iStock International
A close-to-home safari reveals some pretty amazing wildlife
Everglades National Park
Best for: alligators, manatees, flamingos, white-tailed deer, and crocodiles
Invoke the spirit of Crocodile Dundee while scouting for the once endangered American alligator or even the elusive Florida panther in this Southern Florida preserve’s some 1.5 million acres of wetlands. The largest subtropical wilderness in the country is today a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site, which strives to safeguard the flora and fauna of the eight ecosystems that unfold among its “rivers of grass” and some 10,000 islets. Bike, hike, boat, or camp and be rewarded with sightings of rare and endangered species on land, overhead, and undersea. www.nps.gov/ever
Smart Splurge Hotel: For the green-minded traveler who desires to protect a national park, but not necessarily sleep in it, the opulent Mandarin Oriental Miami – situated on a private, offshore islet that’s about an hour from the park’s entrance – is catering to its guests in 2009 with a 2-night Everglades volunteer package that’s inclusive of lodging, breakfast, a hybrid car rental, guided park tour, and arranged volunteer opportunities (like planting trees and cleaning trails). www.mandarinoriental.com/miami
Great Value Hotel: Everglade City’s historic Ivey House Bed & Breakfast, in partnership with a subsidiary of North American Canoe Tours, provides its guests with a myriad of adventure options in the park, and a pleasant place to hang up your binoculars and kick up your feet after a day spent canoeing or “swamp stomping” (aka hiking the Everglades). www.iveyhouse.com
When to Go: Head here during the dry season from December to April to view the most wildlife, from migratory birds to congregations of animals around respective watering holes.
See Maine Travel Guide | See Montana Travel GuideSee Sonoma Travel Guide
