Just outside of Big Cypress National Preserve in Naples, FL is Collier-Seminole State Park. The park is located along the coast and has waterways throughout that extend inland, creating a mangrove swamp. The park is known for a blend of temperate and tropical plants, making it a unique coastal system to visit. Collier-Seminole has a variety of activities for visitors including biking, boating, birding, camping, canoeing, fishing, geo-seeking, hiking, kayaking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing, as well as a museum, playground, picnic shelters, and a historic site.

We arrived late in the evening and set up camp. In the morning we went to explore the park by going on small hike. We went along the Royal Palm Hammock Nature Trail. The trail starts with a portion along a boardwalk that has dense foliage, known as a tropical hardwood hammock and then the trail transitions to more of a waterway system with less trees, known as a low wetland system. Then, the trail comes to an overlook of a salt marsh. Although the trail is a little under a mile, it provides visitors with varying ecosystems that allow for a nice, easy explorative hike. The trail is known for wildlife spotting and we were able to see a few birds.

We both found the transitions between ecosystems to be quite interesting. Afterwards, we ate lunch at the park and then headed to Big Cypress National Preserve!