When my Aunt Gail and Cousin Connie invited us on the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp Airboat Ride, I had no idea what they were talking about. And until you share the sensation of gliding down the river before cutting over hardy reeds, lily pads, and marsh lands, you won’t either. It is the most thrilling exploration of swamps, alligators, and wildlife imaginable. Did you know cattle and steer stand knee-deep in the marsh just to nibble on healthy greens? Or that “gators” flip out on the surface of the waterway only to submerge yards ahead with their eyes peeking over the Everglades? I saw first-hand exotic baby alligators, while merely days-old, mingle camouflaged at water’s edge believing they are completely invisible. I learned the majestic pond cypress tree, with its scale-like trunk, can tolerate wetlands and endure floods making it an ancient species of southern gentility. Seeing a dense grove among floating lily pads is not only impressive, it’s artistic. As the skillfully guided airboat ride ended, I knew I had glimpsed Nature at its best. A delicious lunch sampling of fresh “gator”, frog legs, shrimp, clams, and fish culminated the visit with memories galore, followed by a fond farewell.