Road Trip to the Everglades!

We decided to take a little road trip to the Everglades while in the area. When we went to Key West last year we were sooooo close I can't believe we didn't stop in. Anyway, we took our time and drove down making a stop in Venice Beach which was a nice little area where we had lunch before exploring a bit of the beach and park across the street.

We also buzzed through Sarasota but only did a windshield tour not stopping to actually "do the town" maybe another time!

This looked really fun and there were lots of people there but not a lot of parking so I just snapped this on our way by!

 



We stopped at Midway Campground in Big Cypress National Preserve and snagged a primitive site near the exit.  It was a pretty neat place with a little lake that DID have a gator in it. that was relatively quiet. Several full hook up sites but without a reservation we were only able to get into a primitive, which was actually fine. We had our own little picnic table and awning and we were close to the potty house (no showers).

Up and back on the road we were up for adventure as we wheeled into Shark Valley, which is part of the Everglades on the top side of the park so to speak. This turned out to be an excellent adventure as we biked the trail, 7 miles down, 8 miles back. Goodness, the wildlife we saw. The gators/crocs were plentiful for sure, we saw 64 going down and 29 on the way back. That was amazing, on the way back up we saw babies in two different locations, now that was awesome!!! and so many birds of all shapes, sizes and colors. Loved the anhinga's!

The bikers!!

 



 The gators...sometimes, I felt our worlds were getting a little too close...

The photographer, who didn't mind the closeness!

 

Tonight we are at Flamingo Park in the southern park of the 'Glades. It's insect fortified, in fact the mosquito conditions listed on the park entrance sign states it's moderate today. Ugh!

#Everglades