An excellent adventure day on the water…read more We rented 3 Sea-Doos for a 1-hour guided tour so that I could take my dad and aunt out to explore. Both are in their early to mid-70s. While my dad and I have a ton of water time, my aunt doesn't and was a little nervous. Adrian, our guide, did an outstanding job of meeting everyone in the group at their skill level. As I expected, my aunt grew more confident and did a great job keeping up with the group. We all had a great time. And felt the 1 hour was just the right amount of time in the seat for them. We were triple lucky in that, about 30 minutes after we wrapped it up and sat down for lunch, the sky opened up and poured down pelting rain. But we had shelter, food, and libations. One note: park in the parking lot, but instead of going to the restaurant, proceed to the west side of the structure to access the front door for RoseBay Watersports. 10/10 - Would recommend - enjoy it before some developer steals another iconic location.

**Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Sea-Doo Adventure - A Must-Do!**…read more Just got back from an unforgettable 2-hour jet ski tour with **Rose Bay Watersports**, and we had an *absolute blast*! Our guide, **Adrian**, was fantastic--super friendly, knowledgeable, and made sure we had the best experience possible. We explored the beautiful waters around Ponce Inlet, cruised by the iconic lighthouse, and even got to see *dolphins up close*! We had plenty of time to play around on the Sea-Doos and take in the scenery--it was the perfect mix of thrill and chill. If you're anywhere near the area and looking for something fun and memorable, don't think twice--**book your next adventure through Rose Bay Watersports**. Trust me, you won't regret it!

Boss place. Seven stars. Rented a house on the beach…read more Called these guys on a whim to see if I could get my wife a SUP since the ocean was so eerily calm- not only did they hook me up, but they delivered the boards and picked them up for what I thought was a totally reasonable daily rate. Guy that dropped them was chill and didn't ask for money or a deposit or anything. No paperwork changed hands, he just trusted us to use PayPal on the website. Totally, totally cool. Support this company. Vote with your dollars. There should be more businesses like this in the world.

Loved these guys! SUPing is lots of fun and they offer SUPing in the ocean or in the river…read more My friend and I were able to give them a call early Sunday afternoon and get in for a lesson later in the afternoon. We met John at the beach- he provided the boards, a quick lesson, and then got us out in the water! We even got caught in a huge rainstorm, so the lesson ended short but John and his wife gave us a ride to our car- so awesome and nice! Loved it and highly recommend this company :)

Every local should invest in a tour!…read more Hunter helped me find a key for my New fin, Abby taught me how to screw it on and Kristen led our tour and provided enough knowledge of the local waterways to give me the confidence to do it on my own. She also was very patient with the youngsters and new paddlers. They never answer the phone or return emails though! Best to reach the shop via social media. Overall an easy experience with tons of support. Should you need it :)

Fantastic experience! Wanted to try SUP for a while and found this place via a Living Social…read morepromotion. Made a reservation for 4th of July weekend a few weeks in advance. The excursion is for about two hours of paddle boarding, but we were advised to be there 15-30 minutes before to prep. We needed time to apply sunblock and put all of our non-waterproof items in the car. We were told that if you don't want it wet, then don't bring it on the board with you. I checked in at the front desk with Eric and signed a standard waiver, then waited for our guide to round us up. Our group of three, along with another couple, were escorted to a dock area by SUP guide Laurel. Laurel was pretty cool-very chill, patient lady, great personality, and a kind teacher. We were fitted for a single adjustable paddle size, then on to the boards to paddle ourselves into nature. It was so helpful to have Lauren guide us on how to get on/off the board and how to start off balancing the right way. We also received instructions on how to row, turn, and backup using the paddle. We journeyed up the New Smyrna North Causeway towards the drawbridge. We spotted many Dolphins along the way and breezed past waterfront homes, small islands, and some boats and other paddle boarders. Sometimes we got fatigued and took short breaks by sitting or kneeling on the board while we continued to paddle forward. We had a paddling break by the North Causeway bridge on a sandbar. Laurel took some photos and provided us with water from her cooler. After that we went forward on the loop course towards the dock where we started off. Some important things-you may need water shoes, depending on your tolerance of having your feet in an intracoastal waterway. Don't bring anything that cannot be submerged in water. Put on sunblock and bring sunglasses. Consider wearing a hat and just a swimsuit. It feels very liberating in swimwear, just hanging out in nature somewhat scantily clad. Bring cash to tip your guide well. Also you can buy the photos of your experience on a thumb drive for $30 at the end. I really can't wait to try this again, maybe next time unguided. It felt so free and fun to glide on the water, this could be my new favorite hobby! Great day out.

