Three of us had a great kayaking experience with Discovery Kayak & SUP at Silver Springs State Park…read morethis past weekend. Ryan Toler, owner and tour guide, supplied all the necessary equipment. He also verified who was experienced and who needed instructions before setting out. Ryan grew up in the area, so he knows the springs and river like the back of his hand. He shared the history of the area from pre-Spanish times to the present. He even calls the various reptiles, turtles and birds by name. We saw a manatee which he was able to capture via an underwater video and share with everyone. Plus he staged the three of us to get a photo for a memory keepsake. The weather was beautiful, and the paddling was easy. It could not have been a better experience. I highly recommend Discovery Kayak & SUP for a special Nature retreat.

Great staff. Friendly and knowledgeable…read more They gave information about where to look for Manatees, gators, monkeys and of course, the Spring. The shuttle pickup was comfortable and on time. They helped load our kayaks back onto our vehicles. Super trip.

Atmosphere and Environment: Silver Springs is absolutely…read morebeautiful. The water is crystal clear and bright blue, making it easy to see straight to the bottom. The springs are peaceful, relaxing, and surrounded by nature. Visiting in November made the experience even more special because it is manatee season and we were able to see many of them swimming together from a safe distance. Customer Service: The staff and guide were excellent. They were friendly, knowledgeable, and very attentive. Our guide shared fun facts, pointed out wildlife, warned us when boat tours were approaching, and never rushed us. We were given plenty of time to enjoy the manatees and take everything in. Which made the tour feel calm and well organized. Cost: The tour cost about fifty dollars per person and was completely worth it. Booking online was easy, I recommend booking early, and I have used this company before with great experiences each time. Overall Experience: This was our second time doing this kayak tour and it was even better than the summer visit. The November manatee experience was unforgettable. If kayaking is not your thing, Silver Springs also offers a glass bottom boat tour. This is one of my favorite places to bring my husband. It is beautiful, relaxing, and something I highly recommend.

Sam was awesome. We went for the early tour with clear kayaks and it was amazing. We saw lots of…read moremanatees up close. One even nudged our kayak a bit. With the early session, mist was rising over the water and it was quiet and really peaceful. The water is so clear. Sam was polite and professional and has a lot of experience and knowledge. Highly recommend Sam and Get Up and Go Kayaking.

We had a awesome time!! Our tour guide Chris was GREAT,…read moreNot only did we see some much wildlife, Chis took videos and photos. I would 100% recommend them if you want to kayak tour at Silver springs.

Fun adventure! We had a large group but we still felt like attention was paid to each of us. Very…read moreinformative. Even though we had no monkey sightings (because it was a super chilly day),the excitement of the gators kept us warm!

Excellent brunch food and the service was even better, we had a cuban and chicken sandwich. I think…read morethe chef was Mori, absolutely amazing food! The waiter was Michelle and she is the embodiment of southern hospitality. Thank you so much for an excellent experience, we came on a Monday and there was no wait at all, we will definitely be visiting again next time we are in the area.

Wait wasn't as bad as we were quoted- probably waited about an hour, a little over for a party of…read more4. We were able to sight see the grounds while we waited. Made the time go by much faster.

Decided to spend a couple hours Kayaking in Silver Springs this past Sunday. Scheduling…read morerecreational activities are difficult, to say the least; especially when seeking the perfect weather for this type of outing, but everything came together for us. We booked a 2-hour tour, which start on time, at 9 a.m. at 62 degrees and ended, exactly 2 hours later, at 71 degrees. The forecast predicted zero chance of rain with a mild 2-3 mph wind, which kept the mosquitos from biting us, or the current from being an issue, but allowed us to stay cool enough so as not to sweat. We were provided a clear kayak and were very fortunate to get Jessica, a true nature enthusiast and excellent private guide. They did have another tour group with Dylan who had at least a half dozen boats, but we were very lucky to be on our own. Personally, we enjoy doing things this way, as people have a habit of mucking it all up! I did most of the paddling while my wife took pictures and Jessica shared some of hers, as well, including ones of us. We got to see lots of turtles, birds, ducks, gators, cat fish and even monkeys. Unfortunately, Manatee season is between mid-November and the end of March, so no sightings, or otters this time, but worth every penny. Speaking of which, Frank did provide a 10% military discount and was very helpful during the booking process when I ended up on the wrong site. The only two issues, not attributed to anything Jessica did, was the tour boat company honking at tour groups, as if in a hurry (Don't Book with Them!) and other kayakers not paying attention and getting too close to baby ducks. Just as I said before, people; am I right? I highly recommend you use this company and ask for Jessica!

