Everglades Attractions

Attractions In The Everglades: Other Nearby Things To Do While Visiting

Boating

Whether you’re thinking of navigating the Everglades at your own pace or simply want a relaxing day fishing from your jon boat, we’ve got you covered. Our fully equipped boats are up for rental and ready to tackle the River of Grass. Your customized Everglades experience is waiting; you just have to book it.

If you want to bring your own boat, you can find a public boat ramp at these locations:

• West Lake (vessel and motor size restrictions apply)
• Flamingo
• Everglades City
• Chokoloskee for access to the Ten Thousand Islands.

Canoeing

Taking a canoe or kayak out on the water is a fantastic way to get close to the wildlife. The Mangrove Tunnels is one of the most popular canoe trips, and the Ten Thousand Islands are a labyrinth of water and mangroves where shallows are common. While perusing the Mangrove Islands, you’ll likely glimpse wading birds and possibly even see the elusive and endangered Florida Panther!

Hiking

Hiking is, of course, beloved among visitors to Everglades National Park, Anhinga Trail, Pa Hay Okee Trail, Shark Valley Trail, Snake Bight Trail, Mahogany Hammock Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail: the list goes on. Whether you’re searching for extreme adventures or a short trail to relax on, the Everglades has it all.

The Anhinga Trail is a perfect example of a trail that’s easy, gorgeous, and perfect for wildlife watching. The raised wooden pathway makes it accessible for every kind of adventurer.

Pa Hay Okee Trail is another that runs along a raised wooden pathway. This short trail takes you along a wooden lookout area that is perfect for viewing the sea of grass below as well as taking in the delicate flora without causing damage.

Visitor Centers

There are multiple themed visitor centers to visit, including the Flamingo Visitor Center, Royal Palm Visitor Center, Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Gulf Coast Visitor Center, and Shark Valley Visitor Center. The main visitor center was brought down by a hurricane in 2017, but there’s a temporary station filling its shoes.

Wildlife Viewing

The region is rich in biodiversity. Guided tours allow you to immerse yourself in Everglades National Park, spotting birds, reptiles, and other native creatures. The boat tours are fantastic, but walking the trails allows a more “hands-on” experience. You can walk alone or choose a tour accompanied by a park ranger.

Park rangers always conduct ranger-led tours in Everglades National Park, as well as approved concessionaires with offices on-site at the Shark Valley Visitor Center, Gulf Coast Visitor Center, and the Flamingo Visitor Center, or approved concessionaires with offices outside the park.

There is an incredible amount of wildlife to view in the Everglades.

Atlantic bottlenose dolphins reside in the Florida Bay. The shallow, brackish water houses approximately 450 resident dolphins.

The Blue Heron, a beautiful bird that feeds on small fish, can be found in fresh and saltwater marshes, mangroves, and lake edges.

The guided tours are an incredible way to have someone experienced to point out wildlife, spot birds to snap pictures of, and provide educational backgrounds on plants and animals.

Camping

You have camping options such as the Flamingo Campgrounds, which has bathhouses, dump stations, picnic grounds including picnic tables, grills, and an amphitheater for winter programs.

There are also spots for primitive camping where you can truly immerse yourself in the Everglades. This method comes with a high chance of seeing and encountering wildlife.

RV camping is a popular, comfortable, and delightful way to take a break from everyday life. It’s a way to protect your space while still enjoying some modern conveniences.

There are also beach sites that are approved for camping and swimming. The white sand and sunny skies are an ideal way to spend your vacation in the Everglades.

Birdwatching

Birdwatching is an invigorating way to spend your time in the Everglades. Since it’s home to more than 360 species of birds, you’re sure to never find yourself wanting! The best areas to birdwatch are the Royal Palm area and the Flamingo districts.

Big Cypress National Preserve

The freshwaters of the Big Cypress National Preserve are essential to the health of the neighboring Everglades. The wetlands flow clean, naturally filtered water across the Greater Everglades, through Everglades National Park, and into the crucial estuaries along the southwest coast of Florida.

While the Preserve is technically just outside park borders, it is 729,000 acres of beauty that cannot be overlooked.

Alligator Shows

You can’t witness a spectacle like this anywhere else! Alligator wrestling and feeding demonstrations go on every day. These shows aren’t just spectacular to watch but also informative. While spectating, you learn about alligator biology, behavior, and conservation efforts in the Everglades. They’re the perfect opportunity to sit in the shade, rest, and experience something unlike all other educational displays.

Everglades National Park Attractions – Gator Shows, Animal Encounters, and so Much More!

Our boat tour attraction park has plenty of things to do once you get here. Did you know that a 20-minute gator show performed by the world-famous Gator Boys Alligator Rescue team is included with every airboat ride ticket purchase? And if that isn’t enough and you still want more, you can go wild with an animal encounter experience! You’ll get to spend time with and learn about up to 5 different uncaged and exciting animals, including everyone’s favorite, a baby American alligator.

If you’re looking for the best Everglades attractions, then look no further. Everglades Holiday Park is a South Florida landmark Everglades airboat tour and alligator park attraction that has been open since the 1980s.