If you are looking for something really different to see and do, think of the Everglades National Park, located in extreme southern Florida.  The park covers an area of some 1.5 million acres (2350 square miles) and is home to one of the most diverse ecosystems in the entire country.  In addition to the requisite alligators, look for hundreds of native and migratory bird species, unending sawgrass marshes and an incredible variety of trees and plants.  In fact, the "glades" are known as "The River of Grass," in large part because a slowly moving river once flowed underneath its swampy grasses.

You can start your adventure by checking out the Everglades National Park web site (http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm).  To locate detailed information about the park (including details about kayaking, hiking and camping), use the "site map" hyperlink on the leftmost menu.  But the website also provides great background information about the park.

While the scenery is gorgeous (and you'll want to take as much photographic equipment as you can), recognize two important things about the area.  First, south Florida has two primary seasons - wet and dry.  Each is extreme.  Hence in summertime, you have to dodge daily thunderstorms with incredibly heavy rainfall and intense, dangerous lightning.  In late winter and spring, dryness rules.  And prescribed burns (intentionally set fires to clear away dead wood and grass to prevent larger fires) and natural fires abound.  This means that some park areas may be closed off or skies may be smoke-filled.

To begin enjoying the Everglades, stop at one of the visitor centers - west of Homestead, south of Everglades City and any of several within the park.

The Gulf Coast Center offers access to the Ten Thousand Islands, a maze of mangrove islands and waterways located along the coast.  There are tours, but you can also take your own (or rented) boat or kayak out to explore.  Look for manatees, dolphins, osprey and other saltwater species.

Inside the park, navigation is hard.  This is because of the aforementioned seasonal fire danger, limited trail coverage and the presence of dangerous species.  Still, there are some trails open for walking and biking.  But you'll need to get on the narrated tram ride to reach inaccessible areas.  At the Shark Center, the observation tower allows for spectacular views of the sawgrass marshes.

Airboat rides, available from private marketers, are a must-do. Offered for various lengths of time (and associated costs), these take you far into the Everglades where you can see nature untouched. While these rides hype gator-watching, you'll get to see a lot of the Everglades in the process.

Finally, recognize that a visit to the Everglades is not a one-day event.  There's a lot to see here.  Plan to visit again, especially during a different season.  The scenery, the history and the educational value are well worth your time and any expense.