Everglades National Park is one of the most underrated national parks, likely because so much of its intrigue lies below the surface of the water. The Everglades are home to freshwater and saltwater species, terrestrial and avian species, and a whole host of reptiles and amphibians. These underwater forests are teeming with biodiversity, but you have to go to the right places to truly appreciate the extent of what the park has to offer.
My sisters, Heidi and Natalie, and I visited southern Florida in the spring of 2021 where we spent a day exploring Everglades National Park. We didn’t plan much for our visit, so we asked a park ranger where the best place was to view wildlife easily. They directed us to the marina next to the Flamingo Visitor Center, which is located on the south side of the park. It took about an hour for us to drive down there from the north side of the park where we entered, and we made a few stops at scenic points along the way.
When we arrived at the Flamingo Visitor Center, we made our way onto an unfinished bridge to look out over the water. Immediately we realized a pair of ospreys had made a large messy nest on top of a light post near the bridge. We also spotted an alligator or crocodile off in the brush alongside the banks of the river. We couldn’t tell which it was, but eventually, it made its way further into the weeds. Fun fact, the Everglades are the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles live in the same environment.
We popped into the marina store to get lunch before continuing our wildlife search. We could tell we were in the right place because all around us people were pointing excitedly into the water at something we couldn’t see. Finally, we headed over to the water’s edge to take a look for ourselves.
We stood on the marina docks peering into the murky water. It was hard to see much more than an inch or so below the surface, so spotting anything suddenly seemed unlikely. However, it didn’t take long for us to spot something just in front of us. Two nostrils broke the surface a few feet away from the dock and we startled backward in surprise. We weren’t sure what it was at first but had a hunch that it was an alligator which made us keep our distance.
The nose dipped back below the surface and reappeared further away. Then another. But as we looked more closely, we realized our hunch was wrong. As the noses broke the surface of the water, more and more of the head became visible until we recognized the beloved manatee, an animal we’d only seen before in pictures.
Flamingo Marina is probably the best spot in Everglades National Park for wildlife viewing. Since it is located with direct access to the ocean, you can see alligators, crocodiles, sharks, dolphins and, of course, manatees.
We rushed off the dock and towards the marina walls where the manatees congregated. I believe this was a popular spot for the manatees to hang out, it had something to do with little vents or wells. I think it was where freshwater poured into the marina or maybe had something to do with a food source? I can’t remember.
There was a handful of manatees just below our feet swimming up just below the surface to show off their large bellies and tails. Large scars marked their backs in unique patterns, the lucky survivors of boat strikes. Many manatees die from boat strikes because they inhabit shallow waters that boaters frequent. Manatees are on and off the endangered species list more than they should be, and this is also in turn because of the lack of consistency in their protections. So when you’re out recreating in environments with wildlife abundance, remember to follow posted speeds and respect wildlife areas.
We began walking along the docks again when we ran into a park ranger that excitedly brought us over to a far dock. Sitting in the shallow water of a boat launch, basking in the warm sunlight, was a mother alligator. She was only a couple feet away from the neighboring dock that we stood on. He pointed out a tree along the shoreline where the mother alligator’s nest was. They had blocked off the area from public access to protect the nest. So incredibly grateful for this park ranger who excitedly shared this experience with us!
On our way out of the park, we followed some signs directing us off the main road to a small lake. The lake had shallow aquatic plants growing along the shoreline and a curious turkey vulture exploring the bank.
Although our experience in the Everglades was short, we were able to see a variety of unique wildlife species like manatees, alligators, white ibis, osprey, crabs and more! There’s so much that’s unique about the Everglades, and so many incredible ways to experience all the park has to offer. From kayak tours to slough slogging, boat tours and camping, there are plenty of ways to make your visit memorable, even if you only have a few hours.
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