Everglades
Oct 27, 2016 10:16:40 #
In three weeks I will be on the west coast of Florida for a few days. We have set aside 1 day for the Everglades . I know it is not much time but does anyone have suggestions on the best places to go or the must do events? Any driving loops etc. looking for any photo ops , maybe an airboat ride. Just trying to make the most out of a short period of time.
Oct 27, 2016 10:23:06 #
lenatplay wrote:
In three weeks I will be on the west coast of Florida for a few days. We have set aside 1 day for the Everglades . I know it is not much time but does anyone have suggestions on the best places to go or the must do events? Any driving loops etc. looking for any photo ops , maybe an airboat ride. Just trying to make the most out of a short period of time.
I have been there once, went on a boat tour and rented a plane also. Very happy with both. Then I also drove road 94 east of Everglades city. It is a gravel road but on that road you have lot of photo ops, driving that road and stopping where you feel right and taking pics of birds and crocks is the easiest way to get busy with the camera.
Oct 27, 2016 10:28:43 #
lenatplay wrote:
In three weeks I will be on the west coast of Florida for a few days. We have set aside 1 day for the Everglades . I know it is not much time but does anyone have suggestions on the best places to go or the must do events? Any driving loops etc. looking for any photo ops , maybe an airboat ride. Just trying to make the most out of a short period of time.
There are a seemingly endless number of air boat tours available. I think everyone and his cousin offers them! They are a good way to see the Everglades but they are noisy, which scares off much of the wildlife. It's been a while since I have visited the 'Glades but I believe there are boat tours that cater more to the photographer then the wind-in-your-hair typical tourist. Perhaps someone else can tell you more. Just be careful! Pay attention to warnings and stick with guides who know the dangers. Snakes, alligators, and panthers are just some of the less-then-friendly critters you can encounter.
Oct 27, 2016 10:34:04 #
Living in that area I can advise that many of the "event places" along Old 41 in the Everglades are tourist traps. If you want a airboat ride and to see wildlife, I recommend to go to Lake Trafford in Immokalee. Call ahead and make a airboat reservation just to be sure. Also you will want to walk the 2 mile Board Walk in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. You can do both events on the same day as they are located close to each other. Have a great visit.
Oct 27, 2016 10:37:38 #
Everglade City would be a good destination and a lot of good photo opportunities but it is out of the way. I spent a lot of time there fishing.
Oct 27, 2016 10:44:40 #
First research Lucky Cole lots of places on the net he is a photographer in the glades and you can visiti him, check out his photos, drink a beer with him ( bring some for him)
If he isn't in, the loop that he lives on is a trip in its self. A dirt road thru the glades god knows what you'll find.
From the west take old Tamiami trail rt 41. There are lots of airboat rides on this road and indian villages. As your heading east , there is a park on the left
with bathrooms sitting on a corner of rt 839 Stop there, look for gators. If there are none then drive down the side road , it runs along the water . There are always gators
in there. Very often lots of birds too. . Continue on 41 east, Look for a parking area on the right, there is an elevated boardwalk that takes you into the glades, sometimes lots of animals, some days not a thing . Also on your right look for what looks like a park with one or two old mobile homes parked. Drive down that to the end and look for birds and gators
If he isn't in, the loop that he lives on is a trip in its self. A dirt road thru the glades god knows what you'll find.
From the west take old Tamiami trail rt 41. There are lots of airboat rides on this road and indian villages. As your heading east , there is a park on the left
with bathrooms sitting on a corner of rt 839 Stop there, look for gators. If there are none then drive down the side road , it runs along the water . There are always gators
in there. Very often lots of birds too. . Continue on 41 east, Look for a parking area on the right, there is an elevated boardwalk that takes you into the glades, sometimes lots of animals, some days not a thing . Also on your right look for what looks like a park with one or two old mobile homes parked. Drive down that to the end and look for birds and gators
Oct 27, 2016 10:57:32 #
We're on the west coast but further north. For photography I take pontoon boat rides NOT airboat rides. While the airboat covers a lot of ground and goes places a regular boat can't go, it pretty much clears the area of wildlife. You can almost bump the pontoon boat right up on a rookery and they barely react.
Oct 27, 2016 10:57:45 #
Tour boat - Gulf Coast Visitor Center. Ding Darling is excellent for wildlife and birds, although it is a NWR, and not part of the ‘Glades; it is near Sanibel and Captiva Islands. IMO, most of the best Everglades spots for photography are to the east.
