ON
THE WILD SIDE
Those
with an urge to pursue their wild side and walk
about in Greater Miami and the Beaches can explore Everglades
National Park. The park offers the largest
protected sub-tropical wilderness in the continental
United States, where alligators and crocodiles exist
side-by-side, flowers bloom year-round, and kayaks
breeze through a maze of creeks and ponds
A
trip to Everglades National Park would not be
complete without a stay at Flamingo Lodge Marina
& Outpost Resort, the parks only overnight
accommodations. Tucked among millions of acres of
natural wilderness, the Lodge embraces beautiful
Florida Bay. At this resort you will find everything
from standard rooms to cabins to campsites to even
houseboats.
Take
a cruise through the backcountry into the mangrove
forests or venture out on a sunset cruise to the
marine feeding and nursery grounds of Florida Bay.
Cruise back in time aboard the Everglades Queen, a
replica of an old steam launch from the turn of the
century. Discover the untouched wilderness of the
Everglades Mangrove Estuary or sail the Florida Bay
on the Windfall as explorers once did more
than 100 years ago.
In summary, guests at
Everglades National Park can enjoy fishing, boating,
bird-watching, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming
and bicycling, among other, more romantic
activities.
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VISITATION:
-
Highest
from December through April; lowest May through
November.
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ADDRESS
AND TELEPHONE:
-
Everglades
National Park
4000l State Road 9336
Homestead, FL 33034-6733
(305)
242-7700
(8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST)
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OPERATING
HOURS AND SEASONS:
-
Main
entrance (near Homestead and Florida City):
Open daily, 24 hours a day. The Ernest F. Coe
Visitor Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. daily. The Royal Palm Visitor Center is
open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The
Flamingo Visitor Center is open from 7:30 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. November through April.
-
Chekika:
Closed until further notice due to damage
caused by Hurricane Irene in October 1999.
-
Shark
Valley: Open daily, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The
Visitor Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to
5:15 p.m.
-
Gulf
Coast Visitor Center (in Everglades City):
Open daily, November to April 7:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m. and May to November 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.
For a complete list of member
accommodations in Greater Miami and the Beaches,
contact the Greater Miami Convention and visitors
Bureau (GMCVB) by mail at GMCVB, Visitor Services,
701 Brickell Ave., Suite 2700, Miami FL 33131;
through the internet at www.miamiandbeaches.com;
or by phone @ (305) 539-2939 or (800) 283-2707
(U.S./Canada only).
