When travel arrangements were made for Emily & Stephanie’s wedding in Venice I wasn’t sure if I’d be open during the following week so my return was booked the day after. But it was beautiful in Naples, seventy degrees and no humidity, a cold front for the locals but paradise in comparison to what I had left in Chicago. So I bumped the return a couple of days, followed some advice about where to find a bit of old Florida in the vicinity and headed down to Everglade City on the southwest coast. Everglade city is an old town turned tourist to a degree, on the edge of the Big Cedar Swamp and a kind of jumping off point for forays into the Everglades farther east. But it also has some of the old character, and if nothing else doesn’t look like a theme park or subdivision that was built over a long weekend. It can be difficult to drop into an unfamiliar area and come out with really good photos in just a couple of days but I got lucky once or twice, the weather really cooperated and I had a great time exploring the area. My overall opinion of Florida has changed because of this trip, and I’d happily return to the area to photograph the exquisite natural beauty and unique coastal character. So long as it isn’t 98 in the shade. Alice at the historic Smallwood Store, Chokoloskee, Fla., 10,000 Islands.

Susie’s Station, Everglade City, Fla.