Two Halloween Events in Full Swing at Billie Swamp Safari
Billie Swamp Safari still has two terrific Halloween events going on through October 31st, but they will be gone before you know it. Make plans now to join us on Seminole Big Cypress Reservation and Billie Swamp Safari to join in the fun. If being scared to death is your idea of Halloween fun, then Eerie Nights in the Swamp will have you hiding under the covers! For families with younger children, Safari Harvest Festival is the perfect choice to come to the Florida Everglades for spooky Halloween fun. We have something for everyone, but time is running out. Tickets for both events are available at www.billieswamp.com or by calling 1-800-GO-SAFARI. Billie Swamp Safari Presents Eerie Nights in the Swamp ONLY 3 days left - Oct. 26, 27 & 31 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM LEGENDS SWAMP BUGGY NIGHT RIDES Stories of Native Legends, creepy tales, & myths Starting at $30 HAUNTED HIKE Walk down
Top Tips for Enjoying Florida Everglades Wildlife
When visitors come to the Florida Everglades they are sure to see all kinds of local wildlife. From butterflies to alligators, our guests should expect to encounter a few of the famous local wildlife that everyone has seen on the National Geographic channel It’s all part of the Florida Everglades adventure experience! Our Everglades wildlife needs room to move. It’s best to bring a pair of binoculars to get close to animals in their natural habitat. All our wildlife needs space to retreat if necessary. Most importantly, never, ever chase an animal! Recognize the signs of alarm: Wild animals are just that… wild. Increased movements such as flapping, pacing, tense muscle movement, staring, or vocalization may mean you are too close. If you feel like an animal is disturbed, back away. Enjoy animals in their natural environs and try not to disturb their natural movements. Remember, Everglades visitors are just that,
Seminoles and the South Florida Ecosystem
The Florida Everglades has existed for thousands of years - not only as home to thousands of animals and other natural plants, but also to the main water supply for eight-million people in south Florida. Over the last century, the Everglades landscape has changed dramatically. Urban development and drainage projects reduced the Everglades to nearly half its original size - this has greatly affected critical habitats, polluted waters and brought invasive species to the area. In the early 1800’s, the ancestors of the Seminole Tribe of Florida were driven by the policies of the American military into the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp of South Florida – later known as Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. Never surrendering, the Seminoles took refuge in remote areas that the American government regarded as uninhabitable, living a life shaped by fluctuating water conditions. Today, more than ever, The Florida Everglades faces continuing challenges of outside
Top 3 Reasons to Visit the Everglades in the Fall
South Florida is known for abundant sunshine all year long. While our winter season is very popular with retirees and vacationers from the north, it is also very crowded. Fall happens to be a wonderful season to visit the Big Cypress Reservation and the Florida Everglades. Noticeable changes in the air and color of the leaves, the seasonal changes in the Everglades mean variation in wildlife activity and water levels. There are some benefits of taking a Florida Everglades trip in the fall months, and here’s why: 1. The Weather As the sunshine state, it’s no surprise that South Florida temperatures can get hot most of the year. However, fall in South Florida means temperatures drop a few degrees, making conditions in our Everglades setting a little more comfortable – especially for those who aren’t used to the heat like South Florida natives. The lower temperatures are usually accompanied by an enjoyable
Seminole Tribe: Then and Now
During the 20th Century, the United States was home to an estimated 50 million indigenous people. In the early 16th century, approximately 200,000 Natives were living in Florida specifically, a number that today has dwindled nearly tri-fold due to widespread disease, enslavement and war. The powerful journey of Native Americans has been one of resilience and prosperity, and one that eventually led to the creation of the Florida Seminole Tribe. Still, many Americans have yet to discover the rich culture and powerful history that surrounds the Seminoles and their journey into Big Cypress Reservation in the Florida Everglades. Seminoles Then The Seminoles are considered part of the Five Civilized Tribes, dubbed so by early Anglo-European settlers- along with the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Creek tribes. During the 17th and 18th centuries, long before the Seminole tribe was formed, Native American populations shrank due to disease, slavery and murder brought on by
Save the Planet (Too)!
Many exciting changes are underway at the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum! In addition to our new THPO office building and our Museum re-design, we are also going green. Very green! Upgrading to Green We are doing our part to help conserve the world’s resources. We have eliminated the use of paper plates, plastic silverware, paper cups, and regular cleaning products, and changed to LED lighting, automatic flush toilets, and more. Staff members have been issued water bottles for daily, reusable use. Water coolers, water bottle fillers, and water fountains have been installed and strategically located throughout our facilities to serve both our staff and our visitors. We have set up a composter to “feed” our garden, which we plant several times a year with the help of the Boys and Girls Club afterschool program. Traditional crops are planted which we hope one day will be large enough in volume to help with the nutritional needs of
Top Ways to Experience Florida’s Everglades
Before the theme parks and the high-rise apartments that guard the beaches, Florida was the wild. That wild still exists today in the Florida Everglades. Quite frankly, there may be no wilderness in America greater than the Everglades. Here crocodiles, alligators and manatees still swim in miles of rivers and streams, and more than 300 species of birds make their nests among the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere.Known as the "river of grass" the Everglades were the first U.S. national area set aside for its biodiversity. Nine ecosystems, ranging from coral-lined bays to oak tree islands, support a network of plants and animals that can't be found anywhere else on earth. Here are the best ways to explore the Florida Everglades Biking Shark Valley's 15-mile tram and bike loop cuts through a flat-as-plywood freshwater ecosystem of sawgrass marsh and tree islands. No need to worry about hills in the Florida Everglades. At Shark
Four Things to Include in Your Everglades Trip
Spanning over 2,200 acres of the Florida Everglades, Seminole Big Cypress Reservation is the perfect destination for your Everglades Experience. While here, visitors enjoy the untamed landscape that is the Everglades. Whether you are visiting the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Museum or spending an exciting day at Billie Swamp Safari, you will want to be prepared so you can focus on the fun. Four Things to Include in Your Everglades Trip 1. Sun Block South Florida sunshine is abundant year-round, and it’s hot! This means that you and your group will be spending the day outdoors. We recommend bringing sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, and any other sun protection you need. While some of attractions are covered, you will want to stay protected, and have your only worry be the kind of authentic Seminole cuisine to order at Swamp Water Café. 2. Comfortable Clothing & Shoes You will do lots of walking around and be active at Big
Baby Boomers Choose RV Living More Than Ever
It is no secret that the world’s population of retirees has sharply increased with the Baby Boomer generation. It's a fact, and this surge comes at a time when the economy is moving, investments are growing again, and retirees feel somewhat safe. In short, it’s a good time to do something you’ve always wanted to do! It can also be a scary time for some reaching their senior years because of the rising cost of just maintaining a home let alone paying taxes, utilities, and being an empty nester. More and more, those from this generation are opting to go mortgage-free (or low) and enjoy RV living on the open road. Baby Boomers This name for this generation was given to the population group of Americans born between the years of 1946 and 1965. Post-war optimism, a favorable economy, and a housing boom during this era had much to do with the rise in family
6 Things You Need to Know Before Taking an Everglades Airboat Tour
The Florida Everglades is extraordinary feat of nature! Once you come here, it’s easy to see why people come from all over the world to take a journey through the wetlands. With unique vegetation and fantastic wildlife, the Everglades must be seen up close, and in person. But with as much attention as the ecosystem has been getting lately, there’s still much to learn about its contribution to South Florida and the people that live here.