Adventure Guide to the Flordia Keys & Everglades National Park

by Huber, Joyce

• ISBN13: 9781588431196
• ISBN10: 1588431193
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-06-01
• Publisher: Hunter Pub Inc

Summary

Adventure Guides are the perfect travel companion for the modern explorer. Whether you're looking to backpack around your home state or boost the number of stamps in your passport by traveling overseas, these books will heighten your travel experience.

Our team of knowledgeable authors offers comprehensive introductions that cover history, geography, climate, when to go, transportation, planning and culture. Region-by-region, the books then delve into the heart of the area, with driving tours and side trips to the best museums, historic sites and shops. But the focus is on activities, and you'll learn about the best spots for diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, hiking, biking, rock climbing and more. Extensive listings of recommended tour operators, too. Select places to stay and eat, as well as regional festivals and celebrations.

Diving, canoeing, birding, fishing, aerial tours and swamp hiking from Key Largo, Islamorada & Marathon down to Big Pine Key, Little Torch Key and fun-packed Key West. Complete list of adventure outfitters. Color photos.

Table of Contents

Planning Your Trip	1	(36)
When to Go	1	(1)
Adventure Tours	2	(1)
Handicap Facilities	2	(1)
Getting There	3	(16)
To the Florida Keys	3	(1)
By Road	4	(1)
To the Everglades	5	(1)
Flamingo	5	(1)
Everglades City & the Gulf Coast via the Tamiami Trail	6	(1)
Public Transportation & Rentals	6	(1)
Rental Cars	6	(1)
Taxis	6	(1)
Trains	7	(1)
Buses	7	(1)
By Bicycle	8	(1)
By Boat	8	(1)
Marinas	8	(4)
Public Boat Ramps	12	(1)
NOAA Charts	12	(1)
Bare Boating & Crewed Yacht Vacations	13	(1)
By Private Plane	14	(1)
What to Bring	14	(1)
Clothing	14	(1)
Gear	14	(1)
Sundries	15	(1)
Credit Cards	16	(1)
Banks	16	(1)
Main Offices	16	(1)
Foreign Currency Exchanges	16	(1)
Insurance	17	(1)
Helpful Phone Numbers	17	(2)
Introduction to the Keys & Everglades	19	(8)
The Florida Keys	20	(2)
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary	22	(1)
Reef Balls	22	(1)
Dry Tortugas National Park	23	(1)
The Everglades	23	(1)
Everglades National Park	24	(1)
Big Cypress National Preserve	25	(1)
Biscayne National Park	26	(1)
Environments	27	(10)
Water Management	28	(1)
Algae Blooms	28	(1)
Recovery Programs	29	(1)
Parks Play an Important Role	29	(1)
The Manatee	30	(1)
The Beached-Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation Program	30	(1)
Seabird Sanctuary	31	(1)
Dolphin Sanctuaries	31	(1)
Reef Relief	32	(1)
Turtle Hospital	32	(1)
Eco-Tips	33	(4)
History	37	(8)
The Indians	37	(1)
Pirates	38	(1)
Forts	39	(1)
Wrecking & Sponging	39	(1)
Farming & Shark Skins	40	(1)
Plume Hunting	41	(1)
Cigars	41	(1)
The Spanish-American War	42	(1)
Flagler's Railroad	42	(1)
Pan Am	42	(2)
Depression Years	44	(1)
The Tamiami Trail	44	(1)
Outdoor Adventures	45	(36)
Aerial Tours	45	(5)
By Seaplane	45	(2)
About Fort Jefferson	47	(1)
By Open Cockpit	47	(1)
Aerobatic Flights	47	(1)
For the Traditionalist	48	(1)
Ultra-Light Lessons	48	(1)
Skydiving	49	(1)
Boat Tours	50	(10)
The African Queen	50	(1)
Mangrove Tours	51	(1)
Airboats	52	(1)
Everglades National Park Tours	52	(1)
Fort Jefferson & the Dry Tortugas	53	(1)
Glass-Bottom Boat Tours	54	(3)
Tall Ships	57	(1)
Key West	57	(1)
Catamaran Sunset-Sail Cruises	58	(1)
Historic Boat Tour	58	(1)
Liveaboard & Bare Boat Cruising	58	(1)
Atlantic Coast	58	(2)
Canoe & Kayak Tours	60	(8)
The Florida Keys	60	(8)
Everglades National Park Canoe Tours	68	(13)
Canoe Camping	70	(1)
Ten Thousand Islands Day Trips	70	(2)
Sandfly Island Trip	72	(1)
Chokoloskee Bay Loop	72	(1)
Collier Seminole State Park	72	(2)
Flamingo Area Canoe Trails	74	(2)
