Welcome To Alligator Country–Big Cypress National Preserve

Big Cypress National Preserve (72 degrees, blue skies)



Midway Campground

Our friends Bev and JC encouraged us to visit Big Cypress National Preserve and we are sure glad they did.  It’s a fascinating place located in the Everglades.  There are two campground in the Preserve and we were very lucky to find sites available at Midway Campground with 50 amp service with water and sewer nearby. You can only stay for tent days per year regardless of campground.  For $10 a night with an access/senior pass it’s a tremendous bargain and a beautiful campground.

 

 

Delicious dinner with the Webbers

Our friends arrived two days earlier while we were in Naples.  Bev cooked us a  delicious enchilada welcome back dinner.  Good friends, yummy food, and a great campsite.  What more does a person need. 

 

 

 

The campground surrounds a pond and we camped for the first time with an alligator.  He turns out to be a very small compared to what we soon would see at the Oasis Visitor Center. 

 

 

 

 

Does it appear to you that the alligator below is smiling?  Or maybe he’s having a “nice” dream. 

 

 

The Oasis Visitor Center has a long boardwalk to view the huge alligators.  We spent a couple of hours  just watching all the action. 

The bubbling picture below is of a walking catfish.  I’m from Indiana and the catfish there sure don’t walk but these catfish can cross the road on their fins.  They make quite a splash and commotion.  Before long the alligators became very interested in them as they awakened their long afternoon nap. 

Bev filmed an amazing video of what happened next.  It was quite a sight and shocked those of us who happened to witness it. 

Besides the alligators there were lots of other wildlife hanging out. Be sure to linger awhile when you visit.  The best time to visit is towards evening when  the alligators become more active. 

 



Great Blue Heron
 



Anhinga