The Gulf of Mexico's eastern, north, and northwestern shores lie along the US states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. This coastline spans 1,630 miles, receiving water from thirty-three major rivers that drain 31 states.

Marco Island is one of the oldest inhabited areas in the United States. Take the Marco Island Trolley for an overview of Marco Island, then return for an afternoon of golf. Picnic on the white-sand Tigertail Beach, or lunch aboard the paddle wheel cruise boat Rosie or at one of the island's upscale resort hotels.

Spanning the southern tip of the Florida peninsula and most of Florida Bay, Everglades National Park is the only subtropical preserve in North America. It contains both temperate and tropical plant communities, including sawgrass prairies, mangrove and cypress swamps, pinelands, and hardwood hammocks, as well as marine and estuarine environments. The park is known for its rich bird life, particularly large wading birds, such as the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, great blue heron and a variety of egrets. It is also the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles exist side by side. Boat tours are available year-round at Flamingo and Gulf Coast. For information and reservations, call Flamingo Lodge Boat Tours at 941-695-3101, or Everglades National Park Boat Tours at 941-695-2591.

A guided boat tour to nearby islands from the Brigg's Nature Center is a good introduction to manatee watching, beach combing and shelling.

At the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, you can stroll the boardwalk through a "river of trees", the country's largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress trees, and home of alligators, great egrets, white ibis and limpkins.