Best Kayaking Destinations In Florida
Florida is a wonderful place to spend your time if you love water sports. The state enjoys a vast coastline with miles and miles of rivers and streams. In addition to this, you also have some really beautiful islands that make kayaking a wonderful experience. If you are new to kayaking and fear the seas, you could start off along one of the several lakes that Florida is endowed with. Of course, the experienced kayakers may enjoy the challenge offered by the beach. Whatever be your level of expertise, Florida has a kayaking destination for you. Here are some of the best kayaking destinations in Florida you must experience while you are here.
Kayaking Along The Waterways
Florida has over 4,000 square miles of water – this not only includes the popular rivers like Suwannee river and Kissimmee river, but also streams, creeks and the thousands of miles of intracoastal waterways that surround the Everglades. For those who do not know, Everglades is a huge watershed that is home to several species of alligators, fishes and birds. Despite the wilderness around, Everglades is visited by thousands of paddlers each year.
If you find the thought of kayaking close to alligators a little discomforting, you can always pick one of the several lakes in Florida that offer paddling trails. Some of the best kayaking options can be found at the Lakes Regional Park at Fort Myers, Grande Lakes in Orlando and the Lake Worth lagoon.
Kayaking Along The Islands
Florida is home to hundreds of islands, and kayaking along the shallow seas is something that every paddler would enjoy. One of the best paddling trails can be found on the archipelago to the south of Miami called the Florida Keys. Kayakers also love the 10,000 islands in the southern tip of Florida. This place is home to dolphins and over 350 species of birds. Boat assisted kayaking tours are offered by local agents and these tours are extremely popular with tourists.
If you are traveling with kids, the paddling trails offered along the Great Calusa Blueway are a must-visit. This is a 190 mile stretch that covers mangrove islands, wildlife parks and the Hurricane Bay. Along the trail is the Estero Bay Aquatic Pre-serve that is popular among tourists for dolphins. This, along with the innumerable species of exotic birds on the Tarpon Bay make this a beautiful trail for experiencing paddling with kids and family.
Kayaking On The Beach
Florida is a peninsula with a 663 mile coastline. The most popular destinations for sea kayaking can be found along the Cocoa Beach in Brevard County, Florida. This place is most popular among the adventure kayakers. However, if you are not a pro, you can still join the guided kayaking tours that are offered by several agencies in this region. The typical price of such tours vary from $20 for minors to around $30 for adults.
Kayaking is a wonderful way to not only enjoy the beauty of Florida’s rivers and beaches, but also experience the thrills and adrenaline that flows with gushing waves of the Atlantic ocean. Have you experienced kayaking in Florida? What are some other places that kayakers must check out? Tell us in the comments.
Featured image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonjazz/8569423650/