Florida is well known for many family friendly vacation spots.  One of my favorites is the Everglades National Park.  This park is the third largest in the lower 48 (behind Death Valley and Yosemite National Parks) and has such a variety of plant and animal species that a walk through this “river of grass” really feels like you’ve stepped back in time!  Whenever friends and family visit Florida, they always want to explore this amazing national treasure and designated World Heritage Site.  Of course, they want to see alligators and we always do!  There are park access points on Florida’s Gulf Coast near Everglades City and also on the east coast near Miami in Homestead and Key Largo.

Coming to the Everglades from the west? Check out these kid friendly hotel reviews in Southwest Florida.

Making it a day trip from in or around Miami? Be sure to read these kid friendly hotel reviews in Southeast Florida.

The visitor’s information centers offer a great introduction to the park.  Families really enjoy the interactive exhibits where you can hear recorded sounds of park animals and match them up with their photos.  From the visitor’s centers, you can take guided tours in boats, on foot or bicycle and even by tram.  If you decide to take a walk on one of the many trails, please keep your kiddos close by.  There are wild animals and sometimes the trails get flooded in sudden downpours.

The park is open every day of the year and is busiest during the dry season from December through April when the weather is most pleasant.  Typically, we start our Everglades family travel adventure in Everglades City on a guided boat tour.  As we troll through the mangrove islands, we see so many alligators and beautiful birds that we lose count!   If you prefer to canoe at your own pace, there are plenty of challenging canoe trails that wind through a variety of habitats.  You can see nesting birds, alligators, and might even spot a manatee!  Be prepared with lots of water, sunscreen, and bug spray.  Because the water levels are higher during the wet season which runs from May through November, it will be more difficult to spot some animals.  This also means that the mosquitoes and biting flies are more plentiful.  Be prepared by wearing lightweight long sleeves and pants and plenty of bug spray.

So, pack your sense of adventure, a fully charged digital camera and plenty of bug spray to capture some amazing family vacation memories that you all will cherish for years to come.  The alligators are waiting!

Looking for more family fun in South Florida? Read about kid friendly activities in Southeast and Southwest Florida.

Lisa-Marie Leihy (aka: Cavalletta) and her family, always up for diverse outdoor adventures, have been known to kayak with alligators, swim with manatees, frolic on white sand beaches in her native state of Florida as well as try their luck skiing down fresh powder mountain slopes.  They also enjoy attending professional sports, arts and cultural events, especially when cheering on Lisa-Marie as she plays her tuba in the annual Tuba Christmas concerts. A graduate of Florida State University with a degree in arts management, Lisa-Marie was fortunate to study in London with the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre and London Symphony Orchestra and currently serves as the Southern Florida Destination Guroo for Trekaroo.

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