MIAMI — The instructions were explicit: Bring your own towels, soap, shampoo, blankets, pillows and linens. We forgot the sheets.

Luckily, the Miami Everglades Campground isn't a rustic retreat, and we could rent sheets for our cozy cabin. This campground, popular with Scouts, and families during school holidays, is like a bustling neighborhood. Visitors strike up conversations on the walking paths, start impromptu card games, and some even plant gardens outside their RV sites.

Linda Haase/Palm Beach Post (ENLARGE)
While they're rustic, cabins at Miami Everglades Campground have modern conveniences, including TV and air conditioning
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IF YOU GO Miami Everglades Campground, 20675 S.W. 162 Ave., Miami. Rates: Cabins range from $45 to $99 a night, year-round. Bunkhouses that sleep 12-14 are available for $169. RV hookups also available. Information: 1-800-917-4923, www.miamicamp.com.

This isn't for campers who want to be out in the wilderness — it's more like being in an RV showroom with cabins and tents interspersed. But our comfy, cozy wood cabin was a nice alternative to a traditional motel room.

Bring your bikes, skates and sneakers: The milelong walking path is a great way to start or end the day (you can rent a recumbent bike if you forget yours). There's a pool, small playground, gift shop/market, basketball court — even two computers in the rec hall.

A barbecue grill and picnic table are outside each cabin, and the scent of sizzling steaks and melting marshmallows wafted on to our screened porch. We "dined" on pizza, but next time, we'll bring food to grill.

If you want a more secluded cabin, ask for No. 7, 8 or 9. Ours had a living/dining room, separate bedroom and loft. A small fridge, microwave and three-burner stove make it very family-friendly. And, yes, there's a TV.

The campground is close to many attractions, including Miami Metrozoo, Biscayne National Park, Everglades Alligator Farm, Monkey Jungle and Coral Castle.

What's new at the zoo? The Safari bikes are a hit at Miami Metrozoo. It's an easy way to get through the 3-mile zoo loop — and the large bikes can seat six ($21 for three hours for a three-seater).

Also new: The pelican feeding encounter, held three times daily, gives visitors the opportunity to feed Florida pelicans — $2 for a bucket of fish, no free lunch here.

You can also take a behind-the-scenes tour, join an eco-adventure, or experience being a zookeeper for a day. For more information, prices and times, call 305-365-3018 or 305-251-0400. The zoo is open daily from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Zoo admission: $11.50 for adults, $6.75 for children 3-12. Information: www.miamimetrozoo.com.

Monkey around here: "Where humans are caged, and monkeys run wild," is the motto at this 30-acre reserve, home to 400 primates. More than 30 species live here. Admission: $17.95, adults; $11.95 children 3-9. Open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Information: 305-235-1611, www.monkeyjungle.com.

Gators galore: Home to 2,000 alligators, Everglades Alligator Farm in Homestead promises it isn't "your stereotypical tourist stop." Airboat rides, tours of "South Florida's oldest alligator farm" and wildlife shows abound.

The admission ($17 for adults, $10 for children 4-11) includes an airboat ride, tour of the farm and wildlife shows. Information: 305-247-2628, everglades.com.

Castle of dreams: They say love can build a bridge, but can it give a 100-pound man the strength to build a castle out of 1,100 tons of rocks — by himself? It took Edward Leedskalnin 28 years to build Coral Castle for his love, but he did it.

The attraction, which has been named to the National Register of Historic Places, is a fascinating spot to visit — especially for early risers. The South Dixie Highway structure opens at 7 a.m. daily and doesn't close until 8 p.m. Admission: $9.75 adults, $5, ages 7-12. Information: 305-248-6345, www.coralcastle.com

Outdoor adventures: Everyone from fortune hunters, bootleggers, smugglers to presidents has explored Biscayne National Park.

Ninety-five percent of the park's 181,500 acres is underwater, and canoe and kayak tours — along with snorkel, scuba and glass-bottom boat trips — are abundant at this haven in Homestead. Information: 305- 230-7275 for times and prices.

Family Fun Fests are the first Sunday of each month (January-May) from 1-4 p.m. Upcoming topics include shipwrecks and unusual items the tides brought in. Primitive camping available. Information: www.biscayne.national-park.com.

Haase is a staff writer for the Palm Beach [Fla.] Post.