Tour of Everglades Park from Fort Lauderdale

[lois1112]

We will be in Fort Lauderdale for 3 days before our cruise and would like to take a tour of the everglades, any suggestions? is it worth our time?

[Ashland]

We will be in Fort Lauderdale for 3 days before our cruise and would like to take a tour of the everglades, any suggestions? is it worth our time?

Yes....however a tour isn't necessary...we always rent a car. I believe you might find pricing coupons on Groupon.

[southnam]

I rented a car and when to the Anhinga Trail. There are many other areas too depending on what you want to actually do.

 

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[retiredbrit]

If you can't or don't want to rent a vehicle, there are commercial tours of the Everglades which pick up from some Fort Lauderdale hotels, a Google will show them.

We did one in December - which I would not really recommend. It goes to the Everglades Holiday park and includes 1 hour air boat ride, and then an alligator handling demonstration by the "Gator Boys" that was a waste of time - we didnt see any of the alligators move voluntarily - the demonstrator dragged them by the tail to the middle of the arena

In my opinion not worth taking, the air boats are large holding 20 plus passengers, we did see a couple of alligators, the boat did a fair bit of rushing about but didn't go far from the embarkation point.

I would advise plenty of research before you decide - it passed the time but that's all.

 

Alan

[capriccio]

Rent a car for the day and go to Everglades National Park (https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm). The two viewing areas closest to Fort Lauderdale are Shark Valley and Royal Palm (which includes the Anhinga Trail mentioned earlier).

 

Shark Valley (https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/svdirections.htm) is off the Tamiami Trail west of Miami and has a 15 mile paved path for biking, hiking or taking a guided tram ride that includes a stop at a multi story tower that lets you see the Everglades for miles around in every direction. Park rangers also give free talks and guided walks. There are three authorized airboat businesses that offer professional airboat tours inside Everglades National Park. All three (Coopertown, Everglades Safari Park, and Gator Park) are located along US Hwy 41/Tamiami Trail between Miami and Shark Valley.

 

Royal Palm is just past the Ernest Coe Visitors Center (https://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/coedirections.htm) southwest of Miami. The Anhinga Trail is a walking path (usually lined with alligators right up to and on the path). Park rangers also give free talks and guided walks. Between the highway and the Visitors Entrance you will pass Robert Is Here (https://www.robertishere.com/), a fruit stand on steroids that has delicious fresh fruit milkshakes/smoothies.

 

One caveat - you didn't say when you are visiting. The Everglades are best visited in the dry season (i.e., December to April) when the weather is cooler, the humidity lower, and the mosquito population substantially smaller. That is also when wildlife congregates around remaining water holes to make wildlife and birding viewing very easy.

 

Added: If you have any interest in flora and fauna the Everglades is definitely worth your time. It is truly unique. We bring all our visitors there and no one has ever said, 'what a waste!':(. Given that it changes with the weather (for example our dry season this winter hasn't been very dry), almost all repeat visitors ask to return. :D