by Cheryl Batavia

Photo Highlights from our Road Trip, 2026

Relaxing Rest Stop

A new elevated walkway at a rest stop gave us an opportunity to stretch our legs. Ellen walked the entire walkway. Cheryl just climbed to the tower and enjoyed the view, the cool breeze, and the company of birds.
Artistic Landscaping featuring native plants has a subtle beauty that welcomes wildlife and visitors. We saw one tiny alligator in the water, but animals come and go as they please, so you might see more on another day.
You can see the wetlands for miles from the tower. Looking down, Cheryl saw many different birds from this cool, shady vantage point.
Katey, didn’t I tell you not to feed the alligators?

Feeding Tarpon Before Breakfast

Ellen’s presence caused a commotion!
Ellen feeding tarpon, a fish popular with anglers. The largest one we saw was about four feet long.
This little guy tried hard, but was out-competed by bigger fish!
One of the big guys gets the fish!

Walking around Theater of the Sea

The show begins.
This Parrot thinks he is a big star, and he will perform when he is good and ready. The other tropical birds in the show and the spectators will just have to wait until he finishes his pedicure.
The Seal Show is delightful. You can also book a swim with the seals.
Sea turtles like lettuce.
A Manta Ray prefers a large fish.

Theater of the Sea also has sharks, crocodiles, tortoises and other animals.

Everglades National Park Boat Tours

The Starlight boat tour included a spectacular sunset, stars, and bioluminescent seaweed. Fish in the boat wake were eating seaweed, an exciting sight. A very informative presentation. Our guide, who developed this popular new boat tour, was knowledgeable about the various constellatioons we saw and the mythological stories about them. She also told us about the history of the area. Coot’s Bay was named for the ducks that used to live there before engineering projects turned it to saltwater.

Photo by Arnold Dogelis from Unsplash.
It was a beautiful day in Everglades National Park for our daytime boat tour.
Lovely reflections!
Can you find the baby American crocodile hiding among the mangrove roots?
A large mangrove tree.
Tannins in the water camoflauge this small manatee.
Our guide was very knowledgeable about the wildlife we saw and the turbulent history of what is now Everglades National Park. The area around the town of Flamingo was inhabited by Plume hunters and charcoal manufactures. The flamingos are back and multiplying, but to see them, you have to rent a kayak and go to another area.

Everglades National Park is still home to the Micosukee tribe of Native Americans. Their villages, airboats rides, and restaurants are scattered throughout the Park.

Robert is Here Zoo & Farm Stand

Katey went back for more lettuce. 11 AM, but it seems to be lunchtime already!
Still nursing, this calf also enjoys hay!
Ellen feeds lettuce to the Mama cow.
Aw, what a sweet face!
Where’s my watermelon?
Ellen bought watermelon just for the emus.
Relaxing in the shade.
Tortoises in their “tunnels”, and iguanas everywhere!

A Big Thank You to Katey & Ellen for providing the photos!

Thank You, Katey

Caring and kind,

when Katey says she loves you,

you know she means it!

When Katey says she loves you,

you know it, ’cause she shows it!

Copyright© 2026 by Cheryl Batavia

31 Comments

  2. Unknown's avatar

    Thank you so much, Cheryl, for this wonderful and moving photo account from the fascinating trip your lovely daughters organised for you! To be loved so much, Cheryl, must make you feel the happiest mother on earth, and reading about their efforts to make your day so special brought tears to my eyes. I loved all the creatures and the history of the park, so a big thank you for sharing with us.

    Joanna x

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Eugi, for your beautiful comment. I am very grateful for the opportunity to spend time with my daughters is such beautiful environments. I will always treasure the photos. they took. It is my pleasure to share them. 💕

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  4. Unknown's avatar

    The parrot making everyone wait while he finishes his ‘pedicure’ had me laughing out loud — performers gonna perform. The Starlight boat tour with bioluminescent seaweed and constellation stories sounds genuinely magical; that’s exactly the kind of stop our kids would talk about for months. And buying a whole watermelon just for the emus at Robert is Here is the perfect roadtrip detour. Thank you (and Katey and Ellen) for the Everglades inspiration.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you for dropping by. Glad you enjoyed the post. I think you would enjoy a trip to the Everglades and the Keys. The optimal time to go is from November thru March to avoid heat and mosquitos, especially if you take the starlight tour. In May, the mosquitos were horrendous, and the bug repellant was not effective. We didn’t have any mosquito problems during the daytime., though. During the months with an “R” stone crab claws are available, if you enjoy seafood.

      Your children might also enjoy a trip to the Miccosukee Museum and an airboat tour while you are in the area.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      I am glad you could see the baby crocodile. The photos were taken with cell phones. We could have used a camera with a zoom lens to photograph some of the animals on the boat tour!

      You are right, Katey was acting a bit goofy. I confess that we were all accessing our inner child…just what we needed!

      We have alligators here along the Myakka River, and have seen some of them that are 17 feet long. An Early Tarzan movie was filmed on the Myakka River about half an hour away from us.

      Thank you for your delightful comment, Laura! You made me smile. 😊

      Take care! 💕💕💕

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  10. Unknown's avatar

    Oh boy, I’ve been behind in your Tripp sharing Cheryl. This was quite an Experience with so many cool animals to visit and feed! The train is awesome and now I completely understand how you could be so tired however I also see how you would trade it for a minute! What a special time and Katy is a love as well!
    💕🙏💕🙏

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you for the great comment, Cindy! ❤️I felt that one post of our trip would be overwhelmingly long. Thank you for hanging in there for multiple posts! Glad you enjoyed the animal photos. Seeing animals was one of my favorite things on the trip.

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  12. Unknown's avatar

    What a beautifully narrated account of your trip, Cheryl. Your daughters planned it so thoughtfully. The pictures made me feel like a fellow traveller sharing the journey alongside you. Thank you for taking us along and sharing such a wonderful experience💫💐💗

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