We’re lucky the Florida everglades are still in existence! As a result of the land boom of the early 1920’s portions of the Everglades began to be drained and turned into residential and business zones. Ernest F. Coe, a Florida land developer turned conservationist, was disturbed by what he saw. Working passionately for more than 20 years to protect the Everglades, Ernest’s hard work eventually paid off and in 1934 Everglades National Park was finally established. Consequently, Ernest F. Coe is now known as “Father of Everglades National Park.” Thanks to his outstanding conservation efforts, all of us can explore and enjoy this unique ecosystem!

If you only have a day to explore Everglades National Park, make the most of your limited time and visit the Shark Valley and Coopertown Airboat Tours. Both places offer excellent educational experiences, ample opportunities to capture fantastic landscape and wildlife photos, and are only a 15 minute drive from each other. Before heading out also check out this article: “Complete Florida Everglades Packing List.”

1.) Shark Valley – Everglades National Park

Conveniently located just 46 minutes from Miami International Airport and 1 hr 10 minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Shark Valley offers several great ways to experience Everglades National Park, such as the Bobcat Boardwalk nature walk, Shark Valley Tram Tour, or self-guided bike tour. Be sure to first stop by the Shark Valley Visitor’s Center and check out the educational displays, park video and informational brochures. The rangers working here are knowledgeable and can give you helpful information about wildlife in Everglades National Park as well as all the fun things to do while visiting Shark Valley. There is also a nice gift store that sells all kinds of fun souvenirs, books and postcards. And most importantly they sell sell snacks, cold beverages and ice cream. A cold popsicle really hits the spot after being out in the sun for several hours!

Bobcat Boardwalk

From the visitor’s center you can take a stroll on the Bobcat Boardwalk that meanders through the sawgrass slough and tropical hardwood forest. We really enjoyed this short walk as we saw some beautiful Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers. There are also some educational plaques along the way that will teach you interesting facts about the Everglades. If you want to save time, just turn left at the end of the trail and follow the road back to the visitor’s center instead of going back the way you came. We had extra time so decided to turn right and walk up the road for a bit. Although hearing the alligators calling each other was creepy, we enjoyed seeing birds, insects, shells and alligator pathways in the grass.

Trail Length: 0.5 miles one way
Directions to Trail: Located off the Tram Road behind the Shark Valley Visitor Center
Wheelchair Accessible: YES
Bicycles, Roller skates, Skateboards: NOT allowed

Tram Tours

A 15-mile paved road loops through the Shark Valley and allows visitors to experience the best of Everglades National Park by walking, biking or taking a tram tour. If you have limited time this is the best way to see the Shark Valley. The tram is open air but it also has a top that provides shade from the sun’s intense rays. The driver stops at all wildlife sightings and makes sure everyone gets a chance to take pictures before moving on. Within a few minutes of the tour I had lots of opportunities to photograph birds, alligators, and other wildlife without having to use a wildlife lens. We even got up close to a nest of adorable baby alligators!

Another benefit of taking the tram tour is the knowledgeable naturalist tour guide who narrates the trip. Our guide shared many interesting facts about the wildlife and about Everglades National Park that we would have missed had we taken a self-guided tour. About halfway through the tour the tram stops at an observation tower where there are bathrooms and you can walk to the top and get a bird’s eye view of the everglades. (As of January, 2019 the bathrooms are still under construction so make sure to use the visitor center bathrooms before heading out).

Fun Alligator Facts We Learned on Our Tram Tour

• Optimum body temperature for an alligator is around 89 degrees fahrenheit.
• Heat from the sun activates digestive enzymes, so cold temps can kill a gator with a full stomach because the food will rot instead of digest.
• If they eat a larger mammal alligator’s only will eat once a month!
• An average adult American alligator’s weight and length is 790 pounds and 13 feet long,  but they sometimes grow to 14 feet long and weigh over 990 pounds.
• The largest alligator ever recorded was found in Louisiana and measured 19.2 ft! The largest ever recorded in Florida was 16 feet.

Best Time to Visit Shark Valley and Everglades National Park: Late August through early September is a great time to see baby alligators. It’s also not as hot as the summer months.
Tour Length: Two Hours
Tour Departure Times: Visit the Shark Valley Tram Tours website
Departs From: Outside the Visitor Center
Website: https://www.sharkvalleytramtours.com/tram-tours/
Admission Costs: As of January, 2019 (13-61) $25.00
Seniors (62+) $19.00
Children (3-12) $12.75

Biking

Bike rentals are available at the visitor center or you can bring your own bike and ride the 15-mile paved loop. The benefit of doing a self-guided bike tour is you can go at your own pace. Just remember that afternoon thunderstorms are common in Florida so the best time to go is the morning. Although the loop is flat, there is no shade along the route and temperatures are typically hot and humid. Wear light clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat. If you want to rest along the way, stop halfway at the observation tower but know that as of January, 2019 the bathrooms are still under construction so make sure to use the visitor center bathrooms before heading out. Most importantly there is no drinking water along the way so hydrate well before heading out and also pack plenty of water!

Tour Length: About 2-3 Hours (If you’re pressed for time take the tram tour instead)
Distance: 15 miles of all flat paved terrain
Bike Rental Cost: $9/hour (Driver’s License or ID Required to Reserve Bikes)
Website: https://www.sharkvalleytramtours.com/everglades-bicycle-tours/

2.) Coopertown Airboat Tours – Everglades National Park

No trip to Everglades National Park would be complete without taking an airboat ride! Offering exciting airboat tours for over 60 years, Coopertown Airboat Tours is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in one of the most unique landscapes in the United States. Mike, our professional airboat guide was informative, funny and adventurous. He took us on a personalized, educational tour covering approximately 9 miles of unique environment. At first we started out slowly making our way down a narrow channel but then sped up when we reached the open sawgrass prairie. There’s something so relaxing yet invigorating about watching the blue sky and bright green sawgrass prairie fly by!

On the way back we stopped at an alligator hole where Mike called to his favorite gator “Peg”. At first I thought he was just being silly and doing it for show but “Peg” actually came out to meet us after he called her! She swam right up to the boat and got so close that I jumped up on the seat to put more distance between us! He proceeded to call to another alligator and I watched in awe as a gator slowly swam up the channel in our direction. I had such an enjoyable time and recommend this as a fun way to see the best of Everglades National Park if you’re on a tight schedule. There’s a reason the Miami Herald has rated Coopertown Airboat Tours as #1 for 50 consecutive years!

Tour Length:  Tour takes about 40 minutes and covers approximately nine miles
Cost: $23/adult or $11/child (6-11 yrs) or buy online and pay $20/adult and $10/child**
Private Tours: Tours last 1-2 hours and cover approximately 15-30 miles (depending on what you want)
To Schedule: Call (305) 226-6048 or book online
Website: http://coopertownairboats.com/

Check out the video of our Everglades National Park airboat ride!

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Weight

When we first received our tent I picked it up and said, “This can’t be it! Where’s the rest? It’s SO light!” But that’s the thing that makes this tent so awesome and sets it apart from other three-season free-standing tents; It really is that light! Weighing in at 2 lbs 6 oz, the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 mtnGLO tent is a backpacker’s dream! (HV stands for High Volume and UL2 stands for Ultra Light Two Person)

Lighting

And speaking of light, this tent has a flexible yet durable LED light strand integrated into the tent seams. The strand illuminates the interior with enough light to sort gear, change, and read without blinding each other.  A simple push button controller with three settings – on, off and 50% brightness – controls the mtnGLO® lights. It does require three AAA batteries to operate the mtnGLO® light controller, but it can also be powered by any USB source. Basically this technology makes for much happier campers and better on-the-trail relationships. I can’t count the times a head lamp has blinded me and I’ve wanted to toss it out of the tent!

