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 ;)

Gentle river and cool…read morebreezes Riverbreeze Park is well named because no matter how hot it gets around here a cool breeze always seems to be flowing off the water. The park is 37 acres with 5 acres right on the water and the rest of the park is within a stone's throw of the river. The park has a great boat ramp that allows access to the river and cool paths that that circle around the park for some easy hiking. A huge boardwalk extends out into the river and offers some great fishing or bird watching opportunities. The park is open 24 hours and has some of the cleanest bathrooms I have even seen in a public place. The entire area was appreciated by the native americans for centuries and lots of artifacts and huge mounds of clams, oysters and other shellfish are still being discovered. The park is definitely a cool and relaxing place to sit, walk, fish or just become one with the flow of the river.

If you're looking for a few hours of serenity in a tranquil surrounding this may be the place…read moreyou've been looking for. Nestled on 37 acres between US 1 and the Intracoastal Waterway this park had a lot to offer including lots of green space to walk and explore, clean restrooms, benches and pavilions. There's a very nice concrete 4 lane boat ramp as well as a fishing pier.

Went back in today and again ..... an awesome quick stop , great customer service and terrific…read moreprices and product.

Always has live bait. Nice customer service also! Definitely…read moredeserves 5 stars! Monster shrimp to.

A first class operation! We had a great time and a great catch with Corey and Melissa! They put you…read moreON the fish!!! 1000% recommendation to all! Thank you guys! Couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Awesome time fishing at Daytona Beach. Captain Corey and Melissa made for an awesome day on the…read morewater catching snapper and even the occasional shark! Couldn't have asked for a better outing, they take care of everything from start to finish - I highly recommend this charter if in the area

This was a lot of fun, and completely on a whim! We were visiting my daughter and new grandson and…read moredecided to stay at a nearby resort. Looking for some activities, this came up in our search, so we made an afternoon of it. First off, the captain and crew was comical and they made the experience that much more memorable. We seen turtles, dolphins, and a few manatees! On top of that, we debarked on a small island along our tour, got out, stretched the legs, and took in some amazing views. The Mangroves were a sight to be seen. I can just imagine all the sea creature they give habitat to. We also seen some amazing boats, as well as, some interesting... uh... placement of sailboats. Great history of the local storms and the havoc they wreaked! Thank you for the fun experience for the Familia!! As always, enjoy and Happy sailing!

Dolphin and manatee boat tour was good. So was parasailing. All of the tour guides were awesome and…read morefun! Cute little waiting spot on the river for sightseeing while u wait.

Kevin and Captain Jessy provided an excellent experience for our family! They knew where the…read moremanatees and dolphins were and were very knowledgeable about the area. This exceeded our expectations! If you are looking for a reason to choose them, take my word for it - they are the right choice!

We had a great experience! The Captain and Kevin were personable and had an excellent knowledge of…read morethe local area etc. They knew where the dolphins and the manatees were. Good experience!!

The staff were great meeting our needs and giving us great direction in where and what to fish for…read more. It seemed like fishing was a passion and not just a job . They had a decent selection of lures , frozen bait , and live bait . They set us up for fishing the intracoastal as well as the ocean

This is our fave bait shop in town!!!! Charlie is amazing and her side kick Gizmo, bring so much…read morejoy to the place. She keeps it so clean, organized and nice. Love coming to see them and shop for bait too!!!! Love this place and highly recommend it!!!!