Finally after eight days and five hundred nautical miles, I was back on the New River headed home. In our last blog, I made the journey back to Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas. Unlike other inlets like Haulover and Boca, the Stranahan River inlet is pretty mild. This is the main inlet to Port Everglades where all of the Fort Lauderdale cruise ships are based out of.
Because we were coming back into the US we needed to clear customs. The captain of our yacht used the CBP mobile phone app to check in our crew. He took a photo of our passports and uploaded them to the platform.
The winds were pretty strong that day and I was surprised to see so many small boats out there. In fact as we were coming back, there was a mayday call on the VHF for a small capsized boat.
Water Taxi Route on the New River
Scott and I have taken the water taxi on this route a number of times. That amenity is one of the favorite things we love about living in DT Fort Lauderdale. But there’s something about riding down the river on a yacht versus a taxi. Big yachts come down the river during our walks and I always wondered what it was like to be on one. Well, now I know.
The New River is somewhat narrow and you also have to cross under a number of bridges. Typically the larger boat has the right away, but don’t’ count on every boater following that rule. Plus there are all kinds of vessels on the river including dinghys, jet skis and tiki huts that you have to watch for. Our captain was very experienced and instead of passing by the oncoming vessels, he stayed put and let them pass by us.
Venice of America
When we left for the trip, it was before dawn and it was pitch black. It was pretty cool to see everything along the New River in the daylight. Scott and I can walk to the 7th avenue bridge, but that’s as far as we can go on foot. As the yacht crossed under the bridge, I was curious what the rest of the river looked like. Cruising down the new river, you will see everything from mansions to old homes, vacant lots, large yachts, tiki huts and fancy RV parks. They call Fort Lauderdale the Venice of America due to all of the canals.
The entire trip from Port Everglades to Roscioli Yachting Center took us about an hour and half. So if you plan on doing this, give yourself plenty of time. I never get tired of seeing yachts, so the trip was pretty cool. There are many other ways to cruise the river if you don’t own a boat. You can rent one with a captain, take the Jungle Queen, hop on the water taxi, take a gondola or rent a jet ski.
Finally we’re home
Soon we were in the industrial part of the river. We passed by Safe Harbor, which is one of the largest super yacht ship yards in Florida.
After eight days of cruising and working at the same time, I was ready to be home. Seeing Scott waiting for us at the dock was just what I needed. This was certainly an epic trip and I respect the job that these captains do. They have to work under difficult conditions and yet the passengers rarely know that.
As always, thank you for following our blog. Please subscribe and leave us your comments. You can also follow us on social media @BoatingJourney. Be sure to check out the full tour on our YouTube Channel (link below.
After spending three days in Staniel Cay exploring the magical sites of Staniel Cay and the surrounding islands, my crew headed to the Atlantis Resort & Marina on Nassau. This was a 113 nm journey that took us about three and half hours cruising at about 34knots.
We entered Nassau from the southern end of the channel. Most boats do not go this way due to the shallow “bombies” (large reefs just under the water) but our captain was very experienced and knew the safe route to take.
Entering Nassau Harbor, you will find grand homes, industry and other marine vessels.
Atlantis Resort & Marina on Paradise Island
The Atlantis Resort is located on Paradise Island, which is owned and operated by the resort. Our captain called to the dockmaster before entering the marina to ensure we had a slip ready. As we cruised in a manatee swam past the yacht. (Watch our video for the footage).
The Atlantis marina is very nice with large slips for all sizes of yachts. They do have a minimum dockage of 50′. This means if you have a 30′ boat, you’re still going to pay for 50′. The marina office was located across from where we were docked and it was a longer walk than I expected.
Accommodations at Atlantis
There are four main hotels at Atlantis and I stayed in the Cove. It was located the closest to the marina and is connected to the Royal. I had a great room with a view of the ocean. When you book your reservation, you have to pre-pay for your stay and give them every guest name (you can’t change it afterwards). The cost of my room was about $486 per night. Be prepared to pay not only sales tax but a 10% VAT on top of everything too.
When you check in, you’ll get a complimentary thermal water bottle and they have water filling stations all over the resort. Looking at the map below, you can see how large of a complex the resort is.
