one day sticks out and that's the day we decided to do something completely different and went on a day trip to the Everglades.
Are you in Miami Beach and planning on doing a day trip somewhere far away from all the craziness? You should totally consider going to the Everglades National Park where the stillness, beauty, and animals will mesmerize you. Keep reading for ideas of different things to do in the Everglades, how to get there, and where to eat.
Things to do in the Everglades
You have plenty of options of things to do in the Everglades. Below is a list for you to pick and choose from:
- Airboat (aka fanboat) ride through the "river of grass"
- Kayaking through gator filled
- Checking out the fauna and flora along the Anhinga Trail
- Holding a baby alligator at the alligator farm
- Enjoying the sunset on the river
- Bottleneck dolphin watching
- Charter fishing
Images of Blue Herons
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeMiami to the Everglades
How do you get to the Everglades from Miami Beach? Well, you essentially have two options:
- Driving
- Taking a guided tour
My friends and I chose the latter. We needed to have someone keep up in check and plan our itinerary. Plus, the tour included a hotel pick-up and drop-off so I was completely sold!
Facts on Everglades
Impress your friends with some fun facts about the Everglades, including:
- The Everglades National Park is the third largest national park in the continental US.
- It's the largest sub-tropical wilderness in North America.
- Mangroves refer to salt-tolerant trees and in the Everglades, they grow on about ten thousand islands, hence the name "10,000 Islands".
- The Calusa Indians were the main tribe in the area.
What to Pack for a Trip to the Everglades
So you've decided to venture outside while it's light out? Bravo! Don't forget to bring the following items:
- Sunglasses, for sure
- Bug spray
- A hat
- Long pants
- A camera
- Boots, if you're planning on walking along the trail
- A guide book
Restaurants in the Everglades
When you get hungry, you have a couple of grub options. There's:
- City Seafood, a charming dockside dining restaurant serving their catch of the day, including stone crab claws, gator meat, scallops, and frog-legs. All to be enjoyed as you have nothing to do buy enjoy the fresh food, friendly service, and boats passing by.
Address: 702 Begonia St, Everglades City. - Camellia Street Grill, is another restaurant you may want to consider in Everglades City. It has a nautical theme, outdoor seating by the river, and great seafood options.
Address: 202 Camellia St, Everglades City. - Habana Cafe is the spot for you if you're looking for some ethic Cuban food and a fun environment. The venue can be a bit hard to find so just look for the pink building next to the post office.
Address: 801 S Copeland Ave, Chokoloskee.
Everglades Adventures
The typical address on a stay in Miami