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
The Best Season of the Year
As most of the country has experienced some harsh winter elements already, Florida Seminole Tourism is gearing up for its busiest part of the year, Winter season. As one of only a handful of subtropical locations in North America, the Florida Everglades boasts mild weather, gorgeous scenery and diverse animal and plant life.The winter season is dry and comfortable, making it one of the best times of year to visit the Seminole Big Cypress Indian Reservation. Sunny days in the 70’s are followed by crisp nights in the low 60’s. Whether your experiencing the wild at Billie Swamp Safari or parking your RV at Big Cypress RV Resort, this time of year is a welcome retreat from the hot, mosquito filled days of summer. Seminole Big Cypress Indian Reservation makes up 82 square mile in the Florida Everglades, and much of it remains untouched since the Seminoles first arrived over 300 years
No Shortage of Things to do in the Florida Everglades
When you come to the Florida Everglades, you are in for a real treat. There are so many things to do, see, touch and learn! The Florida Everglades conjures descriptions of a vast swampland with alligators, birds, panthers, frogs and snakes. This wild environment, covering a large part of the state’s southern end, holds great secrets and mystery. The Florida Everglades are a place filled with water, wildlife and wonder. It is an ecosystem that has been home to the Florida Seminole Tribe for over 300 years. A place they fled to for survival; which no one gave chase as the land was thought to be inhabitable. Not only did they survive, but the Seminoles flourished magnificently. How much do you know about this vast environment? Rather than get you confused with a multitude of facts, here are ten quick ones to get you started: The Everglades is more than 1,508,538 acres
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
Protecting the Everglades is Vital
Conserving and protecting the Florida Everglades and its wildlife is a top priority for the Seminole Tribe. It’s been said that “the land and Seminoles are one, and if the land perishes, then so do the Seminoles.” With countless species of animals, many endangered or threatened, it’s easy to see why so many groups, both private and public work towards this goal. A wetland of international importance, the Everglades is one of the last natural environments in the United States where families can enjoy sightseeing, adventure and more. There aren’t many landscapes as spectacular in America as the Florida Everglades. An impressive aquatic ecosystem covering more than 18,000 square miles, the Florida Everglades is a natural marvel. It also home to a plethora of plants and animals - some threatened or endangered. Aside from its natural beauty, the ecosystem provides millions of South Floridians with drinking water and is a vital
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,
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
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