Very accommodating. Friendly staff. Good information and…read morecommunication. The equipment is sturdy. Many options for

They were able to accommodate us on their day off. Luckily another group had also booked. So they…read morefit us in as well. Definitely got the VIP treatment.

Had a great time kayaking with Lars, yes like Mars but with an L…read more I was apprehensive at first as to how it was going to go since I have a very limited experience with kayaking. A few times in the past two decades with a few friends who knew what they were doing. It was going to be 4 hours or so on the river. The weather was beautiful and it was so wonderful to soak in all the greens surrounding us. Quite a few herons, osprey, and some kind of warbler. Very nice distance to drive from Gainesville and everyone in there kayak trip today was from Gainesville and they were all very nice. The drive to kayak destination and back in itself was a nice trip with change of scenery and getting out of town on a weekend to avoid the hussles and bussles of every weekend stuff with groceries and errands. Some people saw some alligators and were trying to point them out hiding but we didn't see any on the same trip! We are told that they don't bother people much in general:) When I expreeesed the concern about not being able to keep up with all other kayakers, my husband said that he would leave me behind and if an alligator has not gotten to me on the way back, he will bring me back home if I fall behind. Yes, he is the perfect picture of support!!!! Lars is very laid back and knowledgeable and easy to talk to and we learned a lot during this trip and would love to come back for more. It was such a fun great nature trip!!!!!

The place is long gone and shut down, he was a nice person , then the guy got caught up with the…read morepeople causing overtourism on our river which has contributed to the decline of the river and the area, so good luck with the one guy.

21410 US-411 High Spring, FL…read more About the Santa Fe canoe outpost Santa Fe Canoe Outpost is located on the banks of the Santa Fe River in historic High Springs, Florida. This region, where Alachua, Columbia and Gilchrist Counties meet, is just south of where the river reappears after running two miles under ground through O'Leno State Park. The Outpost is located just 25 minutes from Gainesville and the University of Florida. Santa Fe Canoe Outpost offers fully outfitted canoe, kayak, stand-up paddle board (SUP) and camping trips -- or bring your own. They pick you up and bring you back (and do all the heavy lifting). Its one of Florida's most beautiful and pristine rivers. Depending on how far you choose to go, you may pass by such famous, crystal-clear springs as Poe, Lily, Rum Island, Blue, Devil's Eye and Ginnie. The slow moving pace of the Santa Fe makes the trip peaceful. The abundant wildlife, unique flora and crystal clear springs make the trip adventurous. You can see many turtles , birds and gators. One can go swimming, snorkeling but after seeing the gators forget it for me. Canoe Outpost can supply you with everything from ice to detailed maps. After 3 hours of being in the kayak I was pooped. Make sure you bring water and a hat.

Business is closed. No answer at phone number. There is no kayak shuttle available in the area.read more

Called ahead and checked hours for rental operations, return time,etc. when we arrived we were told…read morethat whoever we spoke with was incorrect and that they stopped renting at 2pm!? This wasn't what we were told nor is that posted on any website or anywhere. Very random and wanton hours that must depend on the day or whims of operators.

