Florida Everglades Tours

Everglades Animal Profile: The Everglades Mink

Tucked into the freshwater marshes of Everglades National Park and Big Cypress Swamp, within the hollows of fallen trees or living in the shade of tree roots, one might find a furry, chocolate brown, beady black-eyed member of the weasel family commonly known as the Everglades Mink. This mink is 1 of 3 species of American minks that call Florida ‘home’ and this is the only mink in Southwest Florida. A semi-aquatic, carnivorous, nocturnal mammal that feasts on smaller mammals, snakes, frogs and insects, the Everglades Mink lives a solitary existence except during mating season. In the Spring, female minks have their litter of 3-6 pups, which stay with them until Fall.

The Everglades Mink may squeal, hiss and snarl when startled. As well, they release a putrid liquid that stinks similar to skunk spray. The odorous liquid serves as both a warning to potential predators and an indicator of presence to other mink. If you see a mink sneaking on its stomach, it’s most likely stalking prey. When they set out for travels, they do so in a fast scurry. If you see mink on the move, you may want to check the weather because they tend to increase in activity as storms approach.

Although not Federally listed, the Everglades Mink is state designated as threatened and is protected by the Florida Endangered & Threatened Species Rule. Changes in the water level within the marshes from drainage, logging, along with construction of dikes, canals and roads all lead to destruction of habitat. The rise of invasive species, particularly the burmese python, gives rise to further threat of the Everglades Mink. In fact, until the fur of one of these smallish creatures was found in the belly of an alligator in 2011, many thought there were none left in the Everglades.

Everglades Bird Watching: American Bittern

People are not the only ones who want to break away from the bitter, winter cold and take refuge with us in the paradise of Southwest Florida. Here in the Everglades, we have a yearly visitor that flies in from great distances to warm their feathers in the multi-faceted habitats offered in the extraordinary Everglades National Park. This species of wading bird from the heron family is commonly known as the American Bittern. This feathered friend lives in most of North America and breeds in southern Canada, but migrates to the Everglades (among other southerly destinations) for winter.

The American Bittern disguises itself well among the cattails and other vegetation at the marshes banks, as its brown coloring and long, robust bill and legs, which are yellowish-green, allows them to blend into a field of tall grasses or patch of rough vegetation seamlessly, which they will do whenever they sense they’ve been spotted. This makes spotting them out a challenge, one we are always up for! It is a territorial bird and has a threat display which involves slowly erecting long, white, normally hidden, plumes on its shoulders, to form wing-like extensions.

These birds usually hunt by walking quietly in shallow water and among the grasses, stalking its prey. It is mainly nocturnal and is most active at dusk. More often heard than seen, the male bittern has a loud, booming call that has garnered some creative nicknames, including “stake-driver,” “thunder-pumper,” “water-belcher,” and “mire-drum.”. While producing this sound, the bird’s head is thrown upward and then forward in an awkward, jerky motion, and the sound is repeated up to seven times. Typical fare for the American Bittern includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, crustaceans and insects.

Although not listed as endangered, with a booming population in most of its territory, the American Bittern has seen a decrease in numbers in the Everglades over the years to habitat degradation.

Taste the Flavors of the Florida Everglades

Adventure, as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks; an exciting or remarkable experience”

When you join us for one of our tours, our guides encourage you to embrace the term and truly allow yourself to experience something special and unique– and this doesn’t just refer to all of our exciting planned activities. In between the thrills, we also specialize in the chill while we visit the world famous Oyster House Restaurant in Everglades City.

Sit at a waterfront table and consider your meal as yet another adventure to embark upon. The flavors of Southwest Florida and the Glades is especially unique to the area, don’t miss your chance to take a chance on a few local delicacies– you are on an adventure after all.

Fresh and local seafood are always popular with locals and visitors alike. Locally made beer from Key West Sunset Ale, Naples Beach Ale, and Florida Ave IPA is also available to those who would like to sample the flavors of our local breweries on your own.

Don’t be scared to try something new, everything is delicious at the Oyster House, all you need to do is take a chance and we know your tastebuds will dance.

Sit back, relax and adventure through the tastes, smells and flavors of our slice of natural Floridian paradise!

Following in the Footsteps of SWFL Tourism Pioneers

The past 100 years has been a period of change and transformation throughout Southwest Florida and the Everglades. Families, businesses and buildings have come and go during this passage of time. Since the development of life in South Florida, the Everglades has held it’s position as a land of beautiful mystery to all who discover her wonders. Much like our adventure tour, there were destinations to reach and tours to join even during the early days of Everglades tourism. Though many (not all) of these entertainment centers and activities have been lost to the hands of time, we would like to take a look back at a few of these popular attractions to keep their memory and distinguished status’ alive.

Everglades Observatory

Located on the eastern edge of the Everglades, this 25 foot tower was built in the early 1900s to provide tourists stunning views of exotic swamplands. These tourists were also solicited to purchase their own plot of land out in the Glades. The Everglades Observatory drew visitors out from the Miami city center to expose them to the possibilities of life and exploration of the unique landscape of the glades.

Clewiston Inn Wild Life Mural

The Clewiston Inn dates back to 1938 and is home to “The Everglades Lounge” a unique lounge area with walls painted from floor to ceiling with an impressive wildlife mural. The images include handpainted, life size portrayals of alligator, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, many birds, and other Floridian animals and plants.

Ted Smallwood’s Store

Standing at the Southernmost point of Southwest Florida is Ted Smallwood’s store, a unique trading post dating back to 1906. Once home to a functioning trading stop, the store housed hides, furs, farm produce and more. Travelers, merchants and traders from across Florida, Cuba and the gulf of mexico frequented the post. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and it remained open and active until 1982 when it’s doors closed. Reopening in the 90s, today it serves as a time capsule of Florida pioneer history.

Miccosukee Mythology: Feel the Spirit of the Everglades

When staring into the expansive swamp and endless sky of the Florida Everglades, it’s easy to feel in touch with nature and the people who have built their lives in the area for thousands of years. The Miccosukee Tribe, a branch of the Lower Creek/ Seminole Tribe, is one of the most prominent tribes in the history of the Everglades. They feel a strong connection to the land and believe in many ancient myths that have been carried down for thousands of years across many generations.

Most Miccosukee myths and legends center around the natural world and local wildlife. Tales about the Milky Way being used as a pathway for the fallen, a Florida Panther acting as a favored companion to ‘The Creator” and more tales about Alligators than we can count!

The tale of The Alligator and The Eagle is the perfect example of how Native Americans used folklore to explain the happenings of the world around them. According to the legend, when the world first began, animals were able to talk to each other. One day, the birds had arranged to play ball and took turns throwing the ball. A nearby jealous alligator, upset because he wasn’t invited to play, used magic to hold the ball thrown by a large bird in the air. After a period of time, the birds began fluttering around the alligator asking him to release the ball. An eagle took note of what was going on and flew down and pinched the alligator with his talons. The alligator’s concentration was broken and his mouth flew open and hissed “Ah-ah-ah!” at the eagle. According to the legend, this is why alligators make the exact same noise, even in current times, when they are surprised.

It was not uncommon for tribes to use myths to explain the everyday happenings of their lives. Living in such a beautiful and awe-inspiring place was sure to provide local tribes with plenty of inspiration that they were able to use to praise and worship the lands that provided for them.

The Tamiami Trail: An Unforgettable 76 Miles

You’ve prepped the snacks, sunscreen and sneakers, and now you’re sitting in our comfortable tour bus barreling towards one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Alligators, birds and more await and you just can’t get your excitement for what the day will bring out of your system.

But—have you ever heard the saying “getting there is half the fun” ?

Take a second to take in the scenery passing you by out of the window, but also take a moment to reflect on the road the wheels are rolling along on, The Tamiami Trail.

