One-day ecotourism trip near Fort Lauderdale ?
 

My 21-year-old-son and I are in Boca Raton, getting him ready to start university here. We'd like to do something memorable, but can probably take only one day out of our shopping/organizing schedule for fun. His passion is animals in the wild, nature, the environment. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (We're here now, in August.)

Do a day trip into the Everglades. Various points along there. Shark Valley being one of them.

Thanks! Will look into it right away.

You can rent canoes and canoe in the sawgrass sea. Just watch out for the alligators.

Thanks very much - that's a great idea too.

Lion Country Safari. (ha. ha.)

Seriously, Glades is the place to go.

Save the Everglades for winter -- August is not the time to go there. Instead, head to the Keys and do a snorkel trip from Pennekamp State Park.

I totally agree with Keymom above. Snorkeling in Key Largo/Pennekamp is only about an hour away. If you're lucky and the conditions are good, your tour will take you to Key Largo Dry Rocks where the Christ of the Deep Statue is. Generally tours operate where there is the best visibility and wave conditions. You'll see a lot more wildife there than in the Everglades right now. The animals are smart enough to stay hidden in the shade rather than out in the open.