[Luv2travel]

We are expecting our grandson down to visit next week and we wanted to take him on an Air Boat ride. We checked out "Wild Bill's" on Rt 44 but we have gotten some negative comments about them. Can any of you recommend a place within an hour or so of The Villages who give Air Boat rides. Thanks to all for your help.

[LI SNOWBIRD]

Originally Posted by Luv2travel

We are expecting our grandson down to visit next week and we wanted to take him on an Air Boat ride. We checked out "Wild Bill's" on Rt 44 but we have gotten some negative comments about them. Can any of you recommend a place within an hour or so of The Villages who give Air Boat rides. Thanks to all for your help.

This link takes a while open. We haven't used them BUT they're close...
http://www.wildbillsairboattour.com/

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by Luv2travel

We are expecting our grandson down to visit next week and we wanted to take him on an Air Boat ride. We checked out "Wild Bill's" on Rt 44 but we have gotten some negative comments about them. Can any of you recommend a place within an hour or so of The Villages who give Air Boat rides. Thanks to all for your help.

How about a nice pontoon ride on the beautiful lakes in this area. Its amazing how beautiful the scenery is and there's even a lake where you can swim without gators, LOL. PM me if you are interested, I do have a boat and take folks on whatever lake they would like to see. Our boat is transportable and we can take off out of any dock. Also, we can do fishing if he's interested in that. Hope to see you next week.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

KathyI, that's an extremely nice gesture on your part!

Bill

[cabo35]

This is not an air boat. It is a pontoon boat near Silver Springs. We have taken our grandsons, 6 and 8, as well as friends. No one was ever disappointed and we took some great photos. A real jungle cruise in pristine waters. Lots of wildlife at a leisurely pace. Capt. Tom is very knowledgeable and entertaining. We enjoyed the Silver River and Oklawaha River run off route 40 in Ocala. If your lucky, you will see monkeys in the wild on Monkey Island. Less then an hour away. We were out about 4 or 5 hours but he will adjust according to your plans.

The best air boat rides are along the Tamiami Trail, 41, through the Everglades. Too far away for a day trip. We found a Seminole Indian restaurant along the trail and I asked the waitress about a non-touristy backwater, air boat ride. She laughed and gave us the name of a relative way off the beaten path that I could never find again. I think his name was Indian Mike. We had a spectacular one on one tour of the glades that included stopping in a small Seminole Village deep in the Everglades with no access roads, no electricity, no souvenir shops. The only way in or out was by shallow draft boat. It was great and memorable.

http://www.ocala.com/article/2010022...9940?p=2&tc=pg


http://www.captaintomscustomcharters.net/

p.s. Just read Kathie's offer. It doesn't get any better then that.

[bike42]

I have taken several grandkids on Wild Bill's air boat rides and they have all loved it. They are not cheap, but lots of fun. Less than 1/2 hour from The Villages, on 44 toward Inverness. Noisy, splashing water, quite a bit of wildlife siting -- I love the rides too.