March 7, 2014

Big Cypress National Preserve & Shark Valley-Everglades National Park

We left at 8AM to drive two and a half hours south to the Gulf Coast Visitor Center at Everglades National Park.   Okay, at this point I have to admit that I should have done a little more research because when we arrived I discovered that this entrance to the park only provides a boat tour. 

At the visitor center we were informed that it was an additional two hour drive to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor center entrance in Homestead.  Not wanting to spend another couple of hours in the car we opted to visit the nearby Big Cypress National Preserve. 

Our first stop was at the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center where we obtained a brochure

and took a short walk on the boardwalk located at the rear entrance of the center.

The clerk at the center suggested we take the fifteen mile Turner River, Upper Wagonwheel and Birdon Road Loop Drive. 

We encountered so many alligators either in the water or sunning themselves on the bank that I lost count after 25.  We also saw a wood stork, egrets and herons.

 

 

 

At the completion of the loop we returned to the starting point at H.P. Williams Roadside Park where we enjoyed a picnic lunch

before taking a walk along the boardwalk.  No alligator sightings but plenty of gar.

Continuing down Highway 41, our next stop was the Kirby Storter Roadside Park where we took the short 1 mile roundtrip walk on the boardwalk. 

 

 

 

 

 

 At the turnaround we spotted this anhinga sharing a log with a little alligator.  How cute!

 

 

 

 

While we were enjoying watching the scenery we struck up a conversation with a gentleman who suggested we visit the Shark Valley entrance to Everglades National Park.  HUH?  I wondered why the clerk at the Gulf Coast Visitor Center didn’t tell us about that entrance as it was approximately 40 minutes down the road?

We set out for Shark Valley, making one detour along the way at the Big Cypress Oasis Visitor Center where we watched a swamp buggy being unloaded from its trailer before heading inside were we viewed a 25 minute video detailing the importance of the Big Cypress Preserve and the Everglades.

Without getting into much detail (facts can be found on the internet) there is an effort to save the glades because changes in the sea level have threatened not only the habitat for numerous animals and birds but, added to the mix, is the diminished water for human consumption.    I lived in Florida for many years and am embarrassed to admit that I didn’t realize the importance of the Everglades.

The video also touched on the plight of the endangered Florida Panther due to its loss of habitat.  There are only approximately 100 in the wild with at least 10 killed each year due to vehicle collisions. 

 

 

We arrived at our final stop for the day, Shark Valley, at 2:40.  We knew that the tram tours left on the hour so we thought we had plenty of time.  Except, by the time we circled the parking lot several times looking for an available spot we used up 10 additional minutes. 

And by the time we walked into the visitor center we discovered the 3PM tram was sold out. 

 

That was okay because we purchased tickets for the 4PM tram and spent the next 50 minutes browsing the bookstore and walking the short Bobcat boardwalk trail.

Back in the day it was a sign of privilege for ladies to sport hats with feathers.  The plumes were so much in demand that the birds were hunted to near extinction.  Conservation efforts helped but the thing that saved the day (or in this case the bird) was when the fad ended.

 

 

Oh my, I had never been this close to an alligator in the wild before.  I kept my distance but Monte got pretty close.

 

We also encountered several different kinds of birds. 

 

 

We were enjoying just walking around and were kind of sorry it was time to make our way back to the center for the start of the tram ride. 

Cynthia, our guide for the two hour tram tour, was outstanding.  She was very knowledgeable about the different types of birds and other wildlife living in the park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the halfway point we walked the short distance to the 65 foot tower offering spectacular 15 mile views. 

 

 

 

Our last alligator encounter for the day was up close and personal.  I bravely stood 3 feet away to take this picture of Monte. 

As the sun began to set, it got quite chilly.  Before long we were arriving back at the center.  I had to look at the time on my phone because I didn’t believe we had been gone two hours.  BUT, we had been gone two hours and the tram ride had been awesome.  Even the three hour drive home didn’t seem that long as we talked about all the wonderful things we had experienced during the day.