I'll be taking two teens to Florida next week, staying in Boynton Beach (near West Palm Beach).

We're interested in finding out more about the Everglades and experiencing it. So far, we've found out about Loxahatchee park, a local fragment of the Everglades, and two tours: "Loxahatchee Everglades Tours" which is lasts about an hour, and "The Original Everglades Day Safari" which is (obviously) an all-day extravaganza, in the main part of the Everglades. We have been unable to learn much about either tour (e.g., despite searching their web sites, we can't find any prices).

Does anyone out there have any experience, suggestions or recommendations? Are those "airboats" so noisy that they actually scare away any wildlife that might be in the area? Should we just do the park system's Loxahatchee hike by ourselves? TIA.

Come on, SOMEBODY out there has been to the Everglades!

I'm not familiar with the tours you've listed. But the Everglades can be fun, or a real drag depending on what you're expecting. It can get will hot, with tons of mosquitoes, and maybe very little, to no, wildlife to see (this depends more on the guide, the weather, and the time of day and season). Ten Thousand Islands (which unfortunately is too far away for you to visit) is a gorgeous, little seen area of the Everglades. Airboats are too noisy, in my opinion and will scare away anything within a five mile radius. Best way to do the Everglades is via canoe, but that limits the area you can see. Have fun.

There is was another post like this a couple of months ago. Did you do a search? I'll see if I can find it and top it for you.

Continued: I topped the post I mentioned. It was called "Boynton Beach (what to do)"

Everglade National Park at Shark Valley off of Route 41. Great tours, park system I think are always best for the money. You can make reservations so if it is crowded you have no problem.

A few years ago did an Everglades tour - sorry don't remember the name since we merely got in the car and followed some signs. Saw no gators but saw lots of birds. Our daughter (about 8 or 9 at the time) slept through the whole trip of several hours. We went in an airboat, and I do not remember it being that noisy. Went in April and bugs were not a problem for us. Even though this does not sound like an endorsement, I would recommend a tour of a few hours - it is something to do besides eat and beach and then you will actually feel like you were in Florida. I think I would go nuts if I took a whole day tour.

Absolutely agree with Shark Valley.

Rent bikes and go about 4 miles out into the Glades to an observation tower. You can also walk it and the NPS also runs a tram about every hour. Very quiet and abundant wildlife.

I HATE airboats. They destroy what you're trying to see. From what I've seen, most of these "tour" companies are hucksters trying to con people....seems that's the case here since you can't find prices...a sure sign.

tttt