The Everglades on a sunny morning. Image by Tuan Iyne

What is the Everglades?

The Everglades is a subtropical wetland area [...]]]> This website was created to give you a personal account of the Everglades. We’ve enjoyed experiencing the Glades for the past 10 years and hope it will inspire you to visit this wonderful river of grass.

The Everglades on a sunny morning. Image by Tuan Iyne

What is the Everglades?

The Everglades is a subtropical wetland area located in the Southern tip of Florida. The area starts near the Orlando area with the Kissimmee River and goes south into the Florida Bay at the Southern end of Florida over a limestone shelf. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is visited by almost 1 million people every year and is the third largest national park in the United States.

Why most people visit the Everglades – the Gators!

The American Alligator and Crocodile are two of the most famous species that live in Everglades National Park and the Everglades region, and are often the reason that many people visit the area. Although they are protected from hunting, they still face many survival issues because of their deteriorating environment. There are about 1,000 crocodiles in Florida, and there are about 50 nests throughout the area. In 2007, the number of crocodiles and alligators actually rose, putting them into the classification of ‘threatened’ rather than ‘endangered’.

If you come to the Florida Everglades to see the alligators and crocodiles, chances are that you’ll probably see thousands of other types of wildlife and protected species that you might not find elsewhere in the world including the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee. This place, even with all of its troubles, is still a great vacation spot for families and people of all ages who want to enjoy nature and see something amazing that was not built by man.

Things to do in the Everglades

There is plenty to see and do when you visit the Everglades from airboat rides to swamp buggy tours. You can even go camping, fishing, or kayaking in the area. Thousands of people come to the Florida Everglades every single year to experience nature and to enjoy the scenery.  Browse through the site to learn more about how to prepare for your trip to the Everglades, how to find transportation and also the different types of activities it offers, including camping, fishing and the ever popular airboat tours. You can also find information about its various inhabitants including fish, birds and alligators.

If you’re visiting Florida make sure you plan on visiting what is known as the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere -  we promise you won’t regret it!

History & Geography

The Everglades were shaped by water and fire, and experiences drought during the dry season and excessive flooding during the wet season. At one point in time, an attempt was made to manage the watershed and make the land habitable, but it was stopped to avoid decimating one of the most naturally beautiful ecosystems in the country.

People come to the Florida Everglades to see the swampland, take airboat tours, see the legendary alligators and other wildlife that inhabit the area, and to experience the true joys of nature at its best. Unfortunately, less than 50% of the actual Everglades that was intact before the drainage attempts of the 1950s and 60s is what now makes up the Florida Everglades. Wildlife populations are constantly threatened, and those who travel to this region to marvel in the wonder of nature have little idea that the area has actually become diminished compared to what it once was.