Florida Kayaking

Florida kayaking offers many ways to explore its bays and oceans. As you get into Florida, you get to experience its birds, wildlife, and coastal vegetation. Kayaking in Florida offers a good way to explore protected coastal waters, lakes and rivers. In certain areas, it is the only way to explore the natural bounty of Florida’s shoreline. Most of Florida is surrounded by sea water, and has many miles of lovely shoreline to explore. The Gulf of Mexico on the western side, the Caribbean Sea just off the southern end, and the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern side make kayaking a much sought after activity. It gives the impression that these geographical features are tailor made for exploration with a kayak.

Florida kayaking is not only about sea kayaking. Inland rivers and streams offer ample kayaking opportunities. Florida boasts of two major kayaking areas: the Everglades and the Big Bend. From St. Marks Lighthouse to the mouth of the Suwannee River, the Big Bend coast of Florida has a kayaking trail stretching 85 miles.

Florida’s diverse waterways, from Cypress Swamps to Sunny Beaches, are outstanding for kayaking enthusiasts. Kayaking in Florida allows you to explore its rivers, islands, beaches, springs, lakes, swamps and marshes, allows you to learn about its large wildlife, including Dolphin, Manatee, Otters, and Alligators, and the Southern Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, Red Headed Woodpeckers, and White Pelicans.

A look at a few of the sites where you can go kayaking in Florida:

• Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is a Florida kayaking site, where you can come across many endangered plants and birds.
• Canaveral National Seashore with its beautiful beaches offers unforgettable kayaking experiences in Florida.
• Loxahatchee River Canoe Trail has good kayaking sites for cruising along this wild and scenic river.
• Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon have amazing kayaking opportunities for kayakers; you paddle where seven distinct Indian cultures have paddled for centuries.
• Silver River is a great kayaking location, where you paddle upstream experiencing the feel of Old Florida.
• Pelican Island is a Florida kayaking site, where America’s first national wildlife refuge was established in 1903.
• Econlockhatchee/St. John’s Rivers are exceptional Florida kayaking sites that offer you the opportunity to paddle along two very scenic rivers.

You can also plan a custom kayaking trip through Florida with your family and children. Anclote Key Preserve State Park offers a moderately difficult kayaking opportunity with a sea kayak. Anclote Key is 3 miles long and 1/4 mile wide and the best way to reach it is by a kayak. Crossing from the mainland to the Keys can be a bit dicey in rough weather, but is an enjoyable trip for a skilled kayaker.

The Caladesi Island State Park in Florida has shallow waters between Caladesi and Honeymoon Islands. The combination of shallow water, currents and wind driven waves make the going a little difficult, but nevertheless, enjoyable.

If you wish to enjoy a night kayaking experience, Haulover Canal, connecting the Indian River lagoon to Mosquito Lagoon, is the place to be. As the darkness sets in you can see the effect of bioluminescence. Here, the bioluminescent creatures are in such abundance that any disturbance of the water produces a show of light. Bioluminescent creatures are fascinating, very less known, and so very few people have seen them. Bioluminescence allows you to see almost everything, from schools of fish to manatees to porpoises. It casts a ghostly radiance over the sea grass and every movement will produce a blue-green light.

You will see an unbelievable sight as you near the Mosquito Lagoon. Schools of mullet will be exploding all around your kayak from the surrounding darkness. The flying mullet falling back into the water will cause green explosions. This is something very few kayakers have experienced. Tiny fluorescent and luminescent creatures swimming through the shimmering green sea grass down below is a sight to behold. Stingrays and other fish swimming by give a very ghostlike appearance. You must experience dolphins bursting around your kayak in brilliant florescence! This is truly an exceptional kayak trip!