Discovery Kayak is my go-to shuttle service whenever I paddle the Silver Springs Long Run. Over the…read moreyears, I've tried several different shuttle companies, but once I found Discovery Kayak, there was no reason to look elsewhere. Their service is consistently reliable, professional, and friendly. The shuttle is always clean, comfortable, and makes the quick ride back to Silver Springs State Park enjoyable after an amazing day on the water. As a fellow small business owner, I especially appreciate supporting another family-owned business that genuinely cares about providing a great experience for their customers. I highly recommend Discovery Kayak to anyone planning the Silver Springs Long Run. They are an important part of what makes the adventure so seamless and enjoyable.

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.

Atmosphere and Environment: Silver Springs is absolutely…read morebeautiful. The water is crystal clear and bright blue, making it easy to see straight to the bottom. The springs are peaceful, relaxing, and surrounded by nature. Visiting in November made the experience even more special because it is manatee season and we were able to see many of them swimming together from a safe distance. Customer Service: The staff and guide were excellent. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive. Our guide shared fun facts, pointed out wildlife, warned us when boat tours were approaching, and never rushed us. We were given plenty of time to enjoy the manatees and take everything in. Which made the tour feel calm and well organized. Cost: The tour cost about fifty dollars per person and was completely worth it. Booking online was easy, I recommend booking early, and I have used this company before with great experiences each time. Overall Experience: This was our second time doing this kayak tour and it was even better than the summer visit. The November manatee experience was unforgettable. If kayaking is not your thing, Silver Springs also offers a glass bottom boat tour. This is one of my favorite places to bring my husband. It is beautiful, relaxing, and something I highly recommend.

Sam was awesome. We went for the early tour with clear kayaks and it was amazing. We saw lots of…read moremanatees up close. One even nudged our kayak a bit. With the early session, mist was rising over the water and it was quiet and really peaceful. The water is so clear. Sam was polite and professional and has a lot of experience and knowledge. Highly recommend Sam and Get Up and Go Kayaking.

We had a awesome time!! Our tour guide Chris was GREAT,…read moreNot only did we see some much wildlife, Chis took videos and photos. I would 100% recommend them if you want to kayak tour at Silver springs.

Fun adventure! We had a large group but we still felt like attention was paid to each of us. Very…read moreinformative. Even though we had no monkey sightings (because it was a super chilly day),the excitement of the gators kept us warm!

What a different way to experience dining! This place is special and beautiful!…read more The view- amazing! There are family activities to do after you eat breakfast. Swimming, boat tour, watching wildlife and nature! We definitely be back !

It has been a very long time since we were here. I use to take my children there all the time and…read moreit brought back so many good memories to see that I am now able to take my grandchildren and my mom for the first time. Our server Emily was very gracious and kind and made the experience even more memorable. I am so happy that this business was reopened. I give it a 10 star!!!

Decided to spend a couple hours Kayaking in Silver Springs this past Sunday. Scheduling…read morerecreational activities are difficult, to say the least; especially when seeking the perfect weather for this type of outing, but everything came together for us. We booked a 2-hour tour, which start on time, at 9 a.m. at 62 degrees and ended, exactly 2 hours later, at 71 degrees. The forecast predicted zero chance of rain with a mild 2-3 mph wind, which kept the mosquitos from biting us, or the current from being an issue, but allowed us to stay cool enough so as not to sweat. We were provided a clear kayak and were very fortunate to get Jessica, a true nature enthusiast and excellent private guide. They did have another tour group with Dylan who had at least a half dozen boats, but we were very lucky to be on our own. Personally, we enjoy doing things this way, as people have a habit of mucking it all up! I did most of the paddling while my wife took pictures and Jessica shared some of hers, as well, including ones of us. We got to see lots of turtles, birds, ducks, gators, cat fish and even monkeys. Unfortunately, Manatee season is between mid-November and the end of March, so no sightings, or otters this time, but worth every penny. Speaking of which, Frank did provide a 10% military discount and was very helpful during the booking process when I ended up on the wrong site. The only two issues, not attributed to anything Jessica did, was the tour boat company honking at tour groups, as if in a hurry (Don't Book with Them!) and other kayakers not paying attention and getting too close to baby ducks. Just as I said before, people; am I right? I highly recommend you use this company and ask for Jessica!

It was very easy to make a kayak reservation on line. My mistake was in getting in the wrong line…read morefor picking up kayaks. This rental is in the grass, end of parking lot not close to the launch area on the river. If in doubt call them & they will direct you to pickup spot. They carry the kayaks for you to the launch area. I would highly recommend them. It was a wonderful experience!

My wife and I had a WONDERFUL experience paddling this spring! Our guide Rachelle was super…read moreinformative, went at our pace, and was so sweet. We saw a bunch of fish, turtles, birds, a manatee, and a gator. Will have to return so we can see the monkeys. I definitely recommend Otter Paddle, you wont be disappointed

We had the absolute best time with Otter Paddle!! They went out of their way to make sure the…read moreexperience was as enjoyable as possible. Rachelle was so fun and taught us so much too! She had great recommendations for other spots to explore. I can't wait to book another adventure with them!!

We had such an amazing trip with Clear Canoeing. Aleigha let us know where the good spots to see…read moremanatees and monkeys and we saw both! The manatees mainly come in the winter but with her advice we where able to see a manatee in the middle of summer.

From the owner: Take a break from the everyday. Enjoy the gift of nature with Clear Canoeing. You will experience a…read morewhole new view of the outdoors.

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.

Rented jet ski last year and after a breakdown on the water and a local boater was able to tow me…read moreback in, was promised a free rental to which I came back to redeem and was told that was never agreed upon. Look on Facebook marketplace for jet ski rentals in this area they are more trustworthy.

I wrote a review two weeks ago for Get Wet Watersports. It was for a top notch experience. My wife…read moreand I got married that day and followed the ceremony with a boat ride around Lake Dora, and the canal to Lake Harris. The owner, Mark, is really nice, really professional and super accommodating! Well, my wife's mother is coming for a visit tomorrow, and I called Mark on short notice to see what he had available. Fortunately, tomorrow is a weekday in the Fall, so he could accommodate a boat for all day just a day in advance! My other review has been relegated to the "not recommended" section of YELP reviews. This happens to me with my own business, so I always view the "not recs" when I check out a YELP page. I think the "algorithm" they use is wonky. So I recommend you check the "Not recs" too. Get Wet has a nice selection of well-maintained boats. Are they like brand new? Come on! Rented pontoon boats? But the value is awesome, because the boats work, they give you a safety briefing, and they are SUPER-NICE! I would rather have my own boat, but since I don't, Mark at Get Wet is my go-to guy. I don't usually gush in my reviews, but I am REALLY happy with these people, and I haven't even gotten to my second booking yet! I wish I were as happy with YELP!

This is a truly wonderful place with beautiful decor. It has come such a long way! I absolutely…read morelove coming here to enjoy the peace and nature. Plus, Andrew who works there is always respectful and so helpful with loading me in and out safely.

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.