Wordful Wednesday: Florida Vacation Issue III-The Everglades

Wordful Wednesday is like Wordless Wednesday, only WITH words. It’s for those of us that can’t contain the chatter, but in a good way. More info. in my tabber box titled WW on the right. Thank you for playing along!

Visiting the Florida Everglades was a highlight.  We went to the Everglades in Big Cypress National Park.  That’s noteworthy because it means the Everglades where we visited are considered a Saw Grass Prairie/swamp…at least that’s what the tour guide told us.  It was named for it’s cypress trees throughout the area.

Big Cypress National Preserve contains a mixture of tropical and temperate plant communities which is interesting because that means lots of wildlife including tons of birds like the anhinga and the great blue heron,  and of course, alligators.

We got our fill of alligator sightings, and marveled at the amazing birds.  We didn’t spy any snakes or the Florida panther, but we did get to see a super rare bird (see bottom right photo above) called the purple gallinule.

Despite the cold (the temperature dropped dramatically while we were there), we really, really enjoyed ourselves, and would have loved to bike through the preserve.

Next week I’m dying to show you Sanibel Island, our favorite place to visit in SW Florida!

Do NOT forget to hop on over to my co-host, Amanda’s place to see what she has to be Wordful about today.  It’s her big What Not to Wear Reveal both on her blog and on TLC.  You won’t want to miss it.  In fact, this is what the Discovery Insider has to say about the episode:

Have you ever watched TLC‘s What Not to Wear and wondered what it’s like to be in the shoes of the person being made over? On tonight’s episode of What Not to Wear, Stacy and Clinton meet a local DC mom blogger, Amanda of Parenting by Dummies, and give her the chance to spend a week in NYC buying a new $5,000 wardrobe and getting a hair and makeup makeover. Tune in tonight at 9 PM ET/PT to watch Amanda’s experience on the show. Also, Amanda’s hosting a Twitter party during the episode – follow her at @thenagainphoto and RSVP at her site.

About Angie

Angie is a CRAFT dabbling, recipe making, WORD loving, sunshine hording, book DEVOURING, Mama to a lot! She's kind of in love with Instagram right now, so if you want her attention, go find here there. {smiling}

Comments

  1. Great collages!! Wonderful pictures!!

  2. These are going to be memories your kids will never forget. I love that you spend so much good quality time with them–they’re lucky kids for sure!

  3. Looks like so much fun! And lots of cute smiles from the kids!

  4. Oh my… that looks very cool!

  5. How fun! That bird is beautiful. Can’t wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

  6. I’d love to visit the Everglades one day. 🙂

  7. How cool would it have been if I happened to be visiting while you were there?? Every time I read these posts, it takes me “home”. It’s been two years – headed that way soon to see the grandparents and enjoy the beauty of the Sunshine State. 🙂

    I linked up before I had my post officially up (I hope that’s not too terrible – I just hate being #99 all the time! LOL). But it’s there now – WW topic this week – Hot Mama – in honor of Amanda’s What Not To Wear show of course! 🙂

  8. Beautiful vacation memories!

  9. You can keep the gators – but what a great experience! Beautiful…

  10. That looks like SO much fun! I am sort of glad you didn’t see the panther! Just typing the word panther gives me hives. Scary!

  11. Awesome! I would so Love to see this, esp all the wildlife. swoon!

  12. Your photos are awesome, as always. But alligators scare the poop out of me. I can’t believe you want to BIKE where there are alligators?! Scary!

  13. Love your pictures!!! Your kids are just soooooo cute!!!

  14. That looks like so much fun! Your children are absolutely adorable! Love it!

  15. That looks cool! I am sure my boys would love the gators… but me, not so much!

  16. Looks like you had such a great time! The pics remind me of New Orleans….but, with more birds. Though, it has been quite a looong time since I was there (’99…..where has all the time gone?!! Oh yea, had kidlets & travel more locally now! lol). Looking forward to next weeks share too! :>

  17. I would looove to take my family to the Everglades someday. Looks like your family had a good time. I’m visiting Florida for the first time ever next Monday. It’ll be the Orlando area.

  18. That looks like tons of fun!

  19. That looks like such an awesome trip! We visited the Everglades when I was a kid and I still remember even now. 🙂

  20. Your family looks like they are having a blast!! So Sanibel is my absolute favorite part of FL too!! Can’t wait to see your pics.

  21. i can’t believe you were THAT close to an alligator – yikes! awesome pics – and how on earth did amanda end up on that show – what an amazing experience! i wonder if i can watch it online at all?

  22. WOW! What an amazing trip for your family! I love the Everglades, but it’s been years since I’ve visited there (before kids). Did you walk the boardwalk and an air boat ride? I’m going to SheCon11 in Ft. Lauderdale at the end of May and I told my hubbie we need to swing by the Everglades on our way home.

