Everglades National Park

We left this morning from Kendall, FL heading west along the Tamiami Highway through the everglades.

Our first stop was at Gator Park to have a fan boat ride out in the everglades.

The everglades are named because of the blade which has three sides and is a type of seagrass, but it appears to go on forever so it was renamed everglades.

We did get to see some gators on the gator ride.

We were both not sick on the boat ride and had a lot of fun going really fast and drifting around corners.

We got to see some baby alligators. You have to look closely to see them but they are there.

We like turtles.

These stuffed gators were really creepy but Momma made me sit here for a picture because she wouldn't. 

Zach, we found a better statue for you to climb than the bear in Fillmore. You'll be able to overlook the Tamiami.

After the boat ride we went to the Shark Valley Visitors Center in the Everglades National Park.

We got one of the last two parking spots and had a great time.

We went on a 15 mile bike ride through the everglades. They are very vast but beautiful.  

Beach crusin' through the 'glades.

Halfway through the bike trail is an observation tower and next to where we parked out bikes we found some friends. Visitors are told to not get within 15 feet of the wildlife, but what do you do when they are on the asphalt and next to the bike path? You peddle faster. 

The view from the observation tower. 

After leaving Shark Valley we continued on to Cypress National Preserve, which is part of the Everglades National Park. 

We continued on north into Fort Myers where we were able to see some manatees. 

We got to see several but they're hard to photograph in their natural habitat.

We've arrived at GranDad's and tomorrow is his birthday celebration.