We got there shortly before closing but the employees in the visitors center were super friendly and more than willing to tell us the best places to take pictures and see the most wildlife. It was beautiful even at dusk but obviously not a lot of critters out and about. That's our fault for going on a whim late in the day.
We are an elderly couple living recently in Homestead, we love walking...we're always looking for places like open parks and so... We went to Visitor Center but tickets are expensive for our income... We're wandering if there is a way to reduce costs to allow people like us enjoy nature and be gratified with a healthy environment
We visited the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center around 10 AM on a Sunday morning and it was uncrowded and easily accessible.
We did not purchase National Park passes before arrival because it requires a 2-4 week time lapse for processing and delivery, and we hadn't planned ahead. It was good that we waited; the park ranger at the entrance gave us helpful information and saved us money with our on-site purchase. It helped that we knew basically which pass we wanted, so we didn't hold up any cars in the entrance line.
The Visitor Center is a great starting point for your visit to the Everglades. We used the restrooms, that are in a separate building. We purchased our stickers and stamped them for our National Parks Passport collection. We watched the very informative movie in their comfortable mini theater. My husband visited the rangers at the information desk to ask about specific things we wanted to see and to get their suggestions on what we shouldn't miss. We did some shopping at their gift shop. We strolled through the many educational displays throughout the building. It is wide open and easily accommodates large crowds of people. On the day we visited, it was NOT crowded and we didn't have to wait to view any of the displays or read any of the accompanying signs.
Outside the building is a "back deck" that allows you to look out over the crystal clear water into the grasses. Wildlife is visible from this location but the Anhinga Trail is what you want to do to experience local wildlife "up close and personal".
The Anhinga Trail is handicap accessible (paved walkways and boardwalk). We happened upon a free park ranger guided tour shortly after starting our walk. We stayed with that group around the less than 1 mile trail and learned some things about the area that we would not have known otherwise. I suggest checking out the times of guided tours at the Visitor Center upon your arrival and time your trail hike accordingly. (see photos with that review)
A second trail is quite different from the boardwalk trail. It's a paved trail through "woods", and named after the trees found there: Gumbo Limbo. It is shorter than the Anhinga Trail but seemed longer, possibly because there were no birds or alligators to be seen here. It's a loop trail ending a little distance from the entrance. (see photos with that review)
All-in-all the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center was a great addition to our visit to The Everglades.
This center at the entrance of the Everglades National Park is both entertaining and educational. Be sure to enjoy the several dioramas of life in the Everglades. Also note the many lectures and ranger walk abouts that are offered daily.
Excellent place to begin a well informed journey into the ver expansive Everglades NP. The interactive displays and videos take u on a trail of information that will make the visit much more meaningful. I want also highlight the efforts made by the Rangers for creating an equally engaging calendar of experiences for every day that allow the visitors to experience the everglades magic at different levels : walks, hikes, bike rides or boat rides. Plan you visit by pre-booking any of these (most are free of charge and expressly staffed) and you will truly feel that you experience this subtle land of magic in multi-sensory ways. Special mention to Ranger David at Ernest Coe cntr info desk and Ranger Max at Anhinga trail for an wonderful night walk.
>
Agregar Reseña
Leer Más Reseñas
Kelly Aspinall
a month agoWe got there shortly before closing but the employees in the visitors center were super friendly and more than willing to tell us the best places to take pictures and see the most wildlife. It was beautiful even at dusk but obviously not a lot of critters out and about. That's our fault for going on a whim late in the day.
José Juan Santos Gracia
a week agoWe are an elderly couple living recently in Homestead, we love walking...we're always looking for places like open parks and so... We went to Visitor Center but tickets are expensive for our income... We're wandering if there is a way to reduce costs to allow people like us enjoy nature and be gratified with a healthy environment
Martha Schott
a month agoWe visited the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center around 10 AM on a Sunday morning and it was uncrowded and easily accessible. We did not purchase National Park passes before arrival because it requires a 2-4 week time lapse for processing and delivery, and we hadn't planned ahead. It was good that we waited; the park ranger at the entrance gave us helpful information and saved us money with our on-site purchase. It helped that we knew basically which pass we wanted, so we didn't hold up any cars in the entrance line. The Visitor Center is a great starting point for your visit to the Everglades. We used the restrooms, that are in a separate building. We purchased our stickers and stamped them for our National Parks Passport collection. We watched the very informative movie in their comfortable mini theater. My husband visited the rangers at the information desk to ask about specific things we wanted to see and to get their suggestions on what we shouldn't miss. We did some shopping at their gift shop. We strolled through the many educational displays throughout the building. It is wide open and easily accommodates large crowds of people. On the day we visited, it was NOT crowded and we didn't have to wait to view any of the displays or read any of the accompanying signs. Outside the building is a "back deck" that allows you to look out over the crystal clear water into the grasses. Wildlife is visible from this location but the Anhinga Trail is what you want to do to experience local wildlife "up close and personal". The Anhinga Trail is handicap accessible (paved walkways and boardwalk). We happened upon a free park ranger guided tour shortly after starting our walk. We stayed with that group around the less than 1 mile trail and learned some things about the area that we would not have known otherwise. I suggest checking out the times of guided tours at the Visitor Center upon your arrival and time your trail hike accordingly. (see photos with that review) A second trail is quite different from the boardwalk trail. It's a paved trail through "woods", and named after the trees found there: Gumbo Limbo. It is shorter than the Anhinga Trail but seemed longer, possibly because there were no birds or alligators to be seen here. It's a loop trail ending a little distance from the entrance. (see photos with that review) All-in-all the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center was a great addition to our visit to The Everglades.
Fred Pineau
3 weeks agoThis center at the entrance of the Everglades National Park is both entertaining and educational. Be sure to enjoy the several dioramas of life in the Everglades. Also note the many lectures and ranger walk abouts that are offered daily.
G.
a month agoExcellent place to begin a well informed journey into the ver expansive Everglades NP. The interactive displays and videos take u on a trail of information that will make the visit much more meaningful. I want also highlight the efforts made by the Rangers for creating an equally engaging calendar of experiences for every day that allow the visitors to experience the everglades magic at different levels : walks, hikes, bike rides or boat rides. Plan you visit by pre-booking any of these (most are free of charge and expressly staffed) and you will truly feel that you experience this subtle land of magic in multi-sensory ways. Special mention to Ranger David at Ernest Coe cntr info desk and Ranger Max at Anhinga trail for an wonderful night walk.