| Florida is a mass of swamps, lakes and rivers | | | | Most airboat companies require a reservation |
| and one of the best ways of getting around in | | | | but some of the larger companies operate |
| this environment is in an airboat, | | | | every 30 minutes throughout the day and you |
| particularly in the Everglades. With its flat | | | | can often just turn up and ride. If you are |
| hull and large pusher airplane propellor on | | | | planning a night trip then you definitely |
| the back an airboat is able to ride over both | | | | need to book in advance. |
| land and water with minimal impact on the | | | | |
| environment. It needs only a fraction of an | | | | Types of Florida airboats |
| inch of water under the hull. | | | | |
| | | | There are really two types of Florida airboat |
| If you are staying pretty much anywhere in | | | | ride, the traditional style small airboats |
| Florida, particularly in Central or Southern | | | | that hold a handful of people, typically up |
| Florida, then one of the most fun things you | | | | to 6 passengers and the large barge type |
| can do is go on a Florida airboat ride | | | | airboats built specifically for airboat rides |
| | | | that can take as many as 18 to 20 passengers |
| Riding in an airboat is truly exhilarating. | | | | at a time. Both are fun to ride in but the |
| One minute you could be drifting slowly down | | | | smaller boats are more manoeuvrable and |
| a creek shrouded in mist and surrounded by | | | | somehow you just feel more in touch with your |
| tall mangrove and cypress trees festooned | | | | surroundings in the traditional style |
| with Spanish Moss and the next minute you are | | | | airboats. |
| speeding along a narrow channel cut through 8 | | | | |
| foot high reed beds at 45 mph with the engine | | | | In some places you can even rent an airboat |
| racing at full throttle just feet from your | | | | and drive it yourself though naturally they |
| ears. | | | | are not as fast as the real airboats. |
| | | | |
| The highlight of our first ride was when the | | | | Typical Florida airboat ride prices |
| captain shot straight over a bank and then | | | | |
| did a 360 degree turn without any warning. | | | | Tours can range from 30 minutes up to several |
| The whole experience was a bit like riding a | | | | hours. Expect to pay around $20 for a 30 |
| rollercoaster but without all the ups and | | | | minute trip, $30-$40 for a one hour trip and |
| downs. | | | | $40-$60 for 90 minute trip. Children (3-12 |
| | | | years old) generally pay about half the adult |
| Once you are out in the wetlands you should | | | | rate and under 2s go free. |
| get the opportunity to see a wide range of | | | | |
| Florida wildlife in their natural habitat; | | | | Self drive rental airboats cost about $30 per |
| anything from soft-shelled turtles, bald | | | | hour. |
| eagles, numerous water birds such as blue | | | | |
| herons, cranes, egrets and anhinga and of | | | | There are a lot of companies competing for |
| course alligators. | | | | business so look out for discount airboat |
| | | | ride coupons in visitor guides and even on |
| Your best chances of seeing an alligator is | | | | the airboat companies own websites (see our |
| on one of the night time airboat rides when | | | | Florida airboat rides directory). |
| their eyes are picked up in the light of | | | | |
| torches shone into the darkness. Because | | | | Copyright 2005(c) Stephen Downs, the Florida |
| alligators are cold blooded, they take a | | | | Review and Travel Guide. |
| while to get going in the mornings | | | | |
| particularly during the winter months so you | | | | This article can be reprinted freely online, |
| are generally more likely to see them during | | | | as long as the entire article and this |
| the afternoons than first thing in the | | | | resource box (with a live link) are included |
| morning. | | | | and the article is not changed in any way |
| | | | (apart from grammatical corrections). |