We went on a fan-boat Everglades tour, which was very educational. You share your boat with a total of 20 passengers, so it is best to sit at one of the outside seats to get the best view of crocodiles in the water, although passengers can stand up and take pictures very freely.

If you love nature, then you'll love seeing the various species of birds and just being out and about. It is well worth the experience.

We went to both Shark Valley and to the main entrance and walked a few trails. At Shark Valley we took the tram tour, which was very informative. If you don't care to take a tram tour, you can rent a bike for the 15-mile round-trip road. At the main entrance we walked a few of the paths (Ahinga and Gumbo Limbo Trails and the Pay-Hlay-Okee Overlook). At both the Ahinga Trail and Shark Valley we saw a number of animals, including birds, turtles, and alligators. The reason the end of February is such a good time to go is because it is near the end of the dry season, so all the animals are hanging around the remaining water holes. If you go after the wet season, it would be harder to see some many animals since they will be so spread out. I believe the dry season ends around April. One other good thing is, if you keep your park entrance ticket, it is good at all entrances for the next 7 days.

We went on an airboat tour of the Everglades on a Monday morning at about 9:30am. The place we used for touring was Coopertown Airboat Tours. If traveling out of Miami on US 41, it is the first airboat tour place. The drive through Little Havana on the way out was fun. Anyhow, the dude who was running the joint was definitely a hick in all senses of the word (i.e. confederate flags are a prized wall hanging), but that’s ok, as at least it made it feel genuine. It costs $15 for about a 45-minute boat ride. The wildlife in this place is much more than just the gators, but they are certainly the highlight. We saw a total of about three gators, all of them on the small side, with the biggest one being about 6 feet long. They were so relaxed; I felt like I could jump in the water and pet them. This isn’t exactly how I pictured alligators-where are the ferocious beasts that snarl and are ready to jump out of the water and into the boat!?!?!?! These things are tame; I want a little fear in my heart!!!! They are used to the airboats coming through the waters and are conditioned to respond in a friendly manner-not necessarily an authentic gator encounter.

All in all, this was educational and a nice break from beach. I recommend taking a boat tour in the Everglades, but maybe finding somewhere else to do it other than this place. A longer tour and a more courteous staff may make for a more enjoyable trip. Shell out a few extra bucks and try one of the half-day tours or an alligator farm instead.

As you make your way on to The Everglades Bike/Walking Path, you will notice that you are surrounded by water on both sides...and not just any water--swamp water. After riding for about ten minutes, I noticed an Alligator--10 feet from me. Actually, it was just his head. If you are looking for a bike trail that will motivate you to pedal quickly, this is it! I would recommend that you start early in the day (the trail is 15 miles long). We started at 4:30 pm and ended up cycling well into the evening (we finished at 9:30 pm!) If you like alligators, this is the activity for you.