+ Off the beaten path + Cute beach which somehow does not…read morehave the standard alligator and snake warning signage. + Real bathrooms + Playgrounds + Boat launch - Not much to do or see - Ma Barker house very well hidden - Entry fee does not reduce odds of riff raff as it is honor system. - - - Loud pressure washing. I paid to be here, do this second shift.

LOVE this QUIET spot! U can Hike /Bike /swim/ grill /boat/fish! And best of all is there is ALOT of…read morewildlife too see! I go daily just to have some peaceful time . Not a big park to drive thru but lots of trails . Really nice clean place !

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE LAKE HOUSE! A few of my friends and I went on a mini-vacation and we decided…read moreto go to the lake house because we've heard such great things from other friends. It was definitely worth it! The house was fully equipped! I'll go ahead and begin my review Bedrooms (3) : Spacious and Clean comfortable enough to fit up to 6-8 people in the bedrooms depending on whether or not you mind sharing beds with people. But none the less the beds were cozy and big! Kitchen & Living room were conveniently attached fully equipped with stove, oven microwave and with a dining table fitting up to 6-7 people comfortably. It was attached to the living room which had a fire place and a variety of entertainment medias for your use. It was soo cute! Although it wasn't cold enough to use the fire place, it made me feel like I was in north carolina or in the woods somewhere. Made my trip seem more authentic and far away! Upstairs: Best part was the game room upstairs! Fully equipped with a pool table and the other table game thing, i can't remember what it was called lol. The only bad part is that there's no room to sleep upstairs, it's more of a game area. But i still loved it. Kept us thoroughly entertained most of the evening! Okay I lied, the best part of the house was definitely the patio that led out to the lake! GORGEOUS for watcing the sun rise and the sun set! There was a dock that led up to the lake which you can involve yourself in doing a variety of sports such as swimming, jet skiing and boat rowing! Although we didn't have time to do any of that stuff it was still nice to have it there available! I must say, it was out in the middle of no where, but that's the beauty of it, away from the cars, away from the noise, away from the city. It was serene and peaceful. This lake house is something you must look into if you're thinking about getting away. Look into it some more, don't just take my word for it! But definitely, we're coming back here again soon for future gatherings and get-aways.

From the owner: Lake Weir Vacation is a vacation rental located on East Lake Weir near the Villages, close to…read moreEaton's Beach Sandbar, and Ocklawaha. Enjoy the beautiful sunset view from our luxury beachfront home; perfect for family vacation and those looking for a weekly house rental. This spacious home has 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. Our four beds comfortably accommodate six people (one kingsize bed, fullsize bed, and two twin sized beds). Our clean bright home has direct access to the lake and soft white sand waiting for you to sink your toes in.

Manatee Paddle truly went above and beyond to make our experience positive, exciting, and…read moreeducational. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with genuine smiles, warmth, and encouragement. I was personally a bit nervous since I hadn't paddle boarded much before, but every step of the way we felt supported and truly cared for. Hearing about the family's passion for protecting the ecosystem and the manatees, along with all the helpful tips they shared to optimize our experience, was absolutely incredible. When we got to the dock, we were guided so kindly - Mike even held our shoes in his truck for us! When he noticed me struggling a bit, he took the time to give me multiple tips on how to better move in the water and maneuver the board, which made such a difference. We saw so many manatees, including mama and baby pairs, which was unforgettable. When we returned to the dock and shared how excited we were, Mike went above and beyond once again by recommending another nearby location we could walk to where we ended up seeing even more manatees up close and personal. I would 10/10 recommend Manatee Paddle to anyone looking for an incredible manatee experience. I am so grateful to Mike and his family for making our day so special. THANK YOU!!

