“Will we get to see the Florida Panther?” my 10-year-old daughter immediately asked as we planned our New Year’s Trip to Marco Island, Florida. By now I am used to such queries from my animal science lover. Although this guy is pretty elusive, we figured we would give it our best shot by traveling to the Northwestern entrance to Everglades National Park in the Southern Florida Gulf Coast. As soon as we got off the highway to head into Marco Island she saw the signs. “Panther crossing next 5 miles.” She was sure she would spot one that night.
Search by bicycle
Biking in the Everglades is a an essential experience at this National Park. Menacing alligators were everywhere on the Tamiani trail heading to the Everglades. A quick stop at the Oasis Visitor center at the Big Cyprus National Preserve allowed us to learn more about the Panther and its struggles to survive in the area. We also learned about the other wildlife in the area with hands -on exhibits. A ranger provided us with Junior Ranger quest materials that we used on our adventure in Shark Alley in the Everglades National Park. After we gathered our Junior Ranger materials and all of our newfound knowledge, we rented some bikes from the park service and got ready for a 15 mile loop bike ride to seek out wildlife. I never dreamed I would let me kids get so close to the monstrous Everglades gators, but there we were cruising by them on our bikes. The last few miles were quite an effort for the kids (and the adults too!) Luckily you can choose to opt for the park service tram for a more relaxing ranger led tour if you don’t think your family is up for the challenge. Although we espied our fair share of gators and gator babies…no panthers.
Search by airboat
Captain Doug’s airboat tours just outside of the park in Everglades City allowed us to continue our quest and fulfilled the need for speed. These boats are smaller airboats so they are able to zip down the mangrove arches and really got our hearts racing. We spotted a Raccoon family and Pelicans that got so close one actually side-swiped my son with his wing…… but the panther continued to evade us.
Search by hiking and wild life drives
The Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve provided the opportunity to hike in the mangroves and drive along the Janes Scenic Wildlife Drive. Sightings outside the park entry indicated that the feline in question had been spotted earlier in the day near a specific fig strangled tree. We were hoping for some luck as we completed the Janes scenic wildlife drive at dusk. Although we never saw the panther, we did spot deer, gators, squirrels, a woodpecker, beautiful flora and birds on the small one way 11 mile road full of adventure!
The J ‘Ding” Darling drive located on Sanibel extended our search. My children were thrilled to find the Roseate Spoonbill and some Wood Storks on this drive. All of our wildlife treks had made us very hungry so we stopped at the Bubble Room, a Captiva landmark since 1974. This spot is kitsch to the max and of course the kids loved it. All the wait staff are decked out as ‘Bubble Scouts’ with crazy patches and hats of their choosing. The restaurant is decorated for Christmas all year and there are several sections just begging to be checked out by the wee-ones, including an outside jail cell.
Search on the Beach
Tigertail Beach is located right on Marco Island and although Captiva and Sanibel garner much of the attention regarding their seashell finds, Tigertail can compete quite hardily. The fine, white sandy beach is very wide, and although we saw no panthers we saw our fair share of other wild creatures including a dolphin pod swimming very close to the shore. No need for a dolphin sighting cruise!!! The kids snorkeled and swam while we adults got in some good reading time. The beach is complete with a snack bar and a playground, perfect for young children. It is a walk from the parking lot to the beach unless of course you are up for another adventure: crossing the salt pond in waist deep water. (The kids liked this option….maybe not the adults…but it was a quicker way to access the beach.)
Search…at the zoo!
The Lowry Park Zoo has been voted the number one zoo by Parent’s Magazine and once we set foot on its grounds we immediately knew why. All of the exhibits were kid friendly and there were many activities for the kids to participate in including walking amongst the Wallabies, feeding Giraffes, Rhinos and Stingrays. A kiddie roller coaster and a carousel were included with admission and provided a great way to break up the monotony of the ‘zoo experience’. We ran out of time before we could see the entire park, but we did finally see Lucy the Florida Pantherand my daughter finally had her up close and personal encounter.
