If you are traveling to southern Florida and planning your itinerary, a must to put on your list is a trip across Alligator Alley with your destination being the swamps in the Everglades. There is nothing like jumping on a hovercraft and sailing as high speeds through the Everglades. Ensure that you have a great guide. Ask for references. It really makes the difference.

I was educated about many things in the Everglades from our guide. I learned that alien plants have become a problem and are taking over the native plants. If you are unfamiliar with the terms, it means that plants are a problem only if they are not native to that area.The guide will explain to you about the negative effects of the cattails in the Everglades. They are taking over the healthy saw grass. What is interesting to note is that cattails on the other hand are a great sign if you are in the wetlands in New York.

Now, the real fun. You book your ride. You sit in your boat and off you go. There is nothing much cooler than hearing the roar of the hovercraft and taking off at high speeds through the swamplands. Some of the boats stop on an island and have a show or two with some wild alligators. Be sure to know ahead of time if you are looking for something special.

Our guide called a young volunteer to the front. He cut a piece of the saw grass and explained that if he ran the saw grass across her forehead one way it would make a slice into her skin. On the other hand, if he ran it the opposite way it would do no harm. Our young volunteer sat calmly and confidently as the guide ran a blade of saw grass across her forehead. Alas, no cuts.

The Spaniards learned about sawgrass the hard way chasing the natives during a battle. The natives knew if they ran through the saw grass in only one direction they would be safe. The Spaniards followed but were zig zagging through the saw grass and had to retreat as they and their horses were getting cut up. The natives won that battle. I am sure the Spaniards never forgot that lesson.

Some of the tours stop on a little island and have a little side show that they put on with a few of the dangerous wild life from the Everglades. There is also a little native village and a few shops to pick up a souvenir or two.

The guides will be sure to stop and chat with a few live alligators in their natural habitat. They are very respectful of nature as they feed a few of the reptiles and the passengers are able to observe.

In some of the areas, the naturalists will take you on a walking tour of the swamplands with a walking stick where you may scoop some samples of the local life forms that live in the swamps to examine.

There are other fun and interesting things to do as well in the Everglades. You can fish in the Everglades, you can stay in one of the popular Everglades hotels and enjoy the other wildlife as well.

It is really quite an experience. It is certainly one that you will not soon forget.

 If you enjoyed this hub and like Florida. Read about St. Augustine in Northern Florida. It is a beautiful area to visit that is filled with culture and history.