Everglades, United StatesHalf dayMorning
Everglades National Park
Ideal: Ideal for nature, wildlife, photography, family trips, and a different side of Florida.
Calling it a swamp misses the point: it is really a vast river roughly 100 kilometers wide but only a few centimeters deep, flowing about a kilometer a day — Seminoles called it 'grassy water'. It is the only place on Earth where American alligators and true crocodiles live together. About half the original wetlands were lost to farming and drainage projects. In recent years Burmese pythons released from the pet trade have upended the ecosystem, and mammal numbers in the park have dropped sharply.
Quick facts
- Built
- 6 December 1947
- Area
- 1,508,538 acres
- Annual visitors
- 702,319
- Heritage status
- World Heritage Site
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Why go?
- To see Florida's unique wetland ecosystem
- For alligator, bird, and wildlife watching
- For a nature experience unlike the Miami coast
Travel tip
Airboat tours are popular — bring water, sunscreen, and expect sun and mosquitoes.
