Best place for Everglades?

Hi guys. We fly to Florida at the beginning of November and sometime after I insist we (the family) visit the 'glades. Now my question is basically do we stay in Everglade City and drive in from there or is Homestead better?

Any other tips for shooting between Clearwater and Everglades please post 'em here.

Thanks for looking.

We were there recently. Stayed in Naples and drove to Everglade City. Took the mangrove tour and gulf tour at the National Park. Well worth it. Don't miss the sunset from the beach in Naples. Just stunning.

Back in the 70s I lived in Naples and put a telephone exchange into Everglades City. Naturally the buiding was up on concret piers. But I digress....

Stay in Naples and do the areas around Everglades City, Marco Island...etc.

Don't miss Sanibell and Captiva Islands off of Ft. Myers. Visit Ding Darling wildlife refuge on Sanibell Island.

Cool, thanks guys. Ding Darling is on the list!!

Much depends on what you want to shoot. Ding Darling is one good place for wading birds, Fort DeSoto is another. Anhinga Trail and Shark Valley are good spots on the east side of the Everglades.

Cheers. I hear kayaking in Ding darling is a good bet?

MCAsan wrote in post #13093690
Back in the 70s I lived in Naples and put a telephone exchange into Everglades City. Naturally the buiding was up on concret piers. But I digress....

Stay in Naples and do the areas around Everglades City, Marco Island...etc.

Don't miss Sanibell and Captiva Islands off of Ft. Myers. Visit Ding Darling wildlife refuge on Sanibell Island.

My parents live in Fort Myers. Fort Myers Beach is really nice too. It has a beautiful long pier. Check it out. Sanibel has some great shelling locations if you like to collect sea shells. Check with the locals for the best times and places to shell.

Cool thanks. Is it possible that in Everglade City November is low season and therefore better to be in Homestead?

by low season do you mean water level or tourist level?

From a water perspective, you are heading into the dry season. But south of Tampa, October starts the "snowbird" season when folks from up north go to their winter home/condo until spring.

Well I was told the mosquitoes are at their worst around November and that December is high tourist season (perhaps due to the bitey things!) but my guide is a bit vague. So I wondered if things would be closed up, less tours, less accommodation in which case we should head straight for homestead and stick to our route.

Damn bitey things will just have died off over here too...

That is why God gave us Deet!!!

Seriously, there is no substitute for good bug repellant. There are some that spray on like a powder, not like olive oil. In either case, wash hands before handling the camera equipment. My wife said to try Picaridin towellets. The active ingredient is made from flowers that repell insects. I would still wash hands afterwards.

Back in the 80s when I lived in Texas I used to do a lot of bass fishing. One summer morning I put on some 100% Deet before launching the bass boat. I forgot to wash my hands before handling the plastic lures. I ended up melting finger prints into a few of them.

MCAsan wrote in post #13166394
Back in the 80s when I lived in Texas I used to do a lot of bass fishing. One summer morning I put on some 100% Deet before launching the bass boat. I forgot to wash my hands before handling the plastic lures. I ended up melting finger prints into a few of them.

Been there dude

So, if I want to do a boat trip in the Everglades does anyone have any recommends?

Live on Marco Island. By all means, check out Shark Valley and Anhinga Trail. Latter is closer to Miami and Homestead. There is a boat tour in Everglades City at the park center there. Also, Ding Darling on Sanibel Island (which you mentioned), Estero Lagoon off Ft. Myers Beach (behind the Holiday Inn), Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary off Immokalee Rd. in Naples, Turner Road Canal off U.S. 41going towards Miami, the Faxahatchee Boardwalk also off US 41 before you reach Turner Road if you're coming from Naples/Marco, and Eagle Lakes Park in Naples. There aren't many places to stay in Everglades City. You're better off staying on Marco or in Naples. Homestead has some nice places, but I think you'll be able to see more in SW Florida. It's also less crowded as you're away from Miami.

Right now the weather is starting to get a little cooler here, which is great as it was very hot and humid here this summer. Have heard the kayak trip in Ding Darling is very nice, but haven't tried it. Just too old at this point. This is a pretty good time of year to visit as the snowbirds haven't all returned yet. It really gets crowded after Christmas.