I've paddled the Emerald Cut a few times now. Initially I didn't like the idea of paying to launch…read moremy own paddleboard. However, it's only $10 now that I have my own life jacket (saving me additional cost of $5 to use one of theirs, as required). Well worth the low cost for some soul-enriching, communing with nature. I have never made a reservation. I normally arrive around 10:30, most recently on a Friday. Parked for free on Baptist Camp Rd. Just a bit of a walk from there with my inflated paddleboard, but I don't mind the extra exercise. You can unload your stuff closer, if preferable. There are port-a-potties available. You can count on there being a line in the check-in office. Various recreation supplies are available there for purchase. The process moves reasonably enough. A reservation will guarantee your entrance, however, and possibly aide quicker personal info collection. I always plan to do the Emerald Cut in roughly 3 hours round-trip, allowing myself several stops to enjoy the surroundings. You do run into (quite literally at times) novice paddlers along the way, which can be a bit tricky, yet not a real nuisance for me. In general, there's friendliness along the waterway. Slighty rowdy, party vibes in some spots, but also opportunities for solace and zen in various nooks. Encountering wildlife, fragrant elderberry, and other captivating flora along this stretch is always gratifying. It's a popular recreation destination for good reason.

Many tourists don't realize Florida is home to stunning crystal-clear spring rivers--perfect for…read moreswimming, kayaking, and tubing aka "hidden gems". My Hubby and I love kayaking, so we booked an excursion months in advance for Rock Springs through TripAdvisor. Our Tour Operator was Get Up And Go Kayaking located at Kings Landing in Apopka, FL. I LOVE saying Apopka ;) The good news: Apopka is a quick 1 hour drive from Orlando. Make sure you don't miss the turn to King's Landing, because the entrance is located on a narrow dirt road. You must drive past Kelly Park (which fills up fast). There is a Park Ranger located here who will guide you to King's Landing. As you get closer and if you see a parking spot, grab it! Check in is located in the Cabin like office where you will have to sign a waiver. If you do not want to take a clear bottom, guided Kayak tour, you can either rent or BYO Kayak versus taking a semi private, clear, guided kayak tour. NOTE: ONLY use their Sunscreen/lotion which is provided at no cost. It protects the wildlife and the Springs. We wanted the full experience as we have previously enjoyed renting clear Kayaks. Our guide for the morning was: Megan, who was fantastic! Full of energy, information and helpful tidbits about the Springs and its human and wildlife inhabitants. Our group was small and capped at 10. We paddled through both narrow and open stretches, and stopped to swim in the warm, crystal-clear water. One highlight was a banyan tree with an 8-foot natural "jump hole"--such a cool experience! It was a serene, memorable day, and fun fact: this is the very spring featured in the Visit Orlando commercials! Yeah, definitely take a day away from crowded Orlando to relax and enjoy Mother Nature! You will Thank Me ;)

Finally went on my first paddle board tour. The crew at Paddles Up Tours was great and really took…read morethe time to make me feel comfortable. They took our group out for 2-1/2 hours and we stopped for water and snacks, swimming and a Manatee sighting! My group had such a good time on their daytime tour that we are booking a nighttime Twilight lighted paddle board tour...... Can't wait! Just thought I would share a company that is passionate about what they do. You don't find that much anymore. Thanks Paddles Up!

From the owner: Specializing in Paddleboard Tours and Paddleboard Rentals.read more

My husband and I recently booked the Manatees and Monkeys tour at Silver Springs State Park with…read moreEpic Paddle Adventures through Viator. Our guides were Stevie and Ben. The meet-up instructions weren't extremely clear, but I was able to use context clues, such as the clear kayaks and a small sign with the business name on the side of a plastic tote, to figure out which group we were with. The guides weren't dressed in any specific colors or anything. As far as I know, we were the first to check in, but somehow we were close to last when being set up in a kayak. We weren't told about or offered dry bags either. I saw others with them, asked, and had to run back and grab a couple while we were lined up to launch. Another group asked us to grab some for them as well. Stevie provided us with a brief paddling tutorial prior to our departure being that we were the only ones in our group to have never been kayaking previously. Ben made sure our seats were set up properly and secured for the ride and assisted me with fashioning my life vest into a cushion for my bottom. After the tour, everyone was complaining about their bums hurting, but I was just fine! As paddling novices, we stayed at the rear of the pack for most of the tour and missed out on all of the informative bits and bites provided by Stevie, but the springs were relaxing, beautiful and teeming with wildlife! It would've been nice if we could've been positioned at the front of the group, being one of the first to launch since we did arrive first and we were beginners. Just a thought for future tours. The manatees were majestic! Go for the manatee. I was worried that we wouldn't see any, but that was no issue. The water is crystal clear and the manatee are present. They're calm and they come right alongside and beneath the kayaks. It was amazing. Our guides got us back to dock safe and sound and that's all I really cared about. Pictures were taken throughout and a QR code to view them was provided. Later that day, they weren't there, despite tours that happened after ours being online. During the tour, we were told that we didn't need to take pics because they'd take plenty. In fact, most of us had our things in dry bags for safety. We really wanted those pictures. I called the office and spoke to a woman who said she'd speak to whomever uploads them and if they weren't there by the end of the day to call her back. They were eventually uploaded and I was stoked to see the underwater video of the manatee! I'm happy I took pictures of my husband and I because those candid shots of us struggling to paddle are only suitable for comic relief purposes. Speaking of which, some of the guides' jokes and anecdotes weren't funny and were borderline offensive. I tried to let them roll off my back, but it is partially the reason for the lower rating.

