Stop there on occasion for a beverage.. Today bartender was rather rude to my guest.. Won't be…read morereturning I'll go to tiki hut where they are always friendly.

Cute little bar with screened in patio that overlooks Lake Minnehaha. They offer some unique custom…read moredrinks too. They also put in a little sand beach where kids can play & build sand castles. Walk up the bridge to relax on a little island with swing benches, chairs, charcoal grills and hammocks. Look directly East and you can see scheduled rocket launches from Cape Canaveral. Check the website for time/types of food trucks, as well as live music. It's typically quiet on weekdays, but active and May be crowded on weekends.

Mount Dora has a lovely marina where you can rent boats and more. Their shop is small but offers…read moreall the essentials as well as a restroom. We enjoyed doing the CatBoat Adventure Tour that left from the marina.

Mount Dora Boat Center is perfect for renting a boat and going exploring the Harris Chain of Lakes…read more They offer friendly, fast service with clean and modern boat choices. Rates are fair and you will have an amazing day viewing wildlife and cruising the canal!

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 ;)

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, easy entry point for a day on the river. Great time…read morekayaking with the manatees!

MANATEES ARE MAGICAL! We saw well over 30+ manatees on our late January kayaking outing. We rented…read morea 2-seater top kayak (comes w paddles and life vests). And from the staff to the dock hands, to the quality of the vessel and cleanliness of the shop: 10/10. A guide handed us a laminated map (nice touch) and told us where to head for manatee sightings. And even pointed us to a cove that homes a lot of turtles and alligators. We saw it all! They have volunteers overseeing the 3 sisters springs, to help monitor the safety of the manatees (and scold ignorant people lol). Great time! If you're unsure, let me assure you.. just book.

Inn seems antiquated and the Tiki bar food is mediocre at best... but the view is spectacular!!!read more

Last year we went out for my daughter's birthday. We had such fun! My pregnant daughter had a great…read moretime driving the boat. Seeing how the lakes linked together was awesome and all the sights along the way. There was plenty of room for us to sit, every spot had a good view. We had lunch at Tiki bar after we docked. Was a perfect day.

Did a 4 hour rental on my birthday. Boat was nice, no issues at all. Staff was friendly and in…read moreconstant communication to ensure everything was going good. Highly recommended! Thanks CF watersports!

Great staff. Friendly and knowledgeable…read more They gave information about where to look for Manatees, gators, monkeys and of course, the Spring. The shuttle pickup was comfortable and on time. They helped load our kayaks back onto our vehicles. Super trip.

Three of us had a great kayaking experience with Discovery Kayak & SUP at Silver Springs State Park…read morethis past weekend. Ryan Toler, owner and tour guide, supplied all the necessary equipment. He also verified who was experienced and who needed instructions before setting out. Ryan grew up in the area, so he knows the springs and river like the back of his hand. He shared the history of the area from pre-Spanish times to the present. He even calls the various reptiles, turtles and birds by name. We saw a manatee which he was able to capture via an underwater video and share with everyone. Plus he staged the three of us to get a photo for a memory keepsake. The weather was beautiful, and the paddling was easy. It could not have been a better experience. I highly recommend Discovery Kayak & SUP for a special Nature retreat.

I just finished the fall learn to row experience and will be signing up to join the adult team…read more Everyone was welcoming, Coach Aaron was knowledgeable and patient, and I always felt safe. All around fun experience, and I highly recommend it for people looking to connect and exercise. No experience needed.

Rowing is a sport that embodies grace, power and symmetry. It develops endurance, discipline,…read moreteamwork, and mental and physical toughness which builds relationships between the athletes helping them to learn to work together as a team. These are characteristics of the sport, which encourage the athlete to become involved in a positive, structured activity that instills a sense of well-being and confidence. These are the attributes which team members carry with them throughout life.

Fantastic trip with a very knowledgeable and professional crew. From check in to the boat ride it…read morewas safe and fun. We saw plenty of gators and learned a lot about them and the surrounding area. You can tell they love the lake and the animals. It is definitely worth the trip, we will be back.

Awesome experience.. everyone was super friendly.. awesome tour.. randy is an awesome guide and we…read morewere able to pet Luke their alligator..