The Marine Life & Aquarium
The following day, I took some time to explore the grounds. I headed to “The Dig” which is the aquarium. You can see all that they offer here, including swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling with the marine life.
Atlantis, Paradise island is home to the largest open-air marine habitat in the world, encompassing 14 lagoons, 8 million gallons of ocean water and more than 50,000 aquatic animals.
Atlantis has a team of 165 marine experts that care for, rescue and rehabilitate over 250 marine species. A portion of Atlantis’ marine interactive programs goes back to the Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to saving sea species.
Pool Time
Later that day, I headed down to the Cove Pool to relax and read my current book, Over the Top by Adrian Flanagan.
The pool had plenty of lounge chairs with umbrellas. My only caution would be the prices of the pool bar. I kid you not, I paid $28 for a Rum Punch!
That evening I had a wonderful dinner at Olives enjoying a delicious ravioli dish.
Back to Bimini Bay
The following morning, our crew left around 9am for Bimini Bay. I managed to find a home for one of our stickers at the marina – so look for it!
We fueled up in Nassau Harbor, just outside of the marina.
As we cruised to each island, I spent most of my time up on the fly bridge or cockpit enjoying the moment and experience. Just 6 months ago, we were living in cold wet weather in the PNW.
Who would have ever imagined that I would soon be cruising the crystal clear turquoise waters in the Bahamas for my job? There is something therapeutic about being on the water with nothing else around you. I certainly didn’t take this moment for granted.
The trip to Mega Marina at Bimini took us about three hours, cruising around 27 knots. We decided to save on fuel since we were not in a hurry to get to Bimini. It’s amazing how beautiful the water is at Bimini compared to Nassau.
I don’t think cruising through the Bimini Channel will ever get old to me.
Our group stayed at Mega Marina this time, which is a bit larger and right next to the Hilton Hotel.
Finally after eight days, it was time for our crew to head back to Florida. We left around 8am hearing that bad weather was moving in. Our trip back was pleasant and smooth. I stayed on the fly bridge the entire way and reflected on the journey I had just experienced. I know I am very fortunate to be living this life and this is one of the many reasons we chose to move closer to the Caribbean.
As always, thank you for following our journey and blog. Be sure to watch our video below and subscribe to our channel. You can also follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Cheers, Ally
My (Ally) trip to Staniel Cay was one of my all-time epic trips and I’m thrilled I get to share it with all of you. Many of you have asked why I didn’t stay on the yacht at each stop. Remember, this was a work trip for me and all of our staff stayed in hotels so we could keep the yacht clean and tidy. Why you ask? Well, The Sunseeker 74 Sport Yacht that we were traveling on, is brand new and this was our opportunity to show it off to potential clients.
Our crew left Chub Cay Sunday, August 14th early in the morning and headed straight for Staniel Cay Yacht Club. This would be our longest journey at 121 nautical miles and the trip took about 5 hours.
We passed by Nassau on our way and we rarely saw any other vessels on the sea with us.
Arriving to Staniel Cay
As we approached Staniel Cay Yacht Club, we had to sit out a storm before we headed to the marina. The marina is very small and tight and without assistance from the marina it would be difficult for us to dock. Since a huge squall was moving through, we knew their crew wouldn’t come out.
Staniel Cay is a fairly large and populated island (compared to the other cays in the Exumas). The Yacht Club is owned by Makers Air and they have their own airline that services Staniel Cay. For that reason, the yacht club flies in their provisions on a daily basis. This is why you have to order your “dinner” when dining in the dining room first thing in the morning.
Staniel Cay Marina
The marina has fixed linear docks, so you better be very good at docking. In addition, a smaller yacht (say under 40′) wouldn’t do great here due to the height of the docks.
photo credit: Staniel Cay Yacht Club (not our flotilla)
Luckily, the marina office was located right at the end of the dock. Here you can buy ice and also make golf cart arrangements. By the time we arrived, they were completely out of golf carts, but I was able to have a staff member help me with my bags to my cottage.
Just across from the marina office are steps down to the water, you’ll find nurse sharks hanging out looking for snacks.
At night, the marina totally lights up and it’s an awesome scene.
Accommodations on the island
The yacht club does offer villas, but they were all sold out. I would love to come back here and stay in one. Apparently when you rent a villa, you get a Boston Whaler runabout with it. How fun!
