Mention a national park vacation, and many of us imagine a family loading up the minivan for a multiweek adventure over the summer holidays. And while summer may be a lovely time to explore many of these national treasures, there are some parks that hold another sort of promise during winter. Parks with climates that are less than ideal in summer--such as the Everglades or Death Valley--are still warm enough in winter to cure cold-weather blues. Others plagued by high-season crowds, like Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite, transform into sparsely populated wonderlands for outdoor activity. Here is one of Mother Nature's choicest winter hideaways--Everglades National Park in Florida. (For other great national parks to visit in winter, click on the following links: California's Death Valley and Yosemite, Hawaii's Volcanoes, Arizona's Grand Canyon, Wyoming's Yellowstone, New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns, and St. Thomas and St. John's US Virgin Islands.)

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, FLORIDA: The River of Grass, as locals call the Everglades, is one of our most hard-won national parks. Severely threatened by agriculture and urban development, this incredible south Florida wilderness area was barely saved by a national park designation in 1947--and by lots of conservationist work since then. For families, this means you have a crack at seeing 14 endangered species, thousands of shore and wetlands birds, stands of 600-year-old cypress trees, acres of sawgrass prairie and one of the world's largest mangrove forests. Most of the Everglades is a slow-moving, shallow river. Short trails that diverge from the 38-mile main road offer the best wildlife viewing. You can get around by car, tram, canoe, bike or guided motorboat, and the five visitors' centers provide trail and schedule information for all of these. Winter is high season (summer brings a throng of mosquitoes), and ranger-led excursions are plentiful. Two of the coolest are the Slough Slog, in which hikers wade deep into the swamp, and an Evening Bike Hike held under the full moon. Flamingo Lodge (239-695-3101) offers motel-style rooms and cottages for $95 to $135 per night (kids under 17 stay free). Families also might consider houseboating--a boat that sleeps eight costs $475 for two nights and $160 for each additional night, with the seventh night free. Park entry is $10 per car. Call 305-242-7700.

Daytime temperatures: 80s.
Best bet for family fun: spotting alligators on a two-hour Backcountry Tour aboard the Pelican, which docks at Flamingo Lodge.

Rani M. Arbo is a frequent contributor to FAMILYFUN.

For more information on this and other national parks, click here.

Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated July 2005.