Everglades National Park Homestead, FL (Entrance) |
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Rating |
Excellent |
Age |
3 and up |
Lockers |
Not Available |
Restrooms |
Adequate |
Food |
Snack Bars or Vending | Closest Coffee |
Homestead Starbucks |
Recommendation |
There is no place on earth like the Everglades. It is a unique environment that holds many wonders for the science-minded traveler. |
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Review: by Mom
We were staying in Homestead, FL, so this review is about attractions that can be accessed at the Homestead Entrance. Obviously there is much more to the Everglades than we were able to see, so do some research yourself before you go.
The visitor's center had nice displays and a great 15 minute introductory movie. The rangers were really helpful. If you tell them what you want to do and how much time you have they will map out the best tours and stops for your family. We bought a bird and animal guide in the gift shop and used it heavily that day and throughout the rest of the trip.
The first stop we made after the visitor's center was by far the best. The Anhinga Trail at Royal Palm is a don't-miss attraction for anyone who loves to see a variety of flora and fauna. We took about a half hour to get to the trail from the parking lot (maybe 100 yards) simply because the boys were so interested in the bromeliads and the vultures in the trees. The trails here are wheelchair and stroller accessible--some are paved, some raised boardwalk. It is an easy walk with no steps and flat terrain. The vantage point from the trail though allows viewing of an amazing array of wildlife.
We met a local resident who visits Royal Palm frequently. She said that sometimes you see 100 alligators, sometimes only one. We knew we were going to have a good day because we saw the first alligator from the visitor area, before we even got to the trail. By the end of the trail none of our tallies matched, but all of us had seen over 70 alligators. Most of these were in the water, but many were sunning themselves on the shoreline. They ranged in size from 10 inches to 10 feet. It was amazing, and it took us a couple of hours to cover the short trail.
In addition to the alligators, which of course were the big draw for the kids, we saw loads of nesting anhingas. This is the first time we have seen this particular bird as they are a subtropical species of diving shore birds. They are black and white and have thin, snakelike necks.Their chicks are white, and the alligators seem to hang around under the nests often. We also saw blue herons, egrets, a green heron, a night heron, loads of turtles and a bunch of anoles.
Upon leaving Royal Palm, we headed down the road toward Flamingo. We had read that there were some endangered wood cranes that nested in the area, and we were hoping to see one. About 20 minutes down the road we saw a couple of huge white and black birds with long yellow beaks flying over the car. We pulled over and pulled out the animal guide. These were the birds we had hoped to see. They flew over a set of trees and were gone. We headed on, but quickly noticed there was a parking lot by a small pond just ahead. It looked like where the storks were heading, so we took a shot. To our amazement, what looked like the entire remaining population of wood storks were nesting on the other side of the pond. We were able to stay and watch them. It appeared the males were heading out to get materials to build nests and the females were doing the building. The trees looked like they were covered with cotton. Along witht the cranes, we got a good view of egrets and a couple of roseate sponbills wading through the mangroves. The wood storks made the day though. It is an experience that II'm sure none of us will forget. To see one individual of an endangered species is amazing, but to see a colony just blew us away.
We wished the cranes luck and headed on to Flamingo. Little remains of the Flamingo area after much of it was damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. There is a boat launch and marina store that has sandwiches and bathrooms, but that's about it. However, Flamingo is still a great place to see osprey. We found three nests and the three corresponding birds all a few steps from the store.
This is also the best place to spot the endangered American crocodile that lives in salt water. The man at the store told us he would give us our sandwiches free if we didn't see one. Let's just say we had to pay for our lunch, but it was amazing to see the crocodile and notice the dramatic differences between it and the alligators that we had just seen at Royal Palm.
Also found in Flamingo are pelicans, cormorants and a lot of pesky, hungry terns. We heard from the store staff that manatees sometimes visit. You can rent kayaks and canoes here, and a boat tour of Florida Bay also leaves from Flamingo.
The Everglades are a must-see. Being from the land of lakes and hills, I did not find the landscape to be beautiful, but the ecosystem is unique and amazing. Preservation efforts are underway, but how much damage encroaching humans have caused remains to be seen. Get to the 'Glades while you can.
Additional Reviews:
Sam: The number of animals to photograph is mind-blowing. On just the Anhinga Trail I was able to photograph 3 types of herons---blue, green, and night, not to mention the anhingas and alligators that were everywhere. I could have spent another hour taking shots of the endangered wood storks. All of this is made even better by being in their natural habitat. Awesome!
Dad: This is one of the few World Heritage Sites (Quebec City, Mammoth Cave, and the Great Smoky Mountains) we have visited as a family. The fact that the entire world sees this place as a treasure tells you just how special it is. I highly recommend the Everglades, especially the Anhinga Trail. Take time to talk to people, and find out what is just so special about this "river of grass."
Will: The gift shop was good and the Anhinga Trail alone is worth the trip!