A Charter Bus tour of the Florida Everglades

The Everglades National Park in Florida encompasses a combination of habitats that together make up an extraordinary and valuable ecosystem. The park is a Biosphere Reserve, an Outstanding Florida Water and a World Heritage Site, providing charter bus visitors glimpses of endangered and threatened species, miles of paddling trails and remarkable photography opportunities. Plan a visit to the Everglades with a bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coach or school bus chartered from Charter Bus Florida and prepare to be amazed at the extraordinary flora and fauna.

"Largest" is the superlative most often used by charter bus visitors for the Everglades. The region is the largest subtropical wetland ecosystem in North America, the largest wilderness in the Southeast and the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere. The Everglades contain the largest stand of sawgrass prairie in North America and are the most important breeding ground for tropical wading birds on the continent. Originally 11,000 square miles in size, the section of the Everglades designated a national park which Florida charter bus visitors can visit now covers 1.5 million acres.

Charter bus visitors will be surprised to know that the Everglades, called the River of Grass because the area is largely a river sometimes 60 miles wide, is not a marsh or swamp. Native Americans called it pahayokee, or the grassy waters. The ecosystem protects 14 endangered and nine threatened species, including the Florida panther, the Atlantic Ridley turtle and the American crocodile. Plants from both tropical and temperate climates thrive in nine distinct habitats in the Everglades. The dominant life form in the national park is periphyton, a combination of algae and microbes that floats on the surface of most of the bodies of water.

Calusa Indians inhabited South Florida as early as 1000 B.C. The highly developed culture traveled long canoe trails and left artifacts such as shell tools and carved wood. The Calusa declined with the introduction of disease by European settlers and were replaced by tribes from the Creek nation. Gladesmen, the Florida equivalent of the American West's mountain man, survived off the land, hunting, trapping and staying in camps up until the creation of the national park. Marjory Stoneman Douglas, the “Lady of the Everglades,” was among the first to recognize the ecosystem's importance to human and animal life. She authored five books on the Everglades, including “Everglades: River of Grass”, which charter bus visitors should read if they are interested in finding out more about this unique eco-system.

The best charter bus visitors can view the Everglades is with Airboats, shallow-draft craft with a large propeller in the rear that uses air to propel the boat, and are a classic form of transportation in the Everglades. Several Florida old-timers claim to have invented the cross between an airplane and a boat, but the airboat was perfected in Nova Scotia in 1905. Built to test airplane engines and propellers rather than transport humans across the water, the invention was one among many built by Alexander Graham Bell. Airboats weren't a common Everglades mode of transportation until the 1950s, after the establishment of the national park in 1947.

Visit the Everglades in your charter bus today by giving Charter Bus Florida a call and letting them help you plan your charter bus transport needs.

Food delights in Florida

Possibly the freshest seafood to be found is in the southeast of Florida, known for its sunny weather and sandy beaches. There is no main fish market in southeast Florida, which means restaurants take advantage by getting their dishes directly off the boat. While selections such as grouper, mahi mahi, tuna, wahoo, jack and Florida lobster feature prominently, possibly the most famous local seafood is the stone crab. The very best seafood restaurants in southeast Florida change their menu daily to reflect the day’s catch, and there is no better way to travel than with a bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coach or school bus chartered from Charter Bus Florida to find out what’s on the menu.
Located a short charter bus ride away in trendy South Beach, Joe's Stone Crab is a South Florida institution. Joe's has been serving up stone crabs since 1913, and because Joe’s doesn’t take reservations, charter bus diners still wait for hours to dine on these succulent crustaceans. Joe's serves up stone crab claws at market prices and has a full menu of seafood, chops and sides. Joe's is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner during stone crab season, which runs from October to May.
Opened in 1955, The Rustic Inn in Fort Lauderdale still has the feel of a 1950s roadhouse restaurant. Charter bus diners are called to their table via intercom and can choose to dine either outside on the deck overlooking the water, or in one of the dining rooms. The restaurant is famous for its garlic crabs, where charter bus diners crack crabs on newspaper covered tables using wooden mallets. A host of other seafood choices are available, and these are supplemented by the short, but well chosen, wine list.
The Old Florida Seafood House is easily reached by charter bus in Wilton Manors, and has been open since 1977. This restaurant serves that Florida delicacy, stone crabs, along with fresh seafood, steaks and vegetarian dishes. The menu is reassuringly traditional, and each entree is served with a salad, potato and vegetable. Charter bus diners should make it a point to come in early to catch the early dining specials, before the place fills up.
No one knows how to prepare fresh seafood better than the Italians, and in Altamare, the freshest seafood is caught fresh daily and served with a Mediterranean flair. This small restaurant in Miami Beach is a short ride away by charter bus, and charter bus diners come here for the fresh seafood that is brought directly to the kitchen from the sea, where it is prepared with traditional ingredients such as olive oil, garlic and vegetables that bring out, not mask, the flavor of the seafood. The huge wine selection features old world choices, and is designed to perfectly complement your meal.
For a trip through Florida in a search for the freshest seafood and best dining locations, give Bus Charter Florida a call to find out how they can help you plan your trip with a selection from their fleet of charter buses and friendly, personalized service.

