Florida Nature At Its Best

This week-end we had our first European visitor stay with us. A friend that I went to high-school with in Romania came to see us and we had the opportunity to show him around the town and the area. We did things like an airboat ride and a visit to Shark Valley, which is part of the Everglades National Park.

We were in nature most of the time...which is why I developed a crazy allergy, but looking at the photos I took, it was worth every second of it. Here are my best nature shots:

View from the tower in Shark Valley


Landscape in the park


We completely got "alligatored-out", there were so many of these!


Great blue heron


Female anhinga


Pretty, but spikey flower


This guy looks like he's smiling although I think he was imagining his "paparazzi" as lunch...


Great egret


Come cloooooseeeeer...


Blue heron again


I would say this is the little blue heron, but I'm not sure...


Good close-up of an alligator


Anhinga


Pellican


Raccoon


Mangroves


Sea shells


If you think there's not enough to do around Naples, stop whining and get out of the house! Start planning your visit to Shark Valley now. Whether you prefer to walk, take the tram or bike the trail, I'm sure you will enjoy your time! There's just so much to see...

Also, for airboat rides, if you want to experience a true "roller-coaster" ride in the heart of the Everglades on an airboat, between mangroves and pellicans, go with Speedy Johnson's from Everglades City. Captain Tony showed us a good time, while also giving us educational information on the wildlife and vegetation in the Everglades.

Great week-end in nature! How was yours and what did you experience?