Now that Spring is here in South Florida, it is almost time to end our camping season. The heat and humidity of our Spring and Summer make it unbearable to be outside, or in a tent, 24 hours a day. We wanted to get one last camping trip in and soon, so we decided to take a day trip on Saturday to investigate the campgrounds at Everglades National Park.
It's only about a 2 hour drive from our house to the park entrance. A fun road trip! Once we were in the park, we stopped at the main Visitors Center to get a map of the park and of the campground. I paused to have my photo taken with a true (and endangered) Florida Panther.
Everglades National Park was established by Congress in 1947 to protect the 1.5 million acres of tropical and subtropical habitat that hosts one of the world's most diverse ecosystems. The Park is only the southern 1/5 of the historic Everglades system. The Park has also been designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland of International Importance and a World Heritage Site.
It took us another 30-40 minutes of driving in the park to reach the Flamingo Campground, which is set along the Florida Bay. The Florida Bay is where the Everglades officially end, creating a brackish fresh/salt water environment where you will find many migratory birds and the American Crocodile.
Ma, Daddy-dog, Uncle Robbie and I walked around the campground to find the best site. It was hot so I rode in my Solvit Products HoundAbout II Bike Trailer converted to a Stroller like I did when we went to Jupiter Dog Beach. The Solvit Stroller Conversion Kit easily converts my HoundAbout II Bike Trailer into an all-terrain stroller. The kit includes a handlebar, front swiveling wheel, parking brake and a cup holder. The Park Ranger said to Ma, "Some dog has it made". I sure do!
We found a campsite that has a slightly-obstructed view of the Florida Bay. We really like it so we made a note that it will be the spot we camp in later in May. We decided to stay at the campsite for the day, since Ma packed a nice lunch for everyone.
Even though you only have to pay for a campsite if you stay overnight, we still paid to use it - every penny counts to the National Parks, especially Everglades National Park. There are a lot of restoration and preservation projects within the Park, as well as an Invasive Species Eradication Program that includes removal of both nonnative plants and nonnative animals.
While we were in the park, we saw several Red-Tailed Hawks, Swallow-Tailed Kites, Roseate Spoonbills and some nesting Ospreys. Everglades National Park is known for its birding and you can see other birds like the Southern Bald Eagle, Woodstorks, Ibis, Everglades Snail Kite and Barred Owls.
The Park is also home to several Endangered and Threatened Species including the Atlantic Ridley Turtle, Florida Panther, American Alligator, American Crocodile, Key Largo Cotton Mouse, West Indian Manatee and the Green, Hawksbill, Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtles.
I cannot wait to go on our May camping trip so I can share more about the amazing Everglades National Park. I will be bringing along my Solvit Products HoundAbout II so I can either trail on Daddy-dog's bike or since Daddy-dog can convert it to a stroller in minutes, be pushed by Ma when we are walking so I do not overexert myself and overheat.
Remember when my friend Ranger won my Solvit Products HoundAbout II Bike Trailer giveaway last year? I know he loves it and now he doesn't get left behind when his mom and aunt go for a bike ride!
Do you hate being left behind during your pet parents adventures?
Well, one lucky Oz the Terrier reader can win the Solvit Products HoundAbout II Bike Trailer with Stroller Converter Kit! Open to U.S. Residents, 18 years of age or older. Enter the Rafflecopter for your chance to win! Giveaway ends Monday, April 27 at 12:00 am. Good luck!
Post Disclaimer: I received the Solvit Products Stroller Converter Kit for free in exchange for spreading awareness about the product. I did not receive any other compensation and Solvit Products is not responsible for the content of this article.
Look out for gators....and stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pawfect day for camping.....you're just finishing your camping season and I can't wait for the weather to warm up here so I can go picnicking!
ReplyDeleteLoves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
Wow what a beautiful place! And that was pawesome that you paid to help the National Park even when you didn't spend the night there... apaws, apaws, your peeps are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteMy momma sent a stinky eye to me as she remembered the epic fail(s) with our doggy-jogger-thingy. But he idea is great, isn't it?
easy rider
Looks like a lovely place and so fun to see the hawks and Osprey! I would love to win the bike trailer. Wow!
ReplyDeleteP.S: I'm going to Blogpaws this year (my first time). Hope we can meet up!
I have been through that park and it is beautiful. Lucky you getting to go back and spend more time there.
ReplyDeleteOMD OMD you look like that PANTHER is carrying you like a Mom does with her Puppies or Kitties... it Scared the POOPS outta us... Are you OK, Oz???
ReplyDeleteOMD we Love YOUR no walkin wagon thingy... we won't enter the contest since we already Have a No Walkin wagon and want to give Others (WHO NEED ONE) a chance to have one also...
Mom told me she went to the Everglades many years ago and loved it. Also she went to a place called Bimini Bay...now that sounds like a fun place to go too
ReplyDeleteHugs madi your bfff
Oh wow, I love your pics!!! Good luck to all the U.Sers!
ReplyDeleteღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
OMD! I have been searching for a stroller to bring to BlogPAws for Pierre if we bring him! This would be paw-fect! I'd love to visit the Everglades one day, but it is way too hot in the summer for sure!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea about how important, diverse in species and cool Everglades National Park was! Now that we're South Florida residents, maybe our family will take a trip out there when the weather gets cooler (so, like in a few months?) LOL. Thanks for sharing. Must've been awesome seeing the wildlife you saw. And Oz looks like one happy pup in his stroller. We're definitely entering. Sophie and Jas (especially our princess, Sophie) could use one of those!
