Florida road trip part 3: The Everglades NP!

April 07, 2024

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 upon the Big Cypress National Preserve and saw even more alligators. We took the board walk at the visitor’s center, and then, on the ranger’s recommendation, took another walk at Kirby Stroter. We heard bullfrogs and so many birds!

We got to The Ivey House motel and the kids immediately played in their (screened in) pool. The mosquitoes after dark were legitimately the worst I’ve ever seen, so we got take out from The Camellia Street Grill and ate it in the screened in area just outside our room.

The next morning, after breakfast in our room, we head into The Everglades NP for the Shark Valley Tram Tour. This was a true highlight of the trip. The kids also worked on Junior Ranger books to earn badges!

The observatory:

An anhinga bird. A diving bird but the First People thought it was bad luck because they thought it was a mix between a bird and a snake. It dives in to fish then dries itself in the sunshine!