Where exactly are the Everglades and what can you do there?

[jdm]

Well, well, my family who hates my anal planning months in advance have decided to participate once I start making the decisions on my own! I was thinking of spending one week in Orlando and one week in the Keys. I was going to give up a reservation being held in Daytona (nice condo) so we could do this. Now everyone is thinking they don't want to miss Daytona, so maybe do the keys another time.......

But, DD13 says she really has always wanted to see the Everglades. She is very into nature and marine-life etc.I have a vague idea it's swampy with alligators (my reference- watching Flipper as a child. Didn't the Dad use to go to work on an airboat?). Anyway, I thought the Everglades were in the Keys. DH says, no- they are just South of Miami. I looked at the atlas and it looks like he is right. I'm thinking fly into Miami, see the Everglades and maybe Key Largo for 2 days, then drive to Daytona for 4 nights and then the rest in Orlando. Does this sound like too much?

What kind of things can you do in the Everglades? I'm assuming there are some kind of tours. While I know DD would be into doing some kind of airboat thing, I think I'd pass (too scarey). Any advice? Have you been, and what did you do? How much time would we need?

Thanks
Jenn

 

[GOOFYFREEK]

Umm.... being a FL resident and been to the Everglades many of times. You are exactly right its a swamp. Great place to do some fishing and air boat rides and see some gators and do some swamp buggy tours. I wouldn't consider the Everglades a tourist spot. But its a neat thing to see if your in the area, but I wouldnt plan more than a day trip to there. If it was me I would skip Key West for another trip and stick with Daytona then over to Orlando. Its also a 6-7 hour drive from the Keys up to Daytona. There are also airboat tours in Orlando area as well. And then again after this week Key West might not be a option all together.

 

[Motherfletcher]

The Everglades is a National Park which is a sea of grass from Orlando (headwaters) to the Keys. It is the second largest tourist attraction in the State.
What can you do?
Fishing is the number one attraction. Snook or Tarpon being the prize catches.
You can visit the National Park Service in Everglades City. They have informative boat tours that your daughter would like. You might even catch glimpse of the endangered American Crocidile or the Florida Panther but its more likely you will see alligators, turtles and lots of birds. While there you can have lunch at the historic Rod and Gun Club which has hosted 4 Presidents.
Another option would be Wooten's Airboat Rides on US41 in Ochopee. Their airboats are huge and travel real slow or they have swamp buggy rides which is a raised jeep type vehicle. Their alligator confinement area is wall to wall gators and reminds me of the Tarzan movies where they run across the gator's back. While in Ochopee you need to visit the smallest Post Office in the USA. I've seen portolets larger. I don't, but some believe in Big Foot like creature called a Skunk Ape. Ochopee has a Headquarters for that.
The most important thing you need to do is feed our mosquitoes!

 

[spiceycat]

here is a couple of links

national park service
http://www.nps.gov/ever/

a guide
http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_park/fl_everg.htm

 

[sln88]

My DH and I were in FL for a business trip a few years ago. We extended the trip and decided to see the Everglades and the keys.
The day we tried to go to the national park, there was a sheriff there not letting people in the park. He was gruff and would not tell us why we could not go in. Another visitor yelled 'there is an alligator in the park'. We both looked at each other, like what? of course there are alligators in the park!

ends up AL GORE was in the park. needless to say, I have voted Republican ever since

We drove across the state and thru the everglades to get to the keys. I was unimpressed with it. I remember having to sit in long lines of cars because they were burning the brush on the side of the road. we also went on a boat ride, but I don't really remember much about it. Maybe the national park is exciting? I would not go back there myself.

 

[jdm]

Thanks so much for the great info. I'm really struggleing with the planning of this trip. One thing I hadn't considered is that we might see some of the Everglades closer to Orlando. Although we are tempted to see the Keys, I'm wondering if March / April might be too crowded. The hotel rates are through the roof and we are not campers. MIght be best to save that for another time.

Thanks again for all the responses and info.

Jenn

 

[ducklite]

Southern portion of the state starting just south of Orlando. As for what to do, swat mosquitoes comes to mind...

Anne

 

[Otter49]

This is heresy I suppose, but I'd skip Daytona Beach if at all possible.

Given the choice of going to DB or coming down with rickets, I'd take the rickets. I find nothing of interest at all there.

South of there - Canaveral Nat'l Seashore, or north to St Augustine - that's a different story. But DB with it's semi ugly beach and cars driving on the sand. No thanks.

Everglades are cool, Keys are fun.

 

[Steffi]

As for what to do, swat mosquitoes comes to mind

That pretty much sums up my memories of a family trip to the Everglades when I was a kid! We also went to Key Largo on that trip, which I don't remember being as "island-y" as I had pictured the Keys to be. Maybe you have to go farther south for that island feel? But then again, I was a young whiny kid then, so my perspective of the places might be warped.

If you have your heart set on seeing some of the "natural" Florida, and you're planning on being in the Daytona area, how about seeing the Ocala National Forest? It's certainly much closer to Daytona than the Everglades (and prettier)! They have natural springs, places to canoe & ride horses, trails, etc. You could also visit Silver Springs, a quaint nature theme park with glass-bottom boat rides and some other attractions.

 

[denisenh]

We also went to Key Largo on that trip, which I don't remember being as "island-y" as I had pictured the Keys to be. Maybe you have to go farther south for that island feel?.

From the memory of my one trip down to the keys, I'd say yes, you have to go further down.
When you see water on both sides as you are driving down it is real pretty too.
I enjoyed the ride down.

Another real nice place to visit in the keys is http://www.cranepoint.org/

 

[jdm]

Thanks Steffi, that is great info. We really don't know too much about the area. We always stay in Orlando area with the exception of Cocoa Beach. I know that Daytona is a real touristo area, probably loud and the beach is not like the ones on the Gulf side. We are taking my DD13 and my DN15 and I thought it would be a ball for them. We only have 4 nights there. The condo we're staying in is right on the beach with a lazy river, beautiful pool and some type of entertainment complex. It's mostly for the girls, it sounded like a fun teen-agery thing to do.

My daughter is horse crazed so when you said about horsebackriding, that certainly jumped out at me. I will definitely start searching the Ocala National forest. After Daytona we are going to spend a week in Orlando. We're hoping to do some day trips (non-theme park) from there. We love Orlando because we can do some fast easy trades into some beautiful resorts for low$$$ and then we can do as much or as little as we want.

Thanks again for any and all input/info!
Jenn