My husband and I celebrated our 55th wedding anniversary with La Gondola early this month and it…read morewas absolutely phenomenal and breathtaking. We have experienced gondola rides in the past: once years ago when it was not an evening with a waterfire, and since then, three more delightful evenings of water fires. Our fantastic gondolier, Figaro, in his handsome straw canotier, or straw hat, was so amazing as he helped us into the gondola and gently brought us through the river. Before the end of our tour, Figaro sang to us with his stunning voice in Italian and made our evening the ultimate celebration. The pink champagne biscuits given to us to accompany our beverage were so delicious . We could not ask for a more beautifully exquisite anniversary evening.

We had a lovely gondola ride on the river. It was so peaceful and having the violinist playing…read more made the experience extra special. Would definitely recommend!

SO so so much better than Tin City!!! Seamless, convenient, easy onboard and return. Equipment in…read moreperfect shape and...nice people...all around tip top.

We all went last night for the sunset cruse was very nice and the staff was very good . Great night…read morefor the cruse and dinner after woods for some sea food ..

Our sunset cruise with Captain Dom was wonderful. Our grandchildren had come in to see us after…read morevisiting Orlando and after the boat ride said this was the best part of their vacation. Would highly recommend.

an incredible 21-acre property dedicated to protecting and preserving the environment. Established…read morein the 1960s, the Conservancy combines education, conservation, and hands-on learning, making it a great stop for both adults and families. Your admission ($17.95 per person) includes access to a mix of indoor and outdoor attractions: Discovery Center -- A large, interactive space with educational displays on topics like climate change, invasive species, the water crisis, and local ecosystems. There's also a touch tank where you can get up close with sea life. Live Animal Feedings & Volunteer Presentations -- Knowledgeable volunteers provide extra insights about the wildlife and conservation efforts. Trails & Outdoor Spaces -- A short walking trail winds through the property, perfect for a peaceful stroll. Von Arx Wildlife Hospital -- While the hospital itself isn't open to the public, you can learn about how they care for injured and rescued wildlife and see where some of the animals are treated. Little Explorers Zone -- A dedicated building for kids, making this an especially family-friendly destination. One of the best parts of the visit was the electric boat tour of the Gordon River, which is included with admission. The 40-minute ride is led by a volunteer captain who shares fascinating details about the surrounding wildlife, plants, and ecosystem. If you're planning to take the boat tour, reserve your spot as soon as you pay admission -- we only had to wait about 10 minutes, but it can book up quickly during busy times. After the tour, we explored a few more of the buildings and stopped by the gift shop. Honestly, the shop was the least impressive of the ones we visited -- it mainly had basic branded items and nothing particularly unique, but that didn't take away from the overall experience. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is absolutely worth a stop, especially if you enjoy wildlife, conservation, and learning about Florida's ecosystems. Between the interactive exhibits, the river tour, and the chance to see firsthand how the organization protects local habitats, it's both educational and enjoyable.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is the perfect place to spend an afternoon learning about…read morelocal nature. We arrived just in time for their last boat ride of the day at 3 p.m. Their electric boat tours are a perfect way to explore the narrow channels of the Gordon River. We saw several birds, including a bald eagle and great blue, little blue, and green herons. Conservancy volunteers and employees, including our boat captain, were friendly and knowledgeable. Admission is $17.95 for adults and $9.95 for children, although we hold a family Conservancy membership so our admission (including boat ride) was free. We also enjoyed visiting the Conservancy's Dalton Discovery Center, which has various exhibits with native and invasive wildlife. We loved watching all the fish! This group also runs the von Arx Wildlife Hospital, which is an important wildlife rehabilitation center and hospital that takes in over 4,000 sick, injured, and orphaned animals every year. Very grateful to have the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in our area. I highly recommend obtaining a membership if you are local or simply visiting if you're on vacation.

I found Down South Airboat tours on Yelp and Google. Both had great reviews so I called the number…read moreon their website and booked a tour for me and a friend. Our tour guide Ryan arrived promptly at our meet up spot at 12:30 PM. We jumped on the Airboat and off we went into the Everglades. Ryan and his family have lived in this region of Florida for generations so he was more than familiar with the area. We saw baby alligators, lots of bird species, and in one spot, Ryan called the pond, he called out for alligator named Mother. She came right up to the boat and allowed him to touch her (scratched her on the back her head). That was an unexpected treat! We wore head sets to offset the loud Airboat and we could communicate as well. He stopped in several spots throughout the tour and turned off the boat so we could talk without the headsets. If you are considering a tour of the Everglades I highly recommend you reach out to Down South Airboat Tours and ask for Ryan. Happy exploring!

I really wanted to do an airboat tour and see the Everglades while in SW Florida in March…read more We pre-booked this company reading great reviews on line. It is pricey, we picked the 1.5 hour tour, just 4 family members and a guide, Ryan. It is nice that you can be with your group only! At the departing point there's a sign and a small parking lot! No restrooms! So use the facilities on the way at the Oasis Visitor Center, or drive passed it to the nearest gas stop! We were greeted by a staff member and signed our lives away! Bring a hat since you will wear headsets (heavy)- they didn't clean them after previous clients. I am not a baseball hat kinda of a girl but got one for this trip and it was a good save! Wear sunscreen and comfy clothes! Bring water and not lots of luggage, the boats have a small storage space for a few items. While waiting we did see a few gators and cool birds. The boat ride was fun, saw lots of gators in the wild and many birds. The landscape is breathtaking, other worldly. I wish we would have explored the channels in the back more. Ryan was nice but I expected better based on the review, somebody more knowledgeable and chattier. He sped us back way too fast for a pricey ride. If you sit in front you will get hit a lot but beautiful dragon flies. It doesn't hurt, but be warned. Since the reviews were so good I expected more from Down South. It wasn't bad, it was fun, but nothing extraordinary. Fun adventure, something you need once in a lifetime.

Our family of 5 had an absolutely wonderful experience with Captain Jessica and the Island Time…read moreDolphin & Shelling Cruise! Our four-hour trip was the perfect mix of relaxation, wildlife, and adventure. Captain Jessica and her crew went above and beyond, providing iced drinks, snacks, and buckets for collecting shells. They took us to Old Hickory Island, where we found some amazing shells, a Pygmy octopus, conch, and a sand dollar. Throughout the trip, Captain Jessica shared her knowledge about the local ecosystem, answering all of our questions about the dolphins, manatees, mangroves, and the area. One of the highlights was when she spotted a pod of dolphins. She carefully brought the boat alongside them, and we got to watch them swim and jump in our boat's wake--it was unforgettable! Communication was outstanding from start to finish. We had to reschedule twice due to weather. Captain Jessica made the process incredibly easy and stress-free. She is friendly, welcoming, and shared lots of great local recommendations for places to visit and things to do. If you're looking to support a fantastic local business while having an unforgettable day on the water, I can't recommend Captain Jessica and Island Time Dolphin & Shelling Cruise enough. It was truly one of the highlights of our trip!

Had an amazing private dolphin and shelling tour this week with Jessica & Rob. Jessica was…read morefantastic to work with throughout the booking process and was communicative, prompt, and helpful! Our day on the water was wonderful - we saw 4 dolphins (including one baby!), white pelicans, and enjoyed shelling at the end of Lover's Key State park! Jessica and Rob made the experience memorable, fun, and safe. Highly recommend for your charter needs!