Boggy Creek Airboat Rides
Kissimmee, (407) 344-9550Remember the 1960s television show, "Gentle Ben?" It took place in the Florida Everglades and had something to do with a bear (that was apparently gentle), a park ranger, and the ranger's son, played by a young Clint Howard (that's Ron Howard's kid brother). The ranger was always responding to some emergency by zipping off on his airboat. You may not see any bears, gentle or otherwise, but you can zip through some Florida swamp grasses on an authentic airboat at Boggy Creek.
The 18-passenger boats are an intriguing site. Powerful Chevy 454 big block engines power enormous fans to propel the flat-bottom boats. The captains maneuver the boats by regulating the speed of the fans and shifting the direction of rudders that control the airflow. Since the boats make an enormous racket, passengers wear protective ear guards.
Reaching speeds up to 70 mph, the boats skim along Lake Tohopekaliga's water and tear through its grassy areas with equal ease. This isn't a simulated Everglade cruise with animatronic creatures. The eagles, osprey, snakes--and, yes alligators--passengers are likely to see along the 30-minute tour are all quite real. When the captains send the boats careening sideways and make sudden turns, there's even a thrill-ride element. To complete the authentic Florida experience, visit the adjacent restaurant (which is very reasonably priced) for some fried alligator nuggets. They go great with fried frogs legs and hush puppies (cornmeal fritters).
Boggy Creek Parasail Rides
Kissimmee, (407) 348-2700After you've skimmed along Lake Tohopekaliga on an airboat, you may want to soar over it on an exhilarating parasail ride. With a line that extends 800 feet at a 45-degree angle from the motorboat, riders reach heights of about 400 feet. That's much taller than any Florida roller coaster. Although the experience appears a bit intimidating, the sit-down harness that tethers riders to the parasail is actually quite comfortable and reassuring.
After some brief instructions from the crew, riders get into the harness on the boat and launch from the back of it while it cruises the lake. Children can accompany adults by using specially designed double-flyer harnesses. The captain controls the ride by adjusting the speed of the boat and reeling the tether line in or out. He has enough command to skim riders' feet along the water without getting their legs wet (street clothes are fine). At its highest point, above the treetops, it's possible to see the Orlando skyline. What a rush!
