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The Everglades
is nearly 100 miles wide separating the east and west coasts
of south Florida, Miami to Naples. It is combination of Saw
grass and Cypress swamp and the natural habitat of alligators,
panthers, bob cats, wild boar, exotic orchids, eerie Bald
Cypress trees and the indigenous sable palm. We also have
some of the most beautiful bird species including Roseate
Spoonbills, Bald Eagles, Egrets, Ibis and Wood Storks to name
but a few.
If you need to drive over to the east coast the most pleasant
drive is across US 41. If you want to see Olde Florida’’
a stop at Chokoloskee Island, just past Everglades City is
a great stop and you can eat at JT’s Island Grill and
Gallery. Back on 41 you’ll pass Americas smallest Post
Office, and about half way across the Everglades, stop at
Clyde Butcher’s photography gallery to see his highly
acclaimed photographs of the swamp and other local places
of natural beauty.
Corkscrew Swamp
www.audubon.org/local/sanctuary/c
orkscrew/Visit/BoardwalkTour.html
It surprises me how many local people have not been to
this delightful sanctuary. Yes it is a boardwalk 2.2 miles
long around a swamp, but is like being a magical kingdom.
You know there are hundreds of pairs of eyes watching you
from the trees above, to the tannin stained water below the
boardwalk.
There are not many places in the everglades you feel so safe
being so at one with nature, but this place is well managed,
maintained and there is a strong presence of volunteer rangers
patrolling the area who are very happy to point out a Limpkin,
alligator, or bobcat spores to you. The best time to go is
early morning, they open at 7am (but check times with them),
it is quiet and peaceful and after a couple of days at the
beach the natural canopy provides essential shade. It is an
interesting place to visit through out the year and the seasons
change and the water levels rise and fall.
There is a lot of educational information at the center and
a very good gift shop. It’s worth taking insect repellent
with you, but most of the year flies/mosquitoes are not a
nuisance. To get there; take Immokalee Road East about 15
miles. Do not take Corkscrew Road, it doesn’t go there!
The Conservancy
www.conservancy.org
Is another great nature center in the middle of Naples,
where they do a lot of work for the conservation of SW Florida.
Rookery Bay
www.rookerybay.org
Is a very interesting place too. It is a research center and
conservation area too and can be found on the drive down to
Marco Island. There are interesting nature walks and a wonderful
education center with beautiful wild life paintings around
the frieze by acclaimed local artist Kathy Spalding.
The Zoo in Naples Caribbean
Gardens
www.napleszoo.com
This is a fabulous place of very important local and historical
interest. Originally created in 1919 by Dr. Henry Nehrling
as a botanical garden, to protect and preserve indigenous
species of plants and trees. Since then it has taken in a
few animals too and has various educational shows of big cats,
alligators and snakes through out the day.
If you’re looking for cages of animals you won’t
find many here, but the gardens are beautiful and the selection
of animals and the boat ride around Monkey Island will keep
all the generations amused. The current landowners wanted
to sell the land to developers, but the people of Collier
county voted to buy the land and keep it as it is for all
to enjoy and to preserve an old and important part of Olde
Naples.
Lee County
Manatee Park
(239) 694-3537
Manatees are an endangered species in Florida and it is a
rare and wonderful experience to see one in the wild. If you
can’t wait that long for the chance, go to Orange River-FPL
discharge canal, State Road 80, Ft. Myers. Being warm water
loving softies, they migrate in the winter season from the
bays around Naples, Bonita and Fort Myers, to the warmer waters
discharged by the power station at Fort Myers. Visit the Lee
County Manatee Park during the winter. Volunteers available
to answer questions.
Cocohatchee Nature Center
www.cocohatchee.org
Is located on the west side of US 41 number 12345. It
is about 1 mile north of Immokalee Road, 4 miles south of
Bonita Beach Road. From here you can take a boat trip or cruise
as they call it or hire a canoe around the Cocohatchee River
estuary and Wiggins pass. This is a fascinating ride around
the brackish waters of the mangroves and a chance to get close
to some beautiful birds. The guides are very knowledgeable
and make the ride even more intresting.
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