Canoe Trip Equipment Check List	76	(1)
Everglades Canoe Rentals	77	(2)
Canoe Outfitters	79	(1)
Additional Reading	79	(1)
Safety Tips	80	(1)
Cycling Trails	81	(16)
Planning Your Tour	81	(2)
When to Go	81	(1)
Equipment	81	(1)
Clothing & Gear	82	(1)
Dehydration & Heat Stroke	82	(1)
Transporting Your Bicycle	83	(1)
Florida Keys Cycling Trails	83	(9)
Key Largo & the Upper Keys	83	(3)
The Middle Keys	86	(2)
The Lower Keys	88	(2)
Key West	90	(2)
Cycling Everglades National Park	92	(5)
Shark Valley Loop	94	(1)
The Pinelands	94	(1)
Flamingo Area Trails	95	(2)
Fishing	97	(64)
Offshore	97	(2)
Where to Book a Charter	99	(1)
The Upper Keys	99	(1)
The Middle Keys	99	(1)
The Lower Keys	100	(1)
Other Marinas Where You Can Book a Charter	101	(1)
Party Boats or Head Boats	102	(1)
Key Largo	103	(1)
Islamorada	103	(1)
Key West	104	(1)
Backcountry Fishing	104	(1)
Florida Bay, Ten Thousand Islands Region	104	(1)
Bridge & Shore Fishing	105	(1)
Fly Fishing	105	(1)
Flats & Back Country Fishing Guides	106	(1)
Fishing on Your Own	107	(3)
Fishing Regulations	110	(2)
Nature Hikes & Walks	112	(10)
Florida Keys Nature Hikes	113	(3)
Everglades Hiking Trails	116	(1)
Everglades National Park Trails	116	(3)
Big Cypress Trails	119	(1)
The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary	120	(1)
Collier Seminole State Park	121	(1)
A Walking Tour of Old Key West: The Pelican Path	122	(11)
Key West Architecture	122	(2)
The Pelican Path	124	(9)
Parasailing	133	(2)
Scuba	135	(17)
What You Need	135	(1)
Gear	135	(1)
Weather	136	(1)
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary	136	(3)
Biscayne National Park Marine Sanctuary	139	(1)
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park	140	(1)
Scuba Tours	141	(1)
Upper Keys Dive Sites	141	(2)
Key Largo's Artificial Reef	143	(1)
Middle Keys Dive Sites	144	(1)
Diving the Lower Keys & Key West	144	(2)
Dive Operators	146	(1)
Upper Keys Dive Operators	146	(2)
Islamorada & Lower Key Largo Dive Operators	148	(1)
Marathon & the Middle Keys Dive Operators	149	(1)
Big Pine & The Lower Keys Dive Operators	150	(1)
Key West Dive Operators	151	(1)
The Shipwreck Trail	152	(9)
The Benwood	153	(1)
The Duane	154	(1)
The Eagle	155	(1)
The San Pedro	156	(1)
The Adelaide Baker	156	(1)
The Thunderbolt	157	(1)
The North America	158	(1)
The Amesbury	159	(2)
Snorkeling & Snuba	161	(14)
Places to Avoid	162	(1)
Equipment	162	(1)
Look, But Don't Touch	163	(1)
Snorkeling Tours	163	(2)
Biscayne National Underwater Park	165	(1)
Key Largo	165	(1)
Islamorada	166	(1)
Marathon - Big Pine Key	166	(1)
Key West	167	(2)
Sail/Snorkel Catamarans	167	(2)
Dry Tortugas National Park	169	(3)
Getting There By Air	169	(1)
Getting There By Boat	170	(2)
Swim with the Dolphins	172	(3)
Sightseeing & Attractions	175	(10)
Key Largo	175	(1)
Islamorada	175	(1)
Marathon	176	(1)
Lower Keys	177	(1)
Key West	177	(6)
The Everglades	183	(2)
Everglades City	183	(1)
Tamiami Trail	183	(1)
Miami Area	184	(1)
Restaurants & Nightlife	185	(24)
The Florida Keys	185	(22)
Key Largo	186	(3)
Other Options	189	(1)
Islamorada	190	(4)
Long Key	194	(1)
Duck Key	194	(1)
Marathon	194	(2)
Lower Keys	196	(1)
Key West	197	(10)
Everglades	207	(2)
Everglades City	207	(1)
Flamingo	208	(1)
Where to Stay	209	(50)
Florida Keys	210	(44)
Key Largo Accommodations	210	(11)
Key Largo RV & Tent Campgrounds	221	(1)
Islamorada Accommodations	222	(1)
Plantation Key to Long Key	222	(6)
Islamorada Campgrounds	228	(1)
Marathon Accommodations	229	(6)
Marathon Campground	235	(1)
Big Pine & the Lower Keys Accommodations	236	(2)
Sugarloaf Key Accommodations	238	(1)
Lower Keys Campgrounds	239	(1)
Key West Accommodations	240	(12)
Dry Tortugas National Park	252	(2)
Everglades National Park	254	(5)
Camping	255	(1)
Northern Everglades Accommodations	256	(1)
Ten Thousand Island Region	256	(1)
Everglades City	256	(3)
Camping	259