This 1.5-Million-Acre “River of Grass” Also Hides a Cold War Missile Site

Everglades National Park

The Everglades is a vast wetland that stretches across South Florida’s limestone shelf. This special place covers 1.5 million acres of sawgrass marshes, tree islands, and mangrove swamps where more than 360 types of birds make their home.

Here are some of the best things to do at Everglades National Park, one of the most unique places in the US.

The River of Grass

Writer Marjorie Stoneman Douglas gave the Everglades its famous nickname ‘River of Grass’ in her 1947 book, the same year it became America’s first subtropical national park. The Calusa and Seminole people called it Pa-hay-okee, meaning ‘grassy waters,’ and lived here for hundreds of years.

The park once covered 11,000 square miles but got smaller because of farming and cities. Water flows south from Lake Okeechobee at just a quarter mile per day, creating shallow rivers that are home to 68 endangered species. The Florida panther is one of the rarest – only 120 of these big cats still live in the wild.

Shark Valley Tram

Jump on a two-hour tram ride to see alligators up close, of which some males grow over 12 feet long. Your guide, who’s often worked here for decades, will help you spot bright pink spoonbills, blue herons standing 4 feet tall, and ancient-looking soft-shell turtles along the 15-mile loop.

Halfway through, climb up a 65-foot tower for amazing views stretching 20 miles across the marsh. Visit between December and February at 8:30 AM, when cooler weather and lower water levels bring animals to the remaining water holes.

Nine Mile Pond Canoe Trail

Paddle through tunnels of red mangrove trees and open water on this 5.2-mile trail, marked by white poles that guide you through paths first used by Seminole hunters in dugout canoes.

Red-shouldered hawks nest in the canopy while 6-foot American crocodiles swim below. The water stays about 2 feet deep from December through April, making it perfect for canoeing.

Even first-timers can do the trip in about 5 hours, seeing everything from diving ospreys to purple gallinules walking on lily pads with their oversized yellow feet.

Nike Missile Site

Hidden in the marsh lies Site HM-69, a crucial military base from the Cuban Missile Crisis built in 1964.

From December through March, rangers show visitors the missile assembly building, control center, and three restored missile barns with real Nike Hercules missiles inside.

Learn how 140 soldiers lived at this remote base, just 160 miles from Cuba. The original radar towers still stand tall above the sawgrass, reminding us of this tense time in history.

Long Pine Key Cycling

Bike through Florida’s largest remaining pine rockland on this 7-mile paved path. You’ll pass 200-year-old slash pines and rare Miami palmetto palms, while endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers search for food overhead.

More than 30 kinds of wild orchids grow along the limestone rocks. Ride between 7 and 9 AM to see white-tailed deer and tiny tree frogs in natural limestone pools called solution holes. The trail branches off to several shorter paths worth exploring.

Big Cypress Bend Night Exploration

The swamp transforms after dark, when barred owls hunt marsh rabbits and chorus frogs fill the air with song. Park rangers use special red lights to find alligators by their glowing eyes – you might count 50 in just one mile!

Join a full moon tour between November and April to see how nocturnal animals use moonlight to move through the marsh. Even the plants look different at night, creating mysterious shadows across the water.

Slough Slog

Wade through crystal-clear water under a canopy of cypress trees that have lived here for 500 years. These ranger-led walks, running December through March, take you deep into areas where rare ghost orchids bloom 30 feet overhead.

Tiny killifish dart between your legs while carnivorous sundew plants catch insects nearby. Look for endangered wood storks feeding in these pristine waters during your 2-3 hour adventure through the heart of the Everglades.

Gulf Coast Discovery

Where fresh water meets the Gulf of Mexico, ten thousand mangrove islands create a maze full of marine life. Take a two-hour boat tour to see bottlenose dolphins hunting mullet and manatees grazing on turtle grass.

Young goliath grouper grow up in these waters, and you can camp on elevated platforms called chickees just like the Seminoles did. Go in the morning when the water’s calm and yellow-crowned night herons still rest in the mangroves.

Pahayokee Overlook Photography

Stand 30 feet above the sawgrass on this walkway, where photographers capture stunning sunrise shadows and colorful storm clouds. The platform faces south, perfect for shooting lightning during the wet season from May through October.

Morning fog creates magical scenes as it lifts off the grass, revealing hunting herons and egrets below. Summer thunderstorms turn the sky pink and purple at sunset, making for unforgettable photos.

Flamingo Base Camp

Camp at the southernmost tip of mainland Florida, where 15-foot American crocodiles sun themselves by the marina seawall. Roseate spoonbills feed in shallow waters while black-necked stilts and great blue herons call from dusk till dawn.

The extra-dark skies here rate Class 3 on the Bortle Scale, making the Milky Way easy to see on moonless nights. Both tent campers and RV travelers can enjoy these front-row views of Florida Bay.

Anhinga Trail Immersion

Walk the 0.8-mile boardwalk through a rich mix of marsh and tropical hardwood forest. Watch snake-necked anhingas dive for fish and spread their silver-streaked wings in the morning sun, while alligators patrol the waters below.

Winter brings more than 40 bird species per hour, including purple gallinules, wood storks, and tri-colored herons. Visit right after sunrise to see hundreds of birds leaving their nighttime roosts to feed in the marsh.