Florida road trip part 3: The Everglades NP!
We left Key West before sunrise to get to the Turtle Hospital in Marathon. We were told by locals that the one hour drive could take 2.5 hours (but it only took an hour) so we had time to eat at the Wooden Spoon in Marathon and explore the Rotary Children’s Playground before an incredible tour at the Turtle Hospital. The Turtle Hospital has been in operation since the 1980s. They try to release all rescues, but some cannot be released. The criteria for release is having at least operating fins and one operating eye. They have 18 “heroes” living at the hospital (i.e. they do not meet the release criteria) and those turtles serve as blood donors when a turtle comes in in critical condition. It was a truly powerful place to spend time and make a donation. After that beautiful experience, we drove north and left the keys behind. We stopped at Robert is Here for tacos and smoothies before heading into The Everglades, seeing so many alligators on the side of the road! We chanced u...