Big Cypress National Preserve

We've been out of internet range for about a week and its good to have it again.  After our time at Bowling Green, we drove south to Big Cypress National Preserve which is adjacent to the Everglades National Park.  We are now at Key West but since we will be here for a few weeks, there will be plenty of time to blog about that.

One of the goals of the Roadrunner Chronicles is to keep a travelogue of sorts.  We have trouble remembering where we were and when we were there… so a short post on some of the highlights helps.  This and the next blog will be about our time last week in the Everglades.  In a word -- it was Great!

We arbitrarily decided to spend about three days in Big Cypress National Preserve and did that.  The Midway campground was very good.  The price was $16/night  which included 30 amp electricity.

The site was level and we had no neighbors on either side for the most part, so we had plenty of space.  And we had a front window view of the pond in the middle of the campground.

With a dump station and water near by, it was fine and completely adequate.  From there we launched out and explored the area.  About a mile down the road, we went to the Visitor Center.

The main attraction there was the abundance of alligators.  Lots and lots of those boys...

We also went over to Shark Valley which has a great walking/biking path through the Everglades. 

Near the Visitor Center, we signed up for the narrated Tram tour.  It was excellent!  The wetlands turn into drylands part of the year as the Everglades drains and empties into the Gulf.

The water looks deeper but is only a few feet deep throughout the Everglades.

Along the way we say lots of birds.  There are over 150 varieties in the Everglades

Our driver was good and the docent was very knowledgeable about the Everglades, birds, animals and the whole history.

So if you get the chance to camp in Big Cypress, we recommend Midway campground.  And down the road less than 10 miles away is Shark Valley Visitor's Center with the Tram Tour you will want to take.

It was a great time in Big Cypress.  Thanks for joining us on the Roadrunner Chronicles.  Until next time...