lodging in or near the everglades

I%26#39;m looking for lodging for 2 nights in the Everglades area.

Any recommendations ??

We will be going late Feb / early March...how%26#39;s the weather ?

Thanks so much !

lodging in or near the everglades

I was in the Everglades yesterday - it was lovely weather and we saw many alligators and other wildlife. Feb/March should also be a very pleasant time to be there. Are you thinking about the Florida City entrance to the Everglades (near the Keys/Miami) or the Everglades City side (near Naples)?

lodging in or near the everglades

We stayed at the Best Western Gateway to the Keys in Florida City and would try someplace else next time. BW was hard to find (sign not lit on Krome Ave, very small drive off Rt 1), and the room smelled - my guess is they are too cheap to leave the AC running when rooms aren%26#39;t occupied. Breakfast was fine, hostess let guests know before she cleaned up, which not all hotels do.

Not sure which entrance....our plans are open....which do you think would be best ?

We%26#39;re using a ';free'; air ticket and just would like to stay 2-3 days total.

Is this enough time....what should NOT be missed....which entrance better or rather, which would have the better lodging choices ??? I assume we can drive to all areas no matter where we stay.

Thanks.

we are in the same boat. Flying in to FT. Lauderdale 1/23, stay at the airport, then have 2 days to explore. Have to catch cruise ship back in FT. Lauderdale then.

i booked one night at the everglades spa and lodge (everglade city)and trying to figure out where to go for the other night.

From the guidebooks i have on our intinerery:

Biscayne NP

corkscrew swamp sanctuary

homosassa springs

coral gables biltmore hotel tour

everglades:

shark valley

gumbo limbo trail

birding in flamingo (where to stay? Flamingo lodge is closed)

eco and mrazek ponds

Any suggestions or recomendations are appreciated!

We are not fisherpeople, love birds, manatees, nature trails.

I%26#39;m looking into the Everglades City Rod %26amp; Gun Club for our hotel. It looks really nice and historic. The website is www.evergladesrodandgun.com

Is it worth it to stay in Everglade City, or do you think staying in Miami would be nicer? I%26#39;m trying to make the decision right now.

The Rod %26amp; Gun Club looks nice and very ';Everglade-ish';.

I don%26#39;t reaaly know if you%26#39;re looking for a more upscale - chain - hotel. I suppose you%26#39;d find that in Miami.

After 2 nites in Everglade City we%26#39;re off the Key Largo for 1 nite @ AZUL...just to relax and soak in all the sun.

Let me know how the rod and gun club is. It looks so nice in the pictures!

I%26#39;ve stayed at the R%26amp;G. While the main building is interesting, that%26#39;s not where the rooms were. They were so-so cottages on the grounds. If I were to go back, I would stay somewhere else (maybe the bank vault place, which I think is the Everglades Spa) and have a meal at R%26amp;G. MamameOw, it sounds like you%26#39;ll want to spend one day exploring the Everglades City/Shark Valley Area and then a day in Florida City. SFRosegrower, you may prefer to stay on the East Coast and doing a little Miami City touring, Florida City Everglades and Florida Keys.

I would be sure to book a trip on the water from Everglades City - fish, kayak, eco-tour, whatever - you need to spend some time on the water.

You drive across the Tamiami Trail through the Everglades to get from Everglades City to Shark Valley and to the Florida City entrance. I suggest a stop at Clyde Butcher%26#39;s gallery along the way. www.clydebutcher.com He does large (huge!) black %26amp; white photos of the Everglades and other Florida landscapes.

If you are really interested in your ';own'; adventure in the Everglades, you may want to skip the Shark Valley tram. It%26#39;s a good way to see some of the Glades quickly but you%26#39;ll be more ';up close'; with other tourists than with wildlife. If you ride bikes, consider renting a bike and biking all or part of the very flat 15 mile route.

On the Florida City side, be sure to hit Robert is Here fruit stand for a fresh fruit milkshake. You%26#39;ll pass it on the way to the park entrance. There are no real food concessions in the park so be sure to pack a cooler with food and drink. You%26#39;ll want to stop at the visitor center for a bit. Then head off to the Royal Palm Visitor Center and Anhinga Trail which a boardwalk through several different habitats. Great opportunity to see birds, gators, etc. There is usually a ranger walk at 10:30 if that interests you. The Gumbo Limbo Trail is in the same area - it%26#39;s short so you may as well walk it but unless you can interpret the flora yourself, it may not hold much attraction. (You have likely already seen that the Gumbo Limbo tree is also called the Tourist Tree because it has peeling red bark like the skin of a sunburned tourist!)

Talk the the Rangers at the main entrance about the best stops along the rest of the road to Flamingo. I haven%26#39;t made it much past Royal Palm since the hurricanes but understand that some of Flaminigo is re-opening (but not the lodging and maybe not restaurants. There is a little marina store). The only lodging is either Florida City, Miami or the Uppper Keys.

Rather than Biscayne NP, I would recommend John Pennekamp State Park in the Florida Keys. Both require going out on boats to see the park (they are mostly underwater). Both have glass bottom boat and snorkel tours. I know Pennekamp also rents canoes and kayaks (not sure about BNP).

Be sure to pick up a bird guide (or even one of the plastic cards at the park gift shops) so you can identify all the amazing birds you%26#39;ll be seeing.

WOW...thanks for all the great info.

I%26#39;m kind-of disappointed to hear about Rod %26amp; Gun.

Do you think I should change the reservations...is it that bad ?

The ';bank '; spa %26amp; hotel didn%26#39;t look so great on the website. Have you been there ? I%26#39;m not looking for fancy...but I%26#39;d like to get a ';feel'; for the area. Any suggestions other than those 2 ?

Thanks again.

neutrogena