Consider a day trip to Everglades National Park, the third largest national park in the United States, especially if you’re staying anywhere in South Florida.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a marvel to see with many species and different ecosystems.

Three park entrances:

Gulf Coast Visitor Center,

Shark Valley Visitor Center

and

Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center

Ernest Coe Visitor Center,

at the park entrance at

40001 SR 9336, contains natural history exhibits, orientation films and park information.

Highlights:

Anhinga Trail,

Pahayokee Overlook and Mahogany Hammock Trail.

Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center

Anhinga Trail is a popular option because of the frequent animal sightings.

You might spot alligators, turtles and birds — including anhingas, for which the trail is named — on this 0.8-mile boardwalk trail.

Anhiga Trail

Pahayokee Overlook is a short walk to an observation tower.

Flamingo Visitor Center is further south. It's worth a visit, but the drive takes up too much time for a day trip.

Shark Valley Visitor Center

The two main activities at Shark Valley Visitor Center are the nearby airboat tours into the park and the two-hour tram tour on Shark Valley Loop Road. From the tram,

barred owls, cormorants, egrets and turtles.

Observation Tower at midway point

At the midway point, you can walk up a ramp to a 45-foot-tall observation deck, where you can get sweeping views of the precious wetlands from every direction.

Gulf Coast Visitor Center

At the time of writing, the Gulf Coast Visitor Center was closed

due to damages from Hurricane Ian.

Service at this

entrance is limited.

The canoe and kayak launch is open,

and Everglades Florida Adventure offers

90-minute boat tours of

Ten Thousand Islands.

Rent kayaks from Everglades Florida Adventure. During the dry season (November through April), you can join a ranger-led, 4-hour kayak tour.

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