This was our second trip in two years; not as exciting as our first one but excellent nonetheless. Nature is not like Walt Disney World. It’s more like a box of chocolates: You never know what you’re gonna get. There was a magnificent highlight: an island shore filled with white pelicans, which we had never seen despite being lifelong Floridians. We did see several dolphins, briefly, and the usual beautiful water birds. No manatees this time.
A park ranger accompanied us this time. He was incredibly informative, able to answer all questions. I recommend selecting a time when the ranger goes along. That’s not to say the boat captain doesn’t know his/her stuff because they do.
Take your binoculars. They were helpful to better see the white pelicans, in this case.
Make sure the hat you choose to take fits snugly or you may have it fly away and they don’t go back for it.
The trip is not too long — 90 minutes — so you really don’t need water or food.
You might also want to consider other activities while you are in the Everglades: the Fakahatchee Strand boardwalk, the Clyde Butcher Gallery, Everglades City, the Smallwood Store in nearby Chokoloskee, to name a few.
This is a part of the world unlike any other. Go experience it!