In Fort Lauderdale, the Jungle Queen takes you past mansions. In the Everglades, airboat tours roar into the wild. Miami's Biscayne National Park lets you see the tropical reefs. From the Florida Keys to West Palm Beach, some of the best sightseeing can only be done by boat!
Biscayne National Park
Three-hour glass-bottom bout tours, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. The park is 95 percent underwater and features colorful coral reefs and undeveloped keys in Biscayne Bay, southeast of Miami. Directions: The auto entrance to the park is at Convoy Point, which can be reached by taking Florida's Turnpike south to Exit 6 (Speedway Boulevard), turning left from the exit ramp and continuing south to Southwest 328th Street (North Canal Drive). Turn left and continue to the end of the road. The entrance is approximately 5 miles on the left. Reservations are recommended for the boat tours, and passenger minimums apply.
One of the few boat tours that offers ocean sailing. Go aboard Walter Cronkite's former yacht, the Chesapeake, a 46-foot cutter yawl. Daily 3-1/2-hour sailing cruises by appointment.
Location:
Pick up at the Doubletree Hotel on Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Laudedale
This 1- 1/2 hour cruise along Biscayne Bay takes in the downtown Miami skyline, the Port of Miami, Brickell Key, Fisher Island and the celebrity filled islands of Miami Beach known as "Millionaire's Row." Cruises are hourly from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. Monday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday to Sundays. The firm also offers nightly dance cruises.
Location:
Leaves from Bayside Marketplace at Biscayne and Port Boulevards, Miami
Barbecue and shrimp dinner sightseeing cruise with variety show departs nightly at 6 p.m.; Three-hour narrated sightseeing cruises depart at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; Cash or traveler's checks only.
Location:
801 Seabreeze Blvd # Rta1a, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316-1629
Airboat tours of the Everglades, with frequent sightings of alligators, wading birds and more. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Tours begin at 10 a.m. There are two tours - 55-minute 6-8 miled Evergaldes eco-awarness tour and a 40-minute 4-6 mile Everglades tour.
Location:
15490 Loxahatchee Road, west of U.S. 441 north of Deerfield Beach, south of Boca Raton
Narrated Everglades airboat tours daily. Also features a live alligator and birds of prey exhibit, boat rentals, fishing, food and beverages. The tours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Makes regular stops at 11 different points between Oakland Park Boulevard and SE 17th Street along the Intracoastal Waterway, and west along the New River into downtown Fort Lauderdale as far as the River House restaurant, from about 10:30 a.m. to after midnight.
