| Florida Everglades tours are a great way to | | | | out in either the Gulf of Mexico in the 10,000 |
| explore the "River of Grass", Everglades National | | | | Islands area or in Florida Bay off Flamingo, as a |
| Park, in South Florida. | | | | passenger on a motor boat. |
| Instead of just wandering around the park | | | | You can be a participant, too! In the Everglades |
| wondering what you're actually looking at...join a | | | | City area there are eco-tours where from 1 to 6 |
| tour and find out! | | | | people are outfitted in canoes or kayaks. With a |
| | | | guide, you paddle around the Everglades area, |
| Shark Valley Trams | | | | hear great stories and discover the Everglades in |
| The most famous of the Florida Everglades tours | | | | an up-close and personal way. |
| is the Shark Valley Tram. | | | | |
| Shark Valley is located on the northern border of | | | | Airboats |
| the park, on Route 41, also known as the | | | | This is kind of a sticky subject in the Everglades. |
| Tamiami Trail. It's a fantastic place, and even the | | | | Airboats have been banned from within the |
| drive to the park is filled with wildlife! | | | | National Park boundaries, but still operate outside |
| But just wait until you enter Shark Valley. Prepare | | | | the park area proper. |
| to be awed at the enormity of the 'Glades and | | | | The airboats are fun. But that fun comes at |
| the diversity of life. | | | | somewhat of a price. |
| The tram tours take about two hours, and the | | | | The Florida Everglades is a very fragile |
| guides are great -- if there's an interesting critter | | | | ecosystem, and there's not another place like it |
| anywhere in sight, they'll stop the tram so | | | | on earth, literally. The airboats are loud, and the |
| everyone can have a look. | | | | really interesting creatures hide when one comes |
| | | | by. |
| Boating Tours | | | | Still, most airboat operators are anxious that you |
| You can take a boat tour in one of two ways -- | | | | learn more about the Everglades, and not just |
| as a passenger or as a participant. | | | | take the ride and be done. And anything that |
| As a passenger, you can go out of the | | | | raises the awareness of the 'Glades helps the |
| Everglades City or Flamingo areas and see the | | | | cause in some small way. |
| Everglades from the outside looking in. You'll be | | | | |