Oct 27, 2016 12:01:42 #
Drive east from Naples on US-41 to what used to be Monroe Station, it burned earlier this year. Take the gravel road, called Loop Road, it will take you back out to US-41. Should have ample opportunities to take some great shots. On the way back stop at Clyde Butcher's studio. Worth the time to see the work of a man who has spent most of his life photographing the Everglades.
Oct 27, 2016 15:49:05 #
I think you should PM gregoryd45 who lives in 'Everglades City and photographs the area every day. I have been there five times and always come away with all the photos I can use. Greg is a Hogger and would be glad to talk to you and help you out. We go on Loop Road every time and have never been disappointed. The birds have not come back for the winter as yet but in three weeks they should be starting. I know you will have all the fun you want. Post some pictures when you get back and make us old timers envious. I am going again in Jan. or Feb. just before the winter rates go up for the snowbirds.
Oct 28, 2016 05:50:01 #
mikegreenwald
Loc: Illinois
I have visited the 'glades many times - I live nearby for six months a year.
The airboat rides are a waste of time. The road trips described above can be excellent, but in nature here and elsewhere, exciting encounters are fortuitous. There are always a wide variety of birds around. 'gators are most often seen after prolonged dry spells (the "dry" season) when the concentration of water into pools forces them into smaller areas. I've had best luck with sightings of a variety of creatures in early spring, when the very young birds are around in large numbers, and in many years the advantages of pooling of the water in low ground is best.
The national park has built some boardwalks - best on the east side - which are well placed for wildlife viewing - but by far best in dry times. It is worthwhile to seek them out.
The airboat rides are a waste of time. The road trips described above can be excellent, but in nature here and elsewhere, exciting encounters are fortuitous. There are always a wide variety of birds around. 'gators are most often seen after prolonged dry spells (the "dry" season) when the concentration of water into pools forces them into smaller areas. I've had best luck with sightings of a variety of creatures in early spring, when the very young birds are around in large numbers, and in many years the advantages of pooling of the water in low ground is best.
The national park has built some boardwalks - best on the east side - which are well placed for wildlife viewing - but by far best in dry times. It is worthwhile to seek them out.
Oct 28, 2016 06:07:16 #
The best Everglades tour in my opinion is shark Valley on Rt 41. Google it and get there for the first morning tour if you can. Beats all the air boat tours. http://www.sharkvalleytramtours.com/
Oct 28, 2016 07:30:11 #
TomV
Loc: Annapolis, Maryland
cfrank wrote:
Drive east from Naples on US-41 to what used to be Monroe Station, it burned earlier this year. Take the gravel road, called Loop Road, it will take you back out to US-41. Should have ample opportunities to take some great shots. On the way back stop at Clyde Butcher's studio. Worth the time to see the work of a man who has spent most of his life photographing the Everglades.
Another road in the immediate area is this : https://www.nps.gov/bicy/learn/historyculture/upload/BICY-Turner-River-Loop-Scenic-Road-FINAL.pdf
I go in the March timeframe. I do not know what this area is like in the fall.
Oct 28, 2016 07:54:35 #
mikegreenwald
Loc: Illinois
TomV wrote:
Another road in the immediate area is this : https://www.nps.gov/bicy/learn/historyculture/upload/BICY-Turner-River-Loop-Scenic-Road-FINAL.pdf
I go in the March time frame. I do not know what this area is like in the fall.
I go in the March time frame. I do not know what this area is like in the fall.
This is a great place, and March is the best of the best for timing. Most years (NOT 2016) the water levels are low then, which forces the concentration of the fish and the various predators that feed on them.
Oct 28, 2016 09:09:56 #
cfrank wrote:
Drive east from Naples on US-41 to what used to be Monroe Station, it burned earlier this year. Take the gravel road, called Loop Road, it will take you back out to US-41. Should have ample opportunities to take some great shots. On the way back stop at Clyde Butcher's studio. Worth the time to see the work of a man who has spent most of his life photographing the Everglades.
Great advice if you are stuck on the west coast. Shark Valley and Big Cypress are good as well. If you can come east the Homestead entrance to the Park all the way to Flamingo is photo target rich. Get Robert Chaplin's book!
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