Initially, the ecosystem of the Everglades has a huge variety of habitats that were connected by rivers and wetlands. However, since humans started intervening in the 1800s, it’s started to alter. Structures have been built to control floods and diverts rivers, which limits the water flow across the complex landscape.

With coverage of about two million acres through south and central Florida lays the subtropical wilderness ecosystem known as Everglades. The overflowing of Lake Okeechobee happens in the rainy season, during which water is slowly released into a shallow and moving river.

It contains a lot of sawgrass marsh and is called the grass river. The river drifts southward, traveling through different habits, comprising of mangroves, wet prairies, and cypress swamps, until it hits the Everglades, and ultimately, the Florida Bay.

With the combination of urban development and agriculture, the magnitude of the Everglades has reduced vividly, which has started to affect the habitats.

With the National Park of Everglades covering such a huge area of 1.5 million acres, having a planned trip is essential. You can access the Everglades through the three entry points though they’re not connected.

**Pro Tip:** Pick up an annual National Park Pass, called an America the Beautiful Pass. The annual pass costs just 80 dollars for the entire family traveling in one vehicle. It can be used at all the National parks and over 2,000 federal recreation sites throughout the United States for an entire year from the month the pass was originally purchased in.

The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center stays open all year. It provides statistics brochures, informative displays, and orientation films. Displays also consist of exceptional collections by native artists. There are numerous walking trails available from the visitor center with only a short drive away.

Renowned as the nation’s first underwater park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park comprises a notable seventy maritime square miles. Countless tourists observe the park’s intriguing coral reefs and swarming marine life and intriguing coral reefs on a crystal-clear bottom boat excursion, one can look even closely through snorkeling or scuba diving.

There are many popular activities allowed in specific areas such as kayaking and canoeing. Tourists can also relish the sights by walking or hiking on short tracks by having picnics and swimming at the beaches.

Situated near the town of Homestead, Florida, Anhinga Trail is a 1.3-kilometer track that consists of gorgeous wildflowers and is used for watching birds, hiking, and walking since its open all year.

It’s also the perfect spot to witness an abundance of birds, turtles and alligators, turtles, and numerous securely from a walkway / a concrete path. During the summer season, it gets quite hot and since there’s hardly any shade available, it’s best to bring hats, water, and sunscreen to protect yourself.

Consisting of mangroves, cypresses, panthers, and alligator tracks, the Big Cypress National Preserve is a scenic landscape that you can explore in a single day. 

There is an abundance of activities you can do in the Big Cypress National Preserve that you would typically be able to allow in national parks.It’s a popular destination for people seeking quite a time in nature. Big Cypress National Preserve consists of an ecosystem that thrives off wetland swamps. You can enjoy many activities such as discovering stunning environments and landscapes. It’s a place tourists come to relax, enjoy and become one with nature.

The high altitude of the Shark Valley Observation Tower offers gorgeous sights of the Everglades. You can’t visit the Everglades National Park and not visit the Shark Valley Observation Tower for the spectacular views it provides due to its forty-five feet plus elevation. It’s a popular spot for tourists as they get remarkable panoramic scenes to witness.

The main task is to take the tram road and climb the sixty-five feet tall Shark Valley Observation Tower. With the help of the ramp which spirals up to a raised area, from where you can look at approximately twenty miles. It’s a fabulous spot for Instagram-worthy pictures.

Where to stay: Outside the park: Miami or Everglades City

Everglades National Park in Florida is one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. It features amazing wetlands home to abundant wildlife and is one of the few places in the world where you can see both crocodiles and alligators. With abundant walking trails hiking at this time of the year is much more comfortable.