The best place to go to see gators? (Sarasota, Labelle: home, vehicle)

[Florida Paradise]

We are coming down in a few weeks and wanted to know where the best place to go to see gators is (in the Everglades, mind you) I heard Shark Valley, but I don't know anything about it.

[Samiamnh]

There is a dirt road off of Alligator Alley,that is used for those 4 wheeler swamp buggies.We explored it ones day and found a big enclosure with a lot of swamp buggies and a couple of miles further down there was a canal with a lot of vegetation around it that was home to several huge bull gators.14 footers for sure and fun to see in the wild rather than in a zoo.I was filming them and wifey was freaking out thinking they were going to grab me and that video would be on "faces of death"
So if you want to see some,go explore those dirt roads.......good adventure.
Best place to see them in a zoo setting is "Gatorama".....they have a giant gator named "Goliath" which is quite a sight and also lots of crocs.Well worth the money.It is out past Labelle on rt 29 as I remember.

[rikoshaprl]

You can see them in the wild from an air boat . The boat ride is a blast! I don't know about bugs this time of year down there.

[JBMallory]

Originally Posted by Samiamnh

There is a dirt road off of Alligator Alley,that is used for those 4 wheeler swamp buggies.We explored it ones day and found a big enclosure with a lot of swamp buggies and a couple of miles further down there was a canal with a lot of vegetation around it that was home to several huge bull gators.14 footers for sure and fun to see in the wild rather than in a zoo.I was filming them and wifey was freaking out thinking they were going to grab me and that video would be on "faces of death"
So if you want to see some,go explore those dirt roads.......good adventure.
Best place to see them in a zoo setting is "Gatorama".....they have a giant gator named "Goliath" which is quite a sight and also lots of crocs.Well worth the money.It is out past Labelle on rt 29 as I remember.

You be careful of those dirt roads off the alley. A lot of that is ***** land.. White man laws don't apply to the red man.

[twobums]

The BEST place to see lots of gators close up is Loop Road, off 41 ~ take the east part. The west end is almost impossible to navigate. Nothing back there but a few hardy souls and a rusted out car. Make sure your vehicle has plenty of gas and pack water. I lost GPS and cell phone service about 8 miles in.

It is absolutely free and amazing!

[Samiamnh]

Wow....right up my alley....exactly where is that loop rd?.and what town?

[Ken E]

Originally Posted by Samiamnh

Wow....right up my alley....exactly where is that loop rd?.and what town?

It loops around from forty mile bend to Monroe station off 41

[twobums]

Sam ~ I'll try to post a few pics.... it is worth the drive.

[changeyourthoughts]

We have explored a lot of the above mentioned places and for me, the best place so far has been at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota. $6 entrance fee, huge, gorgeous state park with tons to do but best part in that in the late afternoon/early evening all the gators come out to feed and sun and you can get as close to them as you want. They all gather near a part of the river called the "dam" and you can literally get within a foot of them. Its spectacular and unique for how close you can get and the viewing angle.

[Chicken Wing]

Originally Posted by changeyourthoughts

We have explored a lot of the above mentioned places and for me, the best place so far has been at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota. $6 entrance fee, huge, gorgeous state park with tons to do but best part in that in the late afternoon/early evening all the gators come out to feed and sun and you can get as close to them as you want. They all gather near a part of the river called the "dam" and you can literally get within a foot of them. Its spectacular and unique for how close you can get and the viewing angle.

Do they let you pet them?