Never Never Land

So, on Tuesday, after a full day of dodging birds, butterflies and everglade critters, we hit the road to Florida City.  Along the mere 45-minute long drive south, there were countless plant nurseries, fruit shacks, and farms.

We had to stop and grabbed some star fruit - three for a dollar (ya can't beat that!).  The tiny little Mexican lady who was working there either didn't care to speak English, or didn't know how, so she just pantomimed the price for me.

We had booked the hostel we were staying at while we were still in Fort Lauderdale.  It looked like a really interesting place, and it was just 30 minutes from the Keys, so we thought it would be perfect.

Perfect is an understatement.  If I could have stayed there forever, I probably would.

Everglades Hostel is probably the most thoughtful accommodation I've come across.  From the moment I walked inside, the authentic Hispanic vibe had me swooning in delight: adobe brick flooring, mosaics along the top of the walls, rustic wooden banisters, and carefully tasteful themes in each room made the hostel more inviting than grandma's place.

And that's just the inside.  

The secure, private garden area included a waterfall and wading pool, a giant wooden tree swing, a beached raft with it's sail made from t-shirts and undies, a sheltered gazebo with a C-shaped couch that fit perfectly inside, covered in throw pillows and blankets so you could snuggle up and watch a movie on the projector and screen inside.  

There was a communal BBQ and open air kitchen, hammocks hidden high in tree branches, outdoor sheltered beds and chairs, and there was even an area to put up a tent for the night.

It was basically Never Never Land, except it's real and it's in Florida.

The hostel has a policy that it will not turn away a weary traveler.  And there was all-you-can-eat pancakes and bottomless coffee every morning!  

They offer walking and cycling tours of the area, and also arrange tours to all the major areas in the area including Miami, the Everglades and the Florida Keys.

Everglades Hostel is definitely the most legit American hostel I've come across.  I wish we'd known about it sooner because I totally would have stayed there on our last couple of nights, since it was just about the same distance from Miami as Fort Lauderdale.

That night, we thought it was only fitting in a city with such a strong Hispanic presence that we should go for some Mexican food.  As you can usually expect from authentic Mexican restaurants, the price was affordable, and the single servings could feed a small family.

The rest of the evening we spent swinging in the garden, laying around chatting in the gazebo, and checking out the rest of the garden for hidden treasures.  I'm definitely returning to this hostel if I'm ever back in the area.