1. Took several phone calls from two of our staff to secure our reservation. We spent time on the…read morephone when we did get through to Jay explaining that we had a group of seniors and we wanted an easy kayak for them. 2. When we needed to alter reservations, we received no return phone call. 3. When we arrived and asked for a change to the reservation we were told absolutely not. We pointed out that we called the number given to us to try and do this in advance, but were told that didn't change anything as we left a message when the outfitter wasn't open. 4. When we launched, no one explained safety gear, paddling procedures, that the kayaks had foot pedals, or where we would take out. When we asked for a map or chart, we were told to find one on our phones. 5. When kayaker had medical issue (heat exhaustion, accelerated heartbeat, and leg cramping), which manifested in the 1/4 mile before the spring run at at Gilchrist Springs, Deacon (the bright spot of the entire trip) tried to get someone to pick him up and was told we should switch his kayak and that no one would come get the person. 6. Deacon (again, the bright spot, perhaps put this kid in charge) tried, without success, to fix the broken seat for the kayaker in distress. He also showed him how to use the foot pedals to help keep the seat from sliding. He did offer to switch kayaks, putting the distressed kayaker in a tandem with one of the group leaders. He clearly wanted to do more and had empathy, but anything else was clearly above his pay grade. This brought the total of boats on the water down by one (which will come into play in a moment) 7. No one mentioned the rapids. Fairly mild for seasoned and competent kayakers, but for a group of seniors who stated they were seeking an easy paddle, a mention of this when Jay told us which would work would have been advisable. 8. When we reach the take-out, one of the men working commented that he thought the seat of the kayak in question (distressed kayaker) might have been broken when he set out the boats at the launch that morning. If so, why did no one attempt to remedy this at the time? 9. In response to this, I explained we had switched two kayakers to a tandem at Gilchrist, (at this point, the trip is over) to which he replied, "Oh, so that's why there's one less kayak coming back. I wondered about that." So... he noticed we were short a boat but didn't wonder or question as to what happened to the boat? What if someone had gone missing? Does this outfitter have any sort of safety protocols in place? 10. We called after roughly 30 minutes waiting to get picked up at the end of the run. That appears to be when someone send the van to get us, even though staff assured us when we took out of the river someone was already on the way. We will not use any AOA services again.

What a wonderful resource in our community. They've helped fit bows for both myself and my…read moredaughter, have reasonable prices on nearly everything we've needed, and have been supportive of her 4H program.

The last time I was here was 1991 and it was awesome then. I have no idea what the place is like…read morenow. I miss Skeeters Big Biscuits too. That place was great.

This is a short list of the birds you can see at Lake Alice on any given day: great heron, snowy…read moreegret, white ibis, black-bellied whistling duck, pie-billed grebe, anhinga, little blue heron, great heron, common gallinule, osprey, bald eagle, cardinal, white-eyed vireo, Carolina wren, red-tailed hawk, red-shouldered hawk, turkey vulture, black vulture, cormorant, belted kingfisher, Northern parula, American crow, tufted titmouse, green heron, swalllow-tailed kite, spotted sandpiper, and/or red-winged blackbird! I have not only seen ALL of these birds here, around the lake, I got pictures of them too! How many have you seen?

Located on the UF campus, this lake across from the Bat Houses and next to the Baughman Center,…read morethis lake is a popular spot to study, picnic, or watch for alligators,birds, or turtles. Yes alligators, so if you bring a picnic, watch your surroundings and don't leave anything unattended. There are a couple boardwalks around the lake for better viewing. Area is mostly very tranquil even with Museum Rd running right near it. Worth a pop by if you are in the area and want to wildlife watch, relax, or even recharge. If you can time it right, visit the Baughman Center and then stay for sunset at the Bat Houses across the street, you won't be sorry.

Beautiful healthy looking fish selection, very knowledgable, and gave me a great price on a water…read morefeature!

Now that I have had a chance to really bike the paths and see the deck on the lake, I can really…read moresay that all I want to do is go back! There are hiking and biking trails, but it is possible to bike the hiking trails, but the tree roots make it very difficult. You might have to dismount to stay safe, in some areas. This is a huge swath of woods to explore! The trail goes in many different directions, so pay close attention! Sometimes it looks like the trail ends, and then you get closer to where you think it will end, and you see the path ahead. This is an explorer's trail not a racer's trail. You can come out here for fitness, but you can't go full speed. Lots and lots of birds to hear, in the morning, and the deck overlooking the lake is quite nice! There are bugs, but they don't bite! Be careful as you go to the overlook deck by the canoe display. There are very small cypress knees that can trip you up or damage your bike, so eyes down as you explore! Pack a lunch, bring lots of fluids and have fun! P.S. There are lots of stinging nettles around...if you see a small, white, cute, 5-pedal flower, DON'T TOUCH IT!!! It makes fire ant's sting seem like a fun picnic!

Off the beaten path but close enough to Gainesville City. The parking lot entrance sneaks up on you…read moreso be sure to stay alert. Also the available parking seems limited but this place doesn't appear to be very popular. I haven't ventured far on the trail but I plan on visiting again soon for more exploration.