Air boat rides

[BecBennett]

Usually I'd search for previous posts first, but I haven't worked out the new boards yet

Where do you recommend for air boat rides on the wetlands?

Thanks

 

[PrincessInOz]

Bec - remind me. Are you just heading to Orlando or are you heading down towards Miami as well?

Around Orlando - Boggy Creek seem to be highly regarded.
Around Miami - We did the one that was part of the Everglades Alligator Farm.

 

[BecBennett]

Hey, fancy seeing you here

Just orlando. Thanks.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We had a great experience at Wild Willy's in 2012. Fun ride, small boats, lots of wildlife, friendly staff....just awesome.

That said, we are looking at trying Wild Florida for our December trip, as for the same price as Wild Willy's we would get an air boat ride PLUS admission to their wildlife park. It looks like there may be better value there. It gets rave reviews on TripAdvisor as well.

 

[CanadianChickie]

We're going in 2 weeks. We were thinking of Wild Florida for the same reason Gina mentioned it includes their wildlife park

 

[BecBennett]

@CanadianChickie we might just miss you! We're heading to Florida on the 25th

 

[CanadianChickie]

We return on the 23rd. I'll try to report back which one we go on.

 

[CanadianChickie]

We went to Wild Florida last week. It was my hubbies favorite day of our holiday. If driving unless you have a sunpass do NOT get on the Florida Turnpike!! Follow their directions of going thru St Cloud on their website. We were late for our reservation (as had great difficulty exiting from the Turnpike!!!) but they were very accommodating getting us on a ride one hour later. I have nothing to compare it to, but loved our airboat ride and guide. Very chatty fellow with lots of info and discussion with questions. Since we were late the desk where you check in directed us to head into the wildlife park for a show that was about to start. We got to pet a large lizard, snake, hedgehog, and gator during the show. You can hold and have your photos taken with a gator (with option to buy after). The wildlife park looks very new and very well cared for. It was a nice relaxing day.

 

[BecBennett]

Thanks! I think we're going to head over on the 4th. Thanks for the info about the Florida Turnpike, I'll let DH know!

 

[CanadianChickie]

Yes, it was a nightmare to get off the Turnpike! Signs said huge fines if you exited without a sunpass (which we did not have). Finally stopped to ask directions and were give a "U-turn stamp" which cost $3.50 when we finally were able to exit! UGH! Copy the directions from their website and follow them!!

 

[JimMIA]

Around Miami - We did the one that was part of the Everglades Alligator Farm.

In the Miami area, the airboat operations along US 41 on the north boundary of Everglades National Park are superior to the Alligator Farm ride...and less expensive.

IMHO, the best is Everglades Safari Park, located about 10 miles West of Krome Avenue (SR 997) on the south side of US 41. Large place, pretty part of the Everglades, very professional. It's where govt VIPs are often taken for rides. Also where I take people visiting us.

Some of the smaller places will try to sell you a longer tour for $100 per person and up. Don't bite. They will drive you around in circles in the same area where the 30-40 minute rides go and you'll never know the difference.

If you want a really good Everglades experience, come 18 miles West of Krome and take the Shark Valley Tram Tour. Two-hour, naturalist guided, 15 mile tour to an observation tower. Very educational; lots of wildlife up close and personal.

 

[puffyjj]

I didn't notice the time of year that you are vacationing. We went in August and was advised by the tour guide that that is the worst time of the year to see gators and other wildlife. It was a pretty unexciting ride.

 

[Stavs]

Some of the smaller places will try to sell you a longer tour for $100 per person and up. Don't bite. They will drive you around in circles in the same area where the 30-40 minute rides go and you'll never know the difference.

I'm going in April (17-22nd). I was going to do an air boat tour. I was wondering about the longer tours, so you think an hour tour is plenty? I'll be doing one of the tours in Orlando.

 

[Woodview]

Try " Airboat Rides at Midway " 28501 E Colonial Drive , Christmas , Florida 32709

Phone 407 568 6790 . One of the 2 better ones in Orlando area.

Either Before or After Airboat Ride visit the Replica Fort at " Christmas "

 

[JimMIA]

I'm going in April (17-22nd). I was going to do an air boat tour. I was wondering about the longer tours, so you think an hour tour is plenty? I'll be doing one of the tours in Orlando.

30-40 minutes is plenty, unless you are going somewhere specific. It's about the experience, not the amount of time; I recommend the tourist think of it as like a carnival ride rather than a "nature experience."

You should not expect to see much wildlife, because the airboat makes so much noise it scares them away. You won't see alligators up close unless the airboat company is feeding them -- which is both illegal and VERY dangerous.

But it's a fun ride.

 

[JimMIA]

We went in August and was advised by the tour guide that that is the worst time of the year to see gators and other wildlife. It was a pretty unexciting ride.

Summer -- especially late summer -- is not the best time for wildlife viewing. Mid-May to September is our rainy season. Water levels rise, opening up formerly dry areas to wildlife. When the prey (fish, turtles, etc) scatters, the predators (like alligators) have to spread out as well in order to find food. But an airboat ride is not a great way to see wildlife to begin with.

As far as excitement goes, airboats are designed to be driven on wet grass or very shallow water. In the actual Everglades, on sawgrass and very shallow water, you can go fast and turn quickly with safety. When you are in water deeper than about 2 feet, there is a risk of swamping and sinking the boat so the operator has to be much more careful. There is a fine line between an "exciting ride" and the operator being beyond his competence level, so generally "unexciting" is a good thing.