Airboat tour of the Everglades - yay or nay?

[Anonymous]

DH wants to do one of these out of curiosity and we have some time on an upcoming trip. I'm skeptical. Has anyone done one? Was it fun/worth the cost? We will also have two teens with us. Specific company recommendations are welcome too.

[Anonymous]

We did one and it was fun, especially if the boat ride is part of the fun for you

[Anonymous]

Nay. Bad for the manatees and the environment. Just go to Everglades National Park. You will see hundreds of alligators without disturbing the water.

[Anonymous]

Yes! Super fun. Even if you don't see a lot of gators, the boat ride is a blast. If you are on the gulf side of Florida, CoreyBillies boat tours was great.

[Anonymous]

I have done them many times, any time we have family come to town. They can be amazing to just okay. It really depends on weather conditions, specific person operating the airboat, if there are gators around or not. If it's a great one, it's both thrilling (so much fun accelerating and feeling the wind) and moving, once you get to a really quiet wide spot and hear all the sounds of nature and just feel the immensity of it all. Coopertown is the OG airboat tour, on Tamiami trail, so good on the same day as Coral Gables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have done them many times, any time we have family come to town. They can be amazing to just okay. It really depends on weather conditions, specific person operating the airboat, if there are gators around or not. If it's a great one, it's both thrilling (so much fun accelerating and feeling the wind) and moving, once you get to a really quiet wide spot and hear all the sounds of nature and just feel the immensity of it all. Coopertown is the OG airboat tour, on Tamiami trail, so good on the same day as Coral Gables.

OP here. Thanks. What is there to do in Coral Gables?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have done them many times, any time we have family come to town. They can be amazing to just okay. It really depends on weather conditions, specific person operating the airboat, if there are gators around or not. If it's a great one, it's both thrilling (so much fun accelerating and feeling the wind) and moving, once you get to a really quiet wide spot and hear all the sounds of nature and just feel the immensity of it all. Coopertown is the OG airboat tour, on Tamiami trail, so good on the same day as Coral Gables.

OP here. Thanks. What is there to do in Coral Gables?

Downtown Coral Gables is very pretty. It's a historic, lush and just really nice part of Miami where to spend the day. Lots of restaurants, some stores. The Venetian Pool is a beautiful pool. You can tour Viscaya, the Biltmore hotel.

[Anonymous]

Instead of an airboat, we did the ranger tour at Everglades National Park and it was really fun. Teens loved it. Saw lots of birds, alligators, turtles, etc. And got good info about the terrain and wildlife.

[Anonymous]

Yes it’s fun!

[Anonymous]

It's fun and a very unique experience you can't do anywhere else. That said, having done it once, I don't think I ever need to do it again!

[Anonymous]

We did it a couple of years ago. It's fun. We went somewhere close to Miami - I forget the name of it. It's a good activity for a couple of hours.

[Anonymous]

It is bad for the animals, so no longer allowed in the park. I have also read that it is so loud and windy that it is not enjoyable.

I recommend driving through the Everglades, and taking a leisurely loop through Big Cypress National Preserve . It is full of cool views, birds, gators.

If you can book a ranger led walk through the swamp in advance , is supposed to be really interesting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Instead of an airboat, we did the ranger tour at Everglades National Park and it was really fun. Teens loved it. Saw lots of birds, alligators, turtles, etc. And got good info about the terrain and wildlife.

+1
Do the tram tour with a ranger at Shark Valley. It's great.

Airboats are bad for the environment and for the animals.

[Anonymous]

We went a couple years ago and loved it. Unique experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nay. Bad for the manatees and the environment. Just go to Everglades National Park. You will see hundreds of alligators without disturbing the water.

Agree 100%.