This sleepy little town (population 459) has a lot to offer. We visited it twice and enjoyed exploring the coastal area. It seemed so different compared to Big Cypress Preserve. Our visit started at the local museum which described the fishing industry, early settlers, drug trade, and the devastation of Hurricane Donna in 1960.
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| Everglade City Airboat Tour Office |
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| Bev |
We enjoyed an exciting airboat tour with Everglade City Airboat Tours. It was highly rated by Trip Advisor and we each wore headsets offering two way communication with our guide Bobby and each other. The boat only held six people and it nimbly maneuvered the mangroves and open areas. It lasted only an hour but we all enjoyed it very much.
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| Fancy RV Resort |
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| Great restaurant for lunch or dinner |
On our next visit to Everglade City included a canoe trip. The Gulf Coast Visitor Center does have ranger led paddle trips, however, the schedule did not work for us. We decided to rent canoes from the center for $15 per canoe including paddles and life jackets (inflatable kayaks are not recommended). The Visitor Center helped us plan our trip and suggested going across the bay and stopping at an interesting shell island and returning through the mangrove islands.
As we were leaving a group of kayakers pulled in. They were just finishing an 11 day trip starting in Flamingo. They complained about the mosquitoes but still had big smiles on their faces.
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| Canoe launch |
The shell island was "created" from piles and piles of shells left by the Indians who originally lived here. They sure must have loved shell fish. There is a nice trail around the island with markers telling about the Indians and a farmer who once lived here and tried to raise tomatoes. I don't know how he ever came up with that idea. He tried very hard to make a go of it, cleared the land, built a house and out buildings, and lived here with his family for several years. Eventually he abandoned it due to the mosquitoes, hot humid summers, hurricanes, and very few tomatoes. Remnants of the houses and well can still be seen.
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| Shells, shells, and more shells |
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| JC enjoying the trail |
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| Beautiful Spanish Moss |
We returned to our canoes and paddled around the small mangrove islands. We saw a few birds, oyster beds, and were thrilled to see a dolphin.
What an enjoyable time on the water...speedy airboats and a lazy paddle. Our eight days at Big Cypress Preserve and the Everglades has gone by so quickly. We enjoyed our visit very much and plan to return again soon. Don't let the alligators keep you from checking out this amazing place.
Next stop - two weeks in Key West. Jimmy is really excited. His namesake Jimmy Buffett sometimes hangs out there. Life is good!
