Florida Guide > Other Activities
Boggy Creek Airboat Rides
Ever since we started visiting Florida in 1993 we have been planning a ride on an airboat. Somehow we never seemed to find time to fit one in but this year we were determined. In February we finally managed a visit to Boggy Creek Airboats and we can thoroughly recommend it.
If you enjoy seeing something of the real Florida or have just seen airboats in the movies and fancy a ride on one, then Boggy Creek Airboats is the place to go.
There are two locations to choose from one at East Lake Fish Camp on Boggy Creek Road off the Osceola Parkway, which is the original and also has parasail rides. The second is at Southport Park which is along Poinciana Blvd off highway 192. Both have a small gift shop with with an area for snacks and restrooms.
We chose to visit Boggy Creek Airboats West at Southport Park as this is the location closest to our home on highway 27. It was really easy to find. We headed East on highway 192 and then turned right onto Poinciana Blvd. We stayed on this road passing the Green Meadows Petting Farm on the right (good for small children) then Horse World a mile or two down on our left (this was about half way) Poinciana Blvd then becomes Southport Road but we just continued straight on until we could go no further and literally drove into the car park for the airboat rides. At one point we thought we must have taken a wrong turn because we seemed to be in the middle of nowhere but we just kept going (for around 18 miles from the 192) and there it was.
The air boats seat about twenty people and depart every 30 minutes. They are coast guard approved and have all emergency equipment should you ever need it. We were given a safety briefing before we left the dock and as the air boat fans are very loud everyone was given a set of ear defenders to wear.
The tour started at a leisurely pace as we looked for Alligators in the reeds and sunning themselves on the banks, it then picked up speed to 40mph plus as we zipped across the lake and through the reed beds in search of more wild life. The captain spun the boat around ensuring that there was plenty of spray just to make the ride that bit more exciting!
On our tour we saw alligators, turtles, water snakes and many exotic birds. This is part thrill ride and part nature trail. The captain was extremely knowledgeable about the local wildlife and the lake in general.
The ride lasted around 25-30 minutes although it seemed shorter and we were disappointed when we headed back to the dock. There was a night time tour available which lasted around an hour where you could search for gators in the dark but we decided we were not adventurous enough for that one! (night tours are by reservation only).We recommend that you try to fit in a visit to Boggy Creek Airboats next time you are in the area, we are sure you won’t regret it.
By Steve & Julie Roach
www.Orlandovillas.com/villas/1510.aspx
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