Although the Everglades is outdoors and a wild environment, the Park does its best to make accommodations for people with different capabilities. The Park strives to make it a place accessible to everyone.

Hearing accessibility – For those with hearing enhancement needs, films shown at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Shark Valley Visitor Center and Gulf Coast Visitor Center include captioning. Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) are available upon request for use during ranger-led programs, the Shark Valley Tram Tour and the Gulf Coast boat tour.

Sight accessibility – The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center located at the park entrance near Homestead presents audio recordings of the Everglades environment. The restroom and theater signs are available in Braille. The Flamingo Visitor Center contains a museum exhibit with print and audio displays, The Shark Valley Visitor Center and the Gulf Coast Visitor Center offers a touch table for tactile opportunities, and the restroom signage is available in Braille.

The accessible trails in the park display interpretive signage which is in large print.

Interpretive programs and visitor center displays, when possible, have been made accessible to visitors with limited visual capacities.

Mobile accessibility – Visitors centers have accessibility to wheelchairs by ramps or elevators. There are van-accessible parking spaces in the parking lots. Wheelchairs are available to loan on a first come first serve basis at Royal Palm Visitor Center, Flamingo Visitor Center, and Shark Valley Visitor Center.

The following accessible trails are firm, paved surfaces that are wheelchair accessible and less than ¾ of a mile: Anhinga Trail, Gumbo Limbo Trail, Pineland Trail, Pa-hay-okee Overlook, Mahogany Hammock Trail, West Lake Trail, and Bobcat Hammock.

The Long Pine Key and Flamingo front country campgrounds both have accessible campsites. The Pearl Bay Chickee back country site features handrails, a canoe dock, and an accessible chemical toilet.

Many of the concession-led boat tours from Flamingo and Gulf Coast are wheelchair accessible. The Shark Valley tram tour is accessible as well – the trams contain a ramp for wheelchairs.

For more information and details on accessibility in the Park, contact Everglades National Park information, 305-242-7700.

Want to explore the Everglades in a fun way? A ride on an airboat gives you an up-close-and-personal view of the Everglades; it’s a trip you’ll never forget.

To book an airboat trip, call 800-368-0065  or visit our Everglades Airboat Tours page. Captain Mitch’s Everglades Airboat Tours are open seven days a week 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax).

Throughout the Everglades National Park, vultures hang around visitor areas. Believe it or not, vultures are attracted to the rubber around windshields, sunroofs, and windshield wipers on vehicles. It is unknown why vultures are attracted to these parts of the vehicles.

There have been occasion where vultures have cause damage to visitors’ vehicles. Royal Palm, a wildlife viewing area, has had numerous vulture incidents. The Park encourages visitors to protect their vehicles with tarps and bungee cords that are free in the Royal Palm parking area.

Place the tarp over the car to cover the windshield wipers and rubber around the windows. Secure the tarp with bungee cords. Make sure to return the tarp and cords before you leave the Park.

Now, if you are not in the Royal Palm area, you can either bring your own tarp and cord or follow the following tips to protect your car from vultures if you plan to be away from the car for a long period of time.

Tips to protect your vehicle from vultures include:

• Park in full sun
• Avoid parking near groups of vultures
• Cover exposed rubber with wet sheet or towel
• Make loud noises to spook vultures
• Notify a ranger

Remember, do not harm the vultures as they are a federally-protected species.

Excited to visit the Everglades? Want to explore it in a fun way? There’s so many different ways to explore the Park, including an airboat tour. A ride on an airboat gives you an up-close-and-personal view of the Everglades; it’s a trip you’ll never forget.

To book an airboat trip, call 800-368-0065  or visit our Everglades Airboat Tours page. We are open seven days a week 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax).

It’s December, which falls during the dry season in the Everglades. The dry season is best time to head down to the Everglades to view an array of different wildlife species. Not only to many species migrate down for the winter, but there’s less chance of rain and thunderstorms. Plus, the weather is less humid. During this time of year, the good weather and low water levels create the perfect environment for animals and birds to congregate near bodies of water.

