This past week, while visiting our Flag and Banner store in Miami, I did something I’ve always wanted to do but have only seen on fishing shows: I took a fan boat ride through the Everglades! Because there are alligators everywhere, and I mean everywhere, the expansive waterway is called Alligator Alley.
Joining us was my daughter and her husband, who has never met a reptile he didn’t want to pick up. I’ve seen him yank out of the water snakes, snapping turtles, and every kind of fish and bug. Thankfully it is against the law to mess with the everglade alligators. Thus, we were spared the surprise of my son-in-law grabbing a baby alligator by the tail and swinging it one into our boat.
Alligator Alley
Just like in the movies, you go fast down these water channels. And, because there is little chance of bottoming out or tipping over, our guide would just suddenly, for the fun of it and to our delight, turn off the water paths and tear out across the expanse of grassy reeds, which would slap us in the face as we all screamed from the exhilarating and slightly frightening ride. I am not sure all guides do this but ours, twice out of nowhere, would go fast towards a clearing, then make a 360-degree spin turn that would whip us into hysteria. Think of the best Tilt-a-Whirl ride you have ever been on and add ten more decimals.
After all this, he would stop in a cove and let us catch our breath as he gave us an everglade lesson about the plants and bugs that live there.
Mating Season
It is currently the beginning of alligator mating season, so the males are feisty. Before our hour and a half fan boat ride was over, our fun guide took us to an alligator nest full of eggs. This Man of the Marsh knew these alligators by name, and you could tell they were friends; Lucy the alligator came right up to our boat.
Bucket List
We took this tour in mid-April and the weather was perfect. Not sure which month would be the best but if you ever get a chance to take a fan boat through Florida’s Everglades, you must say YES.
