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Trying to see some of the Everglades Natl Park, and heading to Key West

We left our beachside headquarters at Marco Island behind in our quest to visit Everglades National Park.  The entrance to the park is in the far southeast corner of Florida, so we basically had to drive across the park to get to the entrance.  On the way, we took a detour through Everglades City, where we were looking for an airboat tour given by the kin, if you will, of Totch Brown, some famous Everglades guy (I guess PBS had a special on him once).  The airboat ride was not quite what we expected... no alligators, no snakes, no boating over grassy rivers... apparently we were too far south, so it was more like cruising down rivers and canals.  Riding through the mangrove forest was pretty cool though.  And Caroline did get to 'rassle an alligator, albeit a small one.

Checked into the lovely Travelodge in Florida City, and set off for Everglades National Park the next morning.  It was quite cold and started to rain while we were out there, so we didn't end up doing much besides seeing the introduction to the park movie at the entrance, and walking around the most popular, short trail.  We did get to see lots of alligators and large wading birds hanging out, though.  Apparently it's the dry season, when the animals all congregate in the wettest parts of the park, so we could see everybody all in one place.  Since it was raining, we took a 35 mile drive to the end of the park at Flamingo City, had lunch, and drove back to the hotel.

Yesterday (Friday) we decided that we couldn't come all the way to the southern tip of Florida and not go to Key West, so we booked ourselves two nights at the Blue Skies Inn ($109/nt on Orbitz!).  We're about to head out right now, should be at least a 3 hour drive, but one we both love.  We've been to Key West before, but never together.  After KW, it'll be time to head back north, seeing how we will have literally reached the end of the road going south here in the eastern US.