Everglades

Thursday, July 9, 2015

The Everglades

We had an awesome time today at Wooten’s .  We took an airboat tour and rode through a swamp on a swamp-buggy.   Maddie loved sitting up front on the air boat, our captain kept doing 180s and splashing her, even Hailey was caught smiling at times (for a 15 year-old that is a rare sight these days).  We were able to see some alligators on both tours.  We learned about the native American tribes that once lived in the everglades and  about the trappers that  once made their living catching alligators and other wildlife. We then went through the animal refuge that they have.  We all loved the sea otters and got to see a panther, lions, lynx and Siberian tigers.  There was also a baby alligator exhibit and some very large crocodiles.

 

After that we went to the Big Cyprus National Park Visitors center and walked along the deck they have that overlooks the water. The water was so clear that we could see the fish and even a blue crab.   The Everglades are truly beautiful, lush and green.  It is just sad that since they built the highway and separated the area into two parts that the alligators cannot adjust well to the salt water and they tend to stay away.   One of the coolest things we have seen is the “Panther Crossing” signs all along the highway to the campground.

Our campground is nice, we are the only people staying there and Hailey continues to visit site number 8, the only one that gets cell service.  We did have some family bonding time playing scrabble and uno, and watching movies.  Neither girl wants to be outside after dark since there are alligators in the pond that is in the middle of the campsites.

All in all its been a good start to our vacation.