I was able to find accommodations on VRBO at the Chamberlain Cottages. The cottages are walking distance from the marina, but if you have luggage, this is a long haul.
These are about seven cottages each have two bedrooms (some with only one bath). I was fortunate that my cottage (the swimming piggies) had a separate room and bath on the first floor, from the rest of the cottage.
Exploring the Exumas
Our group spent three nights on Staniel Cay. The first night we hosted a cocktail party for our clients at the yacht club. We really lucked out with awesome weather.
The following morning, I went on an excursion with Staniel Cay Adventures for a day of snorkeling and exploring. These guys were awesome! I highly recommend that you hire a local if you want to explore the Exumas. They know the waters, the tides and the special places to visit.
Had I known how far we were headed (45 nm) that day on a 27′ boat, I might have had second thoughts! LOL
Our first stop was the Exumas Land and Sea Park. Here they have a visitors center and a giant whale skeleton. I didn’t explore the island (I was worried about bugs), but I was told they had a number of trails throughout the island. Instead, our crew played with Seabobs before bad weather started moving our way.
Snorkeling the plane wreck at Norman’s Cay
The trip to Norman’s Cay took us about 45 minutes. It was certainly a soggy boat ride, as we got hit with a pretty bad rain storm.
As soon as I jumped in I realized the current was too strong for me (it was about 15 knots). So our guide handed me a line to hang on to while I snorkeled through the plane. Be sure to check out my YouTube video for the footage of my snorkel. It was a bit scary snorkeling around a jagged metal plane, but our guides really helped me out.
Back in the 1970’s and 80’s, Norman’s Cay was a frequent stop for drug transportation during Carlos Lehder’s drug running days with the Medellin Cartel. One story about the sunken plane is that it crashed due to the weight of the cargo on it.
Lunch & the Sea Aquarium
From the plane wreck, we headed to lunch at MacDuffs Restaurant located on the other side of Norman’s Cay. The food and service was fantastic. This is a very small restaurant, so don’t come in with a crowd, without reservations.
I was shocked by how many cicadas there were. They were so loud and they were shedding their shells on the trees.
Everywhere we went, the water was crystal clear and so incredibly beautiful. I don’t think my photos do it justice. Guess we’ll just have to come back.
After lunch, our crew took us to the Sea Aquarium. When we arrived, I was hesitant to jump in after working so hard at the plane wreck. But they assured me this would be epic.
Now I know why it’s called the “Sea Aquarium”. As soon as I jumped in, I was surrounded by hundreds of beautiful fish. Be sure to see my action footage on YouTube (link at the end of this blog).
Surprise ending to a fabulous day in the Exumas
It was almost 5:30pm when we finished snorkeling at the Sea Aquarium. I assumed we were headed back home, but instead our guides had one more surprise. With the tunes cranked, we were flying through the islands headed for a surprise. You really have to see my video footage to grasp this adventure. At one point we were in 1′ of water, as we approached a sand bar (normally covered at high tide). We all hopped off and soaked up the moment. It was such a cool experience.
Day Two in the Exumas
One thing that was on my bucket list for this trip was to swim with the famous pigs on pig island.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Instead I went with another group and spent the day on our Sunseeker 74 Sport Yacht. I actually didn’t get in the water to play, as I had thrown my back out a few days earlier and I needed to rest up.
While we were anchored out, this old sailboat came into the bay and anchored with us. Not sure what its’ story is.
As our day ended, our crew wanted to enjoy the sunset on another sand bar. We hopped into the AB Jet Tender and the six of us headed to a sand bar across from pig beach.
It was a great ending to such an epic journey.
Surprise stop!
On our way back to the marina, our crew felt bad that I didn’t have a chance to see the pigs. Next thing I know we were at pig island at dusk for a quick hello. They are very docile at night, and we didn’t spend much time with them. Still, I was thrilled to at least say hello.
One thing to note about Staniel Cay is that the island runs off of generator. Unfortunately, we lost power every night we were there. My cottages didn’t have power during most of my stay. So on the last night, I headed to the yacht club for a quick bite, since they were on generator power. Here I met an old sailor (he was in his 80’s) and he had traveled around the world on his sailboat for most of his life. It was so cool sitting there talking to him and listening to his stories.
