Everglades National Park - Sawgrass Recreational Area

Sawgrass Recreation Park is a well reputed environmental company located in Florida's South Everglades. Their facility allows visitors to experience the infamous Everglades through airboat rides, fishing outings, camping, and wildlife tours. Tourists can even pick up and hold a small alligator at their wildlife center under the guidance of an experienced keeper.

Captain Tim was generous enough to take us for a private tour on one of their many powerful airboats. On the boat, we glided over the water and through the sawgrass into the heart of the marsh in search of the Everglades' most notorious creatures. Not only did we see plenty of alligators, but there were some that came right up to the boat. The photographs and videos we were able to obtain from this experience are amazing, not to mention the adrenaline rush from being within an arm's reach of a ten-footer. I used the GoPro HD to capture the footage. In addition to gator viewing, our tour also included a look at the flora and fauna that exist in the Everglades. We saw cormorants, lilies, and various marsh plants. Our captain was very professional and knowledgeable and he made sure to make this a day that none of us would forget.

Once back at the Sawgrass Recreation facility, we explored the company's swamp yard and reptile area. This area features various creatures including peacocks, turtles, panthers, and lizards. Paul, the gator keeper, allowed us into a caged area that housed at least seven alligators. Here I was able to get even more up close and personal footage of the alligators as they ate their lunch. There were a couple of turtles swimming around in their pool as well. One not so lucky turtle was missing two of his legs from trying to steal food right from an alligator's mouth. This was yet another reminder to us to keep a cautious distance from these incredible prehistoric carnivores.

Exploring the Everglades with Sawgrass Recreation Park was a memorable adventure. Our captain was very professional and knowledgeable and he made sure to make this a day that none of us would forget. Thank you Captain Tim, Christina, and Paul for making this a great experience!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Adventure Eye Video Systems
• Sawgrass Recreational Area
• Everglades National Park