Six good reasons to drive across Alligator Alley

Sun-Sentinel

Alligator Alley can be long and tedious. But it's the gateway to some one-of-a-kind destinations. Here are seven stops close to the Alley's western end that make it worth the drive:

1. You only have to venture an hour into the Everglades from Broward County to reach the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Seminole Museum. It's a beautifully developed museum, from the dazzling multimedia presentation at the start, to the Seminole village through which you walk on the grounds. Don't miss the boardwalk behind the museum -- there isn't a prettier walk through the woods around.

2. The 1,000-foot fishing pier in Naples was built in 1888 and is a must-see for romantic sunsets. The community landmark has been rebuilt over and over -- after a fire in 1922 and then after hurricanes in 1910, 1926 and 1960. There's a small concession stand halfway out the pier, plus restrooms.

Learn more about Naples attractions.

3. Go shelling on Marco Island. Because Marco offers some of the best shelling in the country, many families comb the beach for whelks, olives and other shells. More avid shell collectors can take a boat tour to offshore sand bars and uninhabited isles where more treasures await.

4. Take a boat tour into the 10,000 Islands area off Everglades City. Park rangers or concession naturalists lead tours through this area of Everglades National Park. The boat navigates a maze of mangroves. Bird, dolphins and manatees are frequently seen. Reservations are recommended for boat tours for groups. 239-695-2591, or (in Florida) 1-800-445-7724. Read more about an Everglades visit.

5. Shop the boutiques of Naples. The old 12-block, downtown district of Naples has a neighborhood feel. Strolling along the brick-paved sidewalks lined with high-end boutique-y shops (no Gap, no Old Navy, no Victoria's Secret) is a favorite pastime.

6. Take a wild walk through Corkscrew Swamp. This treasure, maintained by the National Audubon Society, is a bird-watchers' paradise. You walk a smooth, dry boardwalk, looking down on marshland and tangled tree roots or up at flocks of birds. The trail is punctuated with interpretive displays.