Planning a visit to Southwest Florida? Check out these resources:
Region overview | Hotels | Activities | Exploring the Everglades with Kids | Budget Friendly SW Florida
Michelle Brennan is Trekaroo’s New England Destination Guroo. She is the busy mom of 3 kids ages 10,10 and 7. When not exploring New England, she and her family enjoy traveling throughout the United States on all types of treks.
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Ahhh, beautifully preserved National Parks; the trees, the animals, the geology, the lakes and rivers ……and the traffic- jam up ahead because someone spotted a horned-lizard and parked in the middle of the road to take a picture!
We visit National Parks to get away from civilization, yet often find ourselves trapped in a crowd of tourist bus patrons fighting for a view of Old Faithful. I contend that wearing flip-flops isn’t a requirement to enjoy these awesome spaces and actually prefer to visit off-season with my family.
Off-season national park visits provide two huge benefits: (1) crowd avoidance, and (2) discounted lodging prices. But of course, there are many cons to the off-season. These cons include unpredictable weather, transportation issues, closed trails, limited camping and dining options, kids’ school schedules and missing out on high-season sites or activities.
If crowd avoidance and discounted lodging isn’t enough to convince your family to visit in the off-season, here is a list of ways to overcome all of those cons:
- Unpredictable Weather: Pack winter clothes and wear layers even if it’s still sunny at your house. My family usually begins our day looking like we’re on an arctic expedition but return looking like we’re ready for the beach. Pack board games. My kids still rave about our family chess tournament while sitting through a springtime Yellowstone snow storm as buffalo tromped past our RV (I won!). Finally, enjoy that snow. Rent some snow-shoes and explore the Tetons where you can hear the snow fall or admire the contrast of clean white snow on Bryce Canyon’s red rock.
- Transportation: Road closures may be an issue. Glacier’s Going to the Sun Road and Yellowstone’s Dunraven Pass come to mind; two amazing drives that off-season travelers will probably miss. The good news is that off-season travelers to Zion National Park can drive their own cars in the park without lugging baby paraphernalia on the park’s requisite high-season shuttle buses. (You can see Trekaroo reviews of the Zion’s shuttle buses, which are actually quite positive; yet still not enough to convince me – I like my freedom behind the wheel.)
- Hiking Trails: Yes, some will be closed. However, you may be able to find yourself alone, standing under Delicate Arch or on top of Cassidy Arch with one cool family photo opportunity.
- Camping: Camping off-season does require some fortitude, or a cozy RV (see my review of Cruise America RV) and plenty of blankets. Several campgrounds are closed in the off-season. But the good news is you will most likely be able to find a camping spot without a 6-month advance reservation.
Read my list of early season camping opportunities in Yellowstone
- Limited Dining Options: Word of warning – do not leave the house without a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly. Those towns next to national parks that exist only because of tourism have restaurants that cannot exist when the high season crowd subsides. Ideally, seek lodging with kitchen facilities and hit the grocery store. I know, who wants to cook while on vacation? I don’t even want to cook when not on vacation. But the truth is, you’ll save money, eat healthier and in some circumstances, you won’t starve – Capitol Reef National Park comes to mind.
- School Days: Don’t tell my school district, but I honestly believe that a missed day from school to visit a national park provides good hands-on education. I consider this a field-trip which so many of our cash-strapped schools have eliminated. My kiddos have learned about geology, biology, and history from their national park visits and their grades have yet to suffer.
- Hungry Bears: We usually travel to the Tetons and Yellowstone in spring; the same time all of those hungry scavenging bears are coming out of hibernation. The benefit to this: we always see mama bears and they usually have 2 cute little babies tagging along. In the spring, the animal population is ripe with babies, allowing us to admire newborns such as ornery baby buffalos, knobby-kneed elk, and mischievous wolf pups. Likewise, fall travel allows visitors to experience “the rut” (a good introduction to the birds and bees, and one amazing vocal performance). FYI – we’ve taught our kids that the rut is just how animals’ find their spouses: a song, a display of manliness, some head butting, a coy play of “hard-to-get”; you know, it’s exactly how we find our spouses.
