OUTDOORS & NATURE TO Gateway THE Everglades ® Take an exhilarating airboat tour to see the fascinating flora and fauna of area waterways. By Amy Nance Boggy Creek From the moment your airboat sets off over the wetlands—that buzz! that zip!—you’ll get why a tour here, at the headwaters of the Everglades, is special. Oak canopies, swaying curtains of Spanish moss, cattle ranches and deer are just a few of the unexpected things you’ll see while cruising through this unique ecosystem. Kissimmee’s rivers and lakes aren’t just the point of origin for the Everglades—they showcase all its most remarkable features. WHAT YOU’LL SEE: Think you know what an Everglades airboat trip entails? Think again. An airboat tour here is like a safari on the water, with a bio-diverse scene that delivers a rich experience you can’t get anywhere else. Launch at the headwaters and you’ll see your fair share of alligators, sure, but also so much more. Because of the area’s cooler temperatures and diverse geography, wild turkeys, cattle, hogs, coyotes, herons and bald eagles are likely to make an appearance as you jet across the waterways. And the vegetation goes far beyond sawgrass; in these parts you’ll encounter forests of oak and cypress alongside the marshes and swamps. WHERE YOU’LL SEE IT: This is where the Everglades begins, formed thousands of years ago when water from the Kissimmee River ran south into Lake Okeechobee, touching off the variegated system of wetlands we know today. Area airboats transport you back to the past by exploring places like Shingle Creek where you’ll find yourself immersed in an unspoiled native landscape and learn about the Seminole Indians who once lived here. Early morning and night tours let you catch the wildlife at all hours in its natural habitat. Count on a trip that combines high-speed exhilaration with slow-moving exploration—guides know exactly where to find everything from gators to whooping cranes, sometimes in the coziest of corners. Alligators of Florida WHO CAN TAKE YOU: Getting in on the visceral thrill of an airboat tour here is easy and the various operators provide distinctive experiences. Spirit of the Swamp gives riders headsets with microphones, so you can ask about anything you see and learn from your captain. Want a longer trip? Marsh Landing Adventures off ers a four-hour tour deep into the subtropical wilderness. For a more romantic vision of the Everglades, Boggy Creek Airboat Rides times a trip right at sunset, taking you to the best vantage points just as the sky explodes with color. And with Wild Florida , you can follow your airboat ride with a ranch buggy tour on land or explore the destination’s gator and wildlife park. Read more about airboating here: ExperienceKissimmee.com/airboats 62 Kissimmee Destination Magazine
Experience Kissimmee Experience Kissimmee 2017: Page 62
