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From the moment visitors enter this unique Federal reservation,
about an hour's drive south of Miami, they are amazed at this
fascinating 1,400,533-acre nature sanctuary. There's a world of
difference for tourists here in the country's third-largest national
park. This sub-tropical wilderness is covered
with broad expanses of sawgrass dotted with hammocks (isolated
clusters of trees and associated vegetation), bald cypress,
pinelands and dense mangroves. Some one thousand species of
flowering plants grow undisturbed here. Branches of trees are
adorned with orchids and ferns. Intricate waterways, many of which
remain unexplored, lace their way throughout the region.
White-tailed deer, otter, raccoon, cougar and black bear reside
rent-free in the Park along with turtles and alligators. Thousands
of birds with majestic plumage soar and settle in a constant swirl
of color. There are American storks, snowy egrets, purple
spoonbills, pelicans and countless others that preen before the
camera. From Miami there two entrances to the park: Shark Valley, 25 miles
west of Miami on the Tamiami Trail (Hwy 41), and the Main entrance,
which is at Homestead (50 miles south of Miami), Florida Turnpike
south to last exit or take U.S. I south. For more information, call
1-305-2427700. Park offers endangered species of birds and animals
in a 1.4 million-acre natural setting. Boat tours are offered to
otherwise inaccessible parts of the park. Accommodations are also
available at Flamingo Lodge. Main entrance (Homestead) is open 24
hours, everyday. $ 10/car; $10 at Shark Valley entrance (Highway 4,
also known as the Tamiami Trail), open 8:30am-5:30pm. |
