If you continue to head west (toward Naples) along the Tamiami trail from the Shark Valley Visitor Center, the next place of interest is Big Cypress Bend. This is a boardwalk suitable for buggies through the cypress forest and is well worth a visit as it is such a different environment to that experienced at Shark Valley or Royal Palm.

One word of warning  – mosquitoes. The Park Service often post up the mozzie level at the entrance to the boardwalk. We once tried it at a medium level and despite having smothered ourselves in deet we gave up and scampered back to the car as we were getting too badly bitten to enjoy ourselves. I say gave up, it was much more of an undignified slapping scampering retreat……