10 Things to Do in Everglades National Park in Miami, FL

The narrated tram tour takes visitors through a 15-minute loop through the grasslands for an educational tour of the area’s diverse animals and plants. The open-air tram easily accommodates families, but is often fully booked during high season of November through April so reservations are recommended. Visitors will also have access to the Shark Valley Observation Tower for panoramic views of the park.

The most popular way to sightsee in the park is no doubt a trip on an airboat. The boat with fan propeller rushes past the swamps for a thrilling adventure through the park’s murky waters home to the American alligator. An airboat captain gives riders a lesson in the vicinity’s wildlife.

Prefer to glide than to rush through the national parks beautiful scenery? Set out onto the water and navigate the vast everglades archipelago to see two of its most graceful creatures. Take advantage of your local guide and go to some of the best spotting locations through the mangroves. Rumour has it the manatees like to make an appearance during sunset, they’re a romantic bunch after all.

Interested in petting an alligator? Alligator Farm is very much the closest you can get to these reptiles. The Everglades Alligator Farm contains more than 2,000 of these creatures, and gives visitors an alligator feeding demonstration. At the “Alligator Encounter,” visitors can hold a baby alligator, and feed alligators from a breeding pond for $69.50.

Deep dive into North American History and learn about the tribe’s indigenous culture with a visit to their reservation. Deep in the Everglades, the reservation is home to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum where visitors can explore more than 200,00 art pieces and historic artifacts belonging to the tribe, and even see a real village where artisans work on basket-weaving and bead-working.

Hikers can meander through short interpretive trails that linger throughout the park for a chance to explore the area at their own pace. A few trails include the Anhinga Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail, Mahogany Hammock Trail and Pinelands Trail which loops through a forest of pines and wildflowers. You’re likely to hit the Anhinga Trail first, it’s boardwalk is easily accessible and located just inside the entrance of the Everglades National Park.

Paddle through the marshes and open waters of the park either on a canoe or kayak. Visitors can bring their own or rent one from the Flamingo Marina or Gulf Coast Visitor Center. A few top locations to kayak or canoe through are the Nine Mile Pond, or Hell’s Bay, the latter slightly more challenging. Kayaking is a great way to join one of the everglades eco-tours. Led by experienced naturalists, an eco-tour is the perfect way to learn more about the complex ecosystem in the Everglades National Park and its 1000s of plant and animal species.

Located on the edge of the Ten Thousand island archipelago and shielded by the mangrove, this 10 mile stretch of bay area is one of the most popular stops for fisherman and wildlife photographers alike. Connnected to everglades city by a mainland causeway, the city is an ideal place to pick up your fishing equipment, before settling down for a day by the water. The water around the bay is an anglers dream, bountiful with with Redfish, Tarpon, Trout, Snappers, a variety of Bass and many more.

The Everglades is home to deer, black bears, the Florida Panther and over 300 unique bird species. Panthers may be harder to spot as they are nocturnal animals, but visitors can catch glimpses of many animals during any visit to the park. For birdwatching, the Nine Mile Pond and the Mrazek Pond is a nesting spot for wood storks, roseate spoonbills, snail kite, and ducks.

There are various locations for spending a night and camping at the park. Stay at the newly opened Flamingo Lodge and enjoy the park from your very own suite, with a restaurant on site. Want to be even closer to nature? Visitors may bring their RVs and park at the Flamingo Campground or Long Pine Key Campground, and there are numerous campsites to pitch a tent and stay the night. Visitors will have to pay a small fee at the fee station at the main park entrance in Homestead.