My wife and I were vacationing in the Miami area last month. We love the outdoors, and especially our national parks. Earlier in the year, we took a trip to Mt. Rainier National Park in the state of Washington, and while there, we took a shoe shoeing tour. A park ranger, who was passionate about the mountain, plants, weather and animal life of the park, led it. We figured then that if we go somewhere different and new to us, we would have the best experience in a short amount of time if we learned from an expert. So, when we went to the Everglades, we sought out an expert to maximize our experience.
After learning about Garl's Coastal Kayaking, we decided to give it a try. It seemed a bit pricey, but after we experienced the day, we felt that our money was very well spent. Garl himself was our tour guide, and we were blown away by his passion for all things related to the Everglades. He is an unbelievable tour guide! He knowledge of all the plants, animals, and ecosystems, coupled with his friendly personality and sincere desire to make sure that our experience was the best it could be, are tops.
Some highlights of our trip included going out to the cypress domes, also known as alligator holes. From the road, all you see is a tall stand of trees. Since it was winter, the cypress trees had no leaves on them, so it didn't look too appealing. Garl announced that we would be walking out there, and since the recent rains had made the plains full of water, we were walking in knee-high water for quite some distance. However, when we got there, it was like walking into a paradise. Tall trees created a large room, where lovely red bromeliads were beginning to bloom. Orchids hugged the sides of the trees. Barred Owls observed us from high above in the trees. All this time Garl was taking high-quality pictures for us, so there was no pressure on us to take pictures to capture the memories. I did bring my iPhone camera (protected in a waterproof case) so that I could take my own pictures.
Another highlight was padding in our kayaks on the freshwater pond. There we saw an alligator in the water and a crocodile (Croczilla, as Garl affectionately refers to him). Then we moved into mangrove swamps. These mangrove trees and the brush created a maze through which we paddled, with different exciting views at each turn. Knowing that Garl was leading the way gave me a sense of comfort that I didn't have to know exactly where I was going. It was a great peace of mind!
We also paddled in the Florida Bay (salt water) during the evening hours and watched the sunset before heading back to where we launched at the Flamingo Center. That was very beautiful to see the birds in flight over the water as the daylight hours faded. This was a definite must-see!
All in all, this trip is worth your money. As Garl said, 90% of the people who visit Everglades National Park never see what we saw and experienced. Don’t be part of that 90%. You will miss out on the true beauty of the Park.