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Inside America's Most Isolated Swamp Town

The Adventure Crews

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This week we road-trip into the Florida Everglades to explore Chokoloskee Island, America's most isolated swamp town, uncovering its history through local boat tours, historic stores, and the tight-knit community that calls it home. From Smallwood Store to the backwaters near Everglades City, we dive into what makes this isolated slice of Florida so unforgettable.

Skip the rental counter and hit the road faster. Thanks to Turo for sponsoring this adventure! Head to https://turo.yt.link/udkuf2R to rent through Turo!

Businesses Featured in this episode:
Capt. Steve's tours: https://bit.ly/4tRMkbm
Havana Cafe
Parkway Motel & Marina
Smallwood Store
Corey Smallwood Store Boat Tours

You'll love this video! 👇🏼
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🌎 Join us on our next adventure → https://theadventurecrews.com/experie...

Unique America is a story-driven travel series exploring the most unique experiences across the United States — one place, one story at a time.

© The Adventure Crews 2026

20 Comments

@adventurecrews Creator 8 months ago Pinned

Thank you for watching! Before this video, had you ever heard of Chokoloskee?

You'll love this video! 👇🏼
https://youtu.be/IDO0AoUDMiY?si=A6RhzMttNlxwYrEt

@jayadams3438 7 months ago

At 9:52, I witnessed something beautiful. It was subtle and you could miss it if you were not paying attention. Saying grace and thanking God for your meals is a small act but can be a witness to those around you. I applaud you for leaving it in your video. Lord, bless this couple in their journeys. Help them to achieve their dreams and prosper their channel. Grow their subscriber base exponentially so they can continue to glorify you in their job and mission. Protect them, keep them safe, establish your guardian angels above, below, and all around them as they travel together. Bless their marriage and let their lives glorify You. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

@thebroadlife 2 months ago

This is exactly the kind of place I love discovering. Chokoloskee feels like a hidden side of Florida that most visitors never experience, full of history, unique wildlife, and a close-knit community with incredible stories to tell.

@PilotMonkeVR 8 months ago

this is real florida no gated communities or theme parks. as a florida local this is what floridas reputation should be

@red_five1542 7 months ago

The brown fruit hanging from the tree is tamarind. The flesh of the pods can be ground into a paste and used to make all sorts of foods. The paste is exceptionally good when mixed with iced tea.😊

@hueyhelms301 6 months ago

I lived on Chokoloskee from 1952 to 1955 and attended the one room school with 4 grades. One row for each grade, then the 5th grade we went by boat to Everglades. No road then, we moved just after the mud for the road hit the island.

@BTS_34_827 6 months ago

Yall praying together before you ate was my favorite part. My family prioritizes our relationship with Christ. Glad you guys do as well. Stay blessed.

@langstonrowe8243 2 months ago

I wanted to see more of the town, I was there in the late 60’s I had a first cousin that lived there and he caught stone crabs and one day his boat sank, he drifted in the Gulf for 3 days before he was rescued!

@SeraEngineeredLLC 2 months ago

This is an incredible look at the raw history of Florida! As a civil engineer registered here in the state, I am always fascinated by the geotechnical reality of places like Chokoloskee. Building modern infrastructure, stormwater management, and utilities on top of a 152-acre ancient oyster mound is an absolute engineering marvel (and a nightmare). The Calusa Indians were basically the first coastal engineers in Florida! Love seeing this side of the state highlighted.
— Gladys Sera, PhD, PE, PMP

@NotThatBob 2 months ago

I just discovered your channel. These videos are so important. So much of our culture is completely unknown and the little we do know is so misunderstood. These people aren't metropolitain smart, but deeply nature smart. In case of a disaster, our city folk will perish because they can't survive without A/C and stretch wrapped food. These folks and others like them are the survivors of the future. They have so much they can teach us. Thanks for the videos. Cheers

@springpistonriflefeverlone9611 7 months ago

I appreciate it that you both publicly give thanks to God.🙏

@ChiaAlai2010 7 months ago

It's called Tamarind fruit. Sweet and sour taste, someplaces it can turn into a candy or as a condiment for cooking

@dirtyernie65 7 months ago

Peter Sanatello just did a documentary on there and interviewed that Gentleman with the Buggy

@John-q2b6v 5 months ago

Walking in sandals in a southern swamp is crazy. Lots of Cottonmouths. Asking for trouble.

@18C_Sapper 6 months ago

When I was growing up in Naples in the 60s & early 70s my grandfather had a hunting cabin that had three bedrooms and the only way to get there was by swamp buggy or air boat the best times of my life were spent out there and running around the glades and and chokoskee was awesome also, I remember the people there who new my grandfather would call him Mr. Zeak only great memories from there.

@marksanchez8055 7 months ago

Being almost 70, I grew up in a multi generation ranch rodeo family in the 4 corners USA, southern Colorado, I had a similar life yet completely different,
Many native American friends from at least 4 tribes,
I've seen things in my youth that no longer exist
I've ran wild horses without anything but horseback,
Nothing mechanized
Ruins and relics that most have been vandalized and removed by others ,
Old ranches and homesteads that today would be museum quality
And a quality of people that I certainly miss
Love your channel

@TomeKiniRadua 3 months ago

That tree is called "Tamarind tree".
We use that inside fruit for 'chutney,etc'[ we usually cook it with sugar untill its creamy brownie, try it than you'll know]

@WATTS-NXT 3 months ago

In Puerto Rico we call that fruit tree a tamarindo great to know it grows in Florida

@JohnFL 4 months ago

Hey Cole and Emily, John from the Orlando suburbs here. When were you down there? I visited Chokoloskee in early January, and would definitely visit again - though I might wait for the winter again as the bugs go crazy in the wet months..

Aaron was super nice and let my buddy and I camp on his land, and we stayed the second night at his motel. No clouds when we were camping though, and it's amazing how many stars I could see without city lights blocking them from view. We met a lot of cool folks but we didn't meet Captain Steve, will have to look him up next time!

Thanks for taking us along for the ride, Tom nailed the editing and Turo has been my go-to for rentals the last couple years. God Bless!

@crockkett 7 months ago

I'm from England, & been down to the glades infreakin believable, this vast wilderness, with the most amazing wildlife , & gettin to hold a gator ( without its mouth taped lol ) was an experience I'll take to my grave , its a shame it is sooooo far from the orlando area cuz tourist just get to see orlando & the theme parks ,that's why we always higher a car , y'all can just jump in the car & go where ever you want & FL has got sooooooo much more to offer then just the main amusement parks ............................