paddling adventures

Since we also did canoeing in France on the river Dordogne, we decided to do the same in the USA. This canoe rental "Paddling Adventures" in Spring Hill Weeki Wachee State Park does have good information. We first (one day before our visit) asked the staff about the trip and what we could expect, the staff was very helpful and gave us the right information. The trip was wonderful, you'll canoeing on a crystal clear river, see lots of wonderful nature and we did see manatee's also.Our red canoe did the job very well, you'll have plenty of time to finish the tour before 15:00PM

I highly recommend this place. Nice staff and they encourage you to slow down. I rented a kayak and I was by myself...I was concerned about time to finish. They kept telling me longer than I was willing to admit that it would take. I am in reasonably good shape, I can be done with 5.5 miles in a little over an hour right? They would tell me most people take close to three hours. I boarded the boat and pulled into the current. Okay, I floated into the current watching fish jump and birds sing...but I was determined to paddle. Just around the river bend (go ahead sing the song, you can't help but summon Disney's Pocahontas in a kayak) I spot turtles and manatee. Okay, I am slowing down...look at the different shapes and types of trees. I keep perusing the water for all other wildlife and my pace slows down and I begin to relax. Admittedly, because I had to be somewhere, I pushed myself for this trip but I don't recommend it. I can't help but think of all the things I missed and experienced not slowing down to just be in the moment.

It may not be wilderness, but it's a great way to get a close up look at one of the spring fed rivers and it's wildlife. The water is crystal clear and there are lots of fish to look at. Birds all over the place and usually a few manatees at Hospital Hole, a natural sulfur spring near the end of the trip. It's great because the outfitters give you a canoe or kayak at the head of the river and you travel downstream, with the current, for 5.5 miles. You hardly have to paddle except to steer. At the end, they pick you up in a van and drive you back to your car. It took us about three hours for the trip...just what they predicted. We stopped for a few minutes to enjoy the manatees, but most of the time just drifted along. We've gone twice and enjoyed both trips.

Very easy place to rent kayaks and get in the river. It's down stream so it's easy paddling for anyone. The water is beautiful and clear. You will get great views of manetees. It's easy to stop and swim. There are also a few places to swing from ropes. The pick up place is easy to find and to get a ride back.

When relatives visit me from all over the U.S., this is the #1 destination I want them to see. Paddling adventures is a kayak rental facility or if you have a kayak they provide an inexpensive shuttle service. The place is on Weeki Wachee Springs, a crystal-clear ground fed spring. My local friends told me for years how beautiful it was but then there are many places they say that about...when I finally went I wished I had gone sooner and go there frequently. The water is indescribable. You have to see it. You can see the fish, turtles and occasional manatee below your canoe or kayak as if the water was made of glass. It is always 72 degrees year round because it's ground fed...the only cool water around in summer. Highly recommend.

This is the only rental place located in Weeki Wachee Springs state park. You launch at the head waters and kayak down stream about 6 miles. They pick you up in vans at Rogers Park. The last pick up is at 3pm. You can kayak as slow or fast as you want. Very organized company. I own my own kayak so I pay a $15 fee plus tax for them to transport me and my kayak back. I love to bring out of state visitors here. It never disappoints. They offer $5 off discounts when you rent more than 10 kayaks or canoes from them.

This was a fantastic experience the river is amazing, so tranquil. The nature is beautiful. We took it in turns to paddle the kayak and to swim in the 70f crystal clear water. The current takes you down the river and you are then collected at the end and driven back to the start. The company are excellent and the trip is well worth the money.

We were in orlando for ten days and were told this was an awesome way to spend a day - man they were right! We rented our canoes and off we went down the river. The water was so clear, the river was so peaceful! Anyone could manage this trip. We saw deer, eagles, loads of other birds and fish and 4 manatees! It was a totally amazing experience and a very refreshing day! We even took the guides advice and went to Becky's Shack - a short drive from the centre. The food was awesome! Make sure and try it! Few tips - make sure to bring water and a snack for the boat trip, if you can a waterproof camera and sunscreen! Totally perfect day! It is around a 1.5/2hr drive from orlando but can be broken up in the shopping districts you drive through .

The Paddling Adventures is an outstanding outfitter. And the Weeki Wachee is one of my favorite rivers to paddle on. The river is clear and lots of wildlife to view such as birds, fish, turtles, deer, and manatees, too.

The spring river is simply amazing with crystal clear waters, slowly flowing at constant temperature of 76 F. Just hire a kayak and float on... from the state park till the Rogers park, around 5-6 miles.It was so much fun watching the serene river flowing below, and many beautiful people having fun bathing and fishing around in the river. If you're lucky, you see a manatee or two calmly swimming below pass by.Finally at the pickup point at Rogers park, the shuttle would be waiting to get you and the kayaks back to the starting point, so you don't have to paddle upstream all the way.Quite a peaceful trip on the water, and very professional service overall.

A great day of paddling on this pristine river. The water is crisp, clear and teeming with fish. The water is 74 degrees and there were many people swimming or using rope swings to jump in at several points along the river. There is a quick current that pulls you along most of the way so not a lot of effort is needed to paddle along. Since the water is so crystal clear, if you are lucky enough to see manatees like we did (see pic) you can easily view them in their entirety. Very cool!

5.5 mile trip took myself & two sons age 14 & 17 about 2 hrs. Nice relief from the Florida heat as the river is spring fed & @ 74 degrees. Water crystal clear almost the whole way until you get near the end by the gulf. Seen tons of fish but no manatees(lots of Manatee signs). Make sure to make reservations as we went on a weekday & place was booked solid. Bring masks for kids as water is so clear & nice deep open areas to swim if you want. Also there are 4 or 5 rope swings or tree jumps along the way for daring people. Staff was great & had no wait launching & a crew was waiting at end at Rodgers park to pickup & shuttle back. The kayak launch area is basically attached to Weeki Wachee State Park(short 5 min walk out driveway & across Parking lot) so people coming with you can visit there while other people kayak.

We have our own kayak so we paid the fee to launch and to have the tram return us to our vehicle. To begin the staff was great, friendly and efficient. They have kayak carts to haul your kayak to the drop area, the drop is quick and the staff is there to help. The paddle down is amazing, clear waters the entire way. The great part is you can dock your boat and take a swim whenever you'd like (we stopped about 4 times and paddled lightly and it took us 4 1/2 hours) There are a few rope swings along the way that are so much fun but tend to get busy. The water is cold about 72 degrees but it feels great once you are in. It's about 5.5 miles but the current does most of the work for you. We saw manatees and plenty of wildlife. You end at Rogers park that is a great place to end the day, they have food and barbeque areas, volleyball nets and a nice little swimming area. Overall a MUST DO !!! so much fun for all ages, relaxing, exciting and breathtaking !!

Have been on this trip before, but not with Paddling Adventures. We had our own boats, and made no reservations. Got there at 9:00 and it was quite hectic and busy but we were accommodated. There are not enough carts with which to launch the boats...other than that, the experience was very nice....beautiful scenery along the way. A bit crowded on the weekends, suggest weekday if you can. The last part of the tour is along a stretch of houses and not as pristine, but still beautiful.....

The trip down the 5 miles of river is very scenic and relaxing. The 1st half of the trip the current pulls you and you pretty much just steer. The 2nd half the current seems to disappear and you are left doing doing a lot of paddling. My arms were very tired at the end but it was worth it! The staff was nice and organized except when we called for a reservation they seemed kind of clueless in how to write down a name and kayaks on a certain day. I highly recommend the trip down the river! There are lots of places to stop and swim, rest or eat. It took us about 4 1/2 hours with some stopping.