1.Everglades Holiday Park
Everglades Holiday Park offers an hourlong narrated airboat tour that teaches participants about the various wildlife inhabiting Florida’s famous wetlands. In addition to the airboat ride, travelers can take in a gator show and enjoy up-close animal encounters with snakes, pigs, alligators and more. (Note that animal encounters cost extra.) In general, reviewers enjoy the tour and the show and say it’s a great outing for families, but a few travelers feel uncomfortable with the earnest request for tips from staff members at the attraction. Tours operate seven days a week with departures from the park every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. When purchased online in advance, adult airboat tickets cost approximately $35 while tickets for children ages 3 to 11 cost around $25. Kids 2 and younger ride free. Everglades Holiday Park also runs a VIP Tour, which includes round-trip transportation from Fort Lauderdale hotels or Miami hotels.
2.Shurr Adventures Everglades – Three Hour Mangrove Tunnel Kayak Tour
Enjoy an up-close view of animals and nature, and get some exercise in too, on this three-hour kayak tour of the Everglades’ mangroves. As you paddle your way through the mangrove tunnels, you may spot orchids, birds and, of course, alligators. Kayakers say this tour is excellent and appreciate the patient, experienced guides who share a wealth of information about the plants and animals that reside in this unique ecosystem. What’s more, reviewers appreciate that the tours are limited to just eight participants. Tours depart daily at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., though there may be additional tours depending on the month. Tickets start at $109 per adult and $99 per child 11 and younger, though kids must be at least 7 to participate. Shurr Adventures Everglades also offers a full-day tour of the mangrove tunnels, as well as a motorboat tour in the Ten Thousand Islands region of Everglades National Park, among other options.