If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. Paddle boarding with this crew in Crystal River was…read morehands down one of the best experiences I've had in Florida, and it's because of the people behind the business--Aidan, Mike, and Mandy. From the moment we showed up, they made us feel like family. Aidan was the first one to greet us, and right away you could tell how passionate he is about the river, the wildlife, and making sure every single guest feels confident before heading out on the boards. He has this calm, encouraging way about him that instantly puts you at ease--even if you've never stepped foot on a paddleboard before. He gave us tips, shared fun facts about the area, and somehow managed to keep the whole group laughing the entire time. Mike is the backbone of the operation--the guy making sure all the boards, paddles, and gear are in perfect condition, the one double-checking that everything runs smoothly so you don't have to worry about a thing. It's obvious how much pride he takes in the business, because everything is organized, well-maintained, and set up to give you the best possible experience. He's also just genuinely fun to chat with before and after you head out--one of those people who makes you feel like an old friend after five minutes. And then there's Mandy, who is truly the heart of the operation. She's warm, welcoming, and on top of everything. From making the booking process super smooth to making sure we had everything we needed for the day, she's the reason the whole experience felt so seamless. She checked in with us multiple times, gave us great local recommendations for after our paddle, and just made the whole day feel special. What really stood out to me was how much this team cares--not just about giving people a fun day on the water, but about the environment, the river, and the wildlife that call it home. They take time to educate guests about respecting the ecosystem, and you leave not only having had an amazing adventure, but also feeling like you've learned something important. I've been on plenty of tours and excursions, but very few have left me with such a lasting impression. These guys aren't just running a business--they're building memories for people, and they clearly love doing it. If you're anywhere near Crystal River, don't waste your time looking at other paddle board companies. This is the one. Between Aidan's energy, Mike's behind-the-scenes dedication, and Mandy's incredible hospitality, you won't find a better team anywhere. Do yourself a favor and book with them--you'll thank me later.

Fantastic trip with a very knowledgeable and professional crew. From check in to the boat ride it…read morewas safe and fun. We saw plenty of gators and learned a lot about them and the surrounding area. You can tell they love the lake and the animals. It is definitely worth the trip, we will be back.

Awesome experience.. everyone was super friendly.. awesome tour.. randy is an awesome guide and we…read morewere able to pet Luke their alligator..

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 ;)

Good morning, Yesterday, my son Lee, his fiancé Ashley and…read moremyself Theresa went on the boat tour through Kings Bay to see the manatees. Captain Marty, our guide, provided a beautiful history about how the manatees group together in the warm water at winter time. We also had the wonderful opportunity to see the manatees and a garr fish.. We all agree it was one of the highlights of our day.. Many thanks to Captain Marty for showing all of us a great time... Theresa from Vero Beach

I think it's important to note that there's a good change you will only see one or potentially none…read moreat all. The crew was extremely nice, but for the money, I would have done something else. We went into the cove area and there was 1 manatee that other boats were waiting to see. After one group left, we swam up, saw it for about 5 min before it swam off. That was basically the extent of it. I swam to see one of the springs. But for $500 for a family of 5; I wish there we could have seen others or at least tried to go and see other ones. It also would have been helpful if we could have had an option to cancel if they had tours that didn't see any or really low exposure that day (or been able to reschedule for a colder day).

Outstanding experience for my family and grandchildren. Josh was very knowledgeable and receptive…read moreto any questions you might have, even from a 6 year old. I'll be back with more of my family.

We had an absolutely terrific time with Capt Josh on our airboat ride! Making the appt with…read moreBrittany was very easy, then she texted prior to our ride with all the details. We were on our way from Jacksonville to Orlando, and this was the perfect location. Capt Josh somehow managed to not only drive around and give us a ton of information on the area, but also took some great pictures of the animals (and us!) ! He then transferred all the pics to my phone right before we left. What a great unexpected bonus! He also sent us some great recommends for places to eat in Orlando! Highly recommend this tour!! #TravelwiththeKirklands

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, easy entry point for a day on the river. Great time…read morekayaking with the manatees!

MANATEES ARE MAGICAL! We saw well over 30+ manatees on our late January kayaking outing. We rented…read morea 2-seater top kayak (comes w paddles and life vests). And from the staff to the dock hands, to the quality of the vessel and cleanliness of the shop: 10/10. A guide handed us a laminated map (nice touch) and told us where to head for manatee sightings. And even pointed us to a cove that homes a lot of turtles and alligators. We saw it all! They have volunteers overseeing the 3 sisters springs, to help monitor the safety of the manatees (and scold ignorant people lol). Great time! If you're unsure, let me assure you.. just book.