Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve is much like the park Tom currently works at, Atlantic Ridge. Except, because it is a park in its own right, there is no entrance fee. Based on my experience, there is no entrance fee to a preserve if it is not managed by another park. The next best thing about this park is it is only about 15 minutes away from Collier-Seminole, so you might as well ride out there.
The main entrance to the park has an 11 mile trail that goes through some of the flatland. Tom did not want to go very far on this, as it is rather bumpy and he was worried about his trailer. What was cool about this park is a pull-off right next to a Seminole Indian tribe (yes, they were selling dreamcatchers and any other indian gift you would want. No, they do not give tours of their village). The pull-off is called Big Cypress trail and it leads back to an oasis for the animals. We saw alligators, many types of birds, and it was beautiful. It was a little lake they had all to themselves (besides us gawking at the boardwalk).
Something unique about this park we were not able to see were the rare orchids. According to the guide book we picked up, there are several types of rare orchids in the park -- orchid enthusiasts from all over the world come and visit. The trails to hike to them are very difficult, and you have to know what you are looking for. We decided that adventure was not for us.
Til next time,
The camping bug
The main entrance to the park has an 11 mile trail that goes through some of the flatland. Tom did not want to go very far on this, as it is rather bumpy and he was worried about his trailer. What was cool about this park is a pull-off right next to a Seminole Indian tribe (yes, they were selling dreamcatchers and any other indian gift you would want. No, they do not give tours of their village). The pull-off is called Big Cypress trail and it leads back to an oasis for the animals. We saw alligators, many types of birds, and it was beautiful. It was a little lake they had all to themselves (besides us gawking at the boardwalk).
Something unique about this park we were not able to see were the rare orchids. According to the guide book we picked up, there are several types of rare orchids in the park -- orchid enthusiasts from all over the world come and visit. The trails to hike to them are very difficult, and you have to know what you are looking for. We decided that adventure was not for us.
Til next time,
The camping bug
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What a cool blog . . . hope you're still plugging away towards your ambitious goal (and that the Beetle is holding together). People need reminding about the real world, so you're doing your fellow Floridians a real service by sharing. I'm inspired to try something similar (but probably smaller in scope) for Georgia on my own blog.
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