Wastewater treatment plant in Everglades City in operation
Treated water bubbles in a holding tank at Everglades City’s new wastewater treatment plant, which was built with state and federal funds.
Florida is full of natural beauty – from the state’s crystal clear, blue-green freshwater springs to the thousands of lakes, hundreds of miles of beaches and other stunning waterways that dot the state.
It’s safe to say: Florida is very photogenic. And one of Florida’s most unique natural wonders just made it onto Mixbook’s list of the 15 “most breathtaking views” in the USA
Find out which of Florida’s famous waterways made Mixbook’s top 15 and which spots offer the best views.
Where in the USA do you have the best view?
It depends who you ask. Conde Nast Traveler puts Acadia National Park in Maine at the top of its list of “The 50 Most Beautiful Places in America,” MapQuest ranks the Grand Canyon in Yellowstone National Park as the most scenic view in the U.S., and TripAdvisor puts the island of Kauai at the top of its list.
Mixbook’s survey-based list matches this year’s travel trends. In its 2024 Labor Day Travel Trends report, AAA said not one but two Alaska cities are among the most popular destinations for Labor Day weekend this summer.
And one of Alaska’s most famous national parks landed at number one on Mixbook’s list of the most breathtaking views in the U.S. Alaska even appeared twice in Mixbook’s top five, taking third place with a glacier view.
One of Florida’s most unique waterways, the Everglades, ranks 13th in the top 15.
Here is Mixbook’s list of the 15 most breathtaking views in the USA:
- Denali from Wonder Lake, Alaska
- Na Pali Coast from Kalalau Lookout, Hawaii
- Mendenhall Glacier from Nugget Falls Trail, Alaska
- Big skies from the summit of Lone Mountain, Montana
- Lake Tahoe from Sand Harbor, Nevada
- Bryce Canyon from Sunrise Point, Utah
- Grand Canyon from Mather Point, Arizona
- Cape Cod from Nauset Beach, Massachusetts
- Niagara Falls from Prospect Point, New York
- Las Vegas Strip from High Roller, Nevada
- Blue Ridge Mountains from Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina
- Yellowstone National Park from Artist Point, Wyoming
- The Everglades from Shark Valley Observation Tower, Florida
- Glacier National Park from Logan Pass, Montana
- Seattle skyline from Kerry Park, Washington
Which part of the Everglades is the most scenic?
The breathtaking Everglades view that made Mixbook’s list (the view from Shark Valley Observation Tower) is one of the most popular panoramic views in Everglades National Park.
“The astonishing and somewhat deceptive flatness of South Florida allows for vast landscapes that can be viewed easily even at slight elevation changes,” the National Parks Service said in a statement.
“You don’t have to exhaust yourself by climbing mountains or driving on steep and narrow roads to enjoy the scenic views that the Everglades so generously offer to all.”
The Shark Valley Observation Tower offers “stunning 360-degree views of the heart of the River of Grass.”
According to the National Parks Service, here are some more scenic views in the Everglades:
- Pahayokee Lookout Point: “The short (0.16 miles or 260 meters, round trip) Pahayokee Overlook boardwalk trail leads to expansive views of the River of Grass. The parking area for this trail is 13 miles (21 km) from the main park entrance/Ernest Coe Visitor Center.”
- Flamingo Visitor Center: “In addition to the spectacular views of Florida Bay, the covered walkway on the second level of the Flamingo Visitor Center offers benches, shelter from the sun and rain, and even viewfinders. The walkway is a comfortable place to relax and enjoy bird watching on the distant tidal flats of Florida Bay, watch sunrise and sunset, watch boats on the bay, or simply daydream while watching the clouds drift by.”
What are the Everglades classified as? Are they a swamp?
No, the Everglades is not technically a swamp. In fact, it is compared to a huge, grassy, shallow, slow-moving river – which is why many people call it “The River of Grass.”
“A common misconception about the Everglades is that this body of water is just a swamp or a marsh. In fact, the Everglades is a slow-moving river that is constantly flowing. The water flows from Lake Okeechobee from north to south,” says Everglades Holiday Park.
“The ecosystem consists of nine major habitats: hardwood groves, pine forests, coastal lowlands, mangroves, freshwater marshes (the larger Shark River Slough and the smaller Taylor Slough), freshwater marl prairies, marine and estuarine areas.”
What animals are common in the Everglades?
Of course, the landscape itself is beautiful, but you might also be able to capture some of Florida’s wildlife in your Everglades photos. The Everglades have one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
“With the dedication of Everglades National Park in 1947, a new precedent was set for the growing conservation movement. For the first time in American history, a large tract of wilderness was permanently protected, not for its scenic value but for the benefit of the unique biodiversity it supports,” says the National Parks Service.
“The mosaic of habitats in the Everglades ecosystem supports a collection of plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth.”
Here are some of the animals you can see (or photograph) in the Everglades:
- American Alligator
- Coral snake
- Crappie fish
- Florida Panther
- fox
- peacock
- heron
- eagle
- Largemouth bass
- skunk
- tortoise
- Turkey Vulture
- Alligator Gar
- White-tailed deer
- Florida Black Bear
