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 ;)

Absolutely incredible tour. So much fun and Josh is very informative and quite personable. I…read morehighly recommend the 90 minute tour. We saw a lot of gators as well as other wildlife. Fun airboat ride to boot.

Outstanding experience for my family and grandchildren. Josh was very knowledgeable and receptive…read moreto any questions you might have, even from a 6 year old. I'll be back with more of my family.

This was my very first gator encounter and my first time on an airboat, and honestly, it blew every…read moreexpectation out of the water. From the moment we arrived, the place had this incredible energy -- the kind of spot that instantly makes you think, I'd camp here in a heartbeat. The grounds were beautiful, the amenities looked top‑notch, and the whole atmosphere felt like a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. And the staff? Absolutely phenomenal. Genuine, warm, and the kind of people who clearly love what they do. I hesitated to wander into the camper store since we weren't staying overnight, but now I wish I had -- the whole place had that welcoming, "come on in" vibe. I wasn't sure if the campground and airboat tours were run separately, but everyone we met felt like part of one big, enthusiastic team. Before the tour, the staff came out and gave us a fascinating crash course on gators -- and then we got to hold Luke the gator. Let me tell you, once you hold Luke, something changes. You walk away feeling like you've bonded with a gator. I'm not kidding -- I still catch myself wondering how Luke is doing. Then came the airboat ride. We loaded up, the engine kicked in, and suddenly we were flying across the lake. Our tour guide Kyle was outstanding -- knowledgeable, funny, confident, and able to answer every question thrown his way. For my first airboat experience, I was genuinely impressed by how smooth and skilled he was behind the controls. We spotted plenty of baby gators and even a mama gator. Sure, I would've loved to see a few more, but for the price, the thrill, and the overall experience, it was absolutely worth it. We were on the 12:45 tour, so the time of day may have played a role -- but honestly, I left feeling thrilled. If I could change one thing, it would be knowing ahead of time that tips for the guides are cash‑only. We weren't carrying American cash, and Kyle definitely earned a tip. Adding that note to the FAQ or confirmation messages would be super helpful for future guests. All in all, this was an unforgettable experience -- exciting, educational, and genuinely fun from start to finish. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something unique, thrilling, and full of heart.

highly recommend. Capt Kyle, along with the entire staff, are so knowledgeable, informative and…read morevery friendly. we saw so much wildlife and the family loved. cant wait to do it again. Dan B

We found a large number of cockroaches in rental. We packed up and left immediately after we…read morestarted seeing them crawling around, and it was during daylight hours. Unfortunately, we had wanted to leave upon arrival after initially inspecting the rental. The listing and reality were completely different. There was stained furniture and bedding, we ended up finding mold around some windows. A broken closet door, inoperable sliding pocket door, unusable top bunks of bunk beds. The entrance doors had large gaps between the frames and doors. The paint job inside was cheap, sloppy, lazy. Kitchen cabinets had a large amount of chipped paint and rusted hinges. I have a large number of photos as proof. I reported this cleanliness and maintenence issues after our arrival inspection. The host basically called me a liar and said he wanted to see proof even though I sent him pictures and he claimed to have just done an inspection shortly before our arrival. If we weren't more than 17 hours from home with no other place to stay we would have left right after we inspected it. The host even mockingly said he would give me a discount for a return visit if I ever wanted to come back after trying to work things out with him. I am sad and disgusted and feel robbed of my hard earned vacation time and money. The house wasn't even as close to the beach as was claimed. I truly would love to be able to give 0 stars, but that is not allowed so they get 1 star. If I have to fish for something to account fir the one star I guess I could say...hmm...it had a nice microwave? ​Oh I almost forgot to mention the bathroom. It was far smaller than described. I am not tall and the shower head at max height touched my head. I could also not sit facing forward on the toilet due to how close it is to the shower.

From the owner: Welcome to the Happy Hopper! Our lovingly cared for family…read morehomes have Everything you’ll need thru your stay in Saint Augustine, from downtown to on the beach . We are well known for our collection of comfortable ~ eclectic Furnished Homes with outstanding reviews! As stewards to Saint Augustine's Unique Architectural Spirit, we ensure our guests comfort. Our cared for accommodations elicit Joy and a reverence for Design... past and present.

I called this shop on a Saturday morning to see if I could schedule a surf lesson, and they…read moreimmediately set me up with this awesome guy named Jessie who has over 15 years of experience as a pro. He taught me so many different techniques in the water that immediately helped me get more hangtime on the waves. Jessie is an awesome, awesome coach and an overall great guy. If you are learning to surf for the first time or just want to improve your skills, you need to ask for this man. Here's a pic of him on his board. We didn't quite get that far during the lesson but maybe next time!

We stopped in to look at used boards to upgrade mu kids boards. Chadwick was super friendly and…read moreexplained the different shapes and sizes. We decided on going back to rent boards for the day to try different boards. Thanks Chad

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