Time to leave for Nassau
Three days was just enough time to explore Staniel Cay. I do want to return with Scott and share my experiences with him and much more. Things I wish I would have experienced were the Thunderball Grotto, Swimming with the Sharks at Compass Cay and Iguana Island. That just gives us an excuse to come back. Another thing to note, is it is very very buggy here. The noseeums are awful and you will need a strong bug repellant during your stay.
Tune in next week, as we head to the Atlantis Resort on Nassau, a much needed break after being on a pretty secluded island.
As always, thank you for following our journey and blog. Be sure to watch our video below and subscribe to our channel. You can also follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Cheers, Ally
Earlier this month, I made my first gulf stream crossing from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini in the Bahamas. I am the event planner for my new company, OneWater Yacht Group and we took eleven yachts to the Bahamas. The trip took eight days, visiting five islands and traveling almost 500 nautical miles.
We left Roscioli Yachting Center (where I work) around 5:30am on a Sunseeker 74 Sport Yacht. This will be our mode of transportation for the rest of the journey. The trip down the New River took us about an hour and it was a very cool experience. I didn’t realize how long this portion of the trip actually was.
By the time we arrive at the inlet, dawn was starting to break. Our captain hit the throttle and we were now headed due east for Bimini, about 45 nm.
Watching the sunrise while you are at sea, is such an incredible experience. I’ve been told that the gulf stream can be flat as glass. It’s not unusual for small runabouts to make the trek. On this day, we had winds around 10knots and the seas were 1-2′ high. It was a very pleasant trip.
Arriving to Fisherman’s Village on Bimini
It’s a little eerie losing sight of land in all directions. Fortunately. for this crossing you are only out of sight for less an an hour. I think I was more excited to be in the Bahamas than I was seeing land. The color of the water was so incredible and this was no match to what I would encounter in the Exumas.
The water is also very shallow and you cruise in about 10′ to 18′ of water most of the time. As you arrive into Bimini, you will follow a channel to Resort World. They actually dug a channel out of the coral to allow boats to pass thru here.
We stayed just one night at Fisherman’s Village in Resort World Bimini. The marina was nice and offered the usual facilities ranging from wi-fi, laundry, showers and a few small shops. Our captain checked us all in at Customs and Immigration and the entire process took us about 15 minutes. Only the captain actually slept on the yacht. The rest of us checked into accommodations on each island, which did make the trip a bit more difficult as the week wore on. I stayed in VRBO as the Hilton was sold out. I didn’t bother to do a video or photo shoot of it as it wasn’t that great.
OneWater Yacht Group was hosting a cocktail party for our guests at a private estate on Rockwell Island on the beach. It was a beautiful setting and a great ending for the day.
Off to Chub Cay
The following morning our crew headed to Chub Cay, 84nm from Bimini. The Sunseeker 74 Sport Yacht was very comfortable. Sometimes it got a bit warm, so I would have to go into the salon to cool off. Oh the luxuries of traveling by yacht!
The trip to Chub Cay took us just under three hours. We hailed the dockmaster on the VHF radio and he instructed us where to go.
As we arrived to our slip, the staff was waiting to assist us. Chub Cay Resort and Marina is very new and beautiful. A few words of caution would be, that the marina office is part of the hotel and it’s a very long walk. Had I known, I would have taken my bags with me so I didn’t have to make two trips.
The marina does have a fuel dock, but customers were saying it was very very slow. One yacht only took on 300 gallons and it took almost 2 hours!
Chub Cay Resort
This was one of the most beautiful resorts I have stayed at. My room was nicely appointed and overlooked the pool and the ocean. The staff was fantastic and I wish I would have had more time to spend here. At this point, the Bahamas did not disappoint.
That evening some of the crew had dinner at the bar. I had the mushroom ravioli and it was amazing!
Time to head to Staniel Cay
Our trip on Chub Cay in the Bahamas was far too short. This is a place I would love to come back for a long weekend with Scott and just unwind. The following morning our crew headed to Staniel Cay, which was about 121nm journey. Unfortunately, I also threw my back out that evening, so trying to get back to the boat was a major chore. Along the way, I couldn’t help but add our sticker to the “sticker board”.
