Collect Web tips for Florida Everglades vacation

Ever seen a live alligator up close and personal, in the wild? Ridden an air boat across a sea of water and grass?

You can do all that and more in South Florida at Everglades National Park -- www.nps.gov/ever/ -- with visitors centers conveniently located at Homestead and west of Miami on the Tamiami Trail. Along with gators, the park protects manatees, all kinds of herons, egrets and hawks, and more than a few snakes. You'll need to click on "Plan Your Visit" for essential things to know and things to do, including fishing and hiking trails. Did you know you can camp in the park? If you choose backcountry camping, be sure to look for the "Wilderness Trip Planner."

You can even drive through the park to the Flamingo Visitor Center, on the edge of Florida Bay; go to "Directions" and click on the Flamingo link. Maps, for getting to the park and finding roads and camp sites, are hidden under "Brochures." And check out "Frequently Asked Questions" for information on boat and tram tours, insects, and good spots for seeing wildlife.

One of the top spots for seeing gators is a trail at the park's Shark Valley Visitors Center -- tinyurl.com/yo7psu -- off the Tamiami Trail, about 20 miles west of the Florida Turnpike. The Fodor's online guide for the Everglades has a chapter on Shark Valley -- tinyurl.com/yssvwr -- describing the bicycle and tram tours around the area.

There's another handy set of maps at the Tropical Everglades Visitor Association -- www.tropicaleverglades.com/ -- along with a handful of links for recreation, tours and attractions.

TripAdvisor -- tinyurl.com/2hk7do -- has a set of top-rated attractions inside the park, and gives a recommendation to Wilderness Waterway, a canoe route winding through the Everglades. Learn more about the route from Everglades Diary -- www.evergladesdiary.com/ -- a wealth of information on everything from camp sites to safety that was written by a park fan who has made the trip.

Pick up information on more things to do away from the pavement from the Everglades chapter at GORP -- tinyurl.com/ynm6m9 -- including hiking, fishing and bird watching. There are descriptions of trails, including some that are wheelchair-accessible, centered around the three visitors centers. And if Wilderness Waterway is too long for your schedule or stamina, try "Paddling" for an assortment of other routes.

If you want to see more of the Everglades beyond the park, head west from the park's Shark Valley Visitor Center on the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway -- www.byways.org/explore/byways/12130/ -- heading toward the Gulf Coast. Why bother? Click on "Photos" for a peek, and then hit "Explore" for details of the scenery. Before you go, read through "Visitor Services" to see what's available in terms of gas, food and lodging, including campgrounds.

On the north side of the Tamiami, the Big Cypress National Preserve -- www.nps.gov/bicy/ -- has its own attractions to explore, hiking, and scenic drives.

Scout out a few of the canoe and air boat tour services in the area by clicking on "On the Water" at Everglades Online -- www.evergladesonline.com/ -- which also has advertiser links to places to stay and eat. But the best resource here is the links to Web sites for towns in the region, including Marco Island, on the Gulf Coast off the Tamiami Trail, and Cape Coral, about 50 miles up the coast.

You should also try Florida's Paradise Coast -- www.paradisecoast.com/ -- providing more details on Naples and Marco Island, plus facts about the coastal area's fishing, beaches, dining and shopping. Worn out from your travels? There are also directories for spas in the areas.