Dry Season Offers Greater Access to Everglades Wildlife
Millions of people flock to South Florida each year, a few more at this time of year. While the beaches and golf courses are fantastic, many come to the Everglades to see the majesty of a subtropical ecosystem in action. Everyone wants to see an alligator (or 10). Many people ask, “when is the best time of year to see the Everglades.” The Seminole guides at Billie Swamp Safari will tell you, “there is never a bad time to visit the Everglades!” You see, The Everglades are 734 square miles big and nature and wildlife are in full swing 365 days a year. Essentially the Everglades has two seasons, and both offer great opportunities to connect with nature (and see a few gators). Less Insects, More Animals The Everglades has a dry season and a wet season. The dry season is from December to April, where the water levels and temperatures drop
Top Five Reasons to Retire to an RV
If you often find yourself daydreaming of what it would be like to quit your job, hop in an RV and spend the rest of your days exploring, sunbathing, and pike driving into tranquility, you’re not alone. Recreation vehicles are a multi-billion-dollar industry, raking in more than $50 billion in 2015. So many Americans are drawn to the alternative lifestyle, in fact, that more RV’s are manufactured in the United States than in the entire world combined, and with the facts all in, it’s easy to conclude why. But, if you need reasons, here are your top five: 1. Where You Go, it Goes Sometimes we love material items so much that we want to put them in our pocket and take them wherever we go. While RV’s won’t shrink on demand, they will be your travel companion wherever you venture out. Having a place to cook, eat and sleep comfortably every
Top 4 Reasons to Visit the Seminole Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Big Cypress Reservation is a well-established tourist destination located in the Florida Everglades. Each day we welcome visitors to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. Everyday local Floridians and worldwide visitors make their way to the Seminole Big Cypress Reservation for the opportunity to break away from everyday life and experience a slice of Seminole life. Here are the top four reasons why visitors come on a regular basis. Learn Seminole History There is no better place to learn then at a museum! The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum’s goal is to foster an understanding and appreciation of the Seminole Tribe. The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is home to more than 180,000 unique artifacts, archival items and experiences. Come and learn about the Seminole people and their rich cultural and historical ties to the Southeast United States and Florida. Find out why the Seminoles are the only tribe in America to be unconquered. The Museum features
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,
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
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.
Tribal Perspectives on Sea Level Rise and the Costs of Preservation at Egmont Key
Sea level rise in Florida is a real thing and is currently affecting thousands of significant sites along the coast. One site, Egmont Key, has been investigated by the THPO and may likely be completely underwater within the next 100 years. With the incoming tide of sea level rise, it is imperative that we capture the importance of this site and the gravity it carries in Tribal history.