Be sure to tune in next week, as I take you to Staniel Cay. The Exumas were stunning and I don’t know how I can possibly describe them. As always, thank you for following our journey. Subscribe to our boating blog at YouTube Channel (link below) for future updates and trips. You can also follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
Scott and I checked out the infamous Yellow Green Farmer’s Market in Hollywood, FL last month and it was amazing!
This market was packed with food vendors, fruit & vegetable stands and local crafts & clothing vendors. If you are looking for fresh fruit and veggies, this is the place. There are vendors, both indoor and outdoor. Be prepared however, that the indoor space is not air conditioned, so it can be toasty.
Exotic Fruits
Scott and I want to do a YouTube episode trying different fruits (so stay tuned). The Yellow Green Farmer’s Market had so many different fruits and we had never heard of half of them.
If you’re not from Florida, you might not know about “green avocados”. These are HUGE avocados that make fantastic guacamole. However, we’ve been told they are not very good by themselves.
Unique Finds
I couldn’t resist this fella, who was relaxing while his owner was spinning wool. (Wool in Florida? I guess it gets chilly sometime.)
As we came around another isle, we stumbled up the Trattoria Di Vakis booth (#126-128). They only serve food at the market and outside catering. Check out these handmade pastas!
They also make these amazing donuts with an injector of filling! I was amazed that Scott resisted.
The Yellow Green Farmer’s Market is only open on Saturdays and Sundays. You do have to pay for parking and it’s a bit tricky getting into the parking lot. We ended up going around the block to get in. Originally it started out as a flea market and then became home to local producers and artisans in the community. They also feature a variety of events including live music, art & dance lessons and yoga.
My photos of our visit, really don’t do it justice! You can check out our YouTube episode for a full tour, but the best tour is in person.
As always, thank you for following our journey! Be sure to subscribe to our blog and to our YouTube channel (link below). You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney. Next week we’ll take you to the Bahamas, as Ally made her first gulf stream crossing to Bimini! Cheers, Scott and Ally
In our last blog, Scott and I were in Key Largo for a long weekend and during that trip, we snorkeled at Christ of the Abyss. This was a bucket list of mine and I was excited to finally see this infamous statue.
We booked our trip through Sundiver Snorkel Tours. We didn’t realize when we booked the trip that our resort also offered excursions. Sundiver had us check-in an hour early. That seems early right? Well, it’s because the check-in location is not where you pick up the boat.
Sundiver Snorkel
The Sundiver store offers everything from snorkel gear, to underwater cameras, sunscreen, water, snacks and much more. Your excursion does include fins and a mask, but due to covid you do have to purchase your snorkel. Scott and I selected a boat that only held about 30 people. After checking in at the boat, we had about a 30 minute wait. Note: There’s only one unisex (and kind of gross) restroom, so be prepared. They also do not allow any kind of spray sunscreen and prefer your sunscreen be “reef safe”.
Check out this big boy, who was hanging out with us. Apparently, Iguanas are a major nuisance here in Florida and they are working on humanely euthanizing them.
The Trip to Christ of the Abyss
The trip starts with a short canal ride out to the inlet. Here you will find plenty of gorgeous homes and boats along the way.
The trip was nice and smooth as we headed about five miles offshore to the Christ of the Abyss statue. To learn more about the history of this statue, be sure to watch our YouTube episode where Scott shares the back story on the statue.
Once we arrived, we all jumped in and headed off to find the statue. There was a very large barracuda interested in our group, but he was harmless. There was quite a bit of Sargassum, a nuisance seaweed floating all around. However, the fish were also nibbling on this, which made for a cool experience.
Surprisingly, the statue is not that deep. As you approach it, there’s a strange feeling that comes over you as you get closer. It was probably one of the coolest things we’ve done this year.
After Snorkeling
The entire trip took about three hours (9am to 12p) and afterwards we went across the canal to Sharkeys for a quick bite. They serve your typical pub fare and it was delicious. Look for our boating journey sticker on the deck!
While having lunch, a site seeing boat passed by – the “African Queen”. LOL!
Relaxing at the Resort
The resort has plenty of beach chairs by the pool and on the beach. Scott and I spent the rest of the day, relaxing and soaking up the sun.
You can also rent kayaks, paddleboards and jet skis from the tiki hut. We took a kayak out for about an hour, but the current was making it hard work and Scott started to take on water.
