Everglades National Park

Kevan and I traveled to Homestead, FL to see Coral Castle. Kevan apparently did his research before we arrived in Homestead and had a little idea in the back of his mind that he didn’t share with me until after we were finished with Coral Castle and had a few wine tastings at the winery. He wanted to drive all the way to Flamingo, FL.

As you can see from the picture below, it is the southernmost tip of Florida.I have to say, I wasn’t really excited about the idea. It was 5pm and there are no restaurants/gas stations on the way and I like a plan. I like to pretend in my mind that I am this adventurous woman, but in reality I don’t like things sprung upon me! Also, I don't like to be in the middle of nowhere when it is getting dark. I do not like the dark! So, we decided to stop at the Visitors Center and check it out first. They were closing, but the ranger told us to go to the Royal Palm Stop and do the Anhinga Trail before we headed out. It was a few miles up the road so we decided to go. I'm so glad we did.When we began the trail we saw this Anhinga trying to swallow his catfish dinner.

Just a few feet from this guy/gal we saw another one drying his wings in the sun.

Anhingas are really funny birds. Driving around Merritt Island we see them all the time in the water. You will be looking out at the water and all of a sudden you will see this little head pop up. You will think in your head that it must be a snake or a turtle or something. Not a bird! Birds don't walk/swim around underwater. Then, you see him go back under and come back up with his little head popping up like a scope on a submarine. It is really funny to watch. Once they get their fill of fish they jump out of the water and dry their wings on the side of the bank. They also have feet like a duck.

As we continued the Royal Palm trail we found a boardwalk that went out into the water and looped around to a place further down the trail. Now, I like docks and all, but I'm not crazy about a huge boardwalk that you can't see land from because it is this huge trail that goes all around the water. But, I sucked air in and tried to be a man (I mean, a tough woman). Trying to forget that the boardwalk was making creaking noises when I walked on it and I could fall through at any moment (because people fall through all the time! lol!). I didn't say I was rational. You wouldn't want to fall in with a thing like this right next to you would you?

I didn't think so. We saw at least 6 of these guys swimming around just waiting for a helpless woman to fall in!

As we were finishing the boardwalk trail we saw more birds like this one:There were so many more wildlife, but I can't post them all here. So, if you are interested in seeing the rest, go here.