We visited Everglades National Park on January 14, 2012, during a cruise trip. We spent a few hours exploring the area, with a guided boat tour as the main event. We wanted to see wildlife, and the Everglades delivered on that front.
Our Visit
We took a guided boat tour through the wetlands, which gave us a chance to see the landscape and its wildlife from the water. There was a wide variety of scenery, from trees to wetlands, and it was interesting to see how much life was packed into the area.
The alligators were the big attraction for me. We saw lots of them. Lots. I'm glad we were watching from a boat at a comfortable distance, though. I expected to be more scared than I actually was, but that doesn't mean I wanted to get any closer. I have a healthy respect for animals that could decide I'm lunch.
Evan especially enjoyed the airboat experience and seeing the animals. He liked how distinct the Everglades felt compared with other national parks. Each park has its own character, and the Everglades has a very particular one, shaped by its wetlands and the variety of life they support.
We didn't do any hiking or explore the park on foot, so our visit was limited to what we could see from the boat. There was plenty to keep us interested for a few hours, and we got what we came for: wildlife and a look at a very different environment.
Favorite Things
The alligators were my favorite part. Seeing so many of them in their natural habitat was memorable, and the boat was a good way to observe them without getting uncomfortably close.
Evan's favorite was the combination of the airboat tour and the wildlife. The Everglades isn't just another place with a nice view. Its ecosystem gives it a character of its own, and the animals are a big part of what makes it interesting.
Things to Know Before Visiting
Allow a few hours at minimum. We spent a few hours focused on wildlife and felt that was worthwhile. Evan thought a day or two would give visitors a more complete experience.
Consider a guided boat tour. This was the main way we explored the park, and it worked well for us. There are different ways to experience the Everglades, including boat tours, airboats, hiking, and paddling.
Keep your distance from wildlife. The alligators were fascinating to watch, but I was perfectly happy to observe them from the boat. Admiring them from a safe distance is a good arrangement for everyone involved.
Think about the weather. Evan would avoid the height of summer. South Florida's wet season typically runs from May through November, when rain and mosquitoes can be more of a factor.
Bring ear protection for an airboat tour. Evan's advice was to bring your favorite earplugs. It is probably worth taking that suggestion seriously if you're sensitive to noise.
Our Ratings
We use a five-point scale for activity ratings: 1 = Poor, 2 = Below Average, 3 = Average, 4 = Good, and 5 = Excellent. Ratings below reflect the activities we actually tried.
| Category | Judy | Evan |
|---|---|---|
| Scenery | 4/5, Good | 4/5, Good |
| Wildlife | 4/5, Good | 5/5, Excellent |
| Water activities | 4/5, Good | 5/5, Excellent |
| Overall experience | 4/5, Good for a specific interest | 4/5, Worth visiting |
Judy's overall rating: Good for a specific interest. I enjoyed the wildlife and the boat tour, and the Everglades was worth visiting for that experience.
Evan's overall rating: Worth visiting. He especially enjoyed the airboat tour and the wildlife, and appreciated how different the Everglades is from other national parks.
We didn't hike, geocache, camp, or explore the park's historical sites, so those activities aren't rated as experiences from this visit.
Official Park Information
Visit the official Everglades National Park website for current information and trip planning.
Everglades National Park protects approximately 1.5 million acres in South Florida, including wetlands, mangrove forests, coastal areas, and other habitats. Established in 1947, it was the first national park created specifically to protect biodiversity. The park supports a wide variety of wildlife, including American alligators, crocodiles, wading birds, and the endangered Florida panther. Visitors can explore by boat, bicycle, kayak, or on foot, and guided tours offer ways to learn about the park's ecosystems. Because the park is so large, its different entrances provide access to distinct areas, so it's worth planning ahead to choose the experience you want.
Final Thoughts
We enjoyed our visit to Everglades National Park, particularly because of the wildlife and the opportunity to see the wetlands from the water. A few hours was enough to give us a taste of the place, but there is clearly much more to explore than we managed on this trip.
If you enjoy wildlife, especially alligators, the Everglades is worth visiting. I'd be interested in trying a ranger-led wetland walk if we return. For now, I'm happy with the alligators we saw from the boat. We had a good view, and they had no reason to know we were there.
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