We finished the day enjoying another great sunset at Sundowners next to the hotel.
As I mentioned in our last blog, the one thing we really miss from Seattle is the sunsets. They have always amazed us and Key Largo did not disappoint.
Our third day in Key Largo
I couldn’t go to Key Largo and not buy a souvenir and luckily for us there was a huge gift shop just down the road.
After shopping, Scott and I enjoyed an awesome massage at the resort’s spa! We were able to book it about a week before we arrived and they did not disappoint. Then we grabbed a quick snack next door at Senor Frijoles. Scott couldn’t resist getting a photo with Senor Frijoles himself.
As we were walking back from the restaurant, I noticed these trees in the resort’s parking lot. Low and behold they were avocado trees! Unfortunately, standing under them, I got eaten alive because I didn’t have any bug spray on. Note to self.
Winding down our trip
Just as we had been enjoying a beautiful day, the weather started to turn nasty. The winds clocked up to 30 knots and no one was laying by the pool. It certainly didn’t stop us from grabbing a few drinks at the pool bar before dinner.
Our last night we headed to Snooks Bayside as everyone told us to check it out. They had a small art display at the entrance and the restaurant had plenty of seating. The sunsets did not disappoint and the food was good. Unfortunately, we had another bout of bad service.
All in all, it was a fantastic three day weekend. We felt we had traveled far away even though we were only a few hours away. Snorkeling at Christ of the Abyss was definitely the highlight of the trip.
As always, thank you for following our journey. Please be sure to subscribe to our blog and our YouTube channel (video below). You can also follow us on social media @boatingjourney #boatingjourney. Tune in next week, as we had to Boca Inlet and watch boats heading out to sea.
Living in South Florida, we can easily enjoy a weekend getaway in the Florida Keys. Last month we headed to Key Largo for a long weekend. The last time we were in the Keys was in 2013 and we stayed in Islamorada. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a very good time because they were experiencing freezing temperatures.
Scott and I selected Key Largo because it was a shorter drive from Fort Lauderdale and I found a great hotel, The Reef House. This resort recently became part of the Opal Collection and it didn’t disappoint.
I had reserved an ocean view room with a king size bed. Ironically, this room was not expensive at all. The room was nicely appointed and we had a great view.
The Reef House Resort
After we checked in, we explored the grounds. This resort offers so much! You can book all of your water adventures in the gift shop, including boat rentals or you can rent paddle boards and kayaks from the tiki hut. Walking the resort we found plenty of moorage for your private boat, along with activities for volleyball and corn hole.
The resort does have two restaurants and a bar on site. When we checked in we got script for a free drink, so we stopped there next. The bartenders were so incredibly friendly, that we went back each night for a night cap. They also have live music during happy hour.
Sunset Dinner
The Reef House is walking distance to three other restaurants a block away. We were told to head to Big Chill, which Jimmy Johnson (the owner of the Miami Dolphins) owns. The restaurant is huge and has plenty of outdoor seating. Scott and I grabbed a great seat next to the water and enjoyed the sunset. While the music and scenery was fantastic, we wouldn’t go back for a meal due to the terrible service and no food being delivered.
Watching the sunset, we realized we hadn’t seen a sunset since we left Seattle in March. What a beautiful sight it was.
Walking back to the resort, we really felt like we were on vacation. This is one of the reasons we moved to Florida. We can enjoy a weekend getaway and feel like you’re miles away from home.
Stay tuned for our next blog, as we head out to snorkel at Christ of the Abyss. As always, thank you for following our blog and our journey. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel (see link below) and follow us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney.
When you think of the Everglades, you immediately think of alligators and airboats. Living just a short distance from the Everglades, we had to check out Everglades Holiday Park. The Everglades National Park is a subtropical wetland ecosystem that spans 1.5 million acres across south Florida. This park was manmade by the Army Corps of Engineers to help with the torrential rain fall during the summer months. It’s actually the largest and slowest rivers in America, flowing at 1 meter per hour. It’s also the only place on earth where alligators and crocodiles and co-exist.
Everglades Holiday Park
The park was only about a 40 minute drive NW from Fort Lauderdale. It wasn’t too crowded and we were on the boat within 15 minutes of arriving.
When I think of airboats, I was thinking of a smaller version, something like this below.
