What an amazing few hours on the river. Traci did an amazing job of educating us as well as finding…read moremanatee and dolphin for us to enjoy and swim near. The group was six people, and the atmosphere was amazing. I would highly recommend and definitely do this again.

Captain Dee was incredible from start to finish. Presented the importance of safety for guests as…read morewell as the manatees. Dee was professional and personal. Very kind, informative and fun.

From Tampa, it took an hour and 30 minutes to get to the river. We first wanted to take a swim in…read morethe swimming area so we went there first before it got really crazy. The area is a bit small and there isn't really a lot of sun spots for you to chill at. It is cool to experience once but I think if you tube, you still will be able to get a swim in because parts of the river are pretty deep. After the swim area, we headed to the tubing section. It is a 15 minute drive from the main park entrance. The fee was 54 for two people that had an annual pass. Highly recommend bringing a small cooler with snacks and drinks and an extra tube for it. It took us about 2 hours to float back to our car and the river is very calm and relaxing. I've floated a river in San Antonio but wasn't as nice as Rainbow springs. Very clean and the water is sooo clear. Overall, really enjoyed our day visit to this state park!

Do not go tubing. The experience was dangerous and life threatening. You go in sign a wavier that…read morebasically "signs your life away" and that the park is not responsible for your safety if anything happens like all waivers do these days. I went with my group and it was a horrifying experience. The tubes are only adult sized and if you bring little kids your kids will not fit. I got stuck multiple times along the shallow vegetation, luckily had a swimmer help me on my side. The workers said it would only be 2 hrs. I ended up getting heat exhaustion due to being out stuck tubing in the river out in the sun for 4-5 hours. Fell asleep basically out in the sun and I got sunburned to a crisp, I did apply sunscreen and still burned. The heat and exhaustion to being exposed for far too long got me to pass out. All of the people in my group had burns as well, even if you applied a tremendous amount of sunscreen. Someone could get seriously hurt or even killed by participating in this activity. I ran into some wildlife along the way such as alligators. Yes it is normal in Florida but the lack of safety is my main concern. No lifeguards or people stationed anywhere along the river to actually Help you if you are going to be drowning. Heck, the whistle attached to my own life jacket that was offered at the beginning was actually broken when I actively tried to use it. These people probably don't get paid enough to be concerned about our actual safety. If you do end up wanting to go down the river try going kayaking along the trail instead. It is much faster and you won't get stuck since you can the paddle to go forward. Even then its better to be safe than sorry, do not go on this experience.

We had an amazing time with Mandy and Captain Henry! Mandy…read morewas very knowledgeable and guided us through this first time encounter. Actually the whole crew made sure we have a wonderful experience! We managed to see 5 manatees and 2 dolphins in shallow waters and to swim in a crystal clear spring water. Highly recommended!

This was one of the highlights of our Florida trip! Kia and Jake made an amazing team. Kia was our…read morein-water guide and Jake captained the boat, and both were friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do. We were fortunate enough to get up close and personal with Triangle the manatee, and Kia made sure everyone in our group had an opportunity for a face-to-face encounter. Along the way, we learned a lot about manatees, their habitat, and the importance of protecting these gentle giants. We also got to explore a beautiful natural spring tucked away in the back of the bay, which was an unexpected bonus and absolutely stunning. Kia took some fantastic underwater photos during the tour and had them sent to us before we even left, which was a wonderful touch and gave us great memories to take home. The small-group atmosphere made the experience feel personal and relaxed, and Kia and Jake worked seamlessly together to ensure everyone had a great time. If you're considering a manatee tour in Crystal River, this is the one to book!

There's something truly special about Sunset Beach. It's small and quiet, but intimate and…read morecharming. One of my favorite things about our little town is how everyone gathers here in the evenings to watch the sunset--it's such a beautiful, shared experience. The beach has clean bathrooms, a playground, a boat launch, and plenty of free parking, which makes it easy and family-friendly. They also host sunset movie nights, which I've heard are a must-do. Whether you're a local or just visiting, Sunset Beach is the perfect spot to slow down and soak it all in.

Next, I stopped by Sunset Beach in historic Tarpon Springs to see what all the hype was about. It…read morewas definitely much busier than Robert K. Rees Memorial Park. Families were enjoying the water, and they were even setting up for a wedding ceremony while I was there, which gave the beach a really warm, community feel. For me, though, I had the same experience I did at Robert K. Rees. As soon as I stepped into the water, I could feel a soft muddy layer mixed in with the sand under my feet. The water also looked like it had very little movement, almost as if it wasn't circulating much, which just wasn't appealing to me. I know plenty of people love this beach, and that's perfectly okay. It's simply not the kind of beach I'm searching for. I'm still on the hunt for those crystal-clear waters and firm, sandy bottom that make me want to stay all day.

Captain Mike was great! He was very knowledgeable about the area and shared information about local…read morehistory as well as amusing stories and some special video footage of dolphins! We had the trip he said we would, saw the shells, fish and beach we hoped to experience and were treated to an extended visit with a group of dolphins who seemed to be as interested in us as we were in them. We felt well cared for and very comfortable with Captain Mike and appreciated his considerate manner.

