Our early February, 2013, trip to the Everglades included a stop at the Flamingo Visitor Center at Florida Bay. The visitor center is located up a steep ramp on the second floor of the left pink building. The right building houses the Buttonwood Cafe in temporary quarters in a screened enclosure on the ground floor. The menu is very limited as the kitchen is a fifth wheel trailer parked beside the enclosed dining area. In addition, there was a lodge nearby with about 100 rooms until hurricanes Katrina and Wilma struck in 2005. While plans are being considered to rebuild a lodge, no construction has been authorized. There is a campground with 278 sites, of which 41 have electrical hookups. In addition, there is a small picnic area. Just to the east of the visitor center is a full service marina with houseboat, canoe, kayak and bicycle rentals. In addition, boat tours of Florida Bay or the Buttonwood Canal are also available.
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| Former location of Buttonwood Cafe |
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| Sea wall at Flamingo Visitor Center |
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| Florida Bay from the sea wall |
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| A mangrove hammock is creating a new key beyond a sand bar visible at low tide |
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| Birds looking to feast on the sand bar |
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| An osprey nest tops the park's radio tower |
The park entrance fee is $10 per vehicle for seven consecutive days.
The park website is http://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm.
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