Down in the Florida Keys

If you’re looking for something little off the beaten track, perhaps a bit quirky and outside the mainstream, charter a bus and take a trip down the Florida Keys. Cruising down the Overseas Highway with a charter bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coaches or school bus
chartered from Charter Bus Florida is an easy, fuss free, fun filled way to see the Florida Keys. This laid back group of islands connected by an immense overwater highway has been attracting those who enjoy its easy pace of life and relaxed atmosphere since the time of naturalist John James Audubon.
Probably the single biggest reason most come to Florida Keys is for the scuba diving and snorkeling. There are numerous reefs, shipwrecks and artificial reefs in the Florida Keys, all of which are readily accessible to the charter bus visitor. Just drive up with your charter bus at the dive center of your choice, gear up and start diving. Some notable dive spots are U.S.S. Eagle in Islamorada, a 287 foot freighter that was sunk as an artificial reef, Christ of the Abyss and Molasses Reef in Key Largo, Sombrero Reef and Thunderbolt in Marathon. Different dive spots will suit divers of different skill levels, from the beginner snorkeler to the advanced technical deep diver. If you’re a group of scuba divers who prefers using their own gear, then chartering a bus to visit the Florida Keys for diving makes perfect sense, allowing you to carry your dive gear along without having to worry about space.
Although most come for the sun, sand and surf in the Florida Keys, charter bus visitors will be pleasantly surprised to learn that there is a thriving arts and craft community in the Keys, as well as several museums and art galleries. The Ernest Hemingway House in Key West is popular with charter bus tourists, where the Nobel Prize winning author lived and worked for a decade in the 30s. If you want to try your hand at craft and pottery, visit the Honest Works Island Pottery Co. in Truman Avenue. Artists Russell and Lever create their own style of island pottery, and also offer classes.
The Florida Keys have long had a Cuban influence, so it comes as no surprise to learn that food here tends to have a strong Caribbean influence, and is mostly seafood. If you’re taking a charter bus down to Florida Keys, stop by Buzzard’s Roost in Key Largo, Mile Marker 88 and Bob’s Bunz in Islamorada, Seven Fish and the Half Shell in Key West are notable places to have a memorable meal for your charter bus group. After hours, drinking spots abound, some on the beach, others located a little further inland.
When planning a charter bus visit to Florida, give Charter Bus Florida a call to find out how they can help you with their fleet of charter vehicles that can cater to any size group, and friendly, personalized service.

Diving with dolphins in Miami

When visiting Miami with a hired charter bus from Charter Bus Florida, take the time out to visit the Miami Seaquarium. Miami Seaquarium is located on island of Virginia Key, on Biscayne Bay. It is a short distance from downtown Miami and is the longest operating aquarium in the United States.
The Miami Seaquarium provides the visitor with shows, interactive exhibits and animal encounters. One of its most famous residents was Flipper, the star of a 1960s TV series about the adventures of a dolphin. Most of the episodes and both the Flipper movies were filmed in Miami Seaquarium. Although the dolphins are now all different, you can be sure that the charter bus rental visit is no less fun and interesting for the kids and growns-ups alike.
The current star of Miami Seaquarium is Lolita the killer whale. Headlining the Whale and Dolphin Show, Lolita and her Pacific White-sided dolphin co-stars thrill spectators with spectacular tricks and jumps during their charter bus tours. Lolita and her friends also play an important role in educating visitors about the life of marine mammals and the importance of marine conservation.
Aside from the star turn, there are also shows by Flipper, in the lagoon where much of the TV show was filmed, the Seal and Sea Lion Show, and the Top Deck Dolphin Show. After taking in a show, you can visit Discovery Bay. Home to 26 Nile River crocodiles, this mangrove environment also includes white tailed deer, rescued and rehabilitated sea turtles, indigenous fish and rays, alligators and a host of native wild birds.
Also take a look at the Manatee Presentation, where charter bus visitors can learn about these gentle aquatic creatures, learning about their life, and reasons for their endangerment. Continue on to the Shark Presentation. Here you can watch caretakers feed 200 pound nurse sharks, and learn more about why humans present more of a danger to sharks, than the other way around.
For an interactive experience, visit the Tropical Wings Exhibit. Here you get up close and personal with Southern and Cow-nose rays, and watch exotic birds. Tour bus rental vacation-goers can educate themselves about the rapidly depleting tropical rainforest, and learn why this unique eco-system is crucial for the world.
The Miami Seaquarium is open year round, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. General admission tickets are $37.95 for adults and $27.95 for children aged 3 to 9. Prices for the Dolphin Interaction range from $45.00 to $199.00. Parking is $8.00. All the prices do not include tax.
If you need friendly, efficient, cost effective and stylish transport, call Charter Bus Florida for your ground transportation needs when visiting Miami Seaquarium.