Assembly

One person can easily set up the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 mtnGLO in just a few minutes. It has ultralight plastic clips that attach the tent body to the pole frame. Many times I start dinner while my husband starts setting up the tent. Usually he has the tent up before the water starts boiling. No more fumbling around in the dark with low blood sugar trying to control the urge to scream and abuse poorly designed tent poles!

Even though this tent is a free standing tent you will need to stake out the back of the tent on both sides as well as the rain fly front vestibule. It will also work better to stake out the sides of the rain fly as well. You’ll make quick work of this however, as the tent stakes are extremely durable and don’t bend in hard soil.

Construction

This tent features the DAC Angle SF Hub, a lightweight technology unique to Fly Creek HV tents. The hub is made with an eco-friendly anodizing process that increases space without increasing weight. How cool is that?

An ultralight nylon rip-stop floor and fly have a 1200mm waterproof polyurethane coating. The mesh body offers excellent ventilation. However, be warned! It offers excellent ventilation only with the rain fly OFF. As the tent has a fairly low ceiling it can get a bit stuffy with the fly on. But hey, this is camping not the Ritz Carlton! Just leave the rain fly off in nice weather and watch the stars while enjoying the fresh night air. Now that’s luxury!

Another great feature is the rain fly dry entry vestibule that keeps the interior of your tent dry as you enter and exit. Since this is a rather small tent the vestibule works great for storing your pack, shoes and other gear while keeping it dry and close. One disclaimer is that it works well if you are a minimalist backpacker. Remember that this is an ultra light tent and pairs nicely with other minimalist equipment. However, if you take your 65 lb pack overstuffed with every backpacking luxury, you’ll find the vestibule too small.

Although extremely light, Big Agnes did not skimp on quality construction. My husband and I recently weathered a rainstorm; the inside and all our belongings remained dry. I have to say the vestibule really saved the day as we stored both backpacks in it during the storm.

More recently the tent withstood a Michigan snowstorm and held up great!  With steep sides the snow did not accumulate on the tent and the little amount that did stick easily slid off with a simple shake. Note that this tent is marketed as a three season tent and is not intended for winter elements. I just wanted to test it out to see how it would do in the snow.

Awards – Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 mtnGLO

2015 – Outside Magazine’s Gear of the Year issue. Big Agnes won Gear of the Year for integrating LED lights into a superb backpacking tent, improving on an already industry leading tent!

2014 – Big Agnes stole the show at the OutDoor Trade Show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, winning a coveted INDUSTRY AWARD for its Fly Creek UL2 tent. This award is a globally acknowledged award for innovative outdoor products. According to the OutDoor INDUSTRY AWARD jury, “The Fly Creek UL2 is the lightest double walled, freestanding tent to weigh in at only 879g and has been completely redesigned. The best tent on the market today for backpacking and lightweight trekking anywhere in the world.”

2021 – Backpacker Magazine’s Gear of the Year Award and Top Pick from the Outdoor Gear Lab.

2010 – Backpacker Magazine’s Editors’ Choice Award.

Cons – Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 mtnGLO

Overall I love the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 mtnGLO tent and don’t have much negative to say about it. However, there are a few things that you need to understand before making the purchase as it may not be the right tent for you.

Spacing

Big Agnes definitely took spacing vs. weight into consideration when designing the Fly Creek HV UL2 mtnGLO. However, it’s still small for two people and there’s not much wiggle room. Can two people fit in the tent? Yes, but if these two people wish to stay married or remain friends it is probably best to get a tent with more space. We found ourselves stuck in a rainstorm for hours and although the tent kept us dry, it was cramped. With two people there’s also no extra room inside the tent for backpacks so it’s good there is a vestibule where you can store gear and keep it out of the weather. Note that with two backpacks in the vestibule it is harder to exit and enter the tent.

Access

I prefer two side doors for a two person tent as I find myself having to get up multiple times in the night. Climbing over my snoring husband without stepping on his face or other body parts while trying to squeeze out the front door can prove difficult.

Durability

This really isn’t a ding against the tent, but as always, what you give up with ultralight construction is durability. The fabric is thinner than materials used on heavier duty tents so you’ll need to take extra care when putting it up  that there are no rocks, sticks or sharp objects. I recommend always using the footprint. So far we haven’t had any durability issues but we are always extra careful.

Ventilation

Because of the low ceiling it can get stuffy if you have the rain fly on.

My Recommendation

Solo Packers

You can’t go wrong with the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 mtnGLO tent. It is one of the best three-season, free-standing tents on the market. Perfect for solo campers, it is lightweight, easy to setup, and has ample room for sleeping and storing gear. Yes there are lighter tents, but for ease of use and weight it can’t be beat! Buy this tent and you won’t regret it!

Double Packers

Go with the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 mtnGLO. It weighs in at just six ounces more than the Fly Creek HV UL2 at 2 lbs. 12 oz. However, it has more head room, two side doors, and more than one extra square foot of vestibule and floor area.

Pick up the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 mtnGLO tent or the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 mtnGLO tent at Camp Saver.
Click here for more great ultralight backpacking gear recommendations.

*Author purchased the Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 mtnGLO tent and was not paid or provided with any goods or services for writing this review. Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I have experienced all of these companies, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links.  Thanks for your support!

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1. Morning Glory Vegetarian Restaurant

Topping my list at #1 the Morning Glory Vegetarian Restaurant is a hole-in-the-wall joint on a busy street offering fantastic food and the most bang for your buck. It won Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence three years in a row and was well worth the 30 minute walk across town! In fact, we made the trip three times during our two week stay in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Owner and head chef Diana Chiachong is vivacious and friendly, cooking flavorful vegetarian/vegan food without using any MSG. Try the vegetable salad with her original peanut sauce. It wowed me so much that I actually came back and took her private cooking class. If you’re looking for fantastic vegan food for an incredible price this is the place to go! Also check out my article about her cooking school: Best Thai Vegan Cooking Class in Chiang Mai

Try These Dishes: Vegetable Salad with Peanut Sauce, Pumpkin Hummus, Mango Sticky Rice, Fried Vegetables with Cashew Nut, Massaman Curry                                                            Cost: The average main dish is 60 Thai Baht or $1.82 USD

2. Fuang Vegetarian Restaurant

The Fuang Vegetarian Restaurant is nestled in a quiet alley and offers tasty food and an outdoor patio. Try their banana blossom salad. It’s the best in Chiang Mai and their smoothies are also incredibly satisfying! Even though the restaurant is not air conditioned I ate here several times because it felt heavenly to sit by the fan while drinking their legendary lemon mint smoothie. I think I had three or four of them during my two week stay.

Try These Dishes: Banana Blossom Salad, Lemon Mint Smoothie, Vegetable Cashew Stir Fry                                                                                                                                                        Cost: We spent 260 Thai Baht or just under $7 USD for a meal for two people that included drinks and two entrees.

3. Imm Aim Vegetarian and BikeCafe

Everything about this cafe breathes positive vibes. Made fresh with seasonal vegetables and local produce, the Thai fusion food at The Imm Aim Vegetarian and Bike Cafe is nothing but high quality. They also don’t use oil, preservatives, MSG or GMO’s in their dishes.  Guaranteeing their dishes, their policy is that if you don’t like your food you don’t have to pay for it! They also do their best to accommodate those with any allergies or dietary restrictions. Overall our dining experience at the Imm Aim Vegetarian and Bike Cafe was yummy, fun, interesting and surprising. If you’re adventurous try something off their enticing drink menu. We ordered an ice tea of passion fruit, ginger, mint, cinnamon, and honey. It was great! Check out my full restaurant review for more details: Review: Imm Aim Vegetarian and Bike Cafe

Try These Dishes: Panang Curry with Naan (Mushrooms, shallots, and okra), Kao Pad Med Ma Mijang (Fried brown rice, cashews, ginger, garlic, and mild chili sauce), ice teas.            Cost: Main dishes range from 60-70 Thai Baht or around $2 USD. Drinks are 35 Thai Baht or $1 USD

4. Taste from Heaven Vegetarian Restaurant

This restaurant is more upscale than the Morning Glory or Fuang Vegetarian Restaurant and their menu caters toward western tourists. It is also more expensive than the previous two. However, with bright green walls and quirky quotes, it offers a fun atmosphere. They also have an extensive menu with some tasty options. The Khao Soy Noodle dish is different yet delicious (egg noodles with curry paste, curry powder, coconut milk, tofu, mushroom balls, topped with crispy onions and crispy noodles). The waiters weren’t friendly but the food was good and the presentation beautiful.

Try These Dishes: Khao Soy Noodles, Pineapple Fried Rice, Cashew Nut Stir Fry                                                                                                                                                                              Cost: 80-100 Thai Baht $2-3 USD for main dishes

5. Khaomao-Khaofang Restaurant

The Rainforest Cafe has nothing on the Khaomao-Khaofang Restaurant! Although it’s not a vegetarian place, you have to eat at this high end restaurant for the unique experience. From the bathrooms to the walkways, no detail is overlooked with outdoor and indoor dining melding seamlessly. Choose from a table beside the lake, next to numerous waterfalls, or among the orchids and ferns. This is the closest you’ll ever get to eating in a real rainforest, so dress up and take your honey for a romantic and memorable date.

Try These Dishes: Northern Thai Spicy Stir Fry Noodles, Stir Fried Chicken with Cashew Nut (they’ll swap out the chicken for tofu).                                                                                  Cost: Main dishes are about 150 Thai Baht or about $4.50 USD.

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As it turned out, finding the perfect piece of pie was no piece of cake! I can’t remember how many rich, dense and syrupy sweet pieces of pie I ate through, all while sacrificing my body for the sake of the cause. However, it paid off! Yeah, I know…what a rough job, but someone had to do it! Without further ado here are (in my opinion) the three best Key lime pies in the Florida Keys.

#3 The Blonde Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory

Coming in at #3, The Blonde Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory is conveniently located in Key Largo right off the Overseas Highway. The shop itself is bright and cheerful and their gift shop sells all things lime flavored. Yes, they are a bit touristy but the staff is friendly and their outdoor seating is fantastic! Colorful Adirondack chairs are interspersed on a back patio between beautiful shade trees and a tropical garden. However, it’s the friendly pie-begging resident chickens that made for one enjoyable and unique experience! Although the chickens really enjoyed the sweeter pie, it was too sweet for my liking. That being said, if you love a very dense, rich, creamy and sweeter pie you’ll love this one. Overall Pie Rating 3 out of 5

#2 Mattheessen’s

With two locations on the world famous Duval St. in Key West, Florida, Mattheessen’s is a cute 1950’s style dessert shop. They serve various homemade desserts like Key lime sorbet and Key lime pie. We ordered the plain Key lime pie but the Belgium chocolate dipped Key lime pie on a stick also looked fantastic! The lady helping us was extremely friendly and made us feel like we were eating a homemade piece of pie on a friend’s front porch. So how was the pie? The consistency was dense, rich and creamy but unlike The Blonde Giraffe, the tart lime was perfection! However, it was still very sweet and rich so although it was a great piece of pie it came in at #2 because I prefer a lighter less sweet pie. Overall Pie Rating 4 out of 5

#1 Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Factory

When I first walked into Kermit’s in Key West it took all of me not to bolt out. It was a larger shop with all kinds of lime flavored gifts, souvenirs and obnoxious tourists. My first thought was, “This place, although very cute, is so not me”. Let’s get real, when was the last time you found the best of anything in an overcrowded tourist shop? However, since my momma’s mantra still burned in my ears, I reluctantly ordered a plain piece of Key lime pie. Collecting my pie I noticed they had several other flavors like blueberry lime and strawberry lime but I was still skeptical. Fighting my way through the crowds I made my way to a beautiful patio and koi fish pond where I took the last seats.

Wow was my prejudice shattered with just one bite! It turned out that finding the perfect Key lime pie wasn’t just pie in the sky. After my first bite of delightfully dreamy, lightly whipped, perfectly limey and not too sweet pie, I yanked it away from my husband and joked that we were no longer sharing! He literally had to beg me from getting up and ordering a strawberry lime and blueberry lime piece of pie. Unlike my momma and me, he feels you CAN actually eat too much Key lime pie. I slowly sat back down, sighing in contentment, and pondered that ironically–at my last stop–I had finally found THE perfect piece of Key lime pie…albeit in an overrun tourist trap.
Overall Pie Rating 5 out of 5

Summary

There is so much great Key lime pie in the Florida Keys! So take your BFF or your sweetie pie on your own perfect pie adventure. Have you already been to Key West or done a road trip down the Florida Keys? I’d love to hear what and where your favorite stops were along the way or where you found your perfect pie! Scroll down to the end of the page and drop me a comment. Thanks, and bon voyage!

Check out more Florida adventures here:

The Turtle Hospital: Saving Sea Turtles in Florida

Everglades National Park One Day Itinerary

Florida Everglades Complete Packing List

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Since 1986, the non-profit Turtle Hospital in Marathon Key, Florida has successfully achieved its mission by rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing over 3,000 sea turtles. In addition to this mission, the Turtle Hospital works to make a safer world for all sea turtles by focusing on education, research and environmental legislation. This September we met with its director Bette Zirkelbach who shared the Turtle Hospital’s interesting history, showed us the facilities, explained what they do, and introduced us to their resident sea turtles.

The Turtle Hospital has an unusual history. It actually was an old motel and night club before its founder, Richie Moretti, bought it in the early 80’s. He renovated the fifty’s-era motel and turned the old salt water pool into an aquarium. Not only did the salt water aquarium pool entertain the guests, but it also educated local school children. One of the kids sparked an idea when they asked Richie why he didn’t have any sea turtles in the aquarium. Richie did some research and learned that he could get a permit for sea turtles but only for rehabilitation purposes. He soon got the permit, adopted two sick Green sea turtles, and the Turtle Hospital was born! As the Turtle Hospital expanded he later bought and renovated the night club next door.

Turtle Hospital Facilities

At present the Turtle Hospital is the largest turtle rehabilitation center in the USA, boasting a 100,000 gallon salt water pool, two 30,000 gallon pools, 23 smaller treatment tanks, an operating room, emergency room, education center, three ambulances, 17 full time live-in staff members and two vets. I was amazed that the ER and operating room look and are run so similar to a human hospital! Although more than half of its equipment has been donated by local hospitals, doctors, environmentally friendly organizations or individuals, the equipment is up-to-date and performs a variety of surgeries on different sizes and species of sea turtles. The large education center also has great visual exhibits and information about the Turtle Hospital and sea turtles in general.

