Shark Valley

I guess this is for ShellNet--or anyone else that may have info, please chime in..I was wondering how much further is it to Shark Valley from Everglade City. Is there much there other than the observation tower and tram tour. I was there years ago and don%26#39;t remember much. Also, is it now prohibited to go through the glades by airboat? I was not aware that is now is not allowed. Makes sense though. And when you say boat tour...do you mean boat or airboat? 12 more days to go!!!!

Shark Valley

WDS - It will take you about 2 hours to drive to Everglades City from Sanibel and it is about 2 1/2 hours to the Shark Valley Center.

Let me give you the pros and cons, as I see them:

Both are wonderful in their own way, and you won%26#39;t go wrong visting either of them.

Advantages to Everglades City: 1) closer to Sanibel; 2) Visitor Center is larger than Shark Valley; 3) you can take naturalist led 1 1/2 hour boat tours from the center (NOTE: these are secheduled on the hour, daily through April 12th according to the NPS website - I would suggest you call and confirm availability before you go). There is a fee and I don%26#39;t know what that is as we went on this a couple of years ago. This is not an airboat and is offered through the Everglades City (technically the Gulf Coast) NPS Visitor Center.

Disadvantages to Everglades City: The ecology of the 10,000 islands and what you will see from here is very similar to Sanibel -- basically mangrove islands.

Disadvantages to Airboats: They are noisy and scare away almost all the wildlife you would like to see. Airboat tours are not allowed in the national park, so are conducted in surrounding areas.

Advantages to Shark Valley: 1) You can stop at the Big Cypress National Preserve center 20 miles before the Shark Valley Center. The center is small but interesting, but the observation boardwalk in from of the center is hand-down the best place on the western side of the state to photograph and observe alligaters. 2) the ecology and wildlife are different from Sanibel; you get to see the slow moving water that is really the Everglades, the grass flats; 3) the observation tower is a wonderful opportunity to see how vast the Everglades are.

Disadvantages to Shark Valley: 1) It%26#39;s farther; 2) visitor center not as large or informative as Gulf Coast Center; 3) since you will be there in mid- to late April, it will be hotter at this location than a boat tour, as the sea breeze and water will give you some respite. 3) no where to eat here -- there is a cafe on 41 before Big Cypress that is good (not open for dinner) or you can drive past Shark Valley towards Miami and eat BBQ. There are good places to eat in Everglades City.

Hope that helps some -- let me know if you have more questions.

Shark Valley

Hi,

if you do find yourself en route to Shark valley from EC approx 7 miles from the junction with route 41 and that from EC you will pass Turner river road. This is an unpaved road which runs alongside the river and is an excellent spot to see alligators but take care if you leave your vehicle as some points there is very little banking;- maeaning that you can get very close to them. They can also get very close to YOU and can go very fast if they see you as lunch!

Regarding places to eat along this particular stretch there is a roadside restaurant which is run by one of the local indian tribes and somewhere along it you will see JOANIES BLUE CRAB cafe if it still operates. Well worth a visit.

Hated the airboats though you won%26#39;t be bothered by mossies or no seeums.

p.s.

Shark valley gets pretty booked up so it may be agood idea to check on tram times and possible even book for one.

Shell Net, thanks so much for your information, but I have one question on distance..I know it is 2 hours from Sanibel to Everglades City (we did it last year), is it another 21/2 hours from Everglade City to Shark Valley? or 21/2 hours total from Sanibel to Shark Valley. I would like to go to Shark Valley (I have been there too, only years ago) but our friends want to go into EC to pick up Stone Claws!

If you go straight from Sanibel to Shark Valley, it will take about 3 1/2 hours. If you go to Everglades City %26amp; then on to Shark Valley, it would take probably about 40 min, maybe 45, depending on traffic. Sorry to confuse you -- it only takes about 3 hours to drive from Sanibel to Ft. Lauderdale along I75.

This Tram sounds quite interesting to me :-))

I have done several airboat rides along US 41 (safari airboat, Gatorpark, Miccossucee...)

What do you experts say when you compare...

What is better???

Is it really worse to go to shark valley ? and why?

Florianer - both Everglades City and Shark Valley have their own particular charms. It would be difficult to say which is best. I really enjoy Shark Valley as it is so different from Sanibel, whereas Everglades City is more mangrove swamp, like Sanibel.

Shark valley tram tours are very sedate with guides from the National parks service. They will give you a wealth of information about the Everglades and what is being done to restore the whole eco system which has been disturbed by man over many years.The tram stops every time anybody spots any wildlife as well so it%26#39;s good for taking pictures. There are No Airboats and the depth of water flowing through is only a few inches deep apart from man made drainage channels.

Everglades City is on the way out to the ocean and as somebody mentioned it%26#39;s more about Mangroves with open water around them. Tours from here will probably take you out to the gulf where you may see dolphins.

Hope this helps

Thank you both for wonderful and helpful info!!

I will try the tram this year in June ...

Sounds like a nice break on my way to miami...

how long does it take to ride the 15 miles??