The road, also known as U.S. 41, is a marvel in itself and provides a great contract to the natural marvel it cuts through. Believe it or not, prior to the 1920s, there was no paved road that connected the east and west coasts of south Florida. A millionaire, Barron Gift Collier, determined that a road connecting Miami to Southwest Florida would be economically beneficial to both cities and took on the task of cutting through a truly wild landscape to create the paved road. Using his own money to cut through the Everglades with dynamite, oxen and a team of men, the project struggled because of 95 degree heat, thick humidity, blood sucking mosquitos and of course, alligator-filled terrain. Regardless of the hurdles they faced in battling the wilderness, the workers were successful in dredging the land to build the road above the swamplands to prevent flooding and were able to successfully open the once impassible area to masses of travelers, tourists and traders.

The Tamiami Trail could not have been completed without the help of local Native American guides, a team of engineers and of course, the fortitude of the human spirit. The route officially opened in 1928 and has remained one of our area’s most beloved drives and scenic routes.

When heading to or from the Everglades during our tour, we encourage you to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride—it’s exactly what Mr.Collier would want you to do.

Uncovering the Ghost Orchid in the Everglades

Tis the season, and we here at Everglades Adventure look forward to sharing expert insight about the Florida Everglades with you when you book an adventure with us. Our tours are in English but one of our guides is fluent in English and German, we offer comfortable air conditioned transportation, and two pickup locations on Fort Myers Beach, we make it easy and fun to come exploring with us!

Our in depth tour of the ecosystems of sw Florida begins with a cruise of the splendorous mangroves of Estero Bay, Florida’s first Aquatic Preserve. We often see dolphins, and birds in the lush flora for creation of spectacular memories. We take off to the Everglades in our comfort-equipped 11 passenger van, to load up on airboats for a thrilling ride through the prairie grasses, hammocks surrounding Big Cypress National Preserve and Everglades National Park. We’ll see wildlife at it’s best, and teach you about the diverse and rare specimens that call this grouping of ecosystems ‘home sweet home’, including the rarest of the rare, the elusive and coveted Ghost Orchid.

In the midst of the sawgrass prairies and swamps, the Everglades has raised islands that sit a couple of feet above sea level, which are the home to mahogany, oaks and banyan trees. These areas harbor the rarest of orchids, including the nearly extinct Trichocentrum undulatum, the Ghost Orchid. A flower so rare in its beauty, that avid orchid lovers and botanists will wade through the trenches of the Everglades just to take a moment to gaze upon it, to revel in their find and take photographs of it. Botanists have grown these once plentiful exquisite flowers in labs and transplanted them back into their native environment of the Everglades, in hopes that they will repopulate in the area. Their repopulation depends upon many factors, including being left untouched by would-be poachers and the mysterious way in which they are pollinated by the Giant Sphinx Moth. The moth has it’s own battles to face within the Everglades, not limited to whether there is a sufficient dry season for it to transcend from it’s chrysalis state into the flying wonder with the 12” tongue needed to get into the stem of the flower and retrieve it’s nectar.

Come along with us for the adventure of a lifetime, we may just stumble across one of these beautiful and rare flowers!

Everglades Brings the Best During Dry Season Months

Everglades National Park allows visitors to experience South Florida’s most unique ecosystems, full of diversity and wonder. A water filled wilderness with skies full of birds, toothy alligators that you don’t want to run into, lush palm trees, interwoven mangrove jungles and panthers lurking among the pinewoods are all there to seek out and admire. The best time of the year to see this spectacular biodiverse region is upon us and we at Everglades Adventure love it! What time is this, you ask? Why… it’s the DRY season!

From December until April presents some of the very best months to take a tour through the Everglades with us, because the average highs are in the upper 70’s (instead of topping 100 degrees!), humidity is at it’s lowest along with the number of biting mosquitoes and flies, and wildlife of all kinds is at it’s most visible due in large part to the receding waters. The diminished waters create a high concentration of alligators, wading birds, fish and turtles around the remaining water holes. A trip through the Glades becomes more than just a tour, during the dry season the landscape is transformed into a safari destination teeming with life. Many birds flock to the Everglades from the colder northern climates, giving bird watchers endless delights. The dry weather ensures great photography opportunities, too!

