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    Oasis Visitors Center

    4.5 (10 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

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    This little gator swam right up to the boardwalk the moment it noticed people. Not good.
    P. Amanda S.

    This is one of the visitor centers for the Big Cypress National Preserve. I arrived here just before 4pm, and the building was already closed. There was no sign in the door, or anything to say when they would reopen. In front is a short boardwalk which is nice to walk along. There was a small gator that swam right up to the boardwalk when it spotted people. That means the gator is being fed by visitors and is not shy. If you're looking for passport cancellation stamps, you might have to continue down to the Nathaniel Reed Visitor Center.

    Boardwalk
    Rebecca M.

    Definitely recommend stopping here if you are traveling through the Everglades or you aren't from FL. As someone who is from Florida, i was even impressed with how many alligators there were and how close you can get to them. The restrooms weren't that clean but they were available. The parking lot was quite large and there were trash cans, so if you're on a road trip you can use this spot to regroup, go to the bathroom, empty the car of road trip snack trash, and stretch your legs. The inside museum/visitors center closes around 4:30pm but you can still walk the boardwalk til dusk. The boardwalk is a perfect length to see some alligators and wildlife without it being too much! The whole stop for us took about 10 mins.

    Ariel W.

    Big Cypress National Preserve serves to protect a portion of the Big Cypress Swamp, which is a watershed of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Here you will find the same kind of ecosystems that exist in the Everglades next door, pines, hammocks, prairies, cypress swamp and mangroves. Big Cypress National Preserve has two visitors centers located on Tamiiami Trail. The Oasis Center is the one closer to Miami. The Oasis Visitors Center used to be a private airport hanger with restaurant in the 1960's. There was a plane mounted on the roof that attracted visitors. Later on it was a service station before being purchased by the National Park Service and turned into a visitors center in the 1980's. Inside the visitors center the first thing I noticed was a panther stuffed in a glass case. It turns out it was only 14 months old when it died and now serves as a reminder to the cars speeding down the road to slow down. Here you will also find a handful of eager and helpful park rangers, a small gift shop, a 14 month old panther that was struck by a car, stuffed, and put into a glass case, a restroom, an educational film, and items related the culture and history of Big Cypress Preserve. At the center you can sign up for ranger led walks and ask them questions. Big Cypress Preserve is huge and the rangers are more than happy to point out places you can drive and hike. Outside of the building is a boardwalk built overlooking the canal. In the water below were many alligators, fish, turtles, and Florida wading birds. The best time to view wildlife is mid November through April which is during the dry months. There was such a concentration of wildlife in a small area. I had a great time taking pictures. I loved the boardwalk so much that I made a point to stop back at sunset on my way out of the preserve. It's amazing that only an hour out of Miami you can feel like you are in the middle of nowhere. It's so remote that I often didn't have cell phone reception but that could just be because T Mobile isn't very good. This is the perfect place to get lost for awhile and immerse yourself in the fabulous array of wildlife that the Big Cypress Preserve offers. The Oasis is open every day but Christmas from 9 AM to 4:30 but you can go on the boardwalk even after the visitor's center is closed.

    Alligator is hiding
    Felix F.

    While your traveling by car from the Atlantic cost to the Golf cost. This location is ideal for a rest, in order to get out of the car and stretch your legs. The location also has a restroom if you need to uses one. Also they offer a short documentary vedio about 20 to 30 minutes long of the local wildlife and the environment. Another good reason to take a short rest while driving.

    The Elusive Florida Panther

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    Review Highlights - Oasis Visitors Center

    After our visit to Shark Valley Visitor Center in the Everglades we continued our exploration of the Everglades.

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    Kirby Storter Roadside Park

    Kirby Storter Roadside Park

    4.0(8 reviews)
    7.5 mi

    Kirby Storter Roadside Park gets you up close and personal to the grandeur of Big Cypress Preserve…read more The park is named for Kirby Storter, a member of one of the areas pioneering families. He worked as an electrician and carpenter for Barron Collier and he also worked for the Florida Roads Department where he oversaw the construction of the Tamiami Trail which the park sits on. The parks was created through the efforts of Friends of Big Cypress Preserve. This park is located halfway through Big Cypress Preserve. There are picnic tables and a primitive restroom next to the parking area. From the parking lot you can take a stroll on a half mile boardwalk that takes you from a sawgrass prairie to a cypress swamp before ending at a gator hole. This area provides food and shelter for alligators, birds, reptiles, and mammals. The park is open dawn to dusk and it is a great place to get out and stretch your legs. I didn't see any alligators but I did spot some turtles and birds. Interpretive signs along the way let you know what you are looking at. My favorite boardwalk along Tamiami Trail is the Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk but this one is definitely worth a stop if you are in the area.

    Nice spot to take a break and have some lunch. I was surprise at how active this place is. They…read morehave 4 little pavilions with picnic tables. It was very peaceful as we were sitting there. After we had our lunch, we decided to take a walk on the bridge to see where it took us. A lot of walking and we finally hit a dead end. I was disappointed that the end of the bridge didn't have better scenery. If it wasn't so hot, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. I DO NOT recommend the restrooms. My husband tried to go in one but turned around and walked right back out. There are more decent restrooms at the Oasis Visitors Center about 2 miles east of here.

