The Thrill of an Airboat
Exciting expeditions on local waters for nature lovers
Alurking alligator, a poised pelican, a curious manatee and a splendid spoonbill. These are just some of the amazing wildlife that people can see in their natural habitat—thanks to an airboat tour. Seminole Winds Airboat Tours is based in Arcadia, Florida, and takes passengers on tours along the Peace River. The 106mile waterway originates in Polk County and winds its way down to Charlotte Harbor estuary at Punta Gorda. The boat captains are a father-and-son team: Capt. David Mills and Capt. Colton Mills grew up on the Peace River and are well versed with its offerings.
“During the Peace River airboat tour we took, we saw so many beautiful birds and a few alligators, and we even saw wild hogs along the shore,” says Alicia Henry. She was visiting Fort Myers from New Jersey and recently booked with Seminole Winds Airboat Tours. “My family and I were absolutely thrilled with the ride,” Henry adds.
“Thrilling” is a good way to describe an airboat ride. They are open to the air, able to travel through shallow water and swampland, and almost feel like an airplane on water. Because they don’t have regular motors, but are instead powered by giant fans, airboats can quickly glide across the surface of the water.
In addition to Peace River, local airboat operators specialize in such locations as the Everglades, Lake Trafford and other waters. Captains can, more often than not, spot wildlife that may “slip by” an untrained eye. “On most airboat tours, guests will see native birds and alligators,” explains Mike Thrasher, chief operating officer of Wooten’s Airboat Tours.
Wooten’s is based in Ochopee in Collier County, and first opened in the Everglades in 1953. It offers daily airboat tours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Airboats are designed to travel in shallow water and so they are perfectly suited for the canals and waterways of the Everglades,” Thrasher adds. Some of Wooten’s airboats are smaller, holding up to only six people, while others are larger and can hold up to 24 passengers.
Wooten’s passengers learn about and experience the different eco-systems of the Everglades, which was declared by Congress in 1934 as a national park and dedicated in 1947. Its eco-systems include nine distinct habitats: coastal lowlands, cypress, freshwater marl prairie, freshwater slough, hardwood hammock, mangroves, marine and estuarine, and pinelands—full of plant and animal species found nowhere else on earth.
Lake Trafford, a 1,500-acre natural lake in northeast Collier County, is renowned as a premier fishing lake. Airboats and Alligators, based in Immokalee, offers airboat tours to this great spot. The tours offer a chance to see parts of the lake that are accessible only by boat. It is also one of the most c onveniently located airboat tours in Southwest Florida, about an hour from Fort Myers.
The tours afford the chance to see plenty of alligators, turtles, ospreys, ibis, egrets and herons. “We definitely saw a fair share of alligators,” notes Kevin George, who was pleased with his hourlong Airboats and Alligators tour. “The ride was a lot of fun, and I got a lot of great camera shots!”
When heading out for an airboat tour, remember to take along a pair of binoculars. That way, you’ll be able to see Florida’s natural habitats and wondrous inhabitants even a little bit closer. Ann Marie O’Phelan is a Southwest Florida resident and regular contributor to TOTI Media.
The tours afford the chance to see plenty of alligators, turtles, osprey, ibis, egrets and herons.