Panama Canal Cruise....May 2015
Miami:
We flew from Edmonton (We being myself, grandson Josh, son Paul and family...daughter-in-law Rae, grandson Jared (14) and granddaughter Cassidy (11) to Miami Florida. We left a few days early to be able to go to the Everglades and also acclimate to the warmer temperatures. When we arrived it was raining and windy. We had a rental van so we were able to get out and about prior to going to the cruise ship terminal. We did a couple days going to various malls and looking around til the rain let up, then on the last day we finally got to go to the Everglades and go for a ride in one of those airboats. It was very humid after the rain and hot as well.
Everglades National Park is a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance. It provides an important habitat for many rare and endangered species of animals such as the manatee, American crocodile and the very illusive Florida panther.
We were able to see alligators lounging about on the banks in some places, lapping up the sunshine as we slowed to see them. There were also turtles and many bird species, especially, egrets and other largish brown birds circling overhead as we navigated through the waterways.
After completing the boat ride, we were directed to a talk about the wildlife in the park and we saw alligators and crocodiles in an enclosure. A park ranger circulated through the audience showing a snake that is now breeding in the habitat that is not indigenous but probably released there by someone who formerly had it as a pet. Then he brought out a baby alligator demonstrating the proper way to hold it, this coming in handy later as anyone wishing a photo holding it could do so for $5.00.
All in all it was a fun day and we enjoyed learning about the habitat and inhabitants.
We flew from Edmonton (We being myself, grandson Josh, son Paul and family...daughter-in-law Rae, grandson Jared (14) and granddaughter Cassidy (11) to Miami Florida. We left a few days early to be able to go to the Everglades and also acclimate to the warmer temperatures. When we arrived it was raining and windy. We had a rental van so we were able to get out and about prior to going to the cruise ship terminal. We did a couple days going to various malls and looking around til the rain let up, then on the last day we finally got to go to the Everglades and go for a ride in one of those airboats. It was very humid after the rain and hot as well.
Everglades National Park is a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance. It provides an important habitat for many rare and endangered species of animals such as the manatee, American crocodile and the very illusive Florida panther.
We were able to see alligators lounging about on the banks in some places, lapping up the sunshine as we slowed to see them. There were also turtles and many bird species, especially, egrets and other largish brown birds circling overhead as we navigated through the waterways.
After completing the boat ride, we were directed to a talk about the wildlife in the park and we saw alligators and crocodiles in an enclosure. A park ranger circulated through the audience showing a snake that is now breeding in the habitat that is not indigenous but probably released there by someone who formerly had it as a pet. Then he brought out a baby alligator demonstrating the proper way to hold it, this coming in handy later as anyone wishing a photo holding it could do so for $5.00.
All in all it was a fun day and we enjoyed learning about the habitat and inhabitants.
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