10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge

December 8, 2021 Everglades City, FL

We rented a double kayak from the National Park visitor center, thinking we would go see at least a couple hundred of the gazillion islands (10k are at high tide).

Low tide is best for wading birds and scaring up sharks and stingrays! The islands are mostly mangroves on top of oyster shells in one form or another.

After about five hours, our backsides cannot sit in rented kayak seats any longer. Sadly the refuge doesn’t allow you to get out of the boat, but for one island, so we had to paddle back for some land.

After we dried off and got our legs back, we hopped back in the chariot to explore a few local sites. I had heard about the Smallwood Store and found out it was mostly a museum, and of course a gift shop… The 1906 trading post on Chokoloskee island is still standing after all those storms. It’s worth a look, or a cold Coke out of the old cooler.

Speaking of still standing, the Rod & Gun club in Everglades City is worth more than a look, it’s for sale. This old hotel hosted many a president, and would make a fine hangout any day. We had to have a beverage and some gator bites on the deck, contemplating who we could harangue into buying the place with us…

To make it all of ours: we would only have to change the name!