Come with us on a great dry season exploration of the vast Florida Everglades. We have lots of experience navigating these vast and mysterious ecosystems, and our tour suits every group and age range. From all of us at Everglades Adventure, have a safe, spectacular, adventure filled Fall!

At Everglades Adventure, we truly enjoy the the lighter temperatures that accompany fall, as they make our journeys out into the vastly diverse wetland ecosystem that is the Everglades more comfortable for our guests. Fall brings festivals and fun, and ghoulish good times as Halloween excitement fills the veins of ghost hunters and candy lovers both young and old.

Fascinating creatures lurk in the Everglades year round, such as the giant alligators who hover along the banks or the cowbirds who impose their eggs on other bird’s nests and will kill off the rightful offspring of the nest to ensure their own life.

We also have many slithering, invasive creatures that lurk in the canopies and waterways. There’s the Burmese Python, a well known invader of the Florida Everglades. This snake is outstanding at hiding and at deciminating the ranks of bobcats, opossums, raccoons and other species. Another uninvited serpent is the African Python, which is establishing in Florida beginning on the eastern side of the Everglades where a few very young individuals have been confirmed together with evidence of reproduction.

Considered more invasive than the Burmese Python is the Wild Tegu. First spotted in 2008, these lizards are threatening to all egg laying species, as the unhatched offspring of others is a delicacy to these omnivorous creatures. Another lizardly non-native ‘party crasher’ to the Everglades is the African Nile Monitor Lizard. They are large, hungry creatures that have been in Florida since at least the early 1990s and seem intent on eating just about anything that crosses their path.

As you can see, you don’t need a costume to get a thrill in the Everglades. Come with us on a great all day adventure and we’ll teach you all about the hidden (and sometimes invisible) ghastly creatures of the Florida Everglades, and we’ll toss in some tips on how you can help save this dwindling ecosystem. Give us a call, or a click, and we’ll see you on the adventure trails!

Nile Monitor Lizards

Hello from the Everglades, fellow adventurers! We’re glad you stopped by today to check out the latest happenings along the winding, swampy paths we follow at Everglades Adventure. We have a lot going on with our day long tours that take nature enthusiasts both young and old on a journey of a lifetime. We travel through all the ecosystems of these magnificent Everglades, starting with a nature cruise through Estero Bay’s estuaries, followed by an enjoyable bus tour to the Everglades where we hop aboard an airboat for a thrilling ride through the sawgrass prairies and palm hammocks which surround the stunning Big Cypress National Preserve and our beloved Everglades National Park.

We see a lot of spectacular, colorful, breathtaking and slimy creatures as we travel through the swamps here. Perhaps one of the most audacious creatures we come across in our wetlands hotspot in southern Florida is the Nile Monitor Lizard. This Old World lizard is native to Northern Africa and has invaded upon the New World. Similar to a Komodo dragon, these reach up to 8 and even 10 feet in length and are invasive to our area along with several other counties in Florida. These omnivores eat anything that comes into their path and will take for their meal local wildlife including endangered animals and plants, such as freshwater and box turtles, endangered gopher tortoises, ground nesting birds and endangered burrowing owls and their eggs.

These creatures are particularly intelligent and they often hunt in packs. The tough, beady skin of the adult is greyish-brown with regular yellow spots arranged in distinctive bands down the head, body and tail. The lizards’ weapons include their sharp, snake-like teeth, long, muscular tails which they use as whips, and claws that look like the sinister pendants of voodoo necklaces. They can run up to 18 miles per hour on land and swim underwater for up to an hour at a time. Females lay from 6 to 60 eggs during the springtime mating season. These poorly dispositioned creatures live an average of 12 years.

Come on down, we’re here to treat you to an adventure of a lifetime, and potentially spot a Nile Monitor Lizard and as always- we promise to keep you safe while thrilling your senses!