Sea Turtle Issues Treated at The Turtle Hospital

There are seven species of sea turtles worldwide and the Turtle Hospital treats five of these endangered species: Green, Loggerhead, Leatherback, Hawksbill, and Kemp’s Ridley. When we visited there were 46 sea turtle patients at the Turtle Hospital. Although they see many ailments, here are some of the most common issues they treat:

Entanglements

Sea turtles swim by moving their flippers in a circular fashion which makes it hard for them to escape once they get caught. As a result, once they’re caught in fishing or buoy lines, sea turtles may drown or loose a flipper due to loss of circulation. An example of this is Farley, a 372 lbs Green sea turtle they treated for a front flipper entanglement. Although they tried to save her flipper, an amputation was necessary. However, sea turtles can still survive in the wild with only three flippers so Farley was successfully returned to the ocean.

Impactions

Mistaking it for food, sea turtles ingest a lot of plastics and other trash. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as of 2006 there were 46,000 pieces of floating plastic per square mile in the ocean. Imagine how much more there is today in 2018! The Sea Turtle Conservancy says that sea turtles are especially susceptible to the effects of consuming marine debris due to their bodies’ own structure. They have downward facing spines in their throats which prevents regurgitation. The plastics get trapped in their stomach causing impactions and preventing them from properly swallowing food.

In addition to trash, impactions caused by shells are a common problem among Loggerhead sea turtles. That’s because Loggerheads are the only sea turtles that eat meat. When they eat too many crustaceans (which contain more shell than meat) these shells build up in the turtle’s intestines creating a blockage. Bette introduced us to Cafecito, a Loggerhead sea turtle who came to the hospital with a severe impaction. As a result of this impaction he got an infection which caused internal gas that made him float. If left untreated, Cafecito would have starved to death because he couldn’t submerge to forage for food. Fortunately, the Turtle Hospital staff treated Cafecito with a combination of Lactulose, Beano, and a broad spectrum antibiotic and he passed over four pounds of shells! I was happy to hear that after our visit he was released on September 29, 2018.

Boat Strikes

Boats are also a huge threat to sea turtles. A boat’s propeller and hull can easily slice through a turtle’s hard shell causing injuries leading to infections and gas build up inside the turtle. If this happens the turtle will permanently float. They have coined this issue Bubble Butt Syndrome after Bubble Butt, a current permanent resident brought to the hospital in 1989 due to his severe boat injuries. We also met Chance, a sea turtle with the same problem who has a fracture that caused him to permanently float. As a result, the Turtle Hospital attached lead weights to his shell which allows him to submerge. Unfortunately these weights will eventually fall off so Chance cannot be released back into the wild. The good news is that the hospital provides a safe place for turtles like Bubble Butt and Chance to live out the rest of their lives.

Disorientation

Baby sea turtles often confuse the lights of the city for the reflections of the ocean and are rushing onto busy roads where they are hit by cars or dying because they never reach the ocean. We met a hatchling Loggerhead who had become disoriented and never found the ocean. The Turtle Hospital keeps hatchlings like this until they are eating and swimming well then they release the hatchlings back into the ocean.

Fibropapilloma (FP) Virus

One of the most prevalent issues treated at the Turtle Hospital and one of the largest threats to Green sea turtles worldwide is the FP virus that causes tumors that can impede the turtles’ ability to see, eat and move. For example, in warmer waters like Africa, Hawaii and the Florida Keys 50-70% of the juvenile Green sea turtles have the FP virus. Currently surgical removal of tumors is the primary treatment for turtles with FP. However, one study showed that almost 60% of tumors (in 38.5% of cases) regrew after surgery. We met Appledore, a young Green sea turtle that came into the Turtle Hospital with an enormous tumor growing on her backside. She now appears healthy and beautiful after her surgery, but they will keep her for 6-9 months post surgery to ensure the tumors don’t grow back.

Research at The Turtle Hospital

Many of the FP patients at the Turtle Hospital have eye tumors that impede their vision. We met Alex and Camo, two young Green sea turtles who are waiting for surgery to remove debilitating eye tumors. However, their futures are looking brighter due to Dr. Lorraine Karpinski, a Florida Keys based ophthalmologist veterinarian who pioneered the use of a human anti-cancer medication called fluorouracil (5-FU). She prescribed compounded 5-FU eye drops for sea turtles and Turtle Hospital staff applied it to the turtles’ eyes post surgery to prevent tumor re-growth. As a result of her successful experiments, the Turtle Hospital connected Dr. Karpinski with Dr. David Duffy, courtesy assistant professor at the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience. 

In June 2018, Dr. Duffy partnering with Dr. Karpinski led and published a genomic study called “Sea turtle fibropapilloma tumors share genomic drivers and therapeutic vulnerabilities with human cancers”. This study confirmed that human cancers and the FP tumors found in sea turtles share the same genetic vulnerabilities. Furthermore, only 18% of turtles who were prescribed Dr. Karpinski’s topical 5-FU drops during the study had eye tumor recurrence. This was a groundbreaking discovery! The same treatments used on humans to prevent cancerous skin growths also worked on sea turtles! The benefits of this discovery are enormous including reduced rehabilitation costs, less stress to turtles who won’t have to have additional surgeries, as well as shortening the rehabilitation period. And there’s more good news! The Turtle Hospital and the University of Florida continue to partner for research purposes. 

Education

Another important aspects of the Turtle Hospital is education. They do this through their education center, guided tours of the Turtle Hospital, and outreach events throughout the Keys at local schools, state parks and festivals. Additionally, they offer educational Skype presentations with classrooms around the world!

Conservation

In addition to rescuing and treating sea turtles, the Turtle Hospital also works toward environmental legislation that makes the beaches and water safe for sea turtles. For example, previously the marine turtle statutes had wording that only prosecuted people found killing or maiming sea turtles. Bette Zirkelbach worked with Holly Raschein, Florida State Representative, to change this wording. In 2016 the Florida state House of Representatives passed a bill ensuring that those found in possession of a sea turtle or its parts can be prosecuted by the state to the full extent of the law and can no longer hide behind the statute’s former ambiguous wording. Now it’s a felony to be found with any piece of a sea turtle! 

Ways You Can Help Save Sea Turtles

• Be a responsible boater. Avoid crossing seagrass beds and watch your speed. Watch out for floating sea turtles! They surface for air and can’t dive down to escape an oncoming boat.
• Throw garbage and fishing line in a recycling bin or a trash can. Fishing line is extremely strong and takes 600 years to biodegrade!
• Stay away from sea turtle nesting areas
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Reduce your consumption. Buy products with less packaging and bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store. Recycle what you cannot reuse. Get a reusable water bottle as plastic water bottles take 500 years to biodegrade! The Plastic Disclosure Project, a project run by Hong Kong-based advocacy group Ocean Recovery Alliance, estimates that 33 percent of plastic manufactured worldwide is used once, then discarded. To compound matters, 85 percent of the world’s plastic is not recycled.

How You can Help the Turtle Hospital

• Donate to the Turtle Hospital – The Turtle Hospital is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and cannot do what they do without help from people like you.
• Purchase an annual membership – You get unlimited passes to their guided programs and 10% off in their store.
• Adopt a permanent resident at the Turtle Hospital – The Turtle Hospital hosts five permanent residents. These turtles’ injuries were severe enough that they cannot be returned to the wild. Help provide them with a good life by contributing $35.00 a year for their food and medicine.
• Buy cool sea turtle swag from the Turtle Hospital Store – All proceeds from your purchase go directly to the care and treatment of the turtles.
• Purchase a specialty sea turtle license plate if you live in Florida – Proceeds generated by sales of the turtle plate go to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Turtle Protection Program. This program supports research and management activities related to Florida’s sea turtles. In addition, a portion of the revenue is distributed to the Sea Turtle Conservancy. The Sea Turtle Conservancy then redistributes the funding through the competitive Sea Turtle Grant Program to support turtle projects in the areas of research, education and conservation. It was a grant from this program that funded the Turtle Hospital’s CO2 Laser that removes the FP tumors.

