Everglades National Park
Visitors to Florida should be sure to make time to explore Everglades National Park, which spans much of the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula. This 1.4 million-acre park is the only subtropical preserve in North America, and contains cypress swamps, pinelands, hardwood hammocks, endless plantlife and some amazing wildlife and birds. Unfortunately however, increased pollution has endangered many of the animals in the park, including the Florida Panther.

Begin your visit with by browsing through the informative Visitors Information Center, and then head out into the wilds. There are endless trails to take you through various parts of the Everglades, which can be explored by bike, foot, car or even boat, which is definitely the most fun. Canoeing and Kayaking are also a great option to see the park by water, and all of the equipment you need can be rented on site. Be sure to keep an eye out for some of the parks many alligators and crocodiles: this is the only area in the world where these two animals coexist side by side! Since the Everglades is much too big to explore thoroughly in only one day, there are various campgrounds located throughout the park.

While you are free to explore most of the Everglades on your own, one of the best ways to become educated in the amazing wildlife and plants of this area is to take a tour. These can range from simple walking tours with a guide to getting knee-deep in the grass with an experienced ranger who can teach you about the many aspects of this unique wilderness.