We traveled down to South Western Florida to Naples. We enjoyed the pool at the Spring Hill Marriott. Our stop for the evening was Marco Island where we ran out to the windy beach on a cold winter night. We saw a lot of cockal shells scattered throughout the hard packed white sandy beach. Psalms 139:17-18 says God thinks of us as many sands on the seashore, that is a lot of times. Our next day we stopped into Collier-Seminole park for a short canoe trip down the Blackwater iver, learning about the Tamiami Trail and how they dredged out the swamp to put the road in.
Barron Gift Collier owned the land and funded much of the project if his name would be used in the county, hence Collier county, Collier, Road, Collier State park. Making our way south stopping at the Big Cypress Bend Preserve where Jillian saw an authentic bow and arrow set. Next door is the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve for a boardwalk experience of tropical ferns, bald cypress and royal palm tress. Many epiphytes, air plants grow on the cypress. Mangroves and salt marshes make up the preserve a estuary ecosystem. The Seminole trading post had saw- grass dolls, real bow and arrows, rattles for dancing and Seminole patch-wear clothing. The parking area swamp had an American alligator sunning himself. Dayna said, "I saw a wild alligator"! Driving to Everglade City we saw the saw-grass, known as the River of Grass, the Everglades.
The Museum of the Everglades had info on hermits of the Ten Thousands islands that had lived on the small islands out in the gulf. History of the town of Everglade City that Mr. Collier founded and established out of the swamp by building up the muck from the swamp and making the town. Our final travels to the National park for a hour and half boat tour of the Everglade National park experiencing cormorants, pelicans, ospreys and three playful dolphins. Great Family Trip and Home school Day.