- Junior Ranger Program: Stop at any national park visitor’s center and ask about the Junior Ranger Program, a good educational program to engage kiddos in your park visit. Off-season travel doesn’t end their ability to earn that highly prized badge. Rangers make accommodations for kids that can’t attend ranger-led programs due to off-season travel.
Now that I have convinced you that an off-season visit to a National Park is both doable and enjoyable, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite parks to visit in the off-season:
- Zion National Park – Go in winter to forgo the shuttle buses, but beware of the icy switchbacks along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway.
- Arches National Park –Go in the winter and you’ll snap an awesome family photo on the arches with the snow covered La Sal mountains as your backdrop.
- Yellowstone National Park – Old Faithful still erupts in the off-seasons and you might be able to find a seat to savor a cup a coffee next to that awesome fireplace at the inn.
- Grand Teton National Park – Check out some of the amazing luxury lodging discounts at Teton Village during the ski shoulder seasons.
The bottom line is my family loves off-season national park travel; crowd avoidance and discounted lodging are huge benefits and we’ve learned to overcome, and actually enjoy the cons. However, I hope your family will consider otherwise. I really want to be the only family under Delicate Arch this off-season!
Ann Anderson is the Utah Destination Guroo for Trekaroo
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Do you have to have water and electricity when you camp? Do you like to hike away from it all before setting up camp at a primitive site? Do you park your RV? No matter your preferences, you are sure to find a beautiful camping spot on the Gulf Coast. Camping on the Gulf Coast is a great way to stay within walking distance of a gorgeous beach without breaking the bank at a beach hotel. Here are some of Trekaroo’s favorite spots on the Gulf Coast:
Camping on Florida’s Gulf Coast
The Ft. Pickens campsite is located on the Gulf Islands National Seashore. While the campsites are not directly on the beach, the water is just a short walk across the street. Here family’s can visit the largest of four forts built to defend Pensacola Bay. There are full moon walks, ranger-led programs, and a camp store to pick up necessities.
Located in Destin, this private camp site provides tent and RV spots as well as fully equipped cabins. There are pools, a fitness center, laundry facilities, and more. You can try your hand at fishing at the casting lake and relax beachside while the kids splash in the water.
Read about family friendly activities in Destin.
Grayton Beach State Park is a perfect alternative to the pricey hotels and resorts located in this area. There are cabins available for daily or weekly rent if you don’t want to camp in a tent. There is a full camping facility with water, electricity and restrooms with hot showers.
St. Andrew’s is a full facility campsite on the beach away from the tourist area of Panama City Beach. There is a shuttle boat that leaves from St. Andrew’s to Shell Island. Shell Island can get crowded and hot in the summertime so be prepared with water and sunscreen.
Read about kid friendly activities in Panama City Beach, Florida.
St. George Island is an undeveloped beach with the Gulf Coast on one side and Apalachicola Bay on the other. The full facility campground is behind dunes and is not located directly on the water. It is only a quarter mile away.
This park is located on a barrier island and is accessible only by private boat or ferry. There is tent camping and primitive one room cabins. While you are camping, you can go shelling, snorkeling, fishing and enjoy hiking.
Camping on Alabama’s Gulf Coast
Photo Courtesy Alabama State Parks
Gulf State Park should satisfy even the most reluctant of campers! There are cottages that have three bedrooms, three bathrooms, screened in porches, a full kitchen, television, and more. There are also cabins that sleep six with screened porches, full kitchens and television. If you want to stick to the more reasonably priced tent camping, there are plenty of sites located only 1.5 miles from the Gulf beaches. Visiting the beach isn’t the only thing to do here. You can golf, hike, fish, visit the Nature Center and wander the Gulf State Park Pier.
Camping on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast
Photo Courtesy Mississippi State Parks
Devastated by Hurricane Katrina, this park has been undergoing a major reconstruction over the last five years. Be aware that construction is still going on but there are several tent and RV camp sites available. The campsites on the Gulf cannot be reserved and are open on a limited basis.
The Davis Bayou Campground is located in the Mississippi District of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Camping is inexpensive but it is open on a first-come, first-serve basis. Explore the Gulf Islands National Seashore, tour Fort Massachusetts and attend a junior ranger program.
