Coming into Miami, Florida on a plane last week, we were passing thru Homestead, Florida on our way to The Keys. We researched places to visit and noted there was an entrance to Everglades National Park there. I had not visited it, nor had the boys.
It’s not a long drive to the park entrance, but is 38 miles to the Flamingo Visitor Center after you enter (also named the Guy Bradley Visitor Center), which reopened in summer of 2023.
Florida Bay sits at the end of the road at the visitor center.
After visiting the center and learning the history of who Guy Bradley was (he was a game warden to protect the birds, and was murdered by poachers in the 1905), we headed out to hike the Guy Bradley Trail. Definitely an educational visit for our homeschooling.
To find the trailhead, leave the center and walk the sidewalk along the last parking area. It’s straight ahead after the sidewalk ends.
At the end of the trail is a bathroom and a rustic amphitheater. People were out fishing aplenty. The front country campground sits nearby along with a little grouping of Eco tents.
We turned around and headed back. The hike is pleasant with plenty of views of Florida Bay.
As you get near the start of the trail, the lodge that was there was rebuilt and just reopened recently. It’s made of shipping containers and designed to withstand hurricanes.
It’s a long drive in for sure. But with the top elevation of 4 feet….it’s easy to drive and flat. We saw many white Egret birds along the way. It was an interesting intro to the Everglades.
On the way out, we noticed there was a NIKE site. We took the road to it (it is just after you enter the park). It is signed well…but didn’t know it’s only open 10-2…and we showed up at 2:29 pm. Oh well. I was bummed, I love visiting old NIKE sites.
-Sarah
Everglades, amazing!