It was very easy to make a kayak reservation on line. My mistake was in getting in the wrong line…read morefor picking up kayaks. This rental is in the grass, end of parking lot not close to the launch area on the river. If in doubt call them & they will direct you to pickup spot. They carry the kayaks for you to the launch area. I would highly recommend them. It was a wonderful experience!

My wife and I had a WONDERFUL experience paddling this spring! Our guide Rachelle was super…read moreinformative, went at our pace, and was so sweet. We saw a bunch of fish, turtles, birds, a manatee, and a gator. Will have to return so we can see the monkeys. I definitely recommend Otter Paddle, you wont be disappointed

We had the absolute best time with Otter Paddle!! They went out of their way to make sure the…read moreexperience was as enjoyable as possible. Rachelle was so fun and taught us so much too! She had great recommendations for other spots to explore. I can't wait to book another adventure with them!!

We had such an amazing trip with Clear Canoeing. Aleigha let us know where the good spots to see…read moremanatees and monkeys and we saw both! The manatees mainly come in the winter but with her advice we where able to see a manatee in the middle of summer.

From the owner: Take a break from the everyday. Enjoy the gift of nature with Clear Canoeing. You will experience a…read morewhole new view of the outdoors.

From Tampa, it took an hour and 30 minutes to get to the river. We first wanted to take a swim in…read morethe swimming area so we went there first before it got really crazy. The area is a bit small and there isn't really a lot of sun spots for you to chill at. It is cool to experience once but I think if you tube, you still will be able to get a swim in because parts of the river are pretty deep. After the swim area, we headed to the tubing section. It is a 15 minute drive from the main park entrance. The fee was 54 for two people that had an annual pass. Highly recommend bringing a small cooler with snacks and drinks and an extra tube for it. It took us about 2 hours to float back to our car and the river is very calm and relaxing. I've floated a river in San Antonio but wasn't as nice as Rainbow springs. Very clean and the water is sooo clear. Overall, really enjoyed our day visit to this state park!

Our tubing trip down the river was pretty, but it was quite boring. It took us two hours to float…read morefrom the entrance to exit, and it was extremely slow. We kept getting stuck in trees and bushes. The fun part was getting to swim in the clear water and passing off our tubes to a floating friend to hold onto. We also saw an otter. The lady at the rental station was very generous and let us borrow multiple pairs of goggles and masks. There were a bunch of motorboats passing by and blasting their music. They disturbed us with their waves and noise. It was around $27 per person in addition to $5 for one vehicle, and we paid all the fees upon entrance to the parking lot. They take you on a safari-like tram to get to the tubing entrance. I strongly recommend water shoes because my friends were suffering while barefoot on the hot ground. The walk was unexpectedly long and painful for my barefoot friends. They don't have showers or any sort of water spout/hose, so it was kind of gross to not be able to rinse the river gunk off then drive hours back to a major city. They have restrooms, but they were already closed when we walked from the river exit back to the tube station, even though the actual park wasn't closed yet, and there were still employees there. This was very inconvenient, and I wish they had at least told us in advance because we didn't have a place to change. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the restrooms to stay open while the park is open. Also, they have you sign a waiver that says you must wear a lifejacket at all times. They didn't even offer us one, so I was baffled why they made us sign a waiver that said that. Can't they get into legal trouble if they don't actually provide lifejackets? I was troubled by the fact that we had to sign something that wasn't in the slightest bit enforced.

Rented jet ski last year and after a breakdown on the water and a local boater was able to tow me…read moreback in, was promised a free rental to which I came back to redeem and was told that was never agreed upon. Look on Facebook marketplace for jet ski rentals in this area they are more trustworthy.

I wrote a review two weeks ago for Get Wet Watersports. It was for a top notch experience. My wife…read moreand I got married that day and followed the ceremony with a boat ride around Lake Dora, and the canal to Lake Harris. The owner, Mark, is really nice, really professional and super accommodating! Well, my wife's mother is coming for a visit tomorrow, and I called Mark on short notice to see what he had available. Fortunately, tomorrow is a weekday in the Fall, so he could accommodate a boat for all day just a day in advance! My other review has been relegated to the "not recommended" section of YELP reviews. This happens to me with my own business, so I always view the "not recs" when I check out a YELP page. I think the "algorithm" they use is wonky. So I recommend you check the "Not recs" too. Get Wet has a nice selection of well-maintained boats. Are they like brand new? Come on! Rented pontoon boats? But the value is awesome, because the boats work, they give you a safety briefing, and they are SUPER-NICE! I would rather have my own boat, but since I don't, Mark at Get Wet is my go-to guy. I don't usually gush in my reviews, but I am REALLY happy with these people, and I haven't even gotten to my second booking yet! I wish I were as happy with YELP!

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 ;)