MIAMI -- The heart of winter in South Florida may be the best season to explore the three national parks that surround the region: Everglades, Biscayne and the Big Cypress National Preserve.
Cool breezes, the absence of insects and lack of rainfall make hiking and biking more comfortable. Yet there's still enough water around to enjoy canoeing and kayaking in many areas. These expansive wilderness areas invite visitors to become adventurers -- to paddle secluded mangrove creeks, follow trails used by bears and panthers, gaze at gators up close, and marvel at a cornucopia of birds that make winter homes here.
For first-time visitors not sure how to get around or what to look for, all three parks offer ranger-guided adventures, many of them free. One of the most popular is a 15-mile bike ride under the full moon at Shark Valley, the northernmost entrance to Everglades National Park. On a recent evening, a group of 20 cyclists joined park ranger Eric Riordan as he conducted a three-hour ride along the park's roadway used for cyclists, walkers and a tram. At 5 p.m., dusk was just settling in. To avoid disturbing wildlife, the bikers carried no lights, except for glow sticks worn on their backs to prevent collisions.
"I love what happens in national parks at night. It's all different," Riordan told the group. "This is all about using the senses."
IF YOU GO
Through March, numerous ranger-led activities are offered at Everglades and Biscayne National parks and the Big Cypress National Preserve; reservations may be required. Fees range from none to about $35. Here's a sampling:
EVERGLADES: Shark Valley is off U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) about 19 miles west of Krome Avenue in Miami. The main park entrance is southwest of Homestead; tours here leave from Royal Palm Visitors Center, near the entrance, and Flamingo (about 30 miles from the main park entrance). Information: www.nps.gov/ever or 305-242-7700.
* Tours at Flamingo: Canoe adventures, bird walks, discovery walks.
* Royal Palm Visitors Center: Bike hikes, slough slogs, hammock and trail walks, missile site tours.
* Shark Valley: Cycling, full-moon bike rides, tree island ramble.
BISCAYNE: Biscayne National Park's Convoy Point Visitor Center, 9700 SW 328th St., Homestead. (Only one entrance by land). Information: www.nps.gov/bisc or 305-230-1144.
* Tours: Guided canoe trips at Black Point, Jones Lagoon all-day canoe adventure.
BIG CYPRESS: Big Cypress National Preserve's Oasis Visitor Center, 52105 Tamiami Trail, East, Ochopee, about midway between Miami and Naples. The Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center is at 33000 Tamiami Trail East, Ochopee, about five miles east of SR 29. Information: www.nps.gov/bicy or 239-695-1201.
* Tours: Swamp walks, canoe trips, Deep Lake and Gator Hook hikes, off-road vehicle tours, Bear Island bike ride and an evening boardwalk stroll.
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