Outdoors & Nature Insider

Kissimmee Airboat Tour Credit: Kissimmee CVB

One of the most popular and quickest ways to have a Florida outdoor experience is by airboat. It seems like every body of water, shallow ones in particular, has at least half a dozen tour operators doing everything they can to put you in the seat of their boat and zoom you off into the sawgrass.

A question that comes up frequently both here on VISITFLORIDA.com and when I'm out and about has to do with choosing the right airboat tour. So, how do you go about choosing the right tour? Well, on this one, I like to tell people to stick to the "stop, look, and listen" method of deciding what tour and operator is best for them. Here's how it goes:

Stop

Before just hitting the road and randomly choosing the first tour operator you come across, stop and do your research. First, take a little time to learn about your destination. Most places where tours are popular - the Everglades, for example, is a very fragile and important ecosystem. It takes all of us to ensure that these places are protected for future generations to enjoy.

Look for tour operators that make mention of preservation of these places, and look for tour companies that have been in business for a few years. Places that put on less than desirable tours fold up quickly. Spend some time checking out the websites of any tours that you may be interested in, and look for any reviews.

Look

Once you have figured out where you are going and what tours interest you, take a look around the grounds of the business. Look for obvious signs of disrepair or trash. Also, take a look at the tour boats - do they look clean and well maintained? Torn seats, rust, banged up hulls - if you see these, there's a good possibility that the mechanical components aren't well maintained, either.

If you see anything that looks out of place or that you are concerned about, ask the tour operator about it. If you don't get the answers that make you feel comfortable - find another tour.

Listen

Here's a good tip - when you arrive at the tour, ask people that are getting back what they thought. Listen closely to their answers. Did the operator use established trails, or did they go places where trails did not exist? If they stuck to the established trails, that's good. Was the tour informative? How about the ride itself - was it comfortable? Airboats typically ride smooth.

Most people just coming back from the tours will give you their honest opinion about the experience. To me, that's what seals the deal. If you get good feedback from others, you more than likely will have a very similar experience.

Here's a link to a page right here on VISITFLORIDA.com to get you started in your search for the right airboat tour operator, with articles, videos, and pictures. Again, make sure to stop and do your research, look around once you are there, and listen to the responses from other people at the tour. Have a blast!