kelliebellie

We are a family of:

One great grandma (80's), three grandparents (60's), four parents (30's), two teens (18 & 15), and 5 kids (6, 4, 4, 2, 1).

Half of the party is coming from Naples, the other half from Boca Raton. We need a nice area for a few hours of fun family get together.

Everyone is in good shape and can walk a good distance.

Interests needed:

A boardwalk type walk for Grandpa
Animals for the kids
An airboat ride for the kids (and me )
Possible family food restaurant if we all want to eat before going our separate ways.

Any thoughts?

tchoiniere

http://www.evsafaripark.com/index.htm is the airboat tour I did a couple of years ago. Saw deer, pigs, bobcats, plenty of gators and birds and turtles. And no snakes!!! I did one of their private tours which gets you more time out there. These are not in the Everglades but are on the outside. Would definitely recommend an airboat ride.

Shark Valley has a boardwalk inside the everglades and a tram tour to go further in.

Either one of these will give plenty of animals.

These are not very close together as this airboat tour was closer to Miami while Shark Valley is closer to Naples. I can't remember if there was much for restaurants along this stretch.

kelliebellie

That airboat sounds seriously cool, but I think it might be too far east for us.

My father-in-law mentioned the Shark Valley place. If I could find an airboat and a restaurant near there, life would be good.

kelliebellie

I'm wondering if Everglades City is too far east.

I found a few airboat tours there, with one offering a coupon for:

"Get $10 Off OR Take back a Real, Free Gator Head Souvenir, with our coupon"

Hmmm...choices, choices. I know which one the under 20 set of our group would pick.

kelliebellie

Okay, I meant Everglades City is to far WEST, and now I'm thinking the Shark place is too far east. Big Cypress area looks promising.

tchoiniere

The reason that the airboat rides are either too far east or too far west is due to the airboat ban inside of the national park. Big Cypress definitely falls in the middle of the 2 locales. Maybe even plan on doing an airboat tour on the way back to Naples (or do a second day trip time permitting to 1 of the ones on the western end)(assuming all interested are heading back that way). There may even be airboat tours close to Naples. My parents live up near Port Charlotte and there are some up there.

tchoiniere

http://www.wootenseverglades.com/maps.htm

Check this one for location and convenience. I just found it on google. It also looks to have a big wildlife exhibit so it really gives you everything and is in Big Cypress according to their website.

adnil1962

How about Myakka State Park? We were very close to some alligators...

http://www.myakkariver.org/

Whether you are here for just a day or for a longer stay, here are some suggestions.

Hiking along the 39 miles of trails.
Canoeing/kayaking on the Myakka River or on its lakes.
Biking on the roads.
Fishing opportunities.
Birding Don't miss the Birdwalk.
Air Boat and Tram . Powerful and slow moving boat, leisurely tram ride.
Horse Trail. Ride your own horse into the park's wilderness backcountry.
Florida Native Trees: Download a brochure on landscape choices.


Main Park Drive
Picnic Areas: Designated on the brochure you receive when you arrive.
Pavilions available for rent.
Nature Trail: A leisurely 45 minute walk through a shady hammock. A spur trail takes you to the Canopy Walkway.
Park Concessions: Rents bicycles, kayaks and canoes, sells snacks, sandwiches, field guilds and souvenirs.
Scenic Drive: A 7- mile drive winds through shady hammocks, grassy marshes and along the Upper Lake.
Visitor Center: Displays of wildlife and their habitats; also featuring the Myakka Movies.
Park Programs: Nature walks Saturdays at 9:00 a.m, all year; campfire programs Saturday evenings from Thanksgiving until Easter; beginning birding classes Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. from Thanksgiving until Easter.

Birdwalk: A boardwalk out on the Upper Lake to enhance birding opportunities.

tchoiniere

Adnil1962, I think that is the one I have seen advertised but that is way too far from Naples, let alone Boca Raton.

Not a bad recommendation but not what the OP was looking for.

kelliebellie

The Wootens place looks good. Thanks! I need to do some mapquesting and see where all this stuff is exactly. I'm trying to keep the drive pretty similar for both parties.

And I think we may do the Audubon area in Naples for Father-in-law's boardwalk, so maybe just the air boat place would be good.

Any restaurants near Big Cypress?