H eadlines
A Visit to Everglades National Park
T RAV EL
JEFF AND GINNY ORENSTEIN |
JE FEATURE
Note: Everglades National Park is
open with “modifications in place
for COVID-19.” Some conces-
sion-operated tours and services
have modifications in place for
public health. Check nps.gov/
ever/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm for the latest updates.

FLORIDA’S EVERGLADES,
often referred to as the glades
or the river of grass, runs about
400 miles, from the Orlando
area to Florida Bay, on the state’s
southern tip. It is a unique
ecosystem combining huge
wetlands, sawgrass marshes,
freshwater sloughs, mangrove
swamps, pine rocklands and
hardwood hammocks (forests).

Once covering a huge swath
of the state, the glades averaged
about a depth of 4 to 5 feet of
slowly moving water, although
there were/are many dry areas
naturally occurring within it.

Today, vast swaths of it have
been drained, dammed and
replaced by massive commer-
cial agriculture (mostly sugar)
and residential development.

Fortunately, more than a
million-and-a-half acres are
preserved in Everglades National
A pelican sits on a piling while a kayak glides by near the visitor center at
the Gulf Coast entrance to the park off U.S. 41 at Everglades City.

Wood storks feed in a pond along a nature trail in the park. Tropical and
sub-tropical birds are found in great numbers in the everglades.

Park and even more are preserved
at adjacent state and national
preserves such as the Big Cypress
National Preserve or Florida’s
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve.

Started in 1934, Everglades
National Park is the 10th-largest
U.S. national park. Unlike most
of them, its three entrances are
not connected and are located
in different areas of southern
Florida. Since no public trans-
portation links them, access by
car is the only practical way to
see it all.

On the east coast, the main
entrance is found at Homestead,
between Miami and the Florida
Keys, near Florida City along
U.S. 1. The Ernest F. Coe Visitor
Center is located at this entrance,
as well as the Royal Palm and
opportunity to talk to a ranger,
get a map and absorb some
idea of what lies around you.

Each center offers a variety
of activities and ample oppor-
tunities to camp or just observe
some interesting plants and
wildlife or hike, canoe, kayak,
ride on a tour boat and take in
the ambiance of this tropical
wilderness. Yes, you should see alligators
and/or crocodiles, turtles, exotic
birds and other wildlife. Your
chances of seeing a Florida black
bear, an invasive species like a
python or a reclusive panther are
remote but not impossible.

Photos by Jeff Orenstein
Flamingo areas.

The Flamingo Visitor Center
is the southernmost visitor
center in Everglades National
Park, located about an hour’s
drive from the park entrance in
Homestead. Closer to greater Miami is
the Shark Valley Visitor Center
off U.S. 41, the Tamiami Trail
that runs down the west coast
of the state from Tampa and
across to Miami. It is about 25
miles west of Miami and 70
miles east of Naples.

From Florida’s west coast,
the Gulf Coast Visitor Center
at Everglades City is 36 miles
east of Naples.

Once you enter a park
entrance, your first stop should
be at the visitor center for an
Before You Go:
Be sure to bring sunscreen (at
least SPF-30) and insect repellent.

Understand that you are
visiting a wilderness environ-
ment that is hot, sticky, filled
with insects and home to many
wild and potentially dangerous
critters. If you use common
sense, stick to designated areas
and obey posted warnings you
should be fine.

Getting There:
The vicinity of the Everglades
can be easily reached by
highway, air or train. From
there, you need to be on an
escorted tour or rent a car.

• The closest two major airports
are Miami International
Airport (MIA) on the east
coast and Southwest Florida
International Airport (RSW)
Everglades: Wilderness Surrounded by Jewish Communities
THE FIRST KNOWN Jews
moved to Pensacola, almost as
far away as you can get from
the Everglades in Florida, in
1763, though some converted
Jews may have been in St.

Augustine with Ponce de Leon
two centuries earlier.

A few more Jews followed
to the northern part of the
state over the next few decades,
numbering only about a dozen.

By 1821, 30-40 Jews lived in
north Florida. By 1960, the
Jewish population grew to about
175,000, mostly in southeast
10 APRIL 29, 2021
Florida and St. Petersburg.

The Florida Everglades and
Everglades National Park are not
any religion, but since the park is
predominantly in south Florida,
it is surrounded by Jewish
communities on both coasts.

On the west coast, the
Naples-Immoka lee-Marco
Island metropolitan area is
about 0.75% Jewish, though the
concentration in Naples and
environs is somewhat higher.

