Florida was a palette swap: Iowa cornfields traded for sawgrass and turquoise sky. They camped at Flamingo Campground on Florida Bay—the southern tip feels like the edge of a map.

An early canoe paddle on Nine Mile Pond put them eye-level with herons and, yes, alligators sunning like logs with attitudes. Doug insisted on the airboat tour; Marla insisted on bug spray industrial strength. Both were right.

Evenings brought manatee rumors at the marina, mosquitoes with ambition, and a sky so pink it looked filtered. They met snowbirds from Michigan who had been wintering in the Everglades for twelve years and made it sound like common sense.

Silver Trekker verdict: Unique ecosystem camping—dry season visits, fan at the ready, and respect the wildlife distance rules.

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