Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CORAL CASTLE
'You will be seeing unusual accomplishment' reads the inscription on the rough-
hewn quarried wall. That's an understatement. Exemplifying all that is weird and
wacky about South Florida, Coral Castle ( 305-248-6345; www.coralcastle.com ; 28655 S
Dixie Hwy; adult/child $15/7; 8am-6pm Sun-Thu, to 8pm Fri & Sat) is a unique monument to
unrequited love. Of course, what's an altar-jilted Latvian to do, except move to Flor-
ida and hand carve, unseen, in the dead of night, a rock compound that includes a
'throne room,' a sun dial, a stone stockade and a revolving boulder gate that engin-
eers to this day cannot explain...
Tamiami Trail
The Tamiami Trail/Hwy 41 starts in Miami and beelines to Naples along the north edge
of Everglades National Park. Just past the entrance to the Everglades' Shark Valley is
Miccosukee Village ( www.miccosukee.com ; MM 70 Hwy 41; adult/child/5yr and under $10/6/
free; 9am-5pm) , an informative, entertaining open-air museum showcasing Miccosu-
kee culture. Tour traditional homes, attend performances (from dance to gator wrestling),
take an airboat ride ($16) and peruse handmade crafts in the gift store.
About 20 miles west of Shark Valley, you reach the Oasis Visitor Center (
941-695-1201; 8am-4:30pm Mon-Fri; ) for 1139-sq-mile Big Cypress National Pre-
serve ( 239-695-4758; 33000 Tamiami Trail E; 8:30am-4:30pm) . Good exhibits and short
trails bring the region's ecology to life, though the adventurous might consider tackling a
portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail ( www.nps.gov/bicy/planyourvisit/florida-
trail.htm ) ; 31 miles cut through Big Cypress.
Half a mile east of the visitor center, drop into the Big Cypress Gallery (
941-695-2428; www.clydebutcher.com ; Tamiami Trail; 10am-5pm Wed-Mon) , displaying
Clyde Butcher's work; his large-scale B&W landscape photographs spotlight the region's
unusual beauty.
The tiny town of Ochopee is home to the country's smallest post office. If that's not
enough to make you pull over, then stop into the eccentric Skunk Ape Research
Headquarters ( 239-695-2275; www.skunkape.info ; 40904 Tamiami Trail E; 7am-7pm, 'zoo'
closes around 4pm) , dedicated to tracking Bigfoot's legendary, if stinky, Everglades kin.
It's goofy but sincere. Based out of Skunk Ape HQ, Everglades Adventure Tours (EAT;
800-504-6554; www.evergladesadventuretours.com ; tours from $69) offers knowledgeable
swamp hikes, 'safaris,' airboats and, best of all, trips being poled around in a canoe or
skiff.
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