Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Tours

Chris Smith from the UK and his family took an airboat ride with us last week… and he sent some beautiful photographs that I’ll be sharing with you over the next couple of days.  First, here’s what Chris had to say about his airboat ride:

Hi Debi,

Thanks to you and Captain Harold for a most enjoyable experience on your airboat.  We will happily recommend your tours to our friends who visit Florida.  Please find attached a few of my photos which you can use on your web site or blog - please can you let me know the different bird names for the attached too.

Best Regards, Chris (& Lydia, Sam and Dan) Smith

Today’s photos are of the Roseate Spoonbill – we only see this bird during the summer months, as we are at the very northern edge of its range in Florida.  Because of its beautiful pink color, it’s often confused with a flamingo.  The spoonbill was once hunted almost to extinction due to its beautiful plumage, and although it has recovered, it is still a species of special concern in Florida.  Take a closer look at its bill and you will see why it’s called a spoonbill!

Here’s a new 5 star airboat ride review posted on Trip Advisor:

“Best Airboat Experience in Central Florida…”

Spirit of the Swamp Airboat Rides in Saint Cloud, Florida is by far the best airboat ride in Central Florida.  I have been on three other ones in the area in years past and have never had such a great experience.

From the eyes of my 5 year old…mommy can we go again tomorrow?

Captain Harold and Debi take one on one care of all the passengers…even stopping to make sure everyone gets pictures. You can talk to each other via their personalized headsets and that is a big plus. Both of them are very knowledgeable about the wildlife and plant life in the area making the trip both fun and educational! We saw gators big and small and just had a fabulous time.

One of the most photographed swamp critters on our airboat rides is the Alligator, of course!  Here’s a gator photo taken on Memorial Day:

The second most popular photo op?  Why that would be a COW of course!  Our passengers just can’t believe their eyes when they see a cow belly deep in the marshes and swamps!  One of our passengers said we should call them “cowagators”… so here is a photo, also taken this Memorial Day, of the infamous cowagator: