the mommy avenger

When visiting Miami, we wanted to take some time to explore the Everglades. Who wouldn’t love the opportunity to observe nature and maybe see some wildlife in the process. We had heard great things about Sawgrass Recreation Park and were thrilled to book an airboat ride with them on our first day in Florida.

Sawgrass Recreation Park, which is located just north of Miami in Fort Lauderdale, specializes in Everglade tours and airboat rides and they are extremely popular. We booked a mid morning tour, which was perfect. The sun was shining, but not oppressive, and we were hoping to see lots of animal life.

We boarded with the other tourists on the airboat at the dock. We opted for a front row seat which allowed us to see everything unobstructed. Although, really, you could sit anywhere on the boat and see very well. Our captain began our airboat ride and we knew, whether we saw any signs of life, we would be able to enjoy a peaceful ride through the waters.

Their guides are very knowledgeable about the area and where alligators have been seen before or tend to be. This worked to our advantage, as within a couple of minutes, we saw our first alligator! He was so camouflaged that if it hadn’t been pointed out to me, I surely would have missed him! Makes you wonder how close you actually are to them when you aren’t looking for them.

We continued on our ride, exploring the man-made canals of the Everglades and hidden wildlife. All while learning about the history of the area and facts about the animals that live there. It was super interesting and surprisingly relaxing gliding above the water and through the tall grass.

We encountered rare tropical birds and orange iguanas, unusual vegetation, and even more alligators along the way. We thoroughly enjoyed the 40 minute tour through the Everglades and being able to see everything we did. After the airboat, you can also explore the property and enjoy exhibits and other wildlife. You can also make a stop in their gift shop for some fun souvenirs to remember the trip. Kids and adults, alike, will really enjoy this Everglades adventure and we recommend visiting while in the area. We chose a daytime adventure, but there are many other options available, too, including private boats and night time rides, which really would have been fun to do, if we had the time to try it. We will save that for the next time we come back to Sawgrass Recreation Park!

To learn more about Sawgrass Recreation Park and to book your own tickets, visit them online.

^{*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are our own*}