Visiting the Turtle Hospital

I highly recommend visiting the Turtle Hospital sometime during your Florida Keys vacation. I learned so many fun facts about sea turtles and have a renewed desire to protect these beautiful endangered creatures. The Education Center and Gift Shop hours are 9am – 6 pm daily and educational guided 90 minute tours are offered daily every hour on the hour between 9am and 4pm. These tours include a sea turtle presentation and a behind the scenes look at the hospital facilities and rehabilitation area. The best part is getting to feed the permanent residents like Bubble Butt and Chance at the end of the tour!

Admission: Adult: $25.00, Children (4-12 years old): $12.00, Children under 4 are free. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tip: Call ahead and make reservations as this is a popular place to visit! Avoid weekends for less crowds.

Best Time of Year to Visit 

To avoid the snow birds and spring break party crowds don’t come to Florida between December – April. Instead, try coming in September when there are less people and the weather is cooler. You can also find some good deals on hotels and flights this time of year. Just make sure to keep a close eye on the weather as hurricane season lasts through November. Another perk of visiting in September is it is alligator birthing season. We saw a nest of baby alligators at Everglades National Park and yes, they are actually cute!

Transportation 

Air – Use Google Flights to find great deals. Set up a travel alert by keying in your travel dates and destination (Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport). Google Flights will send you an email alert when a good deal comes up for your specified dates and destination.

Car – You can rent a Ford Mustang from Avis at the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport for  $34/day. Or you can splurge and get a convertible Mustang for $47 a day!

Where to Stay 

We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott in Marathon Key, Florida right on the water. It’s only .2 miles from the Turtle Hospital and has fantastic rooms with balconies overlooking the pool and the ocean. Book the corner suite overlooking the pool you’ll get a king size bed, kitchen, sitting room and a large balcony. We stayed over on a Thursday night for $170 (including tax). They also have live music by the pool every weekday, a hot tub, and beautiful pool. Not to mention the sun sets right over the water and you’ll witness the best sunsets of your life!  Tips: Make sure to book directly with Marriott to ensure you get your Marriott benefits and points. Weekday rates are always the best. 

Where to Eat Vegan When Visiting the Turtle Hospital

Food for Thought – Located two miles from the Courtyard by Marriott, Food for Thought is a natural marketplace and organic cafe that has some fresh vegan options.

Good Food Conspiracy – Located on Big Pine Key 20 minutes south of the Courtyard by Marriott, this small health food market, juice bar and deli serves fantastic homemade healthy drinks and vegan food. All the food I sampled was organic, fresh, homemade, and very flavorful! Not to mention the shop owners and staff are delightful people.

Other Activities Near the Turtle Hospital

Spirit Snorkeling – We took a snorkeling tour at Captain Pip’s Marina and Hideaway to the Sombrero reef, the third largest barrier reef in the world.  This beautiful 30 acre coral reef ranges from 2–30 feet deep and we saw thousands of colorful tropical fish. We also saw three nurse sharks!

Dolphin Research Center – We didn’t have time to go here but if you’re a dolphin lover I recommend a visit! Admission is $28 for adults and $23 for children ages 4-12.

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Monty Hi – Key Features

1. Stylish – This retro minimalist throwback design reminds me of my dad’s cool 1980’s hiking boots.
2. Two Affordable Options
   1. Full Waterproof Option $109 (waxed leather and Sympatex waterproof & breathable liner).
   2. Water Repellant Option $89 (oiled suede and high grade nylon).
3. Eva-Cush Insole – Minimal compression so they absorb impact.
4. Vari-Flex Lasting Board – Flexible soles make it easier to navigate rough terrain.
5. Gusseted Tongue  – Smart construction keeps dirt, rocks, thorns, and leaves outside the boots.
6. Lugged Outsole – This tread grips even wet surfaces.

Style the Monty Hi Way

Although I’m no fashion blogger, let’s face it, I’m still a woman which means I don’t want hiking boots that make my feet look like I just joined the marine core, became a lumberjack, or am a long lost cousin of Big Foot. At first glance these streamlined classy boots reminded me of my dad’s slick 1980’s light hiking boots. The 80’s certainly got the light hiker design right but what’s up with all the neon colored shoes I’m seeing lately? Let’s follow Ridgemont’s lead here and leave them in the 1980’s where they belong. If turning heads is important to you do it without scaring the wildlife and choose one of Ridgemont’s classy earth toned color pallets! Not only do they look great, but the Monty Hi in no way sacrifices comfort or functionality for the sake of style.

With Monty Hi Comfort is Key 

First off, these boots didn’t require the usual “break in period” that most hiking boots need. After backpacking for miles I had no rubbing, tender spots or blisters ANYWHERE. That alone is a huge plus, but that’s not all! Because the Monty Hi soles are open celled they will never compress more than 5%. They’e also antimicrobial and non-absorbing so they keep your feet stink free too! I did notice that after backpacking more than seven miles my heels felt sore and I wished there was more cushioning in the heels. However, this could have been due to my own lack of conditioning.

Rocky Monty Hi

Not only are these boots comfortable but their construction is rock solid. After all the miles of rough terrain I’ve put them through the tread, soles and suede show no wear, marks or scuffing. Sorry vegans but the Monty Hi boots are made of the best waterproof full grain 2mm thick European cow hide leather and abrasion resistant suede. However, my favorite thing about the Monty Hi construction is that although these boots are rock solid, the bottoms are not! They are extremely durable yet (unlike a rock), flexible. The Vari-Flex Lasting board makes the boot more flexible at the ball of the foot while more rigid from the arch to the heel allowing for much more maneuverability and an “at one with nature” experience. This has proven invaluable when hiking over rocks, logs, and steep terrain.

Monty Hi Boots Put the Fun in Functionality

Ok, so even if a shoe is stylish, comfortable and durable, it still has to be functional or I’m still one unhappy hiker. For example, nothing gets under my skin like laces that come unlaced, little stones inside my boots, losing my grip on slippery surfaces, or wet feet. Call me high maintenance, but these are all annoyances that are just NO FUN! However, these boots are so functional you can’t help but have fun while wearing them! First off, the gusseted tongue on the Monty Hi boots is an indispensable feature.  As someone who never stays on the beaten path I love being able to walk through sand, brush, briars and water while keeping my feet protected. Trust me, going off the path is always more fun! Whether scrambling down rocky paths or traipsing through sand dunes, my Monty Hi boots keep my feet completely debris free.

Some of you may wonder how the Monty Hi boots compare to the Outback II shoes I recently reviewed. So here’s the scoop. They are both excellent shoes but the Monty Hi boots have a more aggressive trail worthy lugged outsole. While recently hiking down a steep wet cliff (over lots of loose rocks and gravel) the tread on my Monty Hi boots kept me upright. The tread on my Outbacks has not handled slippery surfaces as well. However, the Outback II shoes are a great universal travel shoe especially for urban adventures. I also wear them if I’ll be in rain because my boots are not the ones that have the Sympatex waterproof liner.

