It’s that time of year again, and nothing says “Christmas” more than a picnic in the swamp!
Seriously, this is Alison, Michael and David’s favorite time of year to visit the Everglades. The weather is cool, the animals are generally plentiful, and the kids don’t have school!
We will spend an hour or so walking the Anhinga Trail Boardwalk (perfect for kids from 9 weeks to 90 years). Then back in the car for a 10 minute drive to the Long Pine Key campground for a picnic lunch by the lake.
Rain or shine, meet us at the Royal Palm Visitor Center parking lot around 10:45 am. The Anhinga trail starts at the Royal Palm Visitor Center, which is about 4 miles past the main entrance's Ernest Coe Visitor Center.
This is not the part of the park near the Tamiami Trail. The Anhinga Trail is near Homestead/Florida City.
There is a $35/car admission fee to the park. This is valid for seven days, but you may want to splurge and spend $70 on an annual Everglades Nationalal Park pass. You can find links to the park’s web site, maps and all the necessary details below
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Please RSVP to Alison or David via cell phone or Alison's email so we can figure out how much to bring. We no longer have online RSVP as spammers found it too tempting. We hope you will join us. Don’t forget sunscreen, your camera, and binoculars if you have them! If you don't know Alison, Michael or David, then this particular event probably isn't for you. The Everglades is a wonderful place, and we encourage you to visit it sometime, but please don't crash our event. |
Related Links For Your Next Everglades Visit:
- Google Maps view of the Anhinga Trail
The Anhinga Trail is down south, near Homestead. It is not along the Tamiami Trail
The trail starts at the Royal Palm Visitor Center. This is a small building inside the park. It is not the main visitor center by the park entrance. - Everglades National Park
There is a $35/car admission fee. Prepaid digital passes can be purchased online. Annual passes for Everglades National Park are available at the gate for $70, or all national parks for $80. Those of us 62 and over can buy a $20 annual pass good at all National Parks, or splurge and buy a lifetime pass for $80.
- Anhinga Trail This is where we walk. It is one the most popular trails in the park.
- Flamingo Adventures Authorized Concessioner based near the Flamingo Visitor Center at the Southern tip of the park. Offering hotel rooms, a restaurant, houseboat rentals, bike rentals, kayak/canoe rentals, "glamping" tent rentals, boat tours, and other services. Why not spend a few nights during the holidays. There are only 24 hotel rooms, so if you want to stay overnight make your reservation well in advance.
- Camping in Everglades National Park Reservations through Flamingo Adventures.
- "Robert is Here" Fresh Fruit Stand
We used to stop here on our way back from the park. Unfortunately, Robert is Here is closed on Christmas Day. If you visit the Everglades at another time, you might want to stop here for their delicious Fresh Fruit Smoothies and fresh local produce.