The best place to see alligators in the Everglades in Florida, USA in on an airboat. Alligators, Airboats, and Everglades. If you’re visiting south Florida, you don’t want to miss any of these. Alligators are nearly every where. If there is a body of water, there could be an alligator, so keep your eyes open and your wits about you.
Many many years ago, we lived in Florida. My husband was a young Naval officer stationed at Whiting Field in the small town of Milton, located in the panhandle near Pensacola. Gators were plentiful in the nearby rivers, and during some parts of the year, they could be sighted on the banks. Picnic-ers and boaters, beware! And every once in a while, a gator would make his way into town. Once, a large alligator even made himself comfortable in the small pond in base housing – until he was relocated to a new home out on the river. Yes, gators in Florida are as common as bears in the forest. And the best way to see them up close is on an airboat.
The Best Place To See Alligators
Fast forward a few years – ok- a few decades. My daughter and I went to Florida for a business conference. Part of the conference included an excursion to the Everglades for an airboat tour to see the alligators. The day of our trip was overcast and rainy. However, the gators didn’t care. We didn’t either.
Airboats
The best place to see alligators in the Everglades is safely seated on an airboat. There are many companies that give airboat tours of the Everglades, but our tour took us to Everglades Holiday Park, just outside of Fort Lauderdale.
The rain was coming down pretty hard as we began loading, but the boats run rain or shine; so after getting settled in on the “Looney“, piloted by Captain Mike, we were ready for an adventure and anxious to leave the dock. The “Looney” and Captain Mike did not disappoint!
As soon as we left the boat channel, Captain Mike pushed the throttle open and instantly we were streaking at top speed over the water, skimming past the vegetation, and steering out into open water. The feel of flying – wind in my face, engine roar in my ears, and water beneath me – can only be described as a
Wild! Thrilling! Adrenaline Rush!
This was Captain Mike’s world. It was evident that he loved it and that even after all of his years on the water, he still felt that Wild! Thrilling! Adrenaline Rush! every time he went out. Furthermore, he shared that love with us by showing us the very best of the Everglades – even if it was raining!
Everglades
The Everglades is a large ecosystem of tropical wetlands located in southern Florida, USA. It is a complex water system that extends from Orlando to the tip of Florida. Filled with marshes and mangrove forests; cypress and hardwood trees; sawgrass and swamps, it is breathtaking in its uniqueness and beauty. In addition, to the exotic vegetation, the Everglades is home to abundant wildlife, such as this giant iguana stretched out and lounging along a tree branch.
Alligators
Let’s be honest. Even though the Everglades are beautiful, and even though it is thrilling to see a huge iguana sunning itself on a tree limb, the real reason to go to the Everglades is see the alligators. And the best place to see alligators is riding on the boat.
Captain Mike piloted our boat up and down and across the waterways searching for the gators. And he knew exactly where to look. In each little bay or cove, he would slow down, gently circle the boat, and call out to the gators by name. Yes, every gator had a name – Stumpy, Tripod, Mrs. Little, Bubba Grump, Mr. G, Jessie, plus a few more. Even though it is illegal to feed them, the gators would respond to the call of their name ( or more likely, they recognized the hum of the engine) hoping for a handout. Each one would circle the boat up very close.
CAUTION!
Keep your hands – and your children’s hands – inside the boat! These are real animals in their natural habitat. A “hand” sandwich would be pretty tasty.
If you haven’t seen enough alligators by the time the boat ride is over, you can walk over to the alligator pit and see them sleeping in the sun. Be sure to catch the alligator show. Our show host was a wonderfully brave young woman. She put on an awesome show, culminating with her holding the gator by her chin and putting her arm in his mouth! WOW!
And if you are brave enough, you can even hold a baby gator or a boa and have your photo taken. I wanted to hold the baby alligator. However, our tour bus was already loading up and ready to leave. Oh well, maybe next time!
To conclude, the best place to see alligators in the Everglades is on an airboat tour. Not only will you be thrilled by the boat ride, and awed by the beauty of the Everglades, you will be really really glad you are in the boat and not in the water when that huge alligator swims right up beside you. And, furthermore, you will be really really glad you went. It is an adventure unlike any other. One that you don’t want to miss. So now you can mark that off your bucket list.
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