That being said, I find that the oiled suede version of the Monty Hi boots works great for occasional stream crossings or muddy areas. That’s because the suede portion is treated with waxes and oils making the bottom portion of the boots waterproof. I stood in a shallow creek for a minute and no water seeped in as long as I kept the water below the nylon. Once I went into a deeper section of the creek I felt water seeping through the nylon. If you’ll be hiking in the snow or rain  definitely go for the fully waterproof version that includes the Sympatex liner.

Bottom line? Ridgemont really deserves a round of applause creating a great boot that is durable, light weight, but also very functional. I’m also giving them a virtual high-five for paying attention to some of the smaller details. Most hiking boots have hooks or round metal loops at the top that easily come unlaced. However, these boots have a tight metal loop that allows me to easily loosen the laces without them coming undone. The convenience of not having to re-lace my boots every time I wear them is certainly appreciated! This option also keeps the laces nice and snug while hiking. They’ve also included a loop at the back of the boots that I use as a handle to help slip my heel in easier.

Monty Hi – Summary

Overall the Monty Hi surpassed my expectations and I’m looking forward to wearing them for many upcoming adventures. And the best part is that the Monty Hi boots are affordable! Ranging from $89-$109 the Monty Hi comes in nine attractive color schemes. You definitely get a lot of bang for your buck here with a shoe of superior quality, design, and style. From lowland desert adventures to mountain top pursuits, these boots will make you one happy hiker!

Pros

• Lightweight
• High Quality
• Durable
• Good trail worthy tread
• Water resistant or water proof (depending on what version you buy)
• Highly functional
• Comfortable
• Stylish
• Affordable

Cons

• Suede and nylon version of this shoe is not water repellant so you’ll have to go with the leather option if you need a fully waterproof boot. Unfortunately the waterproof version currently only comes in three colors.
• Dirt sticks easier to the suede. Consider getting the leather option if this bothers you.
• Could use a bit more cushioning in the heel for longer hiking and backpacking trips.

Bustling Abroad has partnered with Ridgemont Outfitters to offer you an exclusive discount on all Ridgemont merchandise. *CLICK HERE for 20% OFF or click on your favorite shoe design below (Discount will automatically apply at checkout).

Monty Hi – Oiled Suede Option (Best for dry climate hiking)

Monty Hi – Full Waterproof and Breathable Option (Best for all weather hiking)

*Please note that the above link is an affiliate link, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase using this link. However, I recommend Ridgemont Outfitters because they make excellent products, not because of the small commissions I make. Thanks for your support!

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TSA Pre✓^®

TSA Pre✓^® is a trusted traveler program that allows pre-approved low-risk travelers to move through airport security lines quicker and easier by not having to remove shoes, laptops, liquids, belts or light jackets. Furthermore, you won’t have to go through the body scan but just walk through an old school metal detector! While these features are great, TSA Pre✓^® is best for people like business travelers who fly frequently only within the U.S. If you plan to travel internationally, then spend the extra $15 to upgrade to Global Entry which comes with TSA Pre✓^® and will also get you through customs easier. All things considered, TSA Pre✓^® is a great program for domestic travelers and as of October 25, 2017, two hundred airports and 42 airlines are now participating in the program.

Note – Think twice before spending $85 for the 5 year membership. If you don’t travel much and the airport security lines are not long at your airport you may want to forgo paying for TSA Pre✓^®. I’ve been in airports where the TSA Pre✓^® line is actually longer than the normal line!

How to Get TSA Pre✓^®

1) Apply Online – You are eligible to apply if you are a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident. Submit an online application in 5 minutes & schedule an appointment at any of the 380+ enrollment centers. The application fee is $85 and covers you for 5 years.

2) Background Check – A 10 minute, in person appointment that includes a background check and fingerprinting.

3) Enjoy TSA Pre✓^® – Add your Known Traveler Number to your ticket or airline account when booking travel. TSA Pre✓^® will then automatically print on your boarding passes.

Global Entry

Think of Global Entry as an upgrade to TSA Pre✓^®. It is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for eligible, pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. In other words, instead of waiting in long customs lines, members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports. They present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification, and complete a customs declaration. Additionally, the kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.

The best thing about Global Entry is that it includes TSA Pre✓^®. This means that for $100, just $15 more than TSA Pre✓^®, you get all the benefits of TSA Pre✓^® PLUS you won’t have to wait in long customs and border protection lines when re-entering the country. This will cut down on hours of wait times! Before I got Global Entry I traveled over 20 hours and then sat in a customs line for over three hours when re-entering the US. If you plan to travel internationally even once during the year, then apply for Global Entry instead of TSA Pre✓^®.

How to Get Global Entry

1) Create a Global Online Enrollment System Account – This shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. Click here to check if you are eligible to apply for Global Entry.

2) Apply Online – Log in to your GOES account and complete the application. A $100 non-refundable fee is required with each completed application (this fee gives you a five year membership.) The application process should not take more than 15 minutes.

3) Schedule Appointment – After accepting your completed application and fee, CBP will review your application. If your application is conditionally approved (takes about two weeks), then your GOES account will instruct you to schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. Presently, each applicant must schedule a separate interview. That being said, if you already are conditionally approved and planning to travel internationally before your scheduled interview, check out the section below on Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival.

Note – When we went to schedule our appointments (Summer 2017) the wait time was up to a year in some locations. However, Chicago had openings within weeks of our conditional approval. If you decide to fly into Chicago for your interview you can find free parking below the post office across the street from the US Custom House building where interviews are conducted. US Custom House Address: 610 S. Canal Street, Chicago, IL 60607. US Postal Service Address: 433 W Harrison St., Fl Lbby, Chicago, IL 60699.

4) Interview & Background Check – The ten minute in person interview includes a background check and fingerprinting. You will need to bring your valid passport(s) and one other form of identification, such as a driver’s license or ID card to the interview. If you are a lawful permanent resident, you must present your machine readable permanent resident card.

5) Enjoy the Benefits – You’ll receive your Global Entry Card in the mail within 7-10 business days after your Global Entry approval. Don’t forget to add your Known Traveler Number to your ticket or airline account to start enjoying much easier travel!

Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival

The Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival program eliminates the need to schedule an interview at an enrollment center to complete the application process. If you’re already conditionally approved and  planning to travel internationally, just stop by—without an appointment—and complete your interview upon arrival into the U.S. at any of the following 16 airports.  Don’t worry if you already have an interview scheduled at another location. You can still use Enrollment on Arrival. After completing your interview at the airport, they’ll just cancel your future appointment.

• Austin (AUS)
• Dallas – Fort Worth (DFW)
• Denver (DEN)
• Detroit (DTW)
• Houston (IAH and HOU)
• Minneapolis – St. Paul (MSP)
• San Jose (SJC)
• Philadelphia (PHL)
• Phoenix (PHX)
• Salt Lake City (SLC)
• San Diego (SAN)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Seattle (SEA)
• Toronto (YYZ)
• Vancouver (YVR)

Note:   You are able to do Enrollment on Arrival at Toronto and Vancouver because you pre-clear US Customs and Immigration before departing to the US.

When you arrive at the airport to clear customs, look for the signs directing you to Global Entry Enrollment on Arrival. You won’t need any additional documents other than your passport. A Customs and Border Protection officer will complete the usual primary processing for arriving into the US and will also do the Global Entry interview, photographs, and fingerprints.

Applying for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓^®? Use the Right Credit Card!

