Description: The van from Southern Style Tours picked us up in the French Quarter. The driver was name Shane Knight and he was very friendly and informative. He provided a nice overview of New Orleans and the different sections of the city on the way to the swamps. On the way, we stopped at the ticket office and saw, several wild animals (all residents of the 'coondominium' in the picture below) such as racoons, nutria and squirrels. But this was just a necessary stop. The real fun starts when you get on the airboat.
Our airboat captain was Michael Perrin. His kids came along and acted as his assistant. They give you earplugs (trust me you will need them) and answer questions. The tour lasts about 1 1/2 hours and you see different parts of the swamps and lots of wildlife. Even in the wintertime we saw a few alligators (unfortunately one was dying after being shot by hunters in the snout). Michael also had some baby alligators that he was taking care of for the winter (he releases them in the spring) so we got to handle them and see them up close. It was a very relaxing ride...lots of birds, fresh air, open spaces, cyprus trees, etc. He even let us stop in his brother's hunting lodge on the swamps.
This is a great family activity and a nice break from the city and the French Quarter.
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