Everglades City is a tiny fishing village on the northwest border of Everglades National Park, the third largest national park in the lower forty eight, after Death Valley and Yellowstone, as well as the largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the continental United States.
In Everglades City, you can stay at the Ivey House Bead & Breakfast, the first places in Collier County designed by the state as green lodging, for its reductions in waste and power and water use.
There are several dining options in Everglades City, mainly fish restaurants, you will find there the Oyster House, Everglades Seafood Depot, and Camilla Street Grill. Even though Everglades City is quite small, you can be sure there are many things to do there. The ideal way to take a tour of Everglades National Park from Everglades City is by boat. It is highly recommended to take a tour that will be mainly centered on the water. This way your whole experience is going to be more environmental-friendly. Do not get me wrong, I am not talking about air boats! Apart from airboat operators, you can also find other less invasive water operator tours providing kayak excursions, among other kinds of watercraft excursions.
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Most of the tours provide a visit to Everglades National Park. At the Park, the four visitor’s centers and ranger stations ar open 365 day a year. However, their hours can vary by season, opening between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Everglades National Park boat tours depart daily numerous times from 9:00 a.m. thru 4:30 p.m. from the park’s Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City. The Ten Thousand Island Tour lasts 90 minutes and costs $26.50; half a price for children. While the Man-grove Wilderness Tour, which lasts and hour and 45 minutes, costs $35, and half of that for kids under 12 years old.
Among the top eco-friendly tour operators in Everglades City, Everglades Rentals & Eco Adventures provides day and overnight guided tours, as well as equipment rental and shut5tle services from October through April.
Florida Everglades Eco Adventure Tours’ Contact Information:
Everglades National Park www.nps.gov/ever
Ivey House 239-695-3299 www.iveyhouse.com
Everglades National Park Boat Tours 239-695-2591
Gulf Coast Visitor’s Center 239-695-3311
Everglades Rentals & Eco Adventures 239-695-3299 www.evergladesadventures.com
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