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Everglades National Park : Miami, Florida : Trip Report
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Hours: Winter 8:30a-4:45p
Summer: 9:00a-4:30p
Fees: $10/car

Everglades National Park

It was a gorgeous New Years Day so we decided to take the family for a long walk in the wilderness and visited the Everglades National Park. The Shark Valley Visitor Center is less than an hour from Miami Beach and was a great place to see native south Florida wildlife in a natural habitat. The paved paths meant we didn't have to trek through mud but we could still get right up to the animals.

There were Alligators everywhere! Right off the parking log was a patch of grass along the canal where three small Alligators were sunning themselves. There were also plenty of Alligators with very young babies nearby so this must be a good time of year to see that.

Other than that the Herons were interesting. I have polarizing sunglasses so I was able to clearly see the Florida Gar in the water. I also found it amusing to watch the Anhingas swimming underwater trying to catch fish then get out of the water and dry off their wings.
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Some type of Egret.
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This Alligator crawled out of the water right by the parking lot.
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Not very big but looks well fed and harmless.
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A Great Blue Heron looking for lunch.
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Ebony and ivory, living together in harmony.
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Several Florida Gar just under the surface.
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Several baby Alligators.
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An endangered Wood Stork coming in for a landing.
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Wood Stork landing on it's nest.
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Another Wood Stork.
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Gator speed bump.
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Should I poke it with a "science stick"?
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The Florida Red-Bellied Turtle comes up for a breath.
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An aspiring supermodel.
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A very well placed sign, next to a mother and her babies.
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Hmm, stay at least 15' away. Oops.
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A close-up of a baby Alligator.
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I don't know what this prickly plant is.
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The Hammock path.
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I thought this was a Cottonmouth, a.k.a., Water Moccasin but I'm told it's a Brown Water Snake.
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Another bigger one nearby right next to the path.
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Very porous limestone under foot.
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What a strange plant.
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I watched this bird for a while until...
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...he flew right in front of me and gave me a present.
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Margaret taunts the wildlife.
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My, what big teeth you have?
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Grass.
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Snake in the grass.
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Cool shot of a partially submerged Aligator.
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I think this is a patch of Sawgrass.
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Venomous Snakes of Florida.
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A Great Blue Heron
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An Anhinga sunning itself right by the park entrance.
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Comments From People Like You!
Everglades National Park : Miami, Florida 2004		Add a Comment add a comment
Debra Manning
21-Feb-2006 09:44
Can I shop your gift shop on line? I was there and bought a gater green baseball cap, and want another? Please e~mail me w/answer. Thank~you, Debra manning

Next Section: Our picture perfect visit to John Pennekamp State Park.
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