Sidetracked! Alligator Airboat Adventure
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side·track (sīd´trăk): n. 1. A diversion from the main course. 2. A detour taken with children that you would never, ever take without them.
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Who:
Travel Savvy Mom founder Jamie Pearson and her children (7 and 9).
What and Where:
Lone Cabbage Fish Camp and Restaurant, a 100-year old institution in Cocoa, Florida that now offers airboat tours of the undeveloped Johnson River, where visitors can spot alligators, bald eagles, turtles, and cranes. Don’t ask me what a “fish camp” is—I honestly have no idea.
Why:
Our cruise ship, the NCL Gem, made a call at nearby Port Canaveral. The list of possible shore excursions for the day included the Kennedy Space Center, Disneyworld, and Seaworld, but we went for the gators (largely because I didn’t give the kids voting rights).
The High Point:
Drifting really close to 12-foot bull alligators who were sunning themselves in the reeds on the muddy shore. The excitement of wondering if the boat would capsize when all the passengers leaned to one side to take pictures.
The Low Point:
After the tour, the proprietors passed around baskets of battered, deep-fried alligator nuggets with cocktail sauce for dipping. We all tried it because we weren’t sure if we’d ever have another opportunity, and have been regretting it ever since.
The Kids’ Take:
Seriously awesome. After whizzing around spotting gators in the river for a half an hour, we repaired to the “camp” (a rustic screened room on a slab of concrete) for a wildlife show.
Florida is ground zero for the exotic pet trade, and an animal rescue organization showed us a ball python, a green anaconda, and a tame baby alligator (which the kids got to hold).
The Bottom Line:
I recommend this tour (or one just like it) to anyone who has never seen alligators in the wild.
If your kid can’t hold still for 30 minutes (and leave the crucial protective headphones on), you might want to wait a couple years. It’s probably good for ages 4 and up.
June 9th, 2009 | by Jamie Pearson 4 comments
1. Rich Pearson on June 10th, 2009
This may cause you to adjust the age range.
A fish camp is a 3 day camp that all incoming freshmen are invited to attend at Texas A&M. This camps purpose is to get the freshmen excited about their upcoming year.
http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Texas_Aggie
2. Amy @ The Q Family on June 10th, 2009
I have been begging my husband to do the tour when we lived in FL but he wouldn’t budge. :) Guess alligator meat doesn’t taste like chicken, heh?
3. Amy Sinclair on June 29th, 2009
I’ve actually had alligator meat that was quite tasty although not the same experience for you. Nevertheless, sounds like a great tour off the beaten path.
4. Gay McElroy on June 30th, 2010
A Fish Camp is also known as a Fish House. It is a very casual restaurant located in a rural area in the deep south. Usually only open on weekends, the standard fare is fried catfish, french fries, hush puppies, and cole slaw with sweet tea.
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