ReplyDeleteI love it! We are looking forward to hitting the trails this weekend (finally)! Some of our favorite trips are to National or State Parks.
ReplyDelete-Jessica from Beagles & Bargains
Mr. N hates being left behind! And a stroller would be useful at times... nobody looks down that far lol.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic place and great giveaway!! You sure saw lots of neat-O stuff
ReplyDeleteLily & Edward
So cool Oz! Sounds like a fun trip and it must be very nice to not have to walk on that hot pavement. Very nice of your peeps to pay even though they didn't have to!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Oz is having a blast! We plan on taking a beach trip after our big move next month and of course Ben and Frankie are coming with us! This would be amazing for them!
ReplyDelete-Taylor Tromp
A bike trailer that looks like so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that Florida had panthers! Huh.
ReplyDeleteYou look so happy in your stroller, Oz. Happy travels!
Luckily we don't get left behind very often. Be careful in that park. I don't want any creepy crocs to get you!
ReplyDeletePawsome giveaway Oz! I have the big one for Baron & I together, but a smaller one would fun for when it's just me.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Pepper
OMD...We would have a blast with one of those...Mama might even be able to convince Bilbo to get out and about more!!
ReplyDeleteSmileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
Sure looks like a fun time!
ReplyDeleteI keep tryin to convince momma I need a stroller for our walks, but she insists on makin me move it myself.
One ringy dingy…two ringy dingy Hello Oz the Great and Powerful ~ You are like a king on a throne riding in your Solvit Products HoundAbout II. Why when you go on a road trip you go in style. I think your eyes tell how wonderful you feel just strolling around on wheels. Looks like a wonderful place t camp. But I would be afraid of gaters.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a friend
Sweet William The Scot
I love that park! It's such a beautiful place. <3
ReplyDeleteWe are a little too big for one of those trailer/stroller things but if we win we hope we can give it to one of our friends that would love to have it.
ReplyDeleteWow, you sure had fun Oz! Thanks for the tour. I've never been there. Our pups are too big for a stroller or trailer but I love that it makes life more fun for you!
ReplyDeleteMy senior hound girl, Suki, really wants to go for walks with my other dogs, but she isn't physically able to handle it. I could take her in this while walking my younger dogs. I could also take my cats for walks (they are indoor-only so they don't get to get outside otherwise).
ReplyDeleteWhat a great trip, you didn't see any big snakes did you? That would freak me out. You and your mom look so happy keep it up.
ReplyDeleteCool trip - it looks like such a beautiful place. And kudos to you for donating to our national parks! OMD, would we love a HoundAbout II Bike Trailer - Mom could take me so many more places, and we could spend more time on our hiking trails if I wasn't so pooped from walking. And the Stroller Conversion would mean I could go with on walks when Mom's got the grandchildren! I can see it now...sigh...
ReplyDeleteMy hound mix loves to run along with me when I ride my bike. I would love to have the HoundAbout II Bike Trailer so that my little old man Doxie dog could join us.
ReplyDeleteKatie and Waffles enjoy safe adventures outside with me... this would be so much fun for them! (one at a time of course!)
ReplyDeleteFang is a Westie who is getting old -- when I take the other dogs out for a walk he wants to go along but he can't keep up and gets tired before we are 1/2 done. We usually take him on a short walk around the yard, then drop him off and go on our real walk. This would be perfect -- he could ride while the other dogs walk.
ReplyDeleteArtie and I need a safe alternative to hiking and walking. A bike would be great for the trails around our home.
ReplyDeleteMy dog Josie only weighs 3 1/2 pounds. We go camping at the beach and this would be perfect for our walks and bike rides.
ReplyDeleteThis would be awesome for days when I am out of the house all day with Layla especially on long walks
ReplyDeleteI have 2 small senior dogs that would really enjoy joining us on bike rides.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like y'all had a great day!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this so that my husband and I could bring our senior furbabies with us on our walks around our neighborhood. We have seven rescued dogs that would take turns in the stroller on our walks. It would also be awesome to have to bring them on day trips like y'all went on!
Thank you!
It looks like y'all had a great day!
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this so that my husband and I could bring our senior furbabies with us on our walks around our neighborhood. We have seven rescued dogs that would take turns in the stroller on our walks. It would also be awesome to have to bring them on day trips like y'all went on!
Thank you!
I would like to win for my Beau. He is an Italian greyhound that would love to join me bike riding
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw this stroller on your Daddy birthday post I was jealous you had a stoller that was beach worthy- we could have used it in the shores of Lake Tahoe last year instead of me carrying our current stroller over the sand!
ReplyDeleteThis stroller would be easy for Amelia and Leo to cruise together!
DeleteThis looks like super fun. I would love it to take our pet-boys out on the trail. We like to bike in the neighborhood but our favorite place is a bit away. This could get us there and then let them roam!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like such a beautiful place....I would love to see all those different birds.
ReplyDeleteJan, Wag 'n Woof Pets
Would love to win to take Rags for a stroll in the park.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! We're so excited, can't wait to get it - woofin' like crazy here! Big thanks and kisses to you from CindyLu xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun place to camp! I love that you share more about the park and the needs and all the animals there. Very cool. Congrats to Miss CindyLu too. She will love her new ride. :)
ReplyDelete