Everglade boat tours

[sjc3081]

I'm I South Florida on vacation,I'd like to tour.the Everglades for a day. Boat tour? any recomendations.
Also maybe a pig hunt I brought my BCM.

[ALCOAR]

I'm not sure if your into fishing, but if you are there is very few better places in the world to saltwater fish than down near the keys.
I'm just sayin' that would be the best Boat tour;)

[rickrock305]

This is the one close to me, its where I go fishing and hiking. Its closer to Ft Lauderdale.

http://www.evergladesholidaypark.com/

I've never taken one of their boat tours so I can't really say. But for sure there is plenty of wildlife out there.

Also if you're closer to Miami just take the Tamiami Trail (SW 8th Street) all the way west, past the Miccosukee Indian casino and there's a bunch of places out there.

[rickrock305]

Most of the hog hunts are done closer to central FL, like Clewiston and Okeechobee. I'm sure there are places down here but I couldn't tell you any.

[sjc3081]

Im in Boynton Beach I have no problem making a two hour drive if thats where I need to go for a nice tour.

[rickrock305]

Yea, you're probably gonna have to come south for a good airboat tour. I'm not sure of any up that way. And I couldn't really recommend any good hog hunts but look towards the Okeechobee area.

If you have kids and a car, check out Lion Country Safari. Its up closer to you. Its like a zoo but you drive through it and the animals can walk right up on your car. Kids dig it.

[sjc3081]

Thanks, No kids, but Ive been to Lion Country it was a blast.

[HES]

If you are willing to, drive south to Miami and then west on US41. Figure it will take you about an hour and a half to get to a good boat tour.

Now tour operators I will recommend the following, in order of preference, based on my experience

1) Miccosukee Airboat Rides. They dont have a web site, but since they are a reservation they do have one advantage over every other tour boat operator. They can bait the gators. This means that if you want to see Gators in the everglades, this is the place to do it. Also they will take you out to Chikees (Miccosukee houes built into the glades). Pretty nifty experience.

2) Coopertown Airboats (http://www.coopertownairboats.com/) - very nice staff, fun tour. Plus we got to get out and walk in the glades, however this time of year it may be a tad chilly. Since they cannot bait the gators you may not see a whole lot.


As always, on the advice of my attorney I am reminded to tell you that YMMV.

[500grains]

I went on an Everglades boat tour with an Indian outfit and it was DEAFENING. Hearing protection does not work with a 351C that has 9 inch pipes is shaking your skull.

[HES]

The first time we went out we brought nothing and wound up using the cotton balls supplied by the tour operators. They sucked. Next time I went we used the standard foam earplugs that you can pick up at Wally world and the like and they did fine for me, the wife, and kids. But to each their own.