I saw the picture that showed one of their other locations so I was disappointed with this paddling…read moretrip. It wasn't very epic and would hardly count as an adventure. The person who helped us was friendly and the prices were reasonable. We had a good time. The scenery was OK.

WOW!!! The coolest thing I have done here in FL since moving here in 1999…read more Myself and 5 others embarked on a Saturday morning stand up paddle boarding adventure! Being that this was my first time paddle boarding, or really any water sport outside of tubing, I was really nervous. However, this could not have been more of a perfect setting for my first adventure. Tim, and our guide, Todd were amazing! You could feel their energy just approaching the dock. We met up at JB's Fish Camp & Seafood Restaurant as all of the tours leave from this dock. Just walk to the end of the dock on the left and you will be greeted by East Coast Paddle! The weather was working against us this day with a bit of wind, however, Tim and Todd were prepared and took us on the best route possible. We boarded the boat and took off into the glorious Saturday and immediately we were greeted by the local dolphins - it was AMAZING! We were told we would see them throughout the day and we sure did, manatees too! After a quick ride, we stopped and began instructions on the basics and before I knew it, I was hopping up on a paddle board. At first I was terrified but the tips they give you (keep your eyes on the horizon, wiggle your toes etc) were perfect for a first timer. We also had someone with us who has done this various times and she was impressed with East Coast Paddle! They event make their own boards which was awesome as well, they were sturdy and had amazing grip. We were paddling for about an hour and it was the most relaxing and exciting thing I have done in as long as I can remember. Dolphins were literally swimming next to us and then when we hit the cove, manatees were all over the place playing. It was amazing. Todd was so informative of various species of birds, nature and history of where we were. He was sharing some awesome info that just added to the experience. It's definitely a work out too, your core is used the entire time, but so fun! When my out of town friends and family visit me, I know our first item on the to-do list! Huge props to East Coast Paddle!

The guys that run this place are awesome! Earlier in the summer I was invited to participate in a…read moreYelp event with East Coast Paddle, and while I was a tad nervous at first, the outcome was a most enjoyable experience with some awesome folks (talking Yelpers AND the East Coast Paddle crew). I'm a somewhat athletic person (nowhere near where I'd like to be, though), so I wasn't daunted by the experience, and was excited about doing something new. Our guides rocked, and were both catering and educating all at the same time. I actually enjoyed East Coast Paddle so much I went again with a couple of friends over the Labor Day weekend. Due to wind direction the "route" this time was extremely different than the one I'd experienced earlier in the year, and that speaks to the fact that someone can go numerous times and have a different experience all times. I definitely will go back to East Coast Paddle at some point in the future. It's a unique experience for tourists and residents alike.

We had an amazing time on the ecotour with RiverWitch Kayaking. My family and I did the two-hour…read moremorning tour, and Ursula was fantastic. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the local ecosystem and all the plants, birds, fish, mammals, and everything that lives within it. She truly is a master naturalist, and her enthusiasm made the experience even more engaging. The boat launch was easy to find, and the kayaks were in excellent condition--clearly well maintained. They've really thought of everything to make the experience smooth and enjoyable. It was also an easy drive from the Mt. Dora area, and we're already looking forward to going back again!

RiverWitch Kayak Rentals is the best outfitter I've worked with in a long time. We are new to the…read moreSpace Coast, having traveled south for a quick vacation, so we just took a chance on RiverWitch. They got us on the water in a beautiful spot, with instructions on seeing incredible wildlife within minutes. We paddled for hours, eventually floating into a dolphin pod that played around our boat. We saw millions of birds in the mangroves, and enjoyed the serenity of the river adjacent to their shop. Apparently they will deliver, too, so there are many options. I can't say enough great things about the quality of the boats, the natural setting, and the people who work there. Anna from Connecticut

My kids have attended Odyssey Adventure Camp several times in the past and loved them. Yesterday,…read morewe also rented paddle boards/kayaks for the afternoon. They were in great condition. Mr. Waterman delivers them and picks them up. My kids had a great time at Sanchez park, nice calm waters. It was a beautiful day. High recommend Odyssey Adventure Club if you are interested in renting kayaks and/or paddle boards.

From the owner: Choose your adventure! We love to help people build a passion for the outdoors.....whether through…read moreour summer camps for kids, group paddle outings, rentals, tours, or through our bike clubs, with training, group rides, trips, and exploring