Instead, we were on a much bigger boat that could occupy up to 30 people.
Our tour guide is very passionate about the Everglades and the alligators. The tour was more educational than I was expecting. If you are wondering if the engines are loud – they are!
Here Alligator
Our airboat took off right away and we headed down the Lilly pad covered river.
Our guide knows each of the alligators and is familiar with their resting spots, so we headed towards one of his favorites. Low and behold, there he was. He had just returned for mating season.
The park is also full of rare plants, mangrove trees and birds. Airboats can easily glide over the water avoiding any fouled props since they use giant “fans” for propulsion.
As we were learning about different plant species, this baby alligator came over to say hi. Isn’t he cute?
In Search of More Alligators
We thought our tour was at the end, when a tourist spotted another alligator. Our airboat headed over to her direction and there she was. Turns out, she’s not a friendly one and headed straight into the mangrove trees.
After the tour, they also have a fifteen minute presentation by an alligator rescue handler. He actually is not employed by the park, but rather he rescues nuisance alligators. Here they are rehabilitated and they use them to study their life cycles.
When the presentation was over, we then got to hold a baby gator. It did not have the feel I expected. The skin was actually very smooth and weird feeling.
I expected the tour to be a little bit hokey, but it was very informative and we learned a lot. You can’t live in South Florida and not have an understanding about what the Everglades are. Be sure to check out the park if you are in the Fort Lauderdale area.
As always, thank you for following our journey and we would love it if you would subscribe to both our blog and our vlog (see below). You can also follow us on social media at @boatingjourney #boatingjourney.
Moving from the Pacific Northwest, Scott and I are spoiled coming from an area that is surrounded by nature parks. Our goal was to find some local nature parks that we could enjoy long walks.
The first nature park that we found was the Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. It’s located about 10 minutes from our home, towards Fort Lauderdale Beach.
Hugh Taylor Birch Park
The walking trail in Hugh Taylor Birch Park is about 2 miles long. While you can’t actually “hike” anywhere, we did enjoy the scenery. There is a park fee of $6 per vehicle and plenty of parking lots to choose from. At the gate, they also give you a map of the park so you can navigate easily.
Hugh Taylor Birch moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1893 in search of ocean front property. Eventually, he found an 180 acre parcel with a3.5 mile ocean front that he bought for $1 an acre. In 1940 he built his art stucco home and passed away the following year at the age of 91. He wanted other generations to enjoy his estate, so he donated the park to the city. Learn more about this great park here.
photo credit: broward county parks
The park doesn’t have actual “walking trails”, but the road that loops the park is a one way road. Walkers and bikers seem to share the bike lane with no issues. Scott and I decided to walk clockwise heading to the river first.
Once we got to the river, we realized this is also a water taxi stop. There is also a fairly long dinghy dock for boaters to raft up to.
The trail hugs the river for most of the way on the west side of the park.
Bugs in the Park
As we left the river side, we headed deep into the park. The scenery was beautiful, but be prepared. I had sprayed my legs and arms with bug spray and I was wearing a tank top. I forgot to spray my back and I got eaten alive resulting in GIANT welts. These had to be no see ums, because we didn’t really see any mosquitoes.
Kayak Rentals
The park also offers kayak rentals. You can rent them at the gift shop at the Park & Ocean restaurant, but you can’t go outside of the lagoon.
Park & Ocean Restaurant
Scott and I were starving by the time we reached the Park & Ocean Restaurant. They had indoor and outdoor seating with live music outside. We sat at the bar and ordered some sandwiches, which were delicious! The restaurant also offers moonlit kayak tours, but I don’t know that I want to get into a lagoon in the dark.
Our plan after lunch was to walk through their patio out to the ocean, but unfortunately a huge squall moved in with lightning. Time to head home.
Anne Kolb Nature Center
The following weekend we decided to try out another park. Located in Hollywood, the Anne Kolb Nature Center had great reviews and it looked interesting.
This 1501 acre park opened in 1996 and is the largest in the park system. It features a coastal mangrove wetland rich in plant and animal life, including some threatened and endangered species.
The park is known for having a large variety of butterflies. I tried to capture them on camera, but they were flying everywhere.
