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Gator Park
Address: 24050 SW 8th Street Pricing: Adults $21; Children $11 Phone: (305) 559-2255 Hours: daily 9 a.m. - 5p.m. How To Get There:
12 miles west of the Florida Turnpike on SW 8th Street
Parking:free on site
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Gator Park: you'll have a wild time
Miami isn't all beaches and bathing suits. The Everglades are a short drive away from the coast, and the scene is completely different from the hustle and bustle of downtown Miami. Escape the shoreline for some wildlife and exploratory adventures at Gator Park.
Admission price to Gator Park includes an airboat tour and a wildlife show. Check online for coupons and discounted entrance prices. Tour boats leave from the dock every 20-30 minutes, and until your airboat arrives you can shop around in the gift shop. Try on gator hats, browse through dreamcatchers, pick out some handmade earrings or buy a cool picture frame while you wait.
The airboat tour starts out calmly, creeping through the swampland and looking for alligators. The water lilies and native birds set a romantic scene. Forget dinner and a movie -- Gator Park is an active and conversation-sparking date option.
Keep your eyes peeled for gator spottings during your ride. There are lots of fish in the water, including blue gill, catfish, large mouth bass, snapper and red fish. Birds are in abundance as well, such as the white ibis, the great blue heron, the osprey, the roseate spoonbill and several species of egrets.
When the boat picks up speed it can get quite loud, and Gator Park generously equips visitors with ear protection for the ride. Your tour guide will give you some wildlife facts while pointing out alligators lurking in the water. Just make sure to keep your hands and feet inside the boat. The boat ride lasts about 20 minutes.
After your airboat docks safely, head over to the wildlife show. See creatures like the Florida scorpion, skunk, porcupine, large toad, baby alligator and exotic birds. Learn how to wrestle an alligator in the wild with an incredible demonstration with a live alligator. At the end of the show, hold a baby alligator yourself and have your friend snap a picture.
Donations and tips are welcome to keep the park healthy and happy.
- by Jessica Bates, Miami Reporter for HelloMetro
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Click Images To Enlarge
Learn how to wrestle a gator in the wildlife show. Photo by Jessica Bates.
Your admission comes with an airboat ride and a wildlife show. Photo by Jessica Bates.
Make sure and wear the ear protection they give you - it's loud! Photo by Jessica Bates.
Gator Park is west off of SW 8th Street. Photo by Jessica Bates.
You'll see plenty green water lillies on your airboat tour. Photo by Jessica Bates.
Keep your hands and feet inside the boat! Photo by Jessica Bates.
Your Hello Miami reporter gives Larry the Alligator some love. Photo by Maggie Bates.
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