40001 State Highway 9336
Homestead

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The river of grass is the predominant feature of Everglades National Park, of course. But there is so much more — open pine forests, tropical hammocks, open water sloughs punctuated by pond apple tree islands. And there is Florida Bay, mangrove forests and saltwater marshes. For most of us, the starting place to see all of this is at the Homestead entrance to the park and the Ernest Coe Visitor's Center.

The thing is, Everglades NP is so vast that a week might be the bare minimum to take it all in. And don't forget to bring a boat and some serious navigating skills. But for the rest of us who have neither a week or a boat, it's still worth a day trip to Homestead. (As a side benefit, the drive to the park goes through some incredible country not typically associated with South Florida.)

Everglades National Park is home to some extremely rare animals, including the Florida panther and the American crocodile and hundreds of bird species. Odds are long against seeing a panther but maybe a croc if you find the right spot (they hang more in saltwater than fresh). There are walking trails along the main road, including the Anhinga, that are accessible and showcase the variety of wildlife in the park. There are also opportunities for the more adventurous looking to hike the back counry.

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