Park Trails
There are basically three trails you can take in the Anne Kolb Nature Park. First, we took the Lake Observation Trail, which brings you out to a lookout point. This trail is about a quarter of a mile each way.
Next we headed down the Mud Flat Trail. Part of the trail is gravel and this is where you will find blue land crabs. They dig holes along the trail and you will see them pop in and out of the holes. This trail is about a third of a mile each way.
We saw all kinds of wildlife along this trail.
Fishing Pier Trail
The Mud Flat Trail brings you back to the entrance of the nature center. From there we walked across the parking lot towards the ICW, where we found another couple of lookouts. This seemed like a great fishing spot, as there were quite a few people fishing. This is a very short walk at only 263 feet.
These are both great parks for walking and we plan on going back to explore more.
As always, thank you for following our journey! Next week we’re headed to “gater land” where we explore the Everglades on a jet boat. Please be sure to subscribe to our blog and our vlog (link below). You can also find us on social media @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney
Scott and I took the Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi to Fort Lauderdale Beach, which included a guided tour of mansions along the way. It was our first weekend together after being apart almost two months and luckily for us, Fort Lauderdale was hosting their annual Air & Sea Show at the beach. I bought special event tickets on the water taxi, which picked us up at Stop 1 at the Stranahan house.
Great way to view mansions and yachts
The water taxi is a very affordable and great way to get a tour in Fort Lauderdale. They offer sunset cruises, regular cruises and cruises for special events. On board, they offer water, soda, beer & wine for purchase. Download their app for easy ticket purchases. There are 10 stops for the water taxi. The water trolley is free and only makes a few stops near Las Olas.
Along the way, a guide will tell you facts about the mansions you pass by. The home below, has a great setup with a corner lot and room for all kinds of water toys.
Another great way to tour the canals, is by Tiki Bar boat! Here you bring your own booze and motor along the way. Scott and I are going to try and hop on one next weekend!
This house was built on stilts because the owner wanted to prepare for sea level rise. Read all about that here.
Yachts and more yachts
As we followed the New River toward the beach, we came upon a large sand bar that folks love to party at. Here you can stand waist deep and stay cool in the hot sun. Unfortunately, the restaurant boat you see here in the middle (Jay’s Sandbar Food Boat) sank a few days after we shot this photo.
Luxury living
There is certainly no shortage of luxury along this tour. It’s amazing the amount of money that is sitting along the canal, from the multi-million mansions to luxury yachts.
The river certainly was a hub bub of marine traffic. If you can imagine, that’s a fuel dock on the right. Those boats were bobbin up and down while trying to fuel. No thank you.
Not sure what to make of this yacht? We’re guessing it’s about 75′ long, but the paint job is something else. If you know the story here, be sure to share it with us.
This mansion is known as the Fort Lauderdale White House – you can probably guess why. It recently sold for $24.5 million dollars and is the most iconic mansion in Fort Lauderdale.
For those of you who know me well, you know I am a die-hard Washington State University Cougar Alum and our biggest rival are the UW Huskies. At first I thought this 190′ Feadship was a UW yacht, but it’s actually owned by David MacNeil, founder of WeatherTech. That’s probably where the W comes from.
Fort Lauderdale Air Show
Scott and I hopped off the water taxi and walked a few blocks to the Las Olas Beach. We couldn’t believe the amount of traffic that lined Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard! We were glad we took the water taxi and walked.
The air show was over the water and the beach, which draws thousands of people both on land and the sea. Check out the line of boats out in the ocean. (Hard to see in this photo – the video does a better job)
The airshow was great, but of course, we’re a bit biased. We love Seafair and the Blue Angels.
This crazy house, was built by Wayne Huizenga who was a very famous entrepreneur and businessman. He owned Auto Nation, Waste Management, the Miami Dolphins and was co-owner of Blockbuster Video. After his death in 2018, the house was sold to Chuck West, founder of a premium pet food chain.
While there’s no home on this lot, they do have a table and a couple of chairs.
A great way to explore
This is just another reason we are glad we moved to Fort Lauderdale. There is so much to see and do, especially on water.
As always, thank you for following our journey. Please be sure to subscribe to our blog and our YouTube channel (video below). It’s exciting to see our channel grow and we’re committed to providing you great content. You can also follow us on social @BoatingJourney #BoatingJourney
Cheers, Ally & Scott
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