Florida Everglades Airboating

This is the third installment of 12 Things to Experience on an Everglades Airboat Tour which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

The Everglades and the 10,000 Islands are some of the last unexplored wilderness of Florida. The area considered the “Everglades” is defined as subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of Florida. It comprises the southern half of a large watershed.

The Everglades system begins near Orlando, where the Kissimmee River discharges into Lake Okeechobee. Water leaving the lake in the wet season forms a slow-moving river that is 60 miles wide and over 100 miles long. This river flows southward across a limestone shelf to Florida Bay at the southern end of the state.

The Everglades are shaped by water and fire, as this area experiences frequent flooding in the wet season and drought in the dry season. These sawgrass marshes are part of a complex system of interdependent ecosystems which include:

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This is the first installment of 12 Things to Experience on an Everglades Airboat Tour which can also be downloaded as a free eBook.

If you want to explore the Florida Everglades, there’s really only one way to do it. On an airboat! Airboats, also called fan-boats, are flat-bottomed vessels propelled by an aircraft-type propeller and powered by either an aircraft or automotive engine. They are primarily used for fishing, bowfishing, hunting and eco-tourism, and are most popular in swampy areas such as the Florida Everglades.

At Captain Doug’s, you will be riding in a six passenger airboat. The airboat ride is suitable for all ages, and is a fun, entertaining experience. On your airboat ride, you can expect to…

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Imagine that you are gliding over the water through a tunnel of mangroves, the wind in your hair and not a care in the world. Sounds great doesn’t it? Well, that is one of the many feelings you will get during an Everglades Airboat Tour along with adrenaline pumping thrills and an awesome sense of adventure! There are so many things for you and your family to experience on our Everglades Airboat Tour and you can learn all about them in…

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We just learned today from the Miami Herald that Florida Governor Rick Scott, has stopped by the Everglades Foundation’s two-day meeting in Naples on Wednesday and apparently told attendees that restoring the Everglades is now a top priority of his administration. This decision comes after the governor proposed to cut Everglades restoration money by 66 percent.

The article goes on to speculate that the reason why Rick Scott changed his mind…

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“Um….why do you have a picture of a rest room for this post?” (you may be thinking.) Stick with me for a minute and I’ll tell you why.

When you think of vacationing in Florida, what comes to mind?

1. Sipping a mai-tai on a white, sandy beach?
2. Partying with friends on spring break?
3. Taking a tour of the Everglades?
4. Visiting the amusement parks?
5. Year round golfing?

There are many reasons why tourists come to the sunshine state. Admittedly, I’m a big fan of number 3 and if you decide to visit the Everglades, there are plenty of great hotels in Everglades City. But I also realize the allure of staying along the coast near Naples, Fort Myers, and Miami or closer to the amusement parks in Tampa and Orlando. But no trip to Florida is complete without seeing the largest subtropical ecosystem in the United States, the Everglades.

So when you make the long trek down to Everglades City for an exciting airboat tour, there is an excellent chance that you or the little ones in your family will need to use the rest rooms immediately upon arrival…which is perfectly fine. Most of our visitors do! So, to answer your question….

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Want to tour the Everglades? If you haven’t had a chance yet, you are missing a chance to experience an exhilarating airboat ride as it swiftly travels down the Mangrove corridor. Not only that, but you’re missing the chance to see the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States complete with mangroves, alligators, pelicans, racoons, and other wildlife. We would love to take you on a tour of the Everglades so you can experience the excitement yourselves! To give you an idea of the excitement, check this out:

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