There is no other way to truly experience this place. It is best to plan a trip between the months of November and March, a time when the 'Glades is most hospitable for humans. Campsites can only be reserved in person and it is necessary to have alternative sites in case your choices are filled. You should plan on having an extra day or two to spend in the Everglades for such an occurrence. Plan on at least one gallon per day per person.
Tides are difficult to calculate because of the multitude of inflows and outflows among the islands.
Use a tide chart as a rough guide. The high tide line is visible along the lower leaves of the mangroves as a result of staining from the tannins in the water. Use this to gauge the tide level. Although we travelled from north to south it is just as possible to go the opposite way. If you travel during the winter, winds are generally from the west-northwest, so any benefit is probably negligible.