★★★★★
Outstanding day
“Outstanding day with Ben! He was loaded with knowledge for the entire day. Alligators, birds, ecosystems — Ben even had a bird checklist of 70 different varieties. We found 28 of those on the list.”
Rhicksjr83 · TripAdvisor
Great for kids
Captain Bob’s Excellent Adventure from Fort Lauderdale
Five hours, all ages, and the tour that made us famous with families. An airboat ride in Everglades National Park, a hands-on reptile presentation and a short boardwalk walk — back at your hotel by 2 p.m.
- About 5 hours
- Fort Lauderdale & Miami
- All ages, including infants
Named after Captain Bob Cowlishaw, who created it in 2000 for families with small children, Captain Bob’s Excellent Adventure is the half-day version of the Everglades: an airboat ride out on the River of Grass inside Everglades National Park, a reptile presentation where the kids get close to the animals, and a boardwalk loop through a pond apple forest.
Built for short attention spans and long memories
There is no long drive and no sit-down lunch to sit through. We pick you up, get you on the water while the light is good, bring out the snakes and alligators with a naturalist who handles them every day, and have you back at the pool by two.
The airboat is the same water the day safari uses — sawgrass prairie and pond apple sloughs where roseate spoonbills, great egrets, wood storks, purple gallinules and snail kites feed. Ear protection and life jackets for little ones are on board.
What’s included
- Naturalist-guided round-trip transport in an air-conditioned van
- Airboat ride in Everglades National Park
- Interactive reptile and alligator presentation
- Short boardwalk nature walk through a pond apple forest
- Life jackets for children six and under
- Ear protection for the airboat
Not included: gratuities, and anything you buy at the museum gift shop or along the way. Lunch is not included on this tour — eat breakfast before pickup.
Your day, stop by stop
Times are approximate — your guide will tell you the plan for the day at pickup and adjust it to the water, the weather and the wildlife.
-
8:30 a.m.
Pickup
Your guide collects you from a Fort Lauderdale-area hotel or departure point.
-
Mid-morning
Airboat ride
Out on the River of Grass inside Everglades National Park — roseate spoonbills, great egrets, wood storks, purple gallinules and snail kites.
-
Late morning
Reptile presentation
An interactive, hands-on talk about the snakes and alligators of the Everglades, built for curious kids.
-
Late morning
Nature walk
A short boardwalk loop through a pond apple forest with wildlife exhibits along the way.
-
2:00 p.m.
Back at your hotel
Back in time for the pool.
Where we pick you up
Pickup is part of the tour and is required — we do not run self-drive tours from the east coast. Your naturalist collects you, drives the day and brings you back to the same door.
- 7:15 a.m. — Galleria Mall, 2414 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale
- 7:45 a.m. — Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S Flamingo Rd, Davie
- Fort Lauderdale Beach hotels
- 7:20 – 7:30 a.m.
- AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach
- Atlantic Hotel & Spa
- B Ocean Resort
- Bahia Mar Beach Resort
- Best Western Plus Oceanside Inn
- Coconut Bay Resort
- Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach
- Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Beach
- Deco Boutique Hotel
- Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort
- Marriott Harbor Beach Resort
- GALLERYone DoubleTree Suites
- Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort
- Marriott BeachPlace Towers
- Merriweather Resort
- Paramount Residences
- Pillars Hotel
- Premiere Hotel
- The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale
- Sea Club Resort
- Silver Seas
- Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
- W Fort Lauderdale
- Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort
- Airport, 17th Street and cruise port hotels
- 7:30 – 7:45 a.m.
- Aloft Fort Lauderdale Airport
- Best Western Plus Airport/Cruise Port
- Candlewood Suites Airport
- Crowne Plaza Fort Lauderdale Airport/Cruise
- The Dalmar
- Embassy Suites 17th Street
- Extended Stay America 17th Street
- Four Points by Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport
- Hampton Inn Fort Lauderdale Airport North
- Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina
- Holiday Inn Express 17th Street
- Holiday Inn Express Cruise Airport
- Hyatt Place Cruise Port
- Red Carpet Inn
- Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port
- Rodeway Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale
- TRYP by Wyndham Fort Lauderdale
- Weston hotels
- 8:00 – 8:10 a.m.
- Vacation Village at Weston
- Vacation Village at Bonaventure (Mizner Place)
Who this tour is for
Families with small children, grandparents travelling with grandchildren, and anyone with a short stay who still wants an airboat and a close look at an alligator.
- Duration
- About 5 hours
- Departs
- 8:30 a.m., back about 2:00 p.m.
- Pickup
- Fort Lauderdale-area hotels and departure points
- Ages
- All ages, including infants
- Group size
- Maximum 13 guests
Cancellation and booking policy
- Call (239) 472-1559 to cancel or move your date. We do not take cancellations by email.
- Cancel at least 48 hours before your scheduled pickup and you receive a full refund.
- Cancel inside 48 hours and we charge $25 per person.
- No-shows and day-of cancellations are not refunded.
- If you booked through TripAdvisor, Viator or GetYourGuide, cancel through them — their rules apply to their booking.
What guests say
★★★★★
One of our more memorable experiences
“We took this tour on our honeymoon, and it was one of our more memorable experiences! The tour guide was absolutely the best there is. We visited so many wonderful locations you would never know were there unless you lived here. My wife and I learned a lot. We’re really glad we took this trip, and highly recommend it for anyone else who enjoys nature.”
Nathan G. · TripAdvisor
Before you book
Questions about this tour
Is this tour good for young children?
Yes. Captain Bob’s Excellent Adventure is built for families and welcomes every age, including toddlers and infants. Life jackets are provided for children six and under, and ear protection is available for the airboat.
Is food included?
No. Eat breakfast before pickup; the tour returns between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m., depending on your departure city.
How long does it last?
About five hours door to door, including transport, the airboat ride, the reptile presentation and the nature walk.
What should we bring?
Sunscreen, water, hats and closed-toe shoes. Bring a camera for the reptile presentation — the kids will want proof.
What is the cancellation policy?
Free cancellation when you call at least 48 hours before your pickup time. Inside 48 hours we charge $25 per person. No-shows are not refunded.
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Reserve your seats on Captain Bob’s Excellent Adventure from Fort Lauderdale
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup. Reservations close at 5 p.m. the day before the tour.