Everglades National Park: The UNESCO Heritage Site With Its Quiet Beauty

Jul 12, 2024

Last Updated on: Aug 27, 2025

Travel Blog

A river of grass flowing imperceptibly from the hinterland into the sea.” That’s Everglades National Park, a paradise exuding the most pristine and tranquil vibe. 

You know, you always don’t need something out-of-the-box to have an ever-lasting impression. The spiritual ones know that being present in the moment and soaking the energy can be the most fulfilling experience. 

Similarly, Everglades National Park does not need snowclad mountains or glaciers to draw millions of visitors annually. A diverse ecosystem and the conservation of natural lives here thrive amidst the National Park’s quiet hub

President Harry S Truman rightly pointed out, “Here is land, tranquil in its quiet beauty, serving not as the source of water, but as the last receiver of it. To its natural abundance we owe the spectacular plant and animal life that distinguishes this place from all others in our country.” (Source)

So, if you are heading to Florida and want the most immersive experience, plan a trip to Everglades National Park, a swampland just outside Miami. You will have sea turtles, alligators, manatees, Roseate spoonbills, and fish to welcome you. 

Everglades National Park: Know The UNESCO World Heritage Site

Everglades National Park

In the Brief Synthesis of Everglades National Park and its outstanding universal value, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention says, 

Everglades National Park is the largest designated sub-tropical wilderness reserve on the North American continent.

Its juncture at the interface of temperate and sub-tropical America, fresh and brackish water, shallow bays and deeper coastal waters creates a complex of habitats supporting a high diversity of flora and fauna.

It contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere, the largest continuous stand of sawgrass prairie and the most significant breeding ground for wading birds in North America.

There are many other interesting factors adding to the outstanding value of this place. Let’s have a look at them.

  • The Everglades has limestone substrate, which is one of the most active modern carbonate sedimentation areas.
  • It is home to more than 400 species of birds.
  • It is a major migration corridor for birds.
  • Around 20 threatened, endangered, or rare species live in the Everglades.

The Everglades was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Today, various federal, global, local, and tribal governments manage the Everglades, and they work in agreement to restore the sanctity of the place. 

An Encounter With The Most Fascinating Wildlife At Everglades National Park 

Most Fascinating Wildlife At Everglades National Park 

Spanning across 1.5 million acres over Florida’s southern part, Everglades National Park attracted 1,155,193 visitors in 2022 and 810,189 in 2023. Diverse wildlife is the major crowd-puller for this park. 

About the Everglades, the UNESCO World Heritage Convention says,

The mixture of subtropical and temperate wildlife species is found nowhere else in the United States.”

Animals You Will Encounter At Everglades National Park
AmphibiansSouthern leopard frog
Florida cricket frog
Eastern narrow-mouth toad
Pig frog
BirdsRoseate spoonbill
Black-bellied whistling-duck
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
InsectsArachnids
Mosquitoes
Biting flies
Centipedes
ReptilesLizards
Snakes
American alligators
American crocodiles
MammalsShort-finned pilot whale
Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin
White-tailed deer
West Indian manatees

The biodiversity of the Everglades is very crucial for Flordia’s ecological benefits. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan has been there since 2000 to restore the ecosystem of the National Park. 

** The table does not furnish exhaustive details of the animals found in the Everglades. Only a few species are mentioned. 

What’s More At Everglades National Park? 

What’s More At Everglades National Park? 

Along with having an encounter with the most diverse wildlife, you can take part in boating, camping, and guided tours at the Everglades. Let’s make the most of it. 

Enjoy Guided Tours & Other Services

Enjoy Guided Tours & Other Services

You cannot help falling in love with the following guided tours at the Everglades.

  • Shark Valley Tram Tour
  • Everglades Institue Tours
  • Permitted Tour Guides

You can also take airboat tours to Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park, and Gator Park

Are you in for boating tours? Go for Backcountry boat tours, Florida Bay boat tours, and Ten Thousand Islands boat tours

Glamping Everglades Style

Glamping Everglades Style

You cannot just miss “glamping Everglades style” if you visit the National Park between November and April. Enjoy the best of wildlife with modern comfort during your stay in these tents equipped with fans, electricity, and other amenities. 

Did you know that the Flamingo Eco-tents of Everglades National Park, Florida, was featured on the list of Best Glamping Spot of 2022, published by USA Today?

