Everglades National Park (Shark Valley)

The most accessible window into the River of Grass. A flat 15-mile paved loop runs south from the Tamiami Trail through open sawgrass marsh, ending at a 65-foot concrete observation tower with a full-circle view over the Everglades to the horizon. Alligators sun themselves on the canal banks within a few feet of the path, and wading birds, turtles and the occasional snail kite are routine sightings.

How to do it: rent a bike at the visitor center, walk the short Bobcat Boardwalk and Otter Cave trails, or take the two-hour narrated tram tour to the tower and back. There is no shade on the loop, so start early and carry water.

Practical: small parking lot that fills by late morning on winter weekends; overflow parking along US 41. Dry season (December to April) brings the densest wildlife concentrations and fewer mosquitoes. No food beyond a snack counter.