Greater Naples has five Jewish
places of worship, including
one on Marco Island.

On the east coast, there is a
huge Jewish community with a
total Jewish population of well
over half a million, about 13%
of the population, one of the
single largest concentration of
Jews outside of Israel.

Miami Dade County,
adjacent to the national
park, has about 113,000 Jews.

Broward and Palm Beach
counties, respectively, adjacent
counties to the north, have
even larger Jewish communi-
ties, including a large group of
retired Jews who have relocated
JEWISH EXPONENT
from the U.S. and Canada.

About 514,000 Jews live in
southeast Florida in all. The
population of Palm Beach
County is 15.8% Jewish.

Boca Raton, with a popula-
tion of about 95,000, has 16
synagogues. A dense network
of Jewish houses of worship
and community institutions,
museums and centers accom-
panies this dense population.

In addition to a large
contingent of retirees who
have resettled in South Florida
from the northern U.S. and
Canada, the South Florida
population is fairly diverse.

Miami-Dade has about 9,000
Jewish emigres from Central
and South America, and there
are significant communities
of Holocaust survivors and
their offspring and Jews can be
found living there from many
places worldwide.

For information on the
Florida Jewish Heritage
Trail, check out archive.

org/details/f ljewish00f lor/
mode/2up?view=theater. l
— Jeff and Ginny Orenstein
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



H EADLINES
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
TCS Management is a full service property management company headquartered in
Philadelphia, PA and services the surrounding Tri-State Area. (NJ, PA & DE). We specialize in
residential property management including: single family homes, condominiums,
apartments and homeowners associations. Inquire for more details
at Fort Myers on the west
coast. Both off er frequent
connections and rental cars.

• By train, Miami is the nearest
Amtrak station. It has daily
service from New York and
points south. Commuter
train service is also available
from West Palm Beach and
Fort Lauderdale.

• By car, Interstate 75 crosses
the state north of the park
and U.S. 41 runs along its
northern border.

When You Are There for
a Short Trip:
• Check out the resources
at one of the major visitor
centers and explore the
surrounding region on foot
or tour boat, following the
advice of the ranger on duty.

• Take one of the many marked
and relatively tame nature
walks in the national park or
in adjacent state parks.

sales@tcsmgt.com (215) 383-1439 x.108
*Mention this ad and we will waive your
first month’s worth of management fees!
The sign along a trail at the
Fakahatchee Strand State Park
adjacent to the national park sums up
the amphibious critter danger well.

Ginny O’s Tips for
Dressing the Simply
Smart Travel Way.

Dress for the subtropical wilder-
ness environment and the season.

Wear sturdy closed-toe hiking
shoes and lightweight long sleeves
and long pants to help protect
you from biting insects. Leave the
shorts and fl imsy tops back at the
If You Only Have Two or resort. When visiting cities, dress
varies from ultrachic at Miami
Three Days:
Must-sees for a short stay:
Beach’s South Beach to resort
• Take an airboat or tour boat casual at most places.

excursion. • Hike as many trails as This Destination at a
practical at diff erent times Glance:
of day to see as much Mobility level: Moderate.

wildlife as possible.

Walking is necessary to see many
• If kayaking or canoeing of the attractions, although some
interests you, explore some can be seen by tour boat.

of the marked waterways
When to Go: Winter is
near the visitor centers.

best since the weather is milder.

Summers in the tropics are hot
If You Have Several
and sticky. Dry season lasts
from November to March, and
Days, Enjoy:
• A trip to the Dry Tortugas, wet season lasts from April to
near Key West, where you November.

can bird watch, camp on
Where to Stay: On the west
the beach and snorkel the coast, Naples or Fort Myers off er
surrounding waters fi lled a wide variety of lodging, ranging
with sea life and pristine from primitive camping to ultra
coral reefs. Key West, the luxurious hotel palaces. On the
southernmost point in the east coast, the greater Miami area
U.S., lies at the end of U.S. 1. has a vast range of amenities.

• Some beach time on the east
Senior Advantage: Exploration
or west coast or the Keys. at your own pace with amenities
Shopping and nightlife in close by.

Miami or Naples.

Special Travel Interests:
• Th e resort ambiance of Subtropical fl ora and fauna,
Marco Island or Captiva/ photography. ●
Sanibel islands.

• A deep-sea or near shore Jeff rey and Virginia Orenstein are
fi shing charter.

travel writers from Sarasota, Florida.

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