Florida Kayaking, Ready, Set, Paddle!

Florida kayaking is a great outdoor sport for the whole family. Whether you’re a beginner like me or a more experienced long distance paddler, there is something here for everyone.

Enjoy mangrove islands, shell islands, remote beaches, coastal sand dunes, salt marshes, city skylines, amazing sunset & sunrise tours, bioluminescent tours, and back water trails galore!

You may encounter bottlenose dolphin, manatee, loggerhead turtles, roseate spoonbills, brown pelicans, bald eagles, osprey and maybe even gators.

You can go island hopping, swimming, snorkeling and fishing right from your kayak. It’s a great way to chill out, relax and enjoy a little slice of paradise with little impact to the environment. There’s nothing like paddling right up to nesting spoonbills or gliding along the water with dolphin!

Kayak for an hour, a day or overnight at one of our beautiful:

• State Parks
• National Parks
• County Parks
• Wildlife Refuges
• Marine Sanctuaries
• Or right off the Beach

(Break time for paddlers at Caladesi Island State Park Marina-picture above)

Many of these facilities offer rentals and/or guided tours. Some launch sites require that you bring your own kayak, check before you go.

The Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail: The Lee County Park System offers 190 miles of amazing paddling trails. You'll see a different side of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Ft. Myers, Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass and Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge are some of the wonderful areas that the trail covers.

Click here to learn more about:The Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail

The Florida Circumnavigation Saltwater Paddling Trail:

This amazing trail covers 1,550 miles…you can paddle a few miles or the entire trail.To learn about Florida's longest trail, click on the map shown here. The site offers planning maps, trail segment descriptions, and trip planning tips.

You'll find great outfitters, hotels, motels, campgrounds and spectacular sights along the way.

Florida State Parks: From the salt marshes of Big Talbot Island State Park to the coral reefs of John Pennekamp Coral State Park, there are so many wonderful waterways here to choose from.

National Parks: Our state has such a diverse eco-system...Canaveral National Seashore and Everglades National Park are just a few examples of this diversity and natural beauty of Florida National Parks.

Sea kayaking is a great way to get outdoors, get fit, enjoy nature and as I mentioned earlier…without little impact on our coastline. Please remember to leave no trace.

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