Arguably the king in terms of natural wetlands to visit in South Florida, Everglades National Park, which extends over 1.5-million acres, bears no comparison. Rich in everything from fauna and flora, to breath-taking landscapes, it is heavily protected as a gem of international heritage and offers eye-opening insights into the natural world. It has an interesting history, and is a remarkable place to visit, redolent of the sheer enormity of American nature.
Everglades National Park History
Long before being discovered by Spanish explorers in the 16th century, the region which is now known as the Everglades was populated by several distinct indigenous peoples including the Calusa, Tequesta, Jega and Ais communities, who were all non-agrarian and fed off the land by fishing and foraging.
Facilities
The Ernest F Coe Visitor Center, near the park’s Homestead entrance, offers a sophisticated array of everything from educational films and art, to a general store which sells maps, snacks and other camping necessities.
Visit Everglades
While there are no formal lodging facilities in Everglades where you can sleep overnight, the park has two campsites: the Long Pine Key campsite, near Homestead and the Flamingo campsite, 38 miles from the Homestead gate, where for a nominal fee, you can set up your tent. website, Map