After you apply, the following credit cards will reimburse the application fees for Global Entry ($100) and TSA Pre✓^® ($85). Depending on the card, you can get a fee credit every 4 or 5 years. And if you’ve already got Global Entry or TSA Pre✓^®, you can use the credit for a friend or family member’s application instead!

• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• The Business Platinum® Card from American Express OPEN
• The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Mercedes-Benz
• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
• Citi Prestige® Card
• US Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

Enjoy Global Entry and TSA Pre✓^®

Once you get your TSA Pre✓^® or Global Entry membership you’ll wonder why you ever waited so long to get it! Traveling is stressful enough without the inconvenience of security checkpoints and long wait times. Apply today and start breezing past lines of shoeless travelers!

Have more questions about TSA Pre✓^®? Visit US Department of Homeland Security. Questions on Global Entry? Visit US Customs and Border Protection. Compare the different trusted traveler programs here: US Department of Homeland Security.

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Best Clothing for Hot & Humid Weather

Hiking Shorts or Pants – PrAna Halle convertible pants have style and don’t look as dorky as zipper convertible pants. They also shed moisture, dry quickly and are stain resistant. If you’re not a fan of convertible pants try the equally awesome PrAna Hallena shorts.
Moisture Wicking Shirt – SmartWool is moisture wicking and anti microbial so it’s perfect for hot outdoor adventures. Just make sure to get a thinner fabric or it can get too warm.
Light Rain Jacket – My Marmot PreCip lightweight rain jacket packs light and it’s also easy to wear layers underneath it.

Sun & Bug Protection

Broad Spectrum Sunscreen – Neutrogena CoolDry Sport Sunscreen Stick not only travels well, but it also creates a breathable barrier allowing sweat to pass through and evaporate.
Non Comedogenic Face Sunblock – EltaMD UV Clear Facial Sunscreen Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 goes on clear and won’t cause breakouts. It’s great for sensitive skin as well.
Wide Brimmed Hat – Try the Wallaroo Hat Company Women’s Tahiti Cowboy Sun Hat – Adjustable Fit. It is breathable and travels well.
Polarized Sunglasses – My Eddie Bauer sunglasses have a lifetime guarantee. I recently replaced them for free.
Mosquito Repellant – Natrapel Insect Repellent Wipes are individually wrapped and fit in your pocket.
Water Bottle – The Nalgene Tritan 24oz OTF BPA-Free Bottle fits in a cup holder or a bike’s bottle cage. The leak proof lid is easy to clean and easily attaches to a pack with a carabiner.
Hair Tie – Make sure you have a good quality hair tie that won’t break or cause tangling.

Best Gear for Capturing Wildlife in Everglades National Park

GoPro Hero 7 Black – This GoPro has much better color and image stabilization than prior versions.
Camera – My Cannon EOS M6 is a mirrorless camera that is very lightweight but still delivers professional quality pictures.
Camera Lens Hood – I got an off brand: JJC ABS Reversible Lens Hood for Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM.
Wildlife Camera Lens – My shots were taken with an iPhone or 18-150mm lens. Here’s the lightweight wildlife lens I wish I had: Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM Lens (weighs 2.65 lbs)
Small Binoculars – I have a small pair of Bushnell birding binoculars but I would have preferred the Bushnell H20 Waterproof/Fogproof Compact Roof Prism Binocular.

Comfortable and Element Appropriate Footwear 

Moisture Wicking Socks – SmartWool socks work great because they wick moisture and are anti microbial. Try one of their short light weight socks for hotter temps.
Sandals – I love Vionic Sandals or Eddie Bauer Flip Flops. Both are comfortable for walking long distances. I wore flip flops because of the heat and I didn’t do much walking.
Lightweight Hiking Shoes – If you decide to hike you’ll want a nice waterproof lightweight hiking/walking shoe. For example, the Ridgemont Outfitters Monty Hi hiking boots are a great option.

Best Lightweight Hiking Boots Available from Ridgemont Outfitters

If you decide to do some hiking while in the Florida Everglades  you’ll want a breathable, waterproof, and lightweight hiking shoe. I love my Ridgemont Outfitters Monty Hi hiking boots! The fully waterproof version of this boot comes in three color options and is high quality, durable, comfortable, breathable, and also stylish. I’ve taken mine all over the country and am still happy with them! Click here for a full shoe review of the Ridgemont Outfitters Monty Hi hiking boot.

Bustling Abroad has partnered with Ridgemont Outfitters to offer you an exclusive discount on all Ridgemont merchandise. *CLICK HERE for 20% OFF or click on your favorite shoe design below (Discount will automatically apply at checkout).

Why This Complete Florida Everglades Packing List Rocks

I’m pretty hard on my stuff so I only recommend high quality products or products that I’ve had a lot of experience using. I love brands that have great return policies and lifetime guarantees. For example, Marmot and Eddie Bauer have fantastic policies so even if I spend more money upfront I know that I’m getting products that are guaranteed to last a lifetime. If something does go wrong (and sometimes it does) they’ve always replaced it for free! Another great thing about this list is that almost all of these hight quality products are available on Amazon.

*Please note that the above links are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase using these links. Thanks for your support!

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1) Ambergris Caye/Caye Caulker, Belize

                                                                                                December average high: 81°F/27°C

December average low: 68°F/20°C

3-star hotels from: US$50 per night for two people

Travel Zoo Deal: Secluded Island Resort, 55% Off

Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, Belize are two of the best quiet, low-key, stress-free holiday destinations. With no huge chain hotels in sight and some of the best diving and snorkeling in the world, these are a frazzled travelers ideal destination. Belize is also mostly English-speaking with a Rastafarian feel, so it’s an interesting mix of culture and convenience. I stayed at the three and a half star Ak’bol Yoga Retreat and Eco Resort in Amergris Caye and loved it!  The location is fabulous for chilling in the hammocks and they also have daily yoga classes. Not to mention one of the staff members climbed a coconut tree and gave it to the chef who made me home made coconut French toast that was absolutely fantastic! Rooms range from $30-$65/night or beach front cabanas  for $145-$165/night.

2) Costa Rica

                                                                                                        December avg high: 91°F/33°C

December avg low: 70°F/21°C

December avg precip: 0.5″/1.3cm

3-star hotels from: US$60 per night for two people

Gate1 Travel Deal: 10 Day Tour of Costa Rica Including Flights 

Known as the adventure travel capital of Central America, a third of Cost Rica is national parks. If you love hiking or bird watching this is a perfect holiday destination! Although it is aggressively marketed as an eco destination, Costa Rica has seen an influx in tourism. The 237-acre Curi-Cancha Reserve is  less known but is a great spot to view toucans and beautiful quetzal birds whose tail plumage can reach up to three feet long.  This article by AFAR.com, Alternative Ways to See the Best of Costa Rica offers some great tips on where to go to avoid the crowds.

3) Chiang Mai, Thailand

                                                                                                       December average high: 82°F/27°C

December avg low: 59°F/15°C

3-star hotels from: US$27 per night for two people

4-star hotels from: US$55 per night for two people

Travel Zoo Deal: Thai Island Hopping for 7 Nights

Love eating, hiking and culture? Look no further! Chiang Mai is renowned for its cultural influences, with many temples and cooking schools flavoring the city. It is also surrounded with hills, mountains, and forests where you can hike to your heart’s content. Soak in more Thai culture by visiting the colorful Hill Tribes and Chiang Mai’s famous night markets. The best part about visiting Chiang Mai is that hotels are among the world’s greatest bargains, with decent private rooms available for under US$10 per night in the city center. If you want to feel like a big shot upgrade and get a whole suite for the price of an average room in the US! Remember that it gets crowded around Christmas so book early.

4) Siem Reap, Cambodia

                                                                                                    December average high: 86°F/30°C

December avg low: 72°F/22°C

3-star hotels from: US$35 per night for two people

4-star hotels from: US$54 per night for two people

Travel Zoo Deals: Cambodia

One of several excellent outdoor holiday destinations, Siem Reap is home to the glorious Angkor Wat temples built in the early 12th century. Covering over 400 acres, it is the largest religious monument in the world. December is the best month to visit as the cooler and dryer conditions  mean you can spend more time touring the temples. Opt for a hot air balloon ride at sunrise or sunset instead of a helicopter ride. It is more peaceful and easier for taking photographs. The town of Siem Reap also has some great markets, but if you want to avoid tourists and take in some culture, head to the nearby floating fishing village of Kompong Khleang. Like Thailand, Siem Reap fills up near Christmas so plan ahead.

5) Kauai, Hawaii

                                                                                                        December average high: 79°F/26°C

December avg low: 70°F/21°C

Travel Zoo Deals: Hawaii

If less exotic holiday destinations are more your thing, Kauai is an excellent option. Not only will you enjoy a balmy tropical Christmas, but majestic humpback whales migrate to the islands’ warm waters to mate and birth their young this time of year. The island also gets some incredible surf during the winter – a perfect spot for surfing on Christmas. If it’s not raining try hiking the famous Kalalau Trail along the stunning Napali Coastline. I backpacked the trail and saw breaching whales, a pod of 75 dolphins, amazing waterfalls, breathtaking scenery and gigantic turquoise waves. However, it did rain and the trail got slippery so take walking poles! Not a hiker? A helicopter ride over the Napali Coastline is a fantastic way to see the same scenery from a different angle and get gorgeous aerial photos. Or if you just want to chill out then skip the surfing, hiking, and helicopter ride and enjoy relaxing on the beach.

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1. Lodge off the main strip – We stayed at a fabulous place in Riomaggiore called Ciao Bella and although the room was small, it was a delightfully decorated, clean, and quiet location off the loud and bustling main stretch. The hotel proprietor, Stefano, is extremely hospitable and you can always find him in his restaurant on main street. He also owns a restaurant off of the main strip near Ciao Bella called Osteria Maitè. He gives guests a free breakfast voucher to eat there and we enjoyed our breakfast and the funny waiter. The seating is limited to outdoor bistro sets creatively arranged in the quaint alleyway and makes for a unique experience. They also serve lunch and dinner and offer authentic Italian cooking classes.
2. Eat off the main strip – Part of the charm of these small fishing villages is the hustle and bustle of their main streets. I do recommend eating along the main strips while in the Cinque Terre as it is part of the overall experience. However, after a couple days of noisy crowds a quiet meal overlooking the ocean is a nice change. Just do some research. Most towns will have a restaurant off the main strip. We found Riomagiorre’s best kept secret, Fuori Rotta Restaurant and Wine Bar, nestled in a delightful location sitting on the edge of a bluff with a great view of the village and the ocean. We were there during high season and it was a quiet and intimate setting. Perfect for a romantic date!
3. Take an evening walk through town – The summer evenings are gorgeous in the Cinque Terre.  As the sun goes down most of the tourists start heading for the main strip for eating and drinking festivities. If you head uphill you can find some beautiful quiet roads and alleyways. Ligurians are amazing gardeners! Enjoy strolling by terraced vineyards, trellised tomatoes, and lots of olive and lemon trees. These streets and gardens are perfect for photographing and you’ll also get some fantastic sunset shots. Although you won’t be alone at the top, the Doria Castle in Vernaza is also a stunning place to watch the sun go down. It’s worth the steep climb and 2 € to enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views!
4. Take a boat ride – There are no shortage of boats in these five fishing villages. Check with some of the local people who are renting kayaks in the harbor. They will know who can take you out for a ride. If you want to get a great colorful shot of the villages, I recommend taking a boat ride close to sunset.
5. Take a cooking class – Several local restaurants offer authentic Italian cooking classes. The Osteria Maitè offers a three hour cooking class where you’ll make fresh gnocchi, create your own fresh pesto sauce, and prepare hand made tiramisu. At the end of the class you’ll sit down to enjoy the meal you’ve prepared with a glass of Cinque Terre wine, dessert and coffee. The best part is that your instructor sends you home with the recipes for each of the dishes you created so you can go home and share your new skill with your friends and family!
6. Go kayaking – Getting out on the water is a fun way to escape the heat and crowds. If you have enough time you can paddle from Vernaza to the legendary Guvano beach. This beach is no longer accessible via foot traffic so it is a great spot to kayak. Be warned: This is a nude beach! If that’s not your thing, try taking a sunset kayak trip instead. There are also kayak rentals in Riomaggiore and you can easily paddle for 15 minutes and find your own spot to come ashore and enjoy swimming or relaxing on the shore.
7. Go on a picnic – Go to the local grocer and grab some rosemary Italian crackers, fresh mozzarella, fresh pesto, home grown tomatoes or watermelon. Note that in Riomaggiore there are two grocery stores on the main strip. The first one, Alimentari Franca, is right after you come up from the train station. They have some beautiful produce but their prices are higher due to their prime location. If you keep going up the road you will find Coop 5 Terre offering comparable products and better prices. Do you love focaccia? Stop at Panificio Bakery for amazing combinations of home made foccacia! If you’re still in Riomagiorre, instead of heading out to the main harbor where all the tourists are swimming, head up to the right. Hike up through the alleyways and then climb down to the rocks on the other side for great views of the water and the town.
8. Go hiking up to the shrines above the villages – Major landslides have closed some trails in the Cinque Terre. However, there are still plenty of great open trails. A former Cinque Terre hiking guide wrote this article on the Italy Beyond the Obvious Website.  It is a great resource for less crowded hiking trails. While trying to hook back onto a closed trail in Manarola we took a small trail through a terraced vineyard that led us up the hill and eventually back onto a main trail high above the village. We saw locals tending their vineyards and stunning views of the ocean and village below. The higher you climb the less people you’ll find!
9. Go swimming off the main beaches – Monterossa is famous for it’s sparkling beach and colorful umbrellas. However, it is very crowded in the summer and you have to pay to rent a chair and an umbrella. If you want something less hectic, walk down to the end. This is where a lot of locals swim. It is rocky but if you find a large enough rock it makes a nice perch for sunbathing. In Riomaggiore instead of going down to the harbor where the tourists swim, head off to the right and go to the top of the rocks on the other side. From there you can climb down the rocks and get a great view of the swimming tourists and the fearless Italians jumping off the high cliffs.
10. Get up early – If you want alone time and the best pictures of the Cinque Terre, get up before sunrise. I climbed out to the end of the harbor and watched the vibrant Riomaggiore come to life. It made for a great shot of the harbor, boats and rising sun backlighting the glowing village. Not to mention I was the only one out there!

Crowded or not, the Cinque Terre offers world class hiking, great food, stunning panoramic views, colorful buildings, clear Mediterranean waters and charming people. Truly a one-of-a-kind location, the Cinque Terre is one place you won’t regret visiting!

Ciao Bella Divas B&B – Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore

Kayaking – Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore

Osteria Maitè – Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore

 View From Doria Castle & Tower – Cinque Terre, Vernaza

Fuori Rotta Wine Bar – Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore

Panificio Bakery – Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore

Hiking Views – Cinque Terre, Manarola

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