Some great spots in the Everglades to view wildlife include: Shark Valley, the Anhinga Trail (Royal Palm), Eco Pond (a mile past the Flamingo Visitor Center), Snake Bight (near Flamingo), and Chokoloskee Bay (Gulf Coast).

In these spots, visitors can see alligators, wading birds, freshwater wildlife, and a few other land creatures. Since the animals are wild, visitors should be respectful to both the animals and the environment in which they call home.

We’ve shared a few rules and tips on viewing the animals in the Park to keep yourself and the animals safe.

• Keep your space from animals and birds. Do not disturb them (do not pick up or chase) in their home or anywhere in the Park. You can get a better view of wildlife with binoculars without bothering or spooking them.
• Walk away from animals if you feel you have disturbed them and leave the area. Animals and birds may feel threatened,  and start to act strangely (excessive flapping, pacing, muscle tension, staring, screaming/making frequent noises) or can be dangerous when they feel threatened.
• Stay away from nesting or den areas. Stick to the trails to avoid running into one of these breeding grounds. You don’t want to scare away the parents, who leave the offspring behind who cannot yet survive on their own.
• If you see a potentially sick/hurt/abandoned animal, leave it be or notify a ranger; it’s family could be nearby.
• Pets are not allowed on trails or the wilderness areas of the Park.
• Do not feed the animals. The Park does not want the animals to become reliant on being fed, unnaturally, by humans. The Everglades is a real-life habitat for animals, not a zoo.
• Follow all safety signs and warning signals in the park.
• Do not harass animals in the Park in any way.

When you visit the Everglades, you are visiting something’s’ home, whether it’s a bird or an alligator. The Park asks that you respect all animals in the Park. Please refrain from feeding, touching, yelling, throwing things, or interacting with wildlife. It’s best to admire them from afar.

If you’re looking for a way to see wildlife in the Everglades, an airboat tour is a great way to view animals and birds without worrying about bothering them or putting yourself in a dangerous situation.  To book an airboat tour with Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours, , call 800-368-0065  or visit our Everglades Airboat Tours page. Captain Mitch’s Everglades Airboat Tours are open seven days a week 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. If paying by cash, adults cost $40 (plus tax) and children 12 and under cost $20 (plus tax. If paying by credit card, adults cost $45 (plus tax) and children cost $25 (plus tax).

 Throughout the year there are many programs, walks, and events held in the Everglades National Park. Throughout the winter or “dry” season, there are even more programs offered, since more people tend to visit the Park at this time. For this article, we wanted to share with you two activities you should check out in the Park (before or after catching a ride on Captain Mitch’s airboats, of course!)

• Anhinga Amble (Royal Palm) – Every day in December 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. This is a stroll on the renowned Anhinga Trail where alligators, wading birds and other wildlife are spotted! Meet at Royal Palm benches.It is wheelchair accessible. Free with Park entrance fee.
• Glades Glimpse (Royal Palm) – Every day in December. 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. This is a sit-down talk about the Everglades. Topics vary. Meet at the Royal Palm benches. It is wheelchair accessible. Free with Park entrance fee.

And, of course, Captain Mitch’s Airboat Tours will be running daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Everglades. All online reservation requests for an airboat tour should be done 24 hours in advance. If you are planning same day service (less than 24 hours), please call our office to ensure we can get you in right away.

Ticket costs:

Adults: CASH PRICE: $40.00 per person, plus tax. CREDIT CARD PRICE: $45.00 per person, plus tax (1 hr ride)

Child: CASH PRICE: $20.00 per person, plus tax. CREDIT CARD PRICE: $25.00 per person, plus tax (1 hr ride)

There is a boat minimum of 2 adults.

Click our airboat reservation page to book your trip or call 800-368-0065 or 239-695-3377.

Visit www.captainmitchs.com for this month’s coupon code for a discount on a tour!

Captain Mitch’s Airboat tours is located at 3099 Tamiami Trail E Everglades, Fl 34139.
We look forward to seeing you. Get ready to have some fun in the Everglades this December!