There were a few gators that day in a quarry. We enjoyed that experience immensely.. Our friend and guide took us into a bush camp well hidden under the moss covered trees. I was kind of worried about snakes but we didnt see any. A trip to Florida is the best when you have someone who knows the area that can show you its hidden treasures.. Monroe Station is at the intersection of Loop Road and I I just looked it up and, unfortunately, found that Monroe Station burned down last year. What a loss!
Do you think we can get across the loop road then? Any suggestions are welcomed! Hi Kathie, You can get across Loop Road anytime of year, although its difficult in the rainy season the summer months. You should be fine.
You wll have to drive on 75 to get there though. Hope this helps. Jim Thank you for posting this information about loop rd we just moved to south Florida earlier this year and had family in town for the holidays and wanted to see some gators and thanks to your post we were able to do just that today!!! We saw 26 different gators on the loop ride and saw another 24 near mile marker 67 on highway 41 going west from the loop road. Thank you again. Glad I was of help. We went down alligator alley years ago and did see many alligators laying about the water beside the road.
We also saw different birds all sitting in the moss covered branches or on the ground or on the waterline. Egrets, spoonbills, heron and vultures. It was very incredible. I love photography and got some great photos. We usually went in February or March. Would not recommend coming or going at night. It began to rain on the way back and was dark and that part of the trip was not fun.
Also saw a sign warning of black panthers if you were to break down to stay in your vehicle. During the day, with caution and respect for the wildlife and luck on your side you may be able to see all we saw. It was great. Thanks , this is great , we will be visiting from Australia next year and would love to do this drive. Shark Valley, the northern entrance to Everglades national park, is on the Tamiami Trail. The visitor centre offers exhibits and programmes and a mile loop road leads to a t observation tower.
The loop itself is a leisurely two-hour bike ride, best in early morning when deer are grazing in the marsh and otters are playing in the water. Thanks for this info. Jim, this was an amazing read. Thank you for your time and experience.
They are always out and about sunning, swimming, or jsut floating. As for other wildlife, you see deer and hawks a lot. Kingfishers tend to hang out on the phone wires. Also Eagles and Ospreys. It can be a boring ride but there are animals there. We also tend to travel the Alley year round, usually on weekends and there are always gators. Also, I saw you mention in another comment, the road to Cape Canaveral, I agree its a nice gator spot.
But if your in the area definetly do the Black Point Wildlife Drive, no rails and you will see gators and otters, you can see them play around sometimes. Its a slow event but worth it. I hope you see a gator on the Alley one day or atl east a deer! Wasnt overly safe esp if road was flooded over , Then many many years later as a truck driver I had to go across alligator alley and it was 4 lanes, built up and a toll road.
Still seen gators. That must have been wild with gators on a two-lane road. Like you said all in the time of Day and time of year I think it was in December. Thanks for all your Info. When the water cools down in the winter they come out to warm themselves.
Glad you got to see them! I was there with my nieces and nephew. I took the Tamiami Trail all the way til the end. I figured I live close by so I took advantage. There you will see the square houses in the Miscosukee area and mostly all high vehicles either pick up or Jeep.
My purpose of going there was to see in Indian Tribes. After seeing the alligators we went by a school and there was one gentlemen dress with his attire.
It was a beautiful scenery all the way. So you will know they also have a nice Hotel and Gambling Area. In the Gambling Area the dinner is very affordable and delicious. The only bad thing and thats is if you dont smoke you will smell cigarettes all the time in the casino. They also have and area further out with craft works by the Indians. Seminole Casino and Hotel…about 30 min from Naples.
What a great weekend getaway, we used to do this every couple of months when we lived in Golden Gate Estates, Naples. LOTS of gators, too…basking, piling on top of one another, crossing the road without a care in the world!
Hi Carolyn, Yes it is very cool the first time you see gators in their natural habitat. I remember almost being mesmerized by them. Hi jim , My name is Derrell Reagan and im 86 years old and born and raised in Miami. Although i dont live in Fla. Anymore , i could tell you a good story about loop road. Its real and i road with him one night and its an experience that i will never forget.
If your interested let me know. In , the era of the dangerous two-lane Alley ended when the safer, wider, four-lane version became part of I Since , fencing has been added to prevent endangered Florida panthers and other wildlife from wandering into the Interstate. In , a mile stretch of Alligator Alley in Collier County became the first highway in Florida with cable barriers designed to keep cars from going into canals that parallel the highway. The cables are connected to strobe lights that flash to alert others to the fact a vehicle has hit the cable.
Today, the Alley is no more dangerous than any Interstate and feels no more remote. Nevertheless, if you get a mile or two away from the sound of the road, it is still a vast wilderness, untamed and inhospitable. The information in this article was accurate when published but can change without notice. Please confirm details when planning your trip by following the links in this article. This article is the property of FloridaRambler. Copyright Law. Re-publication without written permission is against the law.
Key West shopping for authentic Florida Keys souvenirs. Florida lobster: How to catch, cook and eat. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Truly an amazing website. We just went through alligator alley on I 75 and stopped at mile marker Went to the north side tower and saw nine alligators.
They just kept coming out of the marsh. As we walked onto the boat ramp dock they followed us. There was a dominant male in the group as the others steered clear of him but they all came near. Also saw some turtles and fish but oh those Gators!!! What Alligator Alley is named for: This fellow was cruising along at the viewing tower at the MM 35 rest stop.
Photo: David Blasco. Bromeliad in bloom along the Florida Trail near Alligator Alley. Photo: Bonnie Gross. A hawk screeched from a branch just above me at the Alligator Alley rest stop at MM Spotting wildlife at a boat ramp at a recreation-access stop along Alligator Alley.
The Broward rest stop at Alligator Alley MM 35 on Alligator Alley connects to several boat ramps and this tower, which provided good wildlife viewing. The Florida Trail heading south from Alligator Alley went through some jungly landscapes. Entrance to the Florida Trail on the side of Alligator Alley. Alligator Alley toll booth Florida Memory. It can and will become very dark.
The best place to see alligators in Florida is the Everglades, and a tour puts you front and center with them — literally. Range and Habitat Louisiana and Florida have the largest alligator populations—there are more than one million wild alligators in each state.
Although alligators can be found in ponds, lakes, canals, rivers, swamps, and bayous in Louisiana, they are most common in our coastal marshes. Afternoon may be the best time to spot them during the rainy season while they are out and about.
If you are thinking about an airboat ride in the late afternoon, you will probably see more alligators check out our nighttime airboat rides. Primarily, alligators choose the dusk or night hours for their feedings. Gators can bolt up to 11 mph in short bursts, so you might see one dart in front of your car.
Who has the right of way when a gator gets ready to cross? For your own safety, yield to the animal. A large gator could do severe damage to your vehicle. Alligators become more active with the warmer weather and their mating season runs from April until as late as June. They are more aggressive during mating season so there are things you need to remember in case you may encounter an alligator.
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