Camping on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast
Although the beach camping and beach access is currently closed, the premium campsites and lagoon are open. Visit the observation tower to see the coastal marshes, go for a nature walk or go bird watching.
Are you planning a camping trip this spring?
Jennifer Close is the Northern Florida and Gulf Coast Destination Guroo for Trekaroo. She loves to travel with her two children and blogs about her adventures at Two Kids and a Map and Pensacola with Kids.
Trekaroo is a reviews website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
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While Yosemite tends to get the most fame and park attendance of the Sierra Nevada national parks, Sequoia and Kings Canyon are just as beautiful and family friendly as their sister to the north. While the trails is Yosemite are often crowded, there a plenty of kids friendly hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon that offer stunning scenery without as many fellow hikers sharing the trails. Here are Trekaroo’s picks for the best kid friendly hikes in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
1. Zumwalt Meadow in Kings Canyon National Park:
This hike has it all- big trees, a suspension bridge for pedestrians only, a gorgeous meadow framed by towering canyon walls, and plenty of great rocks to scramble on. The hike is 1.5 miles loop and mostly level, a great distance for all age groups. On warm summer days, families will love splashing in the Kings River which flanks portions of the trail. Its easy to pack a picnic and enjoy an entire afternoon in this gorgeous location.
2. Sheep Creek Cascade in Kings Canyon National Park:
This 2 mile roundtrip hike starts on the floor of the canyon and heads up the south face of the canyon wall to the small and glided cascades of Sheep Creek. Beautiful views of the Monarch Divide across the canyon are visible. The trail is moderately wide, smooth, and shaded, but not paved. 600′ elevation gain. The trail (Don Cecil Trail) starts across the road from Cedar Grove. Ask a ranger for specific directions to the trail head or look carefully for the hiking road sign after you pass the turn out for Cedar Grove.
3. Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park:
Take a walk amongst the giants and visit the widest tree in the world, the General Grant Tree. Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the General Grant to be the nation’s Christmas Tree in 1926, and the honor still stands. Visitors have the opportunity to walk through a fallen Sequoia Tree on this 1/3 mile loop. Those seeking to extend their walk among the big trees can continue on the 1 1/2 mile North Grove Loop which begins in the grove.
Looking for the best place to camp in Kings Canyon National Park? Check out our list of family friendly campgrounds in Kings Canyon.
4. Tokopah Falls in Sequoia National Park:
This hike begins behind the Lodgepole Campground and follows the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River for 1.7 miles (3.4 miles round trip)to Tokopah Falls, which plummet 1200 feet. There are plenty of opportunities to play in the frigid but refreshing Kaweah River as it runs over slabs of granite and through the Lodgepole Pine forest along the way. Bears, deer, and marmots frequent the area. The falls are at their most impressive in early summer but the hike is beautiful any time.
5. General Sherman Tree Trail in Sequoia National Park:
This 1/2 mile loop winds visitors through the Giant Forest with General Sherman, the largest tree in the world, standing as its behemoth centerpiece. The route is downhill from the parking lot so be prepared for an uphill jaunt on the way back. Pictures will never do these massive trees justice. You truly have to see them in person to understand just how gargantuan Giant Sequoias really are.
Looking for a four walled option? Check out lodging reviews in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
6. Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park:
This 1/4 mile trail is less of a hike and more of a climb. Visitors basically climb up the side of massive Moro Rock on a series of stairs which are carved into the rock. Families with young children should definitely hold their little ones’ hands tight, this climb takes you 300 feet above the ground. The views are spectacular from the top but people with a fear of heights, like myself, should expect their legs to turn to jello and their time on top of the rock to be short before the waves of panic begin to settle in. That being said, I would have really regretted it if my family didn’t make the climb because the 360 degree views really do seem to go on forever.
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Sharlene Earnshaw (aka doubleadventure) is Blogger-in-chief for Trekaroo and the blogger behind Double the Adventure.
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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.
Trekaroo is a reviews website dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | CO | DC | FL | HI | IL | MA | NC | NY | OR | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