Glamping service here begins at $109 per night.

Enjoy A Serene Boating Experience 

Enjoy A Serene Boating Experience 

Being in the water at the Everglades will offer you the most versatile experience. As you paddle through the water, you will also meet amazing birds and fish. 

Further, when you pass through narrow channels of mud and seagrass cut through the long banks, you will surely catch a whiff of adventure.  

In addition, once you reach Ten Thousand Islands, you will be at a loss for words meeting the oyster reefs and sandbars.

If you are a fan of boating and aquatic pursuits, you can also visit other National Parks in Florida, including  Dry Tortugas National Park and Biscayne National Park.

Stay Safe At Everglades National Park

Stay Safe At Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park has well-chalked safety guidelines, including encounters with wildlife, managing your pets and children, and risks related to mosquitoes and poisonous plants. Don’t forget to check the National Park Service website to know and address safety concerns. 

Further, the park provides detailed safety guidelines regarding your visit to the park in dry and wet seasons.  

Staying Safe In Wet Season

Staying Safe In Wet Season
  • Afternoon downpours and heavy thunderstorms are common
  • Mosquito bites and the attacks of flying bees will be more
  • Weather will be hot (>100-degree F) and humid (over 90%)

Wear loose-fitting, full-sleeved/full-length clothes and remain hydrated to beat uncomfortable heat and humidity. Also, use mosquito nets or repellents to avoid mosquito and insect bites. 

Staying Safe In Dry Season 

Staying Safe In Dry Season 
  • The temperature in the dry season is around 53-77 degrees F.
  • Freezing conditions may occur occasionally.
  • Biting flies and mosquitoes will still be present in some parts of the park.

Bring a warm jacket, head nets, bug jackets, or mosquito repellents to avoid mosquito and insect bites. Also, wear lightweight and comfortable clothes to explore the place freely during the daytime. 

Are You In? 

Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stretches over a massive two million acres across central and south Florida. 

It’s a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, with various species coexisting there and contributing to biodiversity. It is also a “noteworthy example of viable biological processes.”

In addition, as one of the oldest national parks in America, it was designated in 1934 by the  U.S. Congress. 

So, are you ready to surf through miles of water and witness how a tranquil wetland can emerge as the goldmine of natural vegetation and wildlife ecstasy? Pack your bag and count me in!   

Everglades National Park FAQs 

Why Is Everglades National Park So Famous?

Everglades National Park is known for its extraordinary wildlife. It is the hub of rare birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, sea turtles, and other aquatic animals. 

It also has Florida Panthers, one of the most endangered mammals. Further, you will meet the endangered West Indian manatee and the most adorable bottlenose dolphin.

The place even has a diversity of vegetation. You will get to see sawgrass, cypress, mangrove trees, and orchids. 

Why Is It Called Everglades National Park? 

The Everglades had vast, grassy fields or glades. If you decipher the name, you will find it to be a combination of two words, “Ever” and “Glades.” Together, these two words mean open grass fields. 

What Is The Best Month To Visit Everglades National Park?

November to April, or the dry season, is the best or the safest time to visit the Everglades. The temperature at this place remains moderate in this season, and there are fewer attacks by insects and mosquitoes. 

Thanks to the lack of rainfall in Florida during this season, you can also explore the wildlife better during this period. 

Who Found The Everglades?

John Gerard de Brahm, a British surveyor, found the Everglades while mapping the Florida coasts in 1773. He called them River Glades, and it was 1823 when the name “Everglades” first appeared on the map. 

From 1851, everyone started calling it “Ever Glades.”

Is The Everglades Salt Water?

You will have fresh water and saltwater at Everglades National Park. Once you surf through the fresh water for hundreds of miles, you will reach salt water. 

Earlier, this meeting of saltwater and freshwater used to form coastal bodies with partial enclosures. These places were dynamic and had the most productive environments. 

What To Wear In The Everglades? 

You have to pick your outfits and shoes based on the season in which you are visiting the Everglades. If you are at the National Park during summer or the rainy season, you must wear full-length pants and full-sleeve shirts to avoid mosquito bites and contact with poisonous plants. Don’t forget your rain jacket and shoes or boots you wear during rainy seasons. 

In winter, you will need warm jackets, closed-toe shoes and full-length trousers. 