    I can’t wait to see your Sanibel pictures! Sanibel/Captiva is our favorite family vacation spot every summer.

  23. ooops. …

    I posted the wrong link! I knew I shouldn’t blog before coffee:-( I’ll try again!

  24. We take all our visitors to the Everglades…such fun! I remember our first trip as kids. I think it is even more magical through small eyes.

    Looking forward to hearing about Sanibel…that place is amazing!

  25. Awesome shots! Those are some beautiful birds and scary alligators. OMGosh! I would have been like “Get me out of here” – being the wuss that I am lol 🙂 Your vacation looks so fun! I need one too xxoo

  26. I think I went to The Everglades as a young child, but I would like to go back. Can’t wait to see your Sanibel photos. I have been there countless times. I LOVE it!

  27. Looks like a fun visit!

    I’m excited to watch what not to wear tonight 🙂

  28. Wow love your photos as always!

  29. Love the pictures and the red hair, my daughter had some red when she was little but it is fading fast 🙁 Your pics always give me faith that one of these days we will be able to venture out with all of our kids. Right now the thought of a plane ride or even a car ride longer than an hour makes me shudder.
    What great memories for your kids!

  30. Now that is a family trip that will last forever in memories! Loved all the shots – looks like everyone is having so much fun! 🙂

  31. You saw a real life alligator?! How cool but scary.

  32. Love the collages. What program did you use to make them? I’m still a-learnin’ every day!

    My kids would love to see the crocodiles, but then likely freak out when they actually saw them!

    Christy

  33. I’ve been to many parts of Florida, but have not yet made it to the everglades. This makes me want to go though. You really got some great shots and looks like you and your family made some wonderful memories!

  34. i’ve been to the everglades once and loved it-your kids look like they are having a ball-awesome pictures!

  35. Sanibel is amazing.

  36. I love that you saw gators!

  37. Laurie J says

    What a great vacation! And I know I say this a lot, but you have such adorable and beautiful children! thanks for sharing your adventures. I love keeping up with you guys.

  38. such great photos! looks like you all had a great time!

  39. Uh-oh – I somehow double-posted mine! Sorry!
    (This is SO obviously my very first WW!)

    Love your pics – looks like y’all had a great time!

  40. wow!
    they are growing up so fast!!!!!!!!!!!!
    great pictures, as always!

  41. Cool trip and great photos! I miss FLA. I miss driving along Alligator Alley. I miss gators.

  42. looks like you guys had a lot of fun. we did one of those swamp boat tour things once while in Louisiana it was lots of fun

  43. love living vicariously through your wonderfully documented vacation!

  44. These are amazing. I don’t know what is more impressive, the birds or the alligators.

  45. Yep, we have lots of gators around our parts.

    Looking forward to your Sannibel Island post.

    My post today is all about another fun Florida activity…..SHUTTLE LAUNCH

  46. I love hearing about your Florida vacation. Your photos are lovely!

    Visit The Zoo for my WW.
    http://talbertzoo.blogspot.com/2011/03/wordless-wednesday-close-up-2.html

  47. love the kiddos facial expressions and!

  48. How awesome! Although I would have been a little freaked out being so close to alligators. :/ Great pictures!

    P.S. I am definitely DVRing What Not to Wear tonight! Oh, how I’d love to be on that show.

  49. Shoot – just realized you posted yesterday and the show was on last night. That’s what I get for posting late. bummer.

  50. Elaine Lund says

    Nice photos- Thanks for sharing

  51. Wow – I want to go there. Looks beautiful.

  52. Seeing your children makes me smile so much! Where are YOU in these photos, beautiful momma?

    Makes me laugh that folks out West go to Florida for vacation. I thought only those of us in the South did that!

    Been to Florida a million times, but NEVER to the Everglades! May have to change that this year!

  53. your photos look just amAzing! – looks like everyone had a wonderful time!

  54. Lovely pictures. How exciting to see all of the wildlife up close, wow! Your kids are all getting so big and grown-up (Grace really has shot up!), and each of them continue to be as beautiful as ever. Wish we could see you! Just looked at Jill’s blog, they were in Florida too. Good times.

  55. Nice!! I have not been to Florida in ages! BTW, is that man standing in the swamp near that alligator??

    The kids look like they had a blast.

  56. What an awesome trip…and the fact that you had a tour guide is pretty awesome.

  57. Gorgeous! Though I’m not sure I would consider hanging with alligators to be a vacation. At least, not unless they were wearing tuxedos and serving me drinks.

    (Umbrellas definitely NOT optional.)

  58. Fun! What an adventure!