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.

Words cant do justice to the amazing experience it is to take out Talisa. From the first time my…read morewife and I took out the original one over five years ago to one of the most memorable valentines weekends last week. This feels Like one of the most fun FLORIDA thing you could do. First start with a slow ride on the river going swimming in one of the springs, going to a restaurant on the river and spending the night on the water with the most stars you've ever seen at night. Everywhere you take this boat it attracts smiles and questions and pictures it feels like your driving an exotic car. But with out a doubt what makes the experience really special is the owners and builders of the dream on the water Robert, Lisa ,and Michael they could not be friendlier and more accommodating it really feels