Airboat rides in SW FL
TankskterMan, pick up one of those tourist discount coupon "sheets" that you'll see at the fast food places. and you'll get the names of several air boat ride places. And save the coupons! Get started early! Hwy 41 around Everglades City has a couple. Head south on I-75 to Naples, and GET OFF at exit 101...do not go through the toll booths, and get on hwy 41. It is kind of a congested spot, gas stations/fast food, so be sure you are on the right road.hwy 41. Make sure you have lots of gas, as you will be traveling parrellel to I-75.(alligator alley...you really won't see gators much along here, UNLESS you are high up in a bus, then you see plenty along the swampy banks). Traveling along east, you will pass Collier-Seminole st. pk. where you can go canoeing, camp, and I think take a regular boat to see the birding areas etc. Oh, make sure you have PLENTY of mosquito repellent. although they are not yet out in Naples, our area sprays. Not so there. Head east towards Everglades city, where you will find several air boat ride places. I found them kind of pricey, maybe $45 per person, and usually for your party only, but the one I went on years ago was large, and took a larger group out. Hence, it might be $20 now. It was loud, fast and fun. Just a short ride, not an exploring ride, maybe 20 minutes. But we were satisfied. There are some captured gators there. Getting back on 41, heading east (towards Miami...but of course not that far)there are 2 places you'll want to see. The small, Miccosukee Indian Village, and Shark Valley Visitor center. Very nice. Its a long road that ends at an Observation Tower. Get in the little tram bus to the tower (some walk, no, walk BACK). You will see gators au naturel along the way. But really cool, was when we walked back, we saw some gators, and ha, they were too close up. I don't get it, but they didn't bother anybody, and there were plenty of babies! We really enjoyed that. When you finish, you would head back again west towards "home", as there wouldn't be much to see unless you are going to Miami. Look for, I think its called, Fakahatchee Strand, on the right side.I don't know how well its marked....locate it before you leave, map, GPS, whatever. You know, the everglades is a river of grasses. The Strand is a strip of tall cypress trees, within the swampy area. There is a board walk. Maybe a mile long, into the woods. At the end, we saw alongside the boardwalk, a mama gator and babies, just alongside the RAISED boardwalk. Again, plenty of mosquito repellent!! Then head back as you came. Unless you want to travel through Naples, staying ON 41. You will pass our main street then, 5th Ave., a couple of blocks of pricey shops, with the Gulf at the end. Make a left on Gulfshore blvd and go to 13th st. where there is the fishing pier, & beach, and showers! (after a busy day like this I wouldn't want to stroll along SHOPS). But drive it. A similar place for (a swampwalk like Fakahatchee) for another time is Corkscrew swamp, exit 111, in Collier just before you get to Lee cnty. Exit 111 and head east for about 40 min. You'll see signs. Again, repellent!! Restaurants along 5th are pricey again, but 41 in Naples traveling north, is a regular road with many chain restaurants, fast food. Get on Golden Gate Pkwy, or next road up, Pine Ridge, to head back towards I-75. About 5-10 miles east, but you wouldn't want to travel back to Ft. Myers with all the lights on 41. Have a fun filled day!!
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03-17-2008, 05:33 AM
The new Lee County crime stats are in ......
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