Most would say that sunsets on the east coast aren’t really a thing, but I’m here to tell you otherwise. Welcome to Coral Springs, FL. A small city on the east coast of Florida located right off the Sawgrass Expressway. The particular spot I will be sharing with you today is basically ON the Everglades. That’s right, where all our “friendly” gator friends live. Don’t worry, they don’t bite… if you leave them alone of course!
Hop in your car and let’s take a trip to Coral Springs. You are going to take the Sawgrass Expressway and head over to the Atlantic Blvd. exit. Take the back road to the everglades. Here is a visual of where the spot is located:
- Head west on Atlantic Blvd until the end of the road. Once you have passed Lakeview Drive, there will be an entrance to the highway and an entrance to the backroad. Stay on your right lane so you can continue to go straight into the back roads. Find yourself a parking spot and follow the road, as it will lead you straight to the Everglades.
- Once you have arrived, there will be a roundabout, which will lead you to the two paths available. On both paths, you can walk, bike ride, or sun gaze. I’m a sungazer, so I always bring a blanket with me to sit down but most people bring a beach chair (which is probably comfier to sit since the trails are made of pebbles). Once you arrive, you will see people already picking their favorite spots to camp and watch the sunset. Every once in a while, you will see photographers desperately setting up their equipment, in a race against time, in order to capture the perfect sunset shot.
- There is another path and this one cuts through the Everglades. Wildlife will be on both sides of the trail and will eventually lead to the Sawgrass Recreation Park. The Sawgrass Recreation Park offers airboat tours through gator habitats and a small zoo with a variety of reptiles.
I have gone to watch the sunset countless times and all on different occasions, I have NEVER been disappointed. To me, this place is magical! It offers wonder and freedom. I’m a firm believer that the closer we are to nature, the closer we are to ourselves, and this gives me exactly that.
I prefer to walk away from the crowd and find myself a nice quiet spot. I then, lay down my blanket, take out my snacks and journal. I always find myself sitting in complete” aweeee” (sung by an angelic choir) when I get to witness the colors created when the sun disappears into the sawgrass. As my brother likes to call it, “cotton candy go-gurt sky” is what you’re going to see there.
For those that like to spend time connecting with nature, I HIGHLY recommend this place! It’s perfect for a date night, meditating, journaling, photoshoots, light walks, bike rides and as mentioned before, airboat rides. Many locals are aware of this place already, so you are going to want to arrive about 30 min before the sun actually sets to get a parking spot. Last but not least, make sure to pack some insect repellent, the mosquitos LOVE visitors.
*ProTip- Visiting during a full moon, is also a sight to see!
I would love to hear in the comments below if you guys get a chance to check this place out!
– Taynahmite
P.S. I think I may be converting to a beach chair soon…