Captain Johnny Long’s Old Fashioned Airboat Rides

With bright red seats and roomy enough for a small crowd, Captain Johnny Long’s Old Fashioned Airboat attracts thrill seekers from all over to experience the pristine beauty of Christmas, FL. On a cool morning Dan and I ventured along the St. John’s River with Captain Johnny and a few reoccurring customers.

A few days prior to our ride, I called up Captain Johnny Long’s to make our reservations. Aiming to please, they recommended the best time for a ride and gave me detailed
directions. On the day of the trip, Dan and I headed south around 8:15 a.m. to ensure we had plenty of time to make our 9:30 a.m. reservation. We arrived around 9:15 a.m. and immediately met Captain Johnny and a family of repeat customers down for their annual Florida vacation. They make Captain Johnny Long’s Old Fashioned Airboat Ride a must see and do every visit.
Wasting little time, we all hopped on the airboat and muffed are ears as Captain Johnny brought the engine to life. We took off light as a feather down the waterway, flying past Florida’s natural beauty. Completely unlike a normal boat ride, my first time on an airboat felt completely surreal. We whipped around on top of the water, as opposed to cutting through it, which allowed us to travel a lot of waterways that a normal boat could not traverse. The wind kept us cool, as we simply set back and enjoyed the splendor around us.

The animal kingdom made its presence known on this particular morning. Almost right away Captain Johnny spotted an American Bald Eagle flying near by, before eventually flying above us. Besides a couple bald eagles, various birds, cows, and alligators all made an appearance.

Throughout our trip, Captain Johnny stopped on occasion to talk about the habitat and creatures that call it home. For about an hour and a half, we enjoyed a different side of the St. John’s River unbeknownst to many. Not too long and not too short, our time on the airboat was ideal.

As we pulled back up to the launch site, everyone removed their blue muffs, hopped off and headed his or her separate way.
For my first time air boating, I had a great time! The ride was a blast, educational and
a great way to spend half a day.

~ Amanda Tew

Open: Monday through Sunday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Closed on Christmas Day. Reservations only.

Location: Christmas, FL

Phone: 407-568-4307

Website: www.AirboatRides.com