We love the National Parks, especially hiking, but were unsure how to approach the Everglades, which is basically a swamp, without the usual choices of hiking trails; also, we only had one day to spend. I am SO glad we chose Garl's Coastal Kayaking!
Others have accurately described the adventure of the all-day (11 AM to 8 PM)
adventure. Yes, you will likely get wet on the "slog," but please note that if you don't have some of the recommended gear (quick-dry pants, water shoes), it is all provided for you at the start. Do bring a lunch & snacks, it's a long day! It was nice when Garl
broke out a bottle of wine plus non-alcoholic beverages as we were watching the exquisite sunset from our kayaks.
Garl is a seasoned naturalist and talented wildlife photographer who has worked on documentaries with PBS, Disney, etc.; his knowledge of the ecosystems, flora and fauna of the Everglades is encyclopedic, and all of it is shared with you. Although eight of us were signed up that morning (the maximum he takes), he divided us into two groups because one was a family of three with a child for whom the water on the "slog" would've been too deep -- they went with a different guide to another location. Garl is sensitive to the needs and tenor of the group, e.g. checking in with us to see how far we wanted to continue on the salt-water kayak ("the distance we go is the distance we have to come back!").
I do agree with others that is would be good to have introductions at the start of the day, and a rough idea of timing. Needless to say, which animals, fish, and birds you see on a given day are beyond anyone's control, but Garl is an expert at spotting things (e.g. alligators, crocodiles) that the rest of us initially didn't see at all, whether in the water or by the side of the road!
Within a day or two, gorgeous photographs of our trip appeared via Dropbox in my email inbox, including better shots of the wildlife than I could ever take.
Of our week in Miami and the Keys, this was our favorite day: thank you, Garl.