Everglades National Park

Amidst the mosquitoes, heat, and humidity lies a discreet hidden gem located in my home state of Florida. At first glance, you notice a sea of grass covering the landscape with cypress trees being the tallest object in sight. However, once becoming more immersed in this dynamic ecosystem, the wildlife and landscape start to come alive.

When I first visited, I only stopped at the Pa-Hay-Okee Overlook and seen the sea of grass with not much else. With only visiting the Everglades for a couple of hours, this was my takeaway. I since have gone back to this National Park with the intent to dig deeper. Arriving just in time for sunset, I took my Canon R5 and hit the Anhinga trail for sunset. Along the boardwalk and winding through the grass, I had the opportunity to see a baby gator, a yellow-bellied slider turtle having dinner, and a beautiful sunset.

The following day, I jumped into a kayak and started to paddle my way through the mangroves on West Lake. A large crocodile appeared within 10 feet, took a big gulp of air before noticing me, and quickly swam away. That was an exhilarating experience being so close to such a powerful creature. As the wind picked up and the water got choppier, I retreated to shore with (thankfully) dry camera gear and made my way to the Flamingo Visitor Center.

The next day I stopped at Shark Valley to ride the 15 mile bike trail into the Everglades. It was there that the various Florida wildlife made its present known, seeing countless alligators with their babies that Floridians fondly call “swamp puppies”. Though the bike seat was not my friend after a few hours I still highly recommend taking this ride if you aren’t afraid to get close to a few gators. 

My first trip to the Everglades was too short and I knew I would have to return to get a fuller experience. My second trip, which included a bit more adventuring, showed me the hidden treasures and the unique beauty my home state holds.