Getaways to the authentic Florida
Informative articles about the best Florida paddle trails for kayaks, canoes and paddle boards from coastal marshes to scenic rivers and spring runs. These are our favorites:
The St. Lucie River is not a well-known kayaking destination — and it should be. It’s wild and gorgeous — a jungly forest of old live oaks thick with airplants and Spanish moss. After paddling about two hours, you reach a remote area where you can picnic and take a hike.
Kayaking the Chaz on the central Gulf Coast takes you over turquoise springs, down twisty creeks, and you might just see a manatee, otter or bald eagle. This is one of Florida’s premier kayaking rivers.
Shut down for the past eight months for storm repairs, the popular north jetty fishing ‘pier’ reopened in time for the July 4 holiday weekend.
This guide will help you see wildlife and experience the essence of Everglades National Park. We offer tips, too, for more in-depth Everglades experiences too.
Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park, near Everglades City, is the biggest state park in Florida. After three years, the preserve’s Big Cypress Bend Boardwalk has fully reopened after hurricane destruction. Now you have take a 2.3 mile boardwalk hike and pass through a rare original slice of ancient cypress forest.
The Ichetucknee is the most pristine spring run in the state. It has eight major springs, crystalline water, lush jungly vegetation plus plentiful birds and wildlife. It’s a shame that most visitors only experience it as a busy tubing river. It’s a fabulous winter kayaking destination in North Florida — worth a drive!
Myakka River State Park in Sarasota is one of the oldest and best state parks. Folks who love outdoor recreation can do it all here — camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, wildlife viewing.
Between Lake Okeechobee and Fort Myers, a stretch of the Caloosahatchee River offers a taste of Old Florida — small towns, rivers ideal for kayaking and good public campgrounds.
Lovers Key State Park is a treasure in Fort Myers Beach. You can kayak a mangrove-lined trail and stroll an unspoiled 2.5 mile beach. The park has recovered from Hurricane Milton and its devastating storm surge a year ago.
The Dora Canal could be the prettiest one mile you’ll paddle in Florida. The waterway connects Lake Dora and Lake Eustis in Tavares, just west of Mount Dora.