Day 3: The Everglades✨️

By Karyna Haskett

☀️ In the morning we embarked on a long drive from Tampa to Miami. I loved observing the beautiful condos and palm trees we passed. We stopped at a WaWa to get some things we needed, and later we stopped at a Love's to grab lunch. (Just as we were starting to leave there was an announcement calling for whoever was parked in front of Pump 14 to move, because there was a line behind them.
It was us! Whoops!)

🌴 Hours later we finally were passing the watery ditches with large birds perching on trees. We were nearing the Everglades! Mr. Park and Maddie saw some alligator's heads swimming by....

🐢 We arrived at Coopertown and got out of the car to stretch and layer on sunscreen. A tour guide got our picture in front of a green backdrop, where we pretended we were backing away in fear from an alligator! We sat down for a short presentation where a guide showed us a baby alligator. We got to feel the baby's hard, textured back. He then showed us a 13-foot albino python behind glass, and brought out an adult snapping turtle. Snapping turtles can run and jump, but fortunately this one was chill, and so cute! He showed us a yellow-bellied slider, and told us about the alligators held in captivity there. One used to be on an alligator farm, but got put here because it kept killing all the other alligators. We also saw his son named JoJo, who has been featured in many commercials and music videos. 

🐊 When we finally got on the airboat, the sun was beating down on us. The motor started up, and we put in our earplugs that Mr. Park bought. The airboat went so fast on the Everglades, and the breeze felt cool and freeing. It sometimes swerved to the side and it was so exciting. Our tour guide occasionally slowed down so he could tell us about the alligators and trees we were seeing. I was on the end of our row so when an alligator was within arm's length I was simultaneously fascinated and unnerved. 

🚊After the airboat tour ended we went down the road to the Everglades National Park for a tram tour. We saw blue and white herons, eagrets, alligator mamas and their babies. It was stunning to be so close. Every so often a stork would fly by while screeching and we would jump out of our skin. The tram made a stop where we all could get out for about 20 minutes and observe. We went to the top of a tower where we could see the beautiful Everglades stretch for miles. 

🔑 We drove to a new hotel, and Mr. Park ordered pizza so we all could eat in the dining area and just talk. It was a great day and we were all excited for our new adventure the next day: going to the Keys!

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