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Everglades National Park in South Florida is unlike any other national park in the U.S.

There’s no El Capitan. No Old Faithful. No Grand Canyon.

But there’s swaying sawgrass as far as the eye can see. Miles of slowly flowing water filled with wading birds. Alligators everywhere.

For many Floridians, both native and transplant, it’s a treasure that remains undiscovered — as it was for me until recently.

Even if you have just one day to explore the Everglades, here’s how you can do it justice in three steps.

Step one: Book a tram tour.

The two-hour tour travels through Shark Valley in the heart of the Everglades. Beginning behind the Shark Valley Visitor Center, the open-air vehicles ride along a 15-mile paved loop, stopping halfway at a 45-foot observation tower with views extending 20 miles in every direction.

Tours are narrated by Shark Valley naturalists, who explain the local ecosystem and stop to point out wildlife. My group stopped multiple times, and the shock of seeing alligators just several feet away from the tram wore off by the end.

The most memorable wildlife sightings were the national park’s only crocodile — which isn’t native to the Everglades but had been dumped there — and an alligator chowing down on a Burmese python (the snakes aren't native either and have become a nuisance).

The cost for a tram tour is $25 per adult and less for kids and seniors. The national park entrance fee is $30 per vehicle. Those with annual or lifetime national park passes can show their cards and skip the fee.

From mid-December through April, the tours run every hour, starting at 9 a.m. The last tour leaves at 4 p.m. My advice would be to call ahead and try to book the earliest tram tour possible, especially on busy days. Plus, the parking lot gets packed as the day goes on.

After people get the lay of the land on the tram tour, they can explore the paved loop and a few small hiking trails on their own. Remember to stay on the paths. My heart melted when I spotted a group of about a dozen baby alligators, but I stuck tightly to the trail when I realized their mother could be nearby.

Step two: Eat Native American food.

The Miccosukee Indians were originally part of the Creek Nation and migrated to Florida before the state became part of the U.S. Most of the tribe was moved to the West during the Indian Wars of the 1800s, but about 100 members never surrendered and hid out in the Everglades.

Today, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida operates several facilities, including the Miccosukee Restaurant near the Shark Valley entrance. It’s the only dining option in the Everglades.

The restaurant has a casual, open dining room with seating inside and outside along a canal with a beautiful view. Totem poles stand guard at the front doors.

People can sample swamp staples, such as fried alligator chunks, frog legs and catfish. The restaurant also goes beyond tradition with breakfast, burgers, ribs and sandwiches.

My favorite was the Indian taco: fry bread, which tastes almost like funnel cake, topped with chili, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese.

The menu is pricey, so be prepared to spend money. If you’d rather save, bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the visitor center’s grounds instead.

Step three: Take an airboat ride.

There are plenty of businesses offering airboat tours in the area, but only three of them are authorized by the National Park Service: Coopertown Airboats, Everglades Safari Park and Gator Park.

The cost for the airboat ride, which lasts 30-40 minutes, is about $25 per person. The price depends on whether the national park entrance fee has been paid.

No matter the time of year, make sure to wear sunscreen and bring water. I took my airboat ride on a sunny day in February, and a man sitting in front of me passed out from the heat. Going to the Everglades any time outside of Florida’s winter isn’t for the faint of heart.

As much as I enjoyed the unexpected peacefulness of the noisy airboat ride through the river of grass, my favorite part came at the end when I paid $3 to hold a baby alligator named “Snappy.” Since I couldn’t take him home as my new pet, I insisted on paying a second time to hold him again. (Don’t worry; his mouth was held shut with a band.)

Both tours give people different ways to see wildlife in their natural state and Florida in its simplest form.

The Everglades is the third-largest national park in the lower 48 states, covering 2,400 square miles, but it’s not as overwhelming as other national parks.

It’s big but not as accessible as others, allowing people to walk away after a day feeling as if they conquered exploring the Everglades.

Everything Everglades

Are you ready to explore Everglades National Park? Here are several websites you’ll need to plan your visit.

Everglades National Park:

Shark Valley Tram Tours:

Miccosukee Restaurant:

Coopertown Airboats:

Everglades Safari Park:

Gator Park:

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