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will have fun learning something new in a interesting way.

My suggestion is to visit every trail. None of the Everglades are difficult, most are handicapable accessible, and thanks to the rangers' knowledge they made the trails where you'll find the most wildlife.

There are hundreds of thousands of birds along the most popular trails from giant Wood Storks to the fish spearing Anhinga, and oddly beautiful pink Spoonbills.

But don't just spot and run. Once you're one the trial plan on sitting a spell, and you'll see spectacular things simply by using your five senses.

We followed a strange noise coming from a bush and found an unfortunate tree frog nearly half swallowed by a baby snake. The noise was it screaming for its life.

That's when my kids surrendered to the idea of the circle of life. If they saved the frog the snake might starve, and we were sure a hawk might one day find a tasty meal in the snake. So, we let the feeding continue.

In the park you are certain to see alligators, and once you've seen a alligator in the wild you will see them there everywhere in Florida because you will be able to identify the pattern in the water. Gators are in drainage ditches, canals, and right in plain sight in motel parking lot puddles.

We stopped counting roadside gators around 55 confirmed spottings. It's scary.

As a topper for your trip you might want to rent a boat, or canoe at West Lake center in the park, and go up the canal where you'll find crocodiles and manatees.

The people at the rental stand are helpful in locating canal wildlife because people retuning boats always share where they saw something and they kindly pass that info on to you.

The crocs seemed to congregate on sunny banks and the manatee while harder to spot can be identified as a this: A bowling ball dipping under the water.

This was how my little one described it and the ranger had to agree that it was a great description of a manatee's head going below the surface.

While on the canal step out of the boat and take a path into the mangroves or wooded areas, but don't venture too far if you're fearful. My mind conjured up images of Florida panthers waiting like crouching tigers in the thick and dark jungles of India.

While I never got to see a panther the jungle feel was real as were the dense fields of spider webs that creeped me into submission as I ran back to the boat.

If you have time take the drive up to the North East end of the park to Big Cypress. It's not part of the park, but this preserve will

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