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    Kirby Storter Roadside Park
    Kirby Storter Roadside Park
    Kirby Storter Roadside Park

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    Mackle Park

    Mackle Park

    4.7(32 reviews)
    42.5 mi

    Mackle Park was named in honor of Frank E. Mackle Jr. (1916-1993). Mackle was a developer who had…read morepreviously developed Key Biscayne with his brothers. Frank arrived in what was then a primitive Marco Island in 1962 and saw potential in the undeveloped town. He was soon joined in the venture by his brothers, Elliott and Robert. All of the brothers were engineers and were employed by the Deltona Corporation founded by their father. Frank became the President of the Deltona Corporation and led the modernization of Marco Island. Mackle Park is impressive as it has everything that residents and visitors to Marco Island could want in outdoor recreation. The park has a community center with teen center, basketball court, bocce courts, open field area for play, picnic area, shuffleboard courts, a soccer/football field, volleyball court, and splash pad. One of the standout feature of the park is the creative playground that is a hit with kids. It has a pirate ship, castle turrets, and lots of places to climb and engage in imaginative play. My favorite part of the park is the beautifully landscaped walking path that winds around the lake. A sign at the entrance to the trail shows how you can increase the half mile walk around the lake to .9 miles by incorporating walking the perimeter of the fields in the back of the park. It is perfect for a leisurely stroll or a more vigorous jog. The lake is also a great place to bird watch and fish. Mackle Park has something for everyone. It offers a blend of recreational facilities and natural beauty that makes it a must-visit for anyone in the area. Whether you're looking to let the kids play, enjoy a peaceful walk, or partake in community events or a class, Mackle Park offers it all and more.

    It is a beautiful park. Has many wonderful things to do for all ages. Canine Park has two separate…read moreareas for small dogs and large dogs. Maintenance could be better in Canine but it is still a great area. Many different species of wildlife. Great childrens area. Beautiful Community Center with many activities

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    Mackle Park
    Mackle Park
    Mackle Park - Osprey nest.

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    Osprey nest.

    Veteran’s Community Park

    Veteran’s Community Park

    5.0(3 reviews)
    43.5 mi

    One of Collier County's most popular parks is the Veteran's Community Park that is on land that was…read moreformerly known as the Glon Property. Shortly after Marco Island was incorporated the city spent 10 million dollars in the early 2000's to purchase one of the last plots of land in order to save it for public use rather than development. After struggling for many years on how to best move forward with the design of the park, the city finally decided in 2020 to spend 11 million dollars rebuilding the park to incorporate the elements that the community voiced wanting. The city reopened the park in December of 2022 with many improvements that included a multi-generational play area, a state-of-the-art bandshell with concert lawn, a Veterans' Memorial Garden, new restroom facilities, and a large space with new sod and landscaping for the farmer's market. I love the beautiful fountain in the veteran's memorial, the gorgeous landscaping throughout the park, the bench swings, the ping pong tables, and the unique playground equipment. The wide paved paths that wind throughout the park are ideal for exercise and bike riding. With the upgrades to the park Marco Island is now able to host a wide range of programs, events, and activities that are accessible and welcoming to people of all ages all year round. Veterans Park is the site of the annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and Celebration, the farmers market which is every Wednesday from November through late April, Arts and Craft fairs, and the annual Seafood and Music Festival sponsored by the island's two Rotary Clubs and the Kiwanis Club. Veteran's Community Park is a place where residents and visitors alike can enjoy outdoor activities, spend quality time with family, and reflect on the contributions of veterans. If you're on the island, it's definitely worth a visit.

    Marco Island's Veterans Park is a stunning park. The park features swings, a sizable playground, a…read morewalking path alongside the park and river, the Blue Star Memorial, and an amphitheater for events and performances. Spend a couple of hours with your family or children. Public parking is plentiful. There is a farmers market on specific days of the week.

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    Veteran’s Community Park
    Veteran’s Community Park
    Veteran’s Community Park

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    Caxambas Park - An optimistic person would say Cape Marco is almost half occupied. Close N to caxambas pass

    Caxambas Park

    3.8(8 reviews)
    42.7 mi

    I'm not a boat owner anymore, but I can appreciate a nice launch site when I see it…read more When my folks lived on Marco Island, they'd walk down to Caxambas Park to enjoy a coffee and watch the action at the launch. You could watch the wildlife (pelicans, seagulls, and the occasional manatee). When we visited them, we'd join the Caxambas adventure, which we enjoyed. Many years later, we did a small vacation to see the "greatest hits" of my folks' past adventures. Sadly, the site was under construction and we couldn't really get the full experience. I can't hold that against them for the repairs - it needed to be done.

    It's a longer drive for me get to the southern part of Marco island 41 min by truck/trailer. I've…read moreonly used this facility 2 times it's currently closed the last time I went but many places seem to have been closed temporarily due to hurricane Ian surge wave. So don't expect to buy gas or bait here. Safer yet, call ahead before making the extra trip out. Keep in mind the channels are generally the same but the sandbars come up real quickly even if you are going slow especially on a larger boat. I was lucky enough to back out as soon as the bow glanced sand at slow speed. By the time you touch a sandbar the transom alarm will alert shortly afterwards. I believe mine was set for a 3 foot alert. The trick here to enter caxambas pass is to aim for these building in the picture then slow wake to left side keeping red markers on the starboard side. And hug slight left all the way, unless you have a shallow riding boat. 27/2022

    Photos
    Caxambas Park - Beware larger boats will follow the blue line. The sand bars are definitely taller an now.

    Beware larger boats will follow the blue line. The sand bars are definitely taller an now.

    Caxambas Park - A mile out heading towards Cape Marco/ caxambis pass.

    A mile out heading towards Cape Marco/ caxambis pass.

    Caxambas Park

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    Oasis Visitors Center - parks - Updated May 2026

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