Everglades were Not Quite What We Expected
The Everglades was never a place that made it onto our Bucket List. But our travels eventually found us in the area, so we figured, why not? We had some free time, and this seemed like as good a time as any to see what all the fuss was about.
Everglades National Park is divided into two very different sections, north and south, and you really can’t experience both in a single day. Since we were spending the night in Homestead, we decided to explore the southern section and take the 48-mile drive down to Flamingo Point.
I have to admit, the Everglades wasn’t at all what I expected. For some reason, I pictured endless swamps, murky water, towering grasses, and alligators lurking around every bend. Instead, most of the drive took us through a seemingly endless expanse of flat grassland and wetlands. A few miles passed through stands of Cypress trees, but otherwise, the scenery felt surprisingly open and, at times, downright uneventful.
And those alligators I expected to see? Not a one.
We kept driving, watching the roadside and waterways, expecting something—anything—to make us feel like we had finally arrived in the Everglades. But for mile after mile, there was nothing.
Maybe we’d come to the wrong place. Or maybe the Everglades had something else in store for us.
Everglades Flamingo Point
The Everglades Flamingo Point marks the southernmost point on the mainland United States. (Key West holds the title for the southernmost point in the continental United States.) Ironically, despite the name, we didn’t see a single flamingo anywhere.
We did get lucky in other ways. A manatee hung out in the cove, and an active Osprey nest sat right next to the ranger station, giving us something else to watch.
The state bird (mosquitoes), however, seemed determined to make up for the lack of alligators and flamingos in the Everglades. They swarmed us from every direction. With no desire to add West Nile Virus to our travel memories, we decided we’d seen enough of the Everglades for one day.
We retreated to the shelter of Romin and called it an abbreviated Everglades adventure.
Delinquent Vultures
Another curious fact about the Everglades: the vultures have developed a bizarre fascination with the rubber on your car. Apparently, they love to tear into exposed rubber and vinyl. They’ll rip windshield wipers off, pull apart window and sunroof gaskets, and generally wreak havoc on anything they can sink their beaks into.
They don’t seem to actually eat the rubber; they just enjoy tearing it apart, which can leave you with a surprisingly expensive repair bill. The park even provides tarps and bungee cords so visitors can protect their vehicles from the feathered vandals.
The vultures sit in the trees around the parking lots, watching and waiting like a bunch of delinquent teenagers scoping out their next victim. Leave your car unattended, and they may decide to make it their next project.
Yes, this really is a thing. Google it!
Panthers and Alligators – Oh My!
The lack of other humans didn’t help my nerves, either. Neither did the signs warning us about panthers and alligators. Apparently, the Everglades wanted us to know that we had wandered into their territory.
We did find an abundance of BIG birds, though—egrets, herons, ibises, vultures, and storks. Pete couldn’t have been happier. He stopped every chance he got to photograph them.
Every hundred yards or so, a small bridge crossed one of the waterways. Each bridge had a little clearing where the water passed beneath the road, giving us a better view into the mangroves. Birds seemed to know exactly where to find the fish. They gathered in those clearings and hunted in the deeper water, giving Pete plenty of opportunities to practice his photography.
I, on the other hand, couldn’t wait to get out of there. The lack of people, the warning signs, and the thought of panthers and alligators lurking somewhere beyond the mangroves had my imagination working overtime.
I think I watch too many movies…LOL!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Until next time – Much love,
Romin, Pete, & Lori
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