2 reviews for Sawgrass Recreation Park
Very good airboat tour which includes a visit to their impressive animal sanctuary.
While I've heard the tours south of Miami are a little better, this park can't be beat if you're looking for something close to Fort Lauderdale. Of course the amount of wildlife you are going to see is going to vary depending on when you go and a little luck. We went in early-April and only saw one alligator, but he was pretty big. The tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable. The airboat tour is about 30 minutes.
Even if you don't see much on the airboat, they have a pretty impressive animal sanctuary where there are live shows (no alligator wrestling) and lots of creatures to see. You can also hold a baby crocodile if you are so inclined.
There's also a decent gift shop and a snack bar.
The airboat tour (which includes the animal sanctuary) is about $20, but there are coupons on their Web site and in some of the local tourist publications.
Sawgrass Recreation Park offers an escape from the congested South Florida area though the park entrance is only 2 miles north of Fort Lauderdale suburbs. The park offers air boat tours of the Florida Everglades, as well as a free public boat ramp.
Though South Florida is covered with fresh water lakes and canals, this is one of only a handful of Broward County boat ramps where you can run an outboard motor. As a kid, I loved fishing from here. Miles and miles of canals will take you North or East from the boat ramp. Or, for air boaters, you can go northeast through the marsh.
I haven't experienced the air boat tours in many years, but from what I remember, they take you on a short trip just north of the park, then throw bread into the water to feed the fish & turtles. Alligator sightings are likely, they are all over the place. Tour buses usually cram in by the dozens during the weekends. After the tour, you can visit a small wildlife area where they keep live alligators and other native wildlife, and probably do a little alligator wrestling.
Other amenities include a small snack bar/grill inside of a Chickie hut, a convenient store, bait shop, Jon boat rentals, & campground.
If you're not planning on going out in a boat you can purchase admission to the wildlife area separately, otherwise, there isn't a whole lot to do from shore.
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