Thanks for that lead, Phil. The Tamiami Trail runs from Tampa to Miami (duh). It's the southern portion of the Dixie Highway, U.S. 41 From Tampa to Naples, it's the worst example of what has happened to the US Highways since the advent of the Interstates - cheap motels and chain restaurants along the whole distance. But in places, I can imagine the splendor of this highway in the 1920s. The last portion is known as Alligator Alley, which is mostly part of Interstate 75. I stayed away from Alligator Alley for decades because the Floridians in my family said it was so boring. But finally, I drove it, and I loved it. The highway crosses the northern portion of the Everglades in an unbelievably straight line. In recent years, there has been good engineering to allow water to flow under the highway unrestricted. There are lots of places to pull off to view the Everglades, and it is an amazing place to see. I suppose the turnoffs draw lots of people who are tempted to feed the alligators, which may not be an ecologically correct thing to do, but it makes for very active and very friendly alligators. It was fun to pull off the highway and watch the alligators who act very much like puppy dogs. You wouldn't believe that alligators can be cute, but it's true.
TAMIAMI TRAIL
AS PERFORMED BY GENE AUSTIN
There’s a trail that’s winding through the Everglades
Land where skies are always blue above
Where each flower in its bower never fades
There I left the one I love
Soon I’m gonna leave all my cares behind
For I’ve made, yes, I’ve made up my mind
Soon I’ll wander down the Tamiami Trail, Tamiami Trail
Where it leads down to the sea
There is where the sun is shining daily
Every little feet sitting on the beach
Strumming on a ukulele
I’ll build a two by four
Just for my baby and me
I mean a brand new bamboo
Bungalow without fail
And they wonder why I wanna settle down, I'm gonna settle down
I’m gonna settle down on the Tamiami Trail
Land of romance where you see the pale blue moon
Shining every night from up above
Where each day is sunny and it’s always June
There I left the one I love
And I’m glad to let everybody know
There yes there is where I’m gonna go
Soon I’ll wander down that Taniami Trail, Tamiami Trail
Where it leads down to the sea.... (repeat the whole song)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeCsHP5eEN4