Airboat tours in the Everglades, any recommendations ?

Sandpiper John · 02-17-2007, 07:46 AM

I will be in the upper keys at the end of April and my son would like to take a tour thru the everglades on a airboat. I googled airboats and came up with a ton of sites.

Does anybody have any experience with any of these outfits that could recommend one.

Thanks John

lemaymiami · 02-17-2007, 12:15 PM

Go to the Florida Sportsman site listed below, then visit the Ten Thousand Islands bulletin board. Any recommendations that you get there will be first rate. Good Luck

http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zeromain?id=1

Sandpiper John · 02-17-2007, 02:26 PM

Thanks Bob

rkatz · 02-17-2007, 10:44 PM

No way. Most of those airboat rides are a rip. There is no substitute for the Micosukee Village. It is a little far from where you will be. For you, most of the places along Rt. 41 would be more convenient, but the Micossukee rides are far and away the best. Everyone I know who has done both agrees. The Micossukee reservation is about 1/2 way between Broward County and Naples right along I-75 (Alligator Alley).

Sandpiper John · 02-18-2007, 09:44 AM

Rafael,

I'll check it out, I don't mind driving a little longer if its worth the trip.

Thanks John

Capt. Len Roberts · 02-18-2007, 06:27 PM

Try out on Route 41 , when leaving the Keys make a left right after Last Chance Saloon you will be on Route 997, Krome ave. Take that to Traffic light at route 41, make a Left and drive north till you come to the Micosukee Village. There are several on the way to there also.

Freezerman1 · 02-18-2007, 07:31 PM

oh, you cannot beat the freakshow at Holiday Park!!!!!!

Sandpiper John · 02-18-2007, 07:56 PM

Capt. Len,

How long of a drive is it from Key Largo to the Micosukee Village ? Where can I find some #'s for the boats in the village? I would like to call before I go to set up a private charter.

Thanks John

Sandpiper John · 02-18-2007, 08:34 PM

Capt. Len,

I found #'s for the above info I was looking for, Thanks anyway.

John

rkatz · 02-18-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Freezerman1 - 2/18/2007 7:31 PM

oh, you cannot beat the freakshow at Holiday Park!!!!!!

On the bright side, Holiday Park is not, I repeat .. NOT ... worth going out of your way for. I couldn't agree more about the freakshow there. Talk about a class AAA tourist trap. Mind you, I fell for it and I wasn't even a tourist!

I am not sure about the places on 41, but from what I have been told, they do not hold a candle to the place I am telling you about in the middle of Alligator Alley. I am sorry I don't recall the name right now, but I have to travel that way on Tuesday anyway, so I will get the name for you. I usually stop at the gas station there for a pit stop anyway, so Iwill see if I can't get you the phone number for the airboat tours also.

Sandpiper John · 02-19-2007, 12:34 AM

Thanks Again Rafael!

rkatz · 02-20-2007, 03:47 PM

OK, just got back from the Alley. The place I am talking about is called Billie Swamp Safari. It is at Mile Marker 49 on I-75 a.k.a. Alligator Alley. Their phone numer is 1-800-949-6101. They also have a website: seminoletribe.com/safari.

If you stop at the gas station right at the exit, they have 2.00 off coupons (big deal, right?) for the Swamp Buggy Tour.

Note: I have never been on this tour, have just heard from others that it's great and way better than any of the other little places you may come across. It may be kind of far for you from the Keys though, I would probalby mapquest it to make sure it's not too insane of a ride.

BTW, I was looking at their brochure. They have some pretty cool Seminole chickee huts that you can rent out and camp in. That sounds pretty cool, but again, I have never done it.

Let me know if you need any additional info.

Sandpiper John · 02-20-2007, 07:15 PM

Rafael,

Thanks alot, I'll check it out.

greyg8r · 02-21-2007, 10:37 PM

Quote:

rkatz - 2/20/2007 3:47 PM

OK, just got back from the Alley. The place I am talking about is called Billie Swamp Safari. It is at Mile Marker 49 on I-75 a.k.a. Alligator Alley. Their phone numer is 1-800-949-6101. They also have a website: seminoletribe.com/safari.

If you stop at the gas station right at the exit, they have 2.00 off coupons (big deal, right?) for the Swamp Buggy Tour.

Note: I have never been on this tour, have just heard from others that it's great and way better than any of the other little places you may come across. It may be kind of far for you from the Keys though, I would probalby mapquest it to make sure it's not too insane of a ride.

BTW, I was looking at their brochure. They have some pretty cool Seminole chickee huts that you can rent out and camp in. That sounds pretty cool, but again, I have never done it.

Let me know if you need any additional info.

I have firsthand experience with their airboat rides, now called eco-tourism rides..

The operator/guide I had was from Indiana and was about as Native American as Britney Spears! Plus, he made some blatant errorssuch as the Everglades "are crawling" with piranhas and panthers which is just not true. You sit four abreast x four rows, so all get good views. For your young'un, depending on his age, he'll probably have a blast. But, I would not refer to the rides as "it's great".

JMHO

delmar · 02-21-2007, 11:29 PM

i think they'll just circle the casino a few times if you're pressed for time....personally i think seeing the everglades in a noisy stinking airboat is somewhat backwards. although i'm sure kids enjoy it.