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Meet Sibashree Bhattacharya, a travel enthusiast who has a decade-long experience in transcending virtual barriers with her words! Her deep love for travel is apparent from her travel escapades to the mountain, often taking her readers on a journey, her words acting as Portkey! Fun fact: Sibashree loves to dive deep into the history of the places she is about to visit, making her travels even more wholesome. If you were wondering how her articles are not short of time travel, this answers it!

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The museum offers a number of special events and programs, including performances, special guest lecturers, film festivals, and concerts, to share indigenous traditions with people of all ages in addition to permanent and temporary exhibitions. The National Museum of the American Indian is located at 4th Street South West, Washington, DC, 20560, and is open daily from 10 am to 5.30 pm. 7. National Museum Of African American History And Culture Visit the one and only national museum that was established in the autumn of 2016 and is dedicated to preserving and promoting African American life, art, history, and culture. With an exhibition area of 85,000 square feet (7,897 square km), it will take at least two hours to see everything. Discover African American cuisine at the Sweet Home Cafe with its four themed stations and occasionally offered "Chef's Tables" special meals, such as those for Black History Month. You need a free-timed admission pass. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is located at 1400 Constitution Avenue North West, Washington, DC, 20560, and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 8. National Museum Of Asian Art Visit the Freer Gallery to learn more about Asian art. The Sackler Gallery is home to ornamental and religious items. The Freer Gallery was the first Smithsonian institution designed purely to keep art. They collectively house about 45,000 items with a 6,000-year history. It includes some American artworks in the Freer Gallery. For example, the greatest collection of James McNeill Whistler's paintings in the world. Recent substantial improvements to the galleries have given the museum new energy and technology. Additionally, the museum presents a number of special events and programs, including workshops, performances, films, and guest lecturers. In Washington, DC, 20560, at 1050 Independence Avenue South West, lies the National Museum of Asian Art. 9. National Museum Of African Art Next on the list of free museums in DC is the National Museum of African Art. It was initially founded in 1964 and was bought by the Smithsonian in 1979. It collects and exhibits traditional as well as modern and contemporary art from Africa. A variety of media and issues are covered in the exhibitions, such as photography, portraiture, sculptures, film, and more on tradition, history, slavery in America, politics, and African cinema. They offer a variety of performances as well as notable speakers as part of their special programming. In Washington, DC, 20560, at 950 Independence Avenue South West, lies the National Museum of African Art. 10. National Archives Museum The three most significant historical documents in American history are kept there. There is also the museum and the National Archives and Records Administration. Discover more important documents that affected American history at the Rotunda's interactive Public Vaults permanent exhibit. It features the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The David M. Rubenstein Gallery houses one of the four remaining original copies of the 1297 Magna Carta. It is the ongoing exhibition of the Record of Rights. There is also a 17-foot (nearly 5-m) touch screen on the national discussions surrounding subjects like citizenship and free speech. Additionally, the museum hosts a variety of passing exhibits. It includes a featured document display and the Boeing Learning Centre. Here visitors can check out white gloves and a magnifying glass to examine replica documents like an actual archivist. The National Archives Museum is located at 701 Constitution Avenue North West, Washington, DC, 20408. It is open daily from 10 am to 5.30 pm. 11. National Air And Space Museum Visit the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, for a fun-filled free museum. Visit the renowned National Air and Space Museum to learn more about the power of flying and how it propelled humans off the planet. The Air and Space Museum, like many other museums, is undergoing renovations that will last until 2025, although eight new exhibits are already open. The Wright Brothers & the Invention of the Aerial Age explores the history and force of flight with a special emphasis on its creators. Discover how we reached the moon in 1969 and why and how we are returning in the new blockbuster-level exhibit Destination Moon. You must have a free timed admission pass, otherwise you can skip the queue. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre, their secondary location, is located in Chantilly, Virginia, about 40 minutes from Washington, D.C. Here, you may learn about human spaceflight and World War II aviation while also seeing planes and a space shuttle. The National Air and Space Museum is located at 600 Independence Avenue, Washington, DC, 20560, and is open daily from 10 am to 5.30 pm. 12. National Zoo Bears, lions, and tigers, and so much more! Discover a variety of animal species from all over the world, as well as daily animal demonstrations and habitat displays. There are entrance passes that must be purchased in addition to paid parking passes in advance (if you decide to drive and park there). A few same-day passes will be available on-site, although it is advised to make a reservation in advance. Visit the Kids' Farm, the unusual Me and the Bee playground, and the seasonally open Squirt Zone if you're traveling with children. Kids will enjoy the Speedwell Conservation Carousel, but keep in mind that each ride costs $4. Two to three hours are suggested or anticipated for a trip to the zoo; be sure to wear shoes that are suitable for walking around in. You can bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks (no glass bottles), though they do have some food options on-site. The National Zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue North West, Washington, DC 20008, and is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm. 13. National Portrait Gallery Discover portraits of some of America's most prominent people in the visual, performing, and new media arts, including artists, politicians, scientists, innovators, activists, as well as entertainers. The museum is home to the only comprehensive collection of presidential portraits outside of the White House, which includes works by renowned artist Gilbert Stuart. For a customized visit with your group, schedule a tour five weeks in advance for ten or more people, or try your luck with the walk-up tours on Saturdays as well as Sundays at 12 and 2.30. The National Portrait Gallery is located at 8th Street North West & G Street North West, Washington, DC, 20001, and is open daily from 11.30 am to 7 pm. 14. American Art Museum Discover the country's first collection of American art. It is one of the most significant and comprehensive collections of American art in the world. It is also a unique world-class chronicle of the American experience. The museum has taken the lead in seeking out, gathering, and displaying exceptional as well as outstanding representations of American visual art culture. In addition to the conventional, expected kinds of art in a museum, there is photography, current folk and self-taught work. There are also frequently unsung cultural arts, such as African American and Latino, and even computer games. The museum has two locations. However, they are only a 25-minute walk apart. The Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) is in the downtown cultural center. The Renwick Gallery, which specializes in craft and decorative art, is close to the White House. Check out the Experience America exhibition, which captures American culture in a variety of artistic mediums. There is also Janet Echelman's 1.8 Renwick, a commissioned colorful fiber and lighting piece dangling from the ceiling. Moreover, it highlights the relationships between people and the natural world across time. The SAAM site is open from 11:30 am to 7 pm, as well as the Renwick Gallery is open from 10 am to 5.30 pm. Both locations are open every day. While the Renwick Gallery is located at 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue North West #1 in Washington, DC, the SAAM is housed in the same building as the National Portrait Gallery at G Street North West & 8th Street North West. Read More: Understand More About The Vatican’s Museums 15. National Postal Museum Last but not least, on this list of the free museums in DC that you must visit is the National Postal Museum. Who knew using the mail could be so much fun? Learn about the practicalities of how your letter gets from your mailbox to its destination as well as what it's like to work for the postal service. You can also learn about the transportation used by the postal system. In this amazing stamp collection, you may engage with stamps in ways you never thought possible. Along with regular special programming including story times, art programmes, reading groups, talks, and even multilingual options like Hello, Museo for kids, daily tours are also offered. The National Postal Museum is located at 2 Massachusetts Avenue North East, Washington, DC 20002, and is open daily from 10 am to 5.30 pm. Bonus: Phillip's Musuem Nestled amidst the exquisite row houses of Dupont Circle, this modern art museum was founded in 1921 within a Georgian Revival mansion that had previously served as Duncan Phillips' family home. The location is a favorite among Washingtonians because it is both sophisticated and intimate. Impressionist and modern art are the main foci of the modern art museum, and it excels in both areas. Renoir's well-known "Luncheon of the Boating Party" and pieces by Georgia O'Keefe, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, and Richard Diebenkorn are among the highlights of the permanent collection. A single bench is surrounded by four of the abstract expressionist artist's paintings in a small but cozy Rothko Room. In celebration of the centennial of The Phillips Collection, visual artist Daniel Canogar created a digital piece that melds 550 pieces from the museum's collection into a captivating, swirling projection using an algorithm. Wrapping It Up! I hope that this guide has been of help to you in finding the best free museums in DC. Is there more that you want to know? Feel free to scroll down and leave your queries at the bottom of the page. And I will be there to answer them all for you! Read Also: Top 10 National Parks In Oregon That You Need To Explore Tips To Make Your Vacation In Gatlinburg More Enjoyable 6 Things To Know Before You Visit St. George