Flamingo Visitor Center

We drove down twice from Homestead. First time we stopped at most of the trails and strolled through the nature. In Flamingo we joined a Ranger talk about crocodiles and alligators: Very interesting. We saw the manatees in the harbor, which they told us, are frequently there.
Second day we rented a canoe and paddled upstream. Due to cold weather we only saw one crocodile but this was still a great experience. We paid 20 $ for two hours in the canoe

I decided to take the 30+ mile drive down to the flamingo point with the family today however to my surprise it was a total sham of an experience. There is a small cafeteria which was noted to have been renovated and updated which is basically a food truck stationed inside a screened space. Having visited many times before there was nothing updated or new about this sham of a restaurant which is what they call it. Service is horrible, you come in through a beat down screen door on the side and then stand there like a nomad waiting for the half dozen hostesses to ignore you for 10 minutes. Then when asked if we are supposed to sit anywhere they assume folks have some sort of telepathic notion as to how this dump works. Then once seated another 10 — 20 minutes later one has to ask if they have to go hunting or fishing in order to get proper service. Finally the hostess hands over a menu. After placing our orders they forget to add the cheese to our hotdogs then they ask us if we would like them to remove the extra charge for the missing cheeses they ignored to add.
I am always a dependable tipper and I still left a tip but I hope others can be warned by my repeat poor experience including the latest as noted. Next time I will pack some grub prior to heading to see nature at its best and fully avoid the rude, unprofessional and poor service at flamingo point.

First off «Flamingo» is somewhat of a misnomer, so don’t get your hopes up. The chances are you won’t be seeing any flamingos here since the Caribbean Flamingo that once inhabited the area were long ago eradicated with the last significant sighting of having been made way back in the year of 1902.
As Visitor Centers go, don’t expect much here since what it had been was destroyed during a hurricane in 2005 and what is there today still remains in the process of being built and remains under what is an exceedingly slow process of construction.
At this moment on its second floor it houses a small display consisting a few stuff birds, informational displays, and an open air observational catwalk and generally serves as an interpretive center for Everglades National Park. The first floor contains Buttonwood Café, the only restaurant within 40 miles, which is generally closed from May through October.
About the only good thing it presently has to offer is its observation point overlooking the bay area and a few surrounding picnic tables.

Flamingo is like a bi-​polar ex-​girlfriend. When she is good, she is great. When she is bad, she is really bad. Flamingo is great in the winter after a cold front and it is a living hell in the middle of summer due to mosquitos, stifling heat and humidity. Man I hate that place in the summer.
The visitor center is always pretty good if you can get to it without being eaten by millions of blood sucking mosquitos. (summer Flamingo) The rangers who work there are some of the nicest people I have ever met. They are experts on all of the flora and fauna of the area and can tell you where to go to see wood storks, flamingos and manatees.
If you go to Flamingo, make sure you have a full tank of gas. There is a gas station down there, but the gas is really spendy and probably has water in it.

Shark Valley’s less popular cousin.
Flamingo Point is a great place for canoeing, kayaking, whether you bring your own or rent.
It is also the starting point for the inter-​coastal waterway, and has a boat water lock that is cool to see, if you are luckily enough to watch a boat come through.
It is really cool to come here by boat, if you are very comfortable with the water routes to get there. Otherwise, you will end up pushing. And everyone in the boat will push. I’m speaking from experience here.
You can drive by car from Homestead. Take SW 344 st West from US1 and follow signs (there are turns involved). If you are into long distance biking, I imagine that would be a good route.
Also, mosquitos can be bad when in season.