I can tell you right now the #1 reason to visit this park - Royal Palm trees. Not the kind that line the side of the road in Miami, no. Those are a sham compared to these trees. These trees are so tall you can barely see them if you strain your neck as far back as it will go. So tall, if you standing right next to one, all of the other trees will shroud it unless you look closely. Their pom frons (leaves?) are long and flowing. This park is one of the only remaining natural Royal Palm hammocks in the United States. Many have recently been knocked down by hurricanes and other storms, leaving only a few survivors.
Other than that, there is not much to say about the park. We were there in the winter, making it a nice temperature. In the summer, it is probably terribly hot and full of mosquitos. They do have the only remaining dredge from the digging of the Tamiami Trail -- which, when it was built at the turn of the century, it was a marvel. To forge a road across the Everglades seemed impossible. The men who made this pioneering trail through Florida had long hours, no bathrooms, and were away from their families for months at a time. Often, they would be up to their knees in mud from th swampy Everglades. Could you imagine us doing something like that today?
They do have two separate campgrounds -- one for RVs and one for tents. Thankfully, we were allowed to stay in the tent one, which had much better shrubbery. It would, however, be a great place for an RV group to go, as there are many campsites all next to each other.
Til next time,
The camping bug
Other than that, there is not much to say about the park. We were there in the winter, making it a nice temperature. In the summer, it is probably terribly hot and full of mosquitos. They do have the only remaining dredge from the digging of the Tamiami Trail -- which, when it was built at the turn of the century, it was a marvel. To forge a road across the Everglades seemed impossible. The men who made this pioneering trail through Florida had long hours, no bathrooms, and were away from their families for months at a time. Often, they would be up to their knees in mud from th swampy Everglades. Could you imagine us doing something like that today?
They do have two separate campgrounds -- one for RVs and one for tents. Thankfully, we were allowed to stay in the tent one, which had much better shrubbery. It would, however, be a great place for an RV group to go, as there are many campsites all next to each other.
Til next time,
The camping bug
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