EVERGLADES CITY — Whitewater paddling in the Everglades? Well, almost. The tides move in and out of the Ten Thousand Islands so quickly, the water rushes and ripples through the passes, so you need to catch the current going in the right direction if you want to make headway.
Kayaking the Barron River is the best way to appreciate this unspoiled historic Everglades City and to explore the nearest of the 10,000 Islands on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
EVERGLADES CITY — One of my favorite Florida getaways is to boat out to the outer islands and camp for a weekend on a remote, pristine beach fronting the Gulf of Mexico.
Myakka River State Park is one of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks with three main campgrounds, as well as backcountry campsites, miles of hiking and biking trails, endless opportunities for kayaking and canoeing, and abundant wildlife.
Peace River Seafood in Punta Gorda is a true Florida crab shack; they don’t come more authentic than this. From its 1927 Cracker cabin to the buckets of fresh blue crabs, it’s a little piece of old Florida.
There are prettier rivers and wilder rivers, but the Peace River offers something you can’t find elsewhere: A place to paddle and camp through an undeveloped forest filled with wildlife within an easy drive of 7 million South Florida residents.
