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What are the Different Everglades Attractions?

Dee Saale
Dee Saale
Dee Saale
Dee Saale

Everglades National Park located in Florida is one of the United States’ largest national parks. Consequently, there are numerous Everglades attractions that draw visitors from around the globe every year. Hiking, fishing, biking, canoeing, kayaking, wildlife viewing, and a multitude of guided tours are among the various Everglades attractions.

Unlike other parks where visitors can hike along trails, the trails in the Everglades may come in various forms. Traditional hiking trails, such as the Bayshore Loop Trail and the Anhinga Trail, may be found in the park. In addition, there are some trails that are open to bicycles, such as the Rowdy Bend Trail and the Snake Bight Trail. There are even trails that are designed for canoes or kayaks, such as the West Lake Canoe Trail, the Noble Hammock Canoe Trail, and the Hells Bay Canoe Trail. On these trails, people paddle through mangroves, swamps, creeks, ponds, and lakes, while looking for water birds, crocodiles, alligators, vultures, snakes, and other wildlife.

Crocodiles live in the Everglades.
Crocodiles live in the Everglades.

One of the main Everglades attractions is the water. Nearly a third of the park is covered with water, making it a prime place to boat and fish. Visitors have been known to catch snapper, redfish, bluegill, and bass in the waters. Visitors must follow the State of Florida and the park regulations when fishing and boating. In addition, a fishing license must be purchased for both saltwater and freshwater fishing in the Everglades.

Kayaking is a popular Everglades attraction.
Kayaking is a popular Everglades attraction.

Some people may want to get a glimpse of the Everglades attractions with the guidance of a park ranger. There are ranger-guided tours that take people into the heart of the park. For example, rangers take small groups through the swamp on the Slough Slog tour. In addition, the Nike Missile Site is available for tours occasionally. Built inside the Everglades National Park following the Cuban Missile Crisis, the site closed in 1979. Reservations for tours should be made in advance and only occur at certain times of the year.

Swamps are part of the attraction of the Everglades.
Swamps are part of the attraction of the Everglades.

Additional Everglades attractions include a series of private tours that are run by individuals or companies not affiliated with the park. For example, there are airboat tours, water boat tours, and tram tours are available. Some tours focus on bird watching or wildlife viewing and provide information to people interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the ecology of the park. There are also fishing guides available for people who would like guidance in fishing the best areas of the park. These private tour and guide companies are have access to nearly all the areas of the park.

Dee Saale
Dee Saale

Dee is a freelance writer based in Colorado. She has a B.A. in English Literature, as well as a law degree. Dee is especially interested in topics relating to medicine, legal issues, and home improvement, which are her specialty when contributing to WiseGEEK.

Learn more...
Dee Saale
Dee Saale

Dee is a freelance writer based in Colorado. She has a B.A. in English Literature, as well as a law degree. Dee is especially interested in topics relating to medicine, legal issues, and home improvement, which are her specialty when contributing to WiseGEEK.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

uzumba2

I've always wanted to go on an airboat ride in the Everglades but after hearing about all the pet pythons that were set free there, I'm not so sure I'd be all-in.

Does anyone know just how big of a problem these snakes have become in recent years?

PurpleSpark

There are 36 species that are protected inside the park, including the snail kite, American crocodile, West Indian manatee, Florida panther, Cape Sable seaside sparrow and four varieties of sea turtles.

Also, there is a rare plant that is only found in the Everglades. It is called the ghost orchid. It is found in the Fakahatchee Strand on the northern boundary of the park.

momothree

@gardenturtle: The Florida Everglades is one of the most amazing national parks in the United States. It contains an ecosystem that you can’t find anywhere else. It has been declared a World Heritage Site as well as an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance.

Between the 1850’s and the 1890’s, the idea was for the Everglades to be drained and then planted with sugar. They thought the sugar would boost Florida’s economy. In the 1900’s, the area around Lake Okeechobee was drained and sugar was planted. It didn’t work out very well. Herbert Hoover Dike was built around Lake Okeechobee in the 1930’s to prevent flooding. It did prevent the flooding but it also cut off the water supply to the Everglades.

In 1989, President George H. W. Bush signed the Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act. This added 109,506 acres to the eastern side of the park and closed off airboats from the park boundaries.

GardenTurtle

Does anyone have any information on the history of the Everglades?

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    • Crocodiles live in the Everglades.
      By: stuporter
      Crocodiles live in the Everglades.
    • Kayaking is a popular Everglades attraction.
      By: soupstock
      Kayaking is a popular Everglades attraction.
    • Swamps are part of the attraction of the Everglades.
      By: Aleksey Stemmer
      Swamps are part of the attraction of the Everglades.
    • Vultures, which are a type of detrivore, live in the Everglades.
      By: vluggevogel
      Vultures, which are a type of detrivore, live in the Everglades.
    • Manatees live in rivers throughout the Everglades.
      By: NICOLAS LARENTO
      Manatees live in rivers throughout the Everglades.