Stay cool on a charter bus FL

Hiring a charter bus, FL or another destination, doesn't have to be a hassle. One of main reasons our charter bus FL company is chosen more often than any other is because of our attention to details and our overall commitment to good service. Corporations can also benefit from hiring a charter bus. Corporate events, meetings and seminars can be a breeze to organize when you use the services of a charter bus FL.

Have a large family? A charter bus FL can be a great way to let the family get together and ride to a location such as a park or rented hall to enjoy a huge get together. This is also a fun way to celebrate milestone anniversaries such as 25th or 50th wedding anniversaries. No one has to worry about driving; parking and everyone get to ride together in comfort and safety. A charter bus FL can take you where you want to get and get your there on time and safely.

Orlando attractions are FL’s and the world’s favorite playgrounds. Orlando has Universal Studios, Sea World, and Busch Gardens. But topping the list is Walt Disney World the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, Blizzard Beach, and Typhoon Lagoon. Fort Lauderdale's Los Olas Riverfront might be considered a Florida mall theme park, with its Spanish tile roofs, sunny courtyard concerts, and the adjoining trendy venues along the Riverwalk and Las Olas Boulevard. With flagship retailers, funky boutiques, weekend farmer's markets, and rollerblading beautiful people, the eight-block pedestrian mall on Lincoln Road in South Beach has been the model for half a century for what malls around the world aspire to be. Miami's 18-square-block Design District has opened the world of interior design to the public, with dozens of leading-edge furnishing showrooms and art galleries.

A common myth about charter buses is that they aren't comfortable. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our charter buses have high back reclining seats and the interiors are definitely designed for the utmost in comfort. Our charter buses have restroom facilities, CD players, DVD players and excellent sound systems. We provide the driver that will get your coach bus group to and from every scheduled stop on time, every time. A charter bus FL is ready to show your group a pleasant and fun time. Let one of our trained reps answer all your questions and assist in helping you put together your next outing, let us design a package that fit your travel needs as well as your budget. Contact us today and enjoy a safe ride on a charter bus FL. You won’t regret it choosing to travel on a charter bus FL.

Florida, The Fishing Capital Of The World

We all know Florida for having one of the most vibrant and envied beach community in the world – there is an all-year-round fun in the sun to be had on the beaches. Florida is one of the most visited states in the country...and for a very good reason too, we assure you. People come here not just for the sunbathing and beach games, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service recently did a survey and revealed that many anglers and hunters make their way here for good ole fishing. And some communities and societies organize regular group trips here too.

The survey also revealed tons of good news; more than 3.1 million Floridians spend more than 57.6 million days scouring the waters for good catches. In fact, the survey compared the stats that they found with other stats in other parts of the world and concluded that Florida is, indeed, the fishing capital of the world...if not in the industrial sense, then considered in the sports sense.

And the amazing thing about visiting Florida with a party bus rental service is that everything is very diverse, people are always open and game to new things and this applies to the game of fishing as well. Things keep changing, people are upping the game and everyone taking on the challenge on their own accord. And if you think a party bus is a great way to party, they have stuff like a party boat in the Keys so that folks can group fish for yellowtail snappers and other specialty fishes. Grownups are not the only ones taking fishing to a whole new level, they including their kids too. Take, for instance, the opportunity to take kids to try to catch breams and crappies on Lake Okeechobee. It was most definitely a challenging but fun event for the little ones.

The games are so incredibly fun that some of them make it a point to book their Florida party bus rental a couple of months ahead of time so that they can come back for more of such exciting activities.

How to enjoy a bus ride

So you have to take a bus to visit your aunt in Florida and you live a good 12 hours away. Before you groan about the long ride, there are ways to make the trip much more comfortable. Long bus rides can be an enjoyable experience if you take the proper precautions. Here’s how:

1.If the drive is long, find out if there will be breaks along the way. If you’re the type who just wants to nap most of the way, choose one with less breaks, while if you’re up for seeing different sights then choose the ones with enough stops to keep it interesting for you.

2.Choose a reputable bus company with a great safety record. Ask your family and friends for references.

3.Air-conditioning is a must. Make sure that you get to sit somewhere where you can adjust the temperature or turn it off if it gets too cold.

4.Toilets. You will have to go at some point, and its important to know that when you do there will be somewhere close by to do it, and that the company keeps it clean and functioning for passengers.

5.Try to find out who will be on the bus. Some bus companies will let you know if you will be traveling with seniors, with families (which might mean a lot of screaming kids) or if it will be a full bus. If the bus is loaded up to capacity you might be less comfortable than you would be if it were just half full.

6.Coach is always much more comfortable and usually offer a smoother ride. Try to opt for this, especially if you’re the type who gets queasy on long trips easily.

7.Leg room leg room leg room. Its important top have enough space to stretch during long rides, and if you’re carrying a luggage make sure there are overhead compartments to store it.

8.Does the bus company provide food and beverages? Will it let you eat on the bus? If snacking during a long ride is necessary for your comfort this is something you should really make sure of.

When you have a ways to go, it doesn’t hurt to be over-prepared so that you’ll be able to enjoy the long trip there. Happy travels!