Written by: Emily Joswiak • June 15, 2022• In the Community

4 Things To Do in Everglades National Park

Are you an avid outdoor enthusiast? A trip to Everglades National Park on the southwest tip of Florida is perfect for you. If you have time to spare this summer, head down and see the park’s lush forests, vast marshes, and abundant wildlife in all their glory. As the third-largest national park in the United States, there’s no lack of things to do and see in this nature lover’s paradise. If you’re interested in this vast and verdant place, check out these four activities you can do during your trek through Everglades National Park.

Birdwatching

The Everglades is home to over 300 bird species, some common, some rare, and some that are somewhere in between. Birding sites are scattered across the park, including Royal Palm Hammock, Nine-Mile Pond, and Mrazek Pond, allowing you to see anhingas, short-tailed hawks, herons, spoonbills, pintails, mottled ducks, swallow-tailed kites, and other avian life up close.

The Everglades isn’t just great for birdwatching; it’s a prime location for anyone who likes to observe animals in the wild. Dolphins, foxes, gators, panthers, and snakes are a few other critters that call this park their home.

Fishing

A whopping one-third of the Everglades is covered in marshy water, making it a fantastic place for fishing enthusiasts to reel in a good haul. That said, you need separate freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses before you can toss your line in the park, so get acquainted with Florida fishing laws before you embark on your trip!

You can catch snapper, sea trout, bass, bluegill, and more at various fishing locations such as the Ten Thousand Islands and Nine-Mile Pond.

Paddle Boarding

The water in the Everglades isn’t just good for fishing—it also provides the opportunity to take part in various water sports! One kind of watersport you can try in the Glades is paddle boarding, which involves standing, sitting, or lying down on a special paddle board and using your arms or paddles to glide leisurely across the water. It’s fun and relaxing! Plus, paddle boards come with an added perk: you can fish off them. There’s ample room on the board to accommodate you and your equipment. Talk about a 2-in-1 deal!

Camping

If you don’t want your vacation to the Glades to end when the sun goes down, why not plan an overnight camping trip? There are several camping locations in the park, but Long Pine and Flamingo Campgrounds are the most popular and accessible. Sleep in a tent, rent an RV, or camp beneath a chickee hut by the water!

These are just four of the many things you can do in the amazing Everglades National Park. Whether you want to rough it out in the forest, haul in some fish, photograph the local wildlife, or create your own adventure, there’s something here for every explorer.

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