Boy holding Alligator at Wooten's

Wooten's Airboat Tour

Wooten’s Airboat Everglades Adventuresoffers the best overall experience of the Florida Everglades.  Wooten’s,  located in the town of Ochopee, FL off US 41, offers an Air-boat tour through the mangroves to see bromelaids, air-plants, alligator, Great Blue Heron and other Florida birds in their natural habitat. The intricate root system of the Mangroves are an important part of the Everglades ecosystem offering erosion protection from waves and hurricanes as well as shelter for fish, crustaceans and shellfish. They also host large variety of organisms, including algae, barnacles, oysters, sponges, and bryozoans.  Mangroves are a unique plant with an ability to actually extract the fresh water from the salt water.  

Alligator on the side of Parking Lot

Wooten's Alligator Show

Along the Air-boat tour, it would be rare not to see an alligator. If you are down in Florida during the cooler months you will probably see an alligator from the parking lot. The staff is so used to living with alligators they do not seem to be alarmed if one is underfoot.  Do not try this at home!

Wooten's Staff w/ Inconspicuous Gator

Wooten’s also offers a Swamp Buggy Ride through the Big Cypress Swamp to see natural flora and fauna of the Everglades such as Strangler Fig Tree, beautiful Orchids, Air-plants, Ferns, Pop Ash, and Willows and wildlife such as bobcats, panthers, snakes, North American crocodiles, alligators, turtles and deer in their natural habitat.  Swamp Buggies were invented in the early 1930′s as a means to hunt and navigate the wetlands prior to the invention of the air-boat and are still commonly used today.

Wooten's Swamp Buggy Bus

Don’t forget to take time to visit the Alligator and Wildlife park.  Wooten’s is a sanctuary for Florida endangered species. They host several endangered American Crocodile and the Florida Panther along with hosting several alligators, a tiger, otters and a large live snake exhibit.  At the back of the park there is a periodic alligator show put on by one of the Wooten’s trained staff.  At the end show the more adventurous visitors can actually hold a small alligator.   To my surprise, the alligator skin is one of the smoothest and softest skins of any reptile.