Everglades City

Aside from a chain gas station or two, Everglades City retains its Old Florida authenticity. High-rises (other than an observation tower named for pioneer Ernest Hamilton) are nowhere to be found along this western gateway to Everglades National Park. The ramshackle town attracts adventure seekers heading to the park for the thrill of canoeing, fishing, and birdwatching. Airboat tours, though popular, operate at a limited capacity within the park because of the environmental damage they cause to the mangroves. The Everglades Seafood Festival, launched in 1970 and held the first full weekend of February, draws huge crowds for delights from the sea, music, and craft displays. The town is small, fishing-oriented, and unhurried, making it excellent for boating, bicycling, or just strolling around. You can pedal along the waterfront on a 2-mile strand out to Chokoloskee Island.