No one answers the phone and the voice mail is full. It has been that way for months so don't waste…read moreyour time.

We had an amazing time doing the 2 hour Silver Springs river tour with Captain Debbie and Captain…read moreAdam. They were both very informative and made it a super relaxing and fun tour. They were also really prompt with getting back to us on scheduling and very accommodating to our schedule. We saw several different birds, alligators, manatees and monkeys on the tour. Thanks so much for making our last day in Florida a wonderful one!

I had an amazing adventure at The Castaways on the River. They are dog friendly and don't have an…read morecharge extra. They make things so much easier by renting boats and pontoons, and convenient accommodations. They went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable. We originally booked room 100 (see photo of map). However they had a bad storm and they had to move us to cottage #3. It's perfect for a small group of 2-4. You can still see the lake from the balcony while you rock in your chairs. The cottage has everything from a coffee maker to toiletries. Check out their website. It's resourceful and it explains the layout of the cottages very well. We got there late but just in time to meet Cindy at the front office who already had a lock box ready with our key and all instructions just in case we got there past 5pm. The next morning we woke up and walked up to front desk to pick up all the instructions from Cindy to our pontoon. They give precise directions in navigating the lake and getting to the springs. It's about 30-40 minutes to get to the springs. We took our time since it's such a beautiful trip. The only thing that was I inconvenient is that you have to stop and fill up the gas tank at a specific place before you return the pontoon. Astor is a small town. We stopped at Buc-ees in Daytona Beach and purchased everything for our trip. It's great for all those snacks and drinks you will need. After a day at the springs we drove to a restaurant called Castaway. It was packed but a great atmosphere with locals watching college football with their families. I plan on making this a yearly vacation!!!!

RIP OFF BUSINESS! GREEDY and IGNORANT! The office staff was…read morenot very friendly to start out. The room we rented was old and needed alot of work,cleaning,painting, furniture, appliances. A good pressure washing would be nice. Above all that the price was very high and then they overcharged me for an extra night ! I called to advise them but they were not interested in listening only about the money for them! I would NOT reccomend this place to anyone! Alot of better businesses in Astor then Castaways.

We checked in on the 24th of April 2026. The cabin looked like it was falling apart on the outside…read more The inside was clean and okay. But the office is also a bar and it says it closed at 9:00pm . We were up probably until 3:00am because the bar was still open and a lot of noise. And also the boat slips are really small. It broke the light off the top of the booat. The people were friendly but las night and early this morning everyone there was intoxicated. We were afraid to say anything. Didn't get much sleep at all. And we have a 4 hour drive home.

From the owner: Bait/Tackle - Cabin/Boat rentals - Beer/Wine Bar Directly on…read morethe St. John's River in Astor Florida Cabins are fully furnished and sleep 2-6 people. Each unit has a kitchen and bath, flat screen TV with cable and internet. 100 yards to public boat ramp. Quiet, friendly atmosphere.

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

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 ;)

Really worth it! This tour of lake Dora and the Dora canal is so worth i! The narrators are…read moreawesome. We saw so many wild creatures, including gators, and a multitude of birds. I took my entire family and we had an absolute blast. Nature at its finest!

Very pleased with the trip, and the staff was great. The area is beautiful, great relaxing trip.read more

From the minute you step onboard until the minute you leave, the staff is super attentive..we had…read moreour meals from Carrabba's and they were served promptly along with beverages . A nice ride through the waters of Hernando Beach. They get you ready for the sunset and take pictures of your group as well . You can go on back of boat for pictures arls well...Bartender/server was a lot of fun too and made our trip ...this is my 4th trip on here and it was a great time...highly recommend the Sunset Cruise, I have also sailed during the day as well and it was very nice,.

The crew are amazing always a great time to see dolphins and beautiful sunsets. If you have a…read morespecial date you are celebrating or just a great date night this is a great way to celebrate. Great food and very comfortable cruise.

Had some family in town and they requested a boat ride so hey why not an airboat right. Capt Jed…read morewas fun & made the trip enjoyable. There wasn't too many creatures out this time of year but the scenery was great. Would love to come back first of the year

Went on this airboat ride yesterday and I must say it did not disappoint. Captain Jed airboat ride…read morewas the best. Our captain was Joe. Love the tour!! He was very friendly and knowledgeable He even extended the trip. Saw manatees, turtles, birds and a small gator sunbathing. Highly recommend our Captain Joe! He also suggested many places to eat and we choose one, Brian's BBQ!! So good! Thanks again for a well spent day. Ruth and Katrina

I decided to have a mini adventure in the town of Astor, FL. I have never been on a boat tour and…read moredecided to try this one out. I must say I was impressed. We were greeted by the captain, a very funny and knowledgeable man. Once we are seated he goes over the safety rules. The boat sails off and we go out an hour away. Throughout this ride the captain shares the history of the area, facts about wildlife and his funny jokes! As you can see by the pictures I uploaded it is definitely a sight to behold. We saw native birds, beautiful eagles, turtles and yes lots of alligators! After we arrived back we had dinner at Blackwater Inn again a magnificent ending to the day. I highly recommend this tour, makes for a great date or nice way to spend the day. Fee is worth it $25 per person.

I am always skeptical of cheesy touristy boat tours captained by some local fry cook. This was…read moreabsolutely one of the best tours of any kind I've been on. The price is 25.00 per person which isn't a bad price. The boat is clean and in good shape and even has a bathroom on board. The trip lasts 2 hours and is packed full of humor and facts about the st. Johns and Florida in general. I learned a whole bunch of things I never knew and I've lived in Florida for 35 years. We saw alligators, birds, manatees, and local flora and fauna. We saw several bald eagles and even went into an alligator nest with 20 / 30 babies scurrying around. The whole experience was wonderful. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone interested in two hours of humor and interesting facts about Florida.