Mix a spectacularly rich, diverse ecosystem with all that water, and it's no surprise that the truest way to get at the soul of the Everglades is by picking up a paddle. In wintertime, when the temperatures and swarms of mosquitoes abate somewhat, the park draws large numbers of kayak and canoe campers, along with birders, hikers, anglers, and plenty of car-bound curiosity-seekers with alligators on the brain.

Johnny Molloy is the author of GORP's introduction and activity picks for the Everglades. Johnny is an outdoor writer based in Knoxville, Tennessee. The author of a dozen books and numerous magazine and Web articles, Johnny spends over 100 nights in the wild each year, backpacking and canoe camping around the United States and abroad. For more information about outdoor adventuring or Johnny Molloy, visit www.johnnymolloy.com.