I had been to Miami seven times before we took our kids. We flew down for five days and we decided to stay outside of South Beach. Though I had been to beautiful resorts, beaches, and amazing restaurants along Ocean Drive, my favorite part of Miami is the authentic side. The cherished memories I wanted to share with my own kids were the nature and culture that makes Miami so unique. We got plenty of beach and resort swimming in as well, but the kids really appreciated the nature, food, and music of Miami.
On our family trips, we try to prioritize natural settings and hiking when we can. We wanted to give Everglade National Park a try, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting to see a single alligator. We drove and parked at Shark Valley Visitor Center and we opted out of the tram ride and said yes to a two mile hike. As we started on the path, we saw alligators on all sides relaxing in the swamp! We counted 30! total. They were right next to us, and after we passed a few, we realized they were content and we could safely view them from the path with confidence. We also saw various species of birds, plants, and flowers. The visitor center gave the kids wonderful information and the kids left with souvenirs and their first gator spotting experience!
Continue reading “Exploring the Lesser Traveled Side of Miami, Florida”
Beyond The Usual Trail 