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