We had a great time out with Captain Mike! We saw quite a lot of dolphins and even got them to play…read morewith us in the wake of the boat! The weather and water were perfect and we had a wonderful day on the water. He knew so much about the area and it's history and even recommended a terrific restaurant to dine at afterwards. We'd definitely look to book with him again the next time we come to Florida!

I like the park I think there is a lot of good things about this beach / park but it's just really…read moreover crowded and the flooded parking lots really really suck! We need to have the parking looked at and fixed!

Had an absolutely amazing time at Honeymoon Island State Park. This place is one of the most…read morebeautiful spots on the Gulf with clean beaches, clear water, and a peaceful natural setting that feels like a true escape. The beach stretches out nicely so even when it is busy you can still find your own space. The sand is soft, the water is calm, and it is perfect for swimming, walking the shoreline, or just relaxing and soaking up the sun. We also enjoyed seeing the shells along the shore which made it even more fun. The park itself is very well maintained with clean facilities, plenty of parking, and easy access to the beach areas. There are also nature trails that give you a chance to see local wildlife and enjoy a quieter side of the park. Everything about the visit felt relaxing and well organized. It is the kind of place you can spend the whole day and never get bored. Easy 5 stars and one of the best beach spots in the area.

We had an amazing time on our manatee tour! We got to see several manatees up close. Our guide,…read moreJohn, was fantastic. He was funny, informative, and just an awesome guy who clearly knows how to make the tour fun for everyone. He shared so much interesting information while keeping us laughing the whole time. Highly recommend this tour, especially if you get John as your guide!

I think it's important to note that there's a good change you will only see one or potentially none…read moreat all. The crew was extremely nice, but for the money, I would have done something else. We went into the cove area and there was 1 manatee that other boats were waiting to see. After one group left, we swam up, saw it for about 5 min before it swam off. That was basically the extent of it. I swam to see one of the springs. But for $500 for a family of 5; I wish there we could have seen others or at least tried to go and see other ones. It also would have been helpful if we could have had an option to cancel if they had tours that didn't see any or really low exposure that day (or been able to reschedule for a colder day).

My girlfriend and I had a great experience. The crew was highly accommodating and sweet. We were…read moreable to snorkel and see tarpon and other fish. In other areas there were sand dollars everywhere. Make sure and ask for the sun chill raft! Perfect chill pad to float and still be in the clear water.

The best way to explore Fort De Soto and Shell key is by going on a day cruise with Wayward Key…read moreTours. My husband and I had a wonderful time bouncing around to find different places to snorkel. We've never snorkeled in the area so we didn't know what we were looking for. The knowledgeable WKT crew had many suggestions and found spaces where we could enjoy the waters and sea creatures away from the crowds. The activities: We got to see the fort ruins, saw wildlife in the seagrass, and hung out in the sandbars where we found sand dollars and shells with every step. The ride: The World Cat was impressively stable on choppy water and operated smoothly. There is a sink and head to make those long outings comfortable. There is plenty of seating. A few people may be able to recline in the bow under a retractable bimini cover. The size of the boat made it possible for us to get into shallow areas and anchor wherever we wanted. If you're visiting the area or are a local looking for a private boat with a captain to give your small group a wonderful, custom tour, Wayward is the way to go!

This company took very good care of us and made sure we had the best experience. Juan and Ralph are…read moreknowledgeable about the manatee and wildlife in the area It was a very chilly morning but they made sure we were comfortable with blankets and hot chocolate! They take care of the photos which means we were just able to take in and enjoy our time with the manatees.

Great experience and knowledgable friendly staff. Gorgeous day and boat was clean and safe.read more

Between gorgeous turquoise waters to the cotton candy sunsets, Clearwater is one of the best…read morebeaches on the Gulf. Last nights sunset was so beautiful I found myself capturing tons of video and photos before I was asked to be in a photoshoot for their local guide ( it was the dress lol ) Today, I'm writing this review from my beach cabana as the sound of the ocean sends me into complete relaxation. Although the afternoon storms have pulled in some seaweed , the water is calm and soothing. My little and I have become mermaids and are looking forward to our vacation time here this week. For those traveling here, there are parking lots available with a pay to park ( I use the parking mobile app which saves me so much time) if you are not staying at a local hotel. There are also hotels that offer day parking passes that range $15-30 for a full day. Once on the beach, there are umbrella and chair rentals , cabana rental, surf shops near by to grab floats and surf boards and tons of food options all walkable. This is a great family friendly beach area that I've been coming to for over 20 years. It's worth the 2 hour drive for me!

The Clearwater beach is beautiful. It was wonderful and heavenly. My husband and I had a walk…read moretogether while eating ice cream. There were various kinds of ice cream flavors. It was delicious. We had an amazing time. The white sand and the blue ocean was gorgeous. The people at the beach were very joyful. There were people playing volleyball, reading books and swimming. There was a temporary tattoo shop near there, we had both gotten tattoos. There was a small shop where artists draw caricatures, however we couldn't see them. If they were there, we'd have definitely tried out and let them draw a caricature of us! It was warm and sunny. I highly recommend for anyone to visit and swim or just enjoy the scenery.