Shark Valley & Everglades City Multi-Day Ride
Tuesday, Feb. 17 & Wednesday, Feb. 18
Destination: Shark Valley is part of the Everglades National Park, located about halfway between Marco Island and Miami along the Tamiami Trail (US Rt. 41). It features a 15 mile (round trip) paved road that loops into the Everglades and provides outstanding views of the “River of Grass” and all its wildlife, including lots of birds and plentiful alligator sightings. Shark Valley is open only to bicycles, foot traffic and guided tram tours, so it is an ideal biking environment.
Everglades City, located just south of Tamiami Trail, is a colorful and historic town. It was once the county seat of Collier County, and a thriving port. These days, it is a commercial and sport fishing center and home to the Eastern Headquarters of Everglades National Park. Traffic in Everglades City (and the adjacent village of Chockoloskee) is very light so it is quite bike-friendly.
Everglades City is approximately 90 miles from Sanibel. Shark Valley is another 35 miles east of Everglades City (i.e. approximately 125 miles from Sanibel). Travel to Shark Valley will take about 2 hours.
Hotels for Overnight (in Everglades City):
Primary Hotel:
The Captains Table Lodge & Villas
15 rooms available (block of rooms reserved for SBC until 1/25/09)
Phone: 800-741-6430 or 239-695-4211 Website:www.captainstablehotel.com Rates: $75 to $85/night
Back-up Hotel:
Everglades City Motel
Phone: 800-695-8353 or 239-695-4224
E-mail: evergcitymotel@aol.com
Please call the hotel for reservations as soon as possible, as rooms are limited.Ride Leaders: Carmen and Katie Senese. Cell phone: 817-578-0454. Please call to let them know you are coming on the ride so they can keep track of group size.
Itinerary for Tuesday: Meet at the Shark Valley parking lot between 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm. (The drive from Sanibel should take about 2 hours. Lunch is on your own.) The 15 mile bike ride through Shark Valley should take between 2 and 3 hours, depending on how much you stop for sight-seeing. Those who don’t want to bike the full 15 miles can bike part of the trail turn around. Another option is the tram tour.
After Shark Valley, we will return to Everglades City. Hotel check-in is 3 PM.
Meet for Happy Hour between 6 PM and 7 PM at a cabana on the grounds of the Captains Table Lodge. Dinner at 7 PM at Everglades Seafood Depot, next to the hotel.
Itinerary for Wednesday: Breakfast is provided at the hotel or at Back Country Café (walking distance) from 8 AM to 10 AM. (Hotel Check-out Time is 11:00 AM.)
Meet at Hotel at 10:00 AM and ride to Chokoloskee Island. Most of this ride is on a paved path. The Smallwood Store & Museum on Chokoloskee is open 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Other options: biking around Everglades City; touring historical sites in Everglades City; airboat tours; swamp buggy tours; or visit Everglades National Park Headquarters.
Lunch options after ride: Oyster House, Glades Haven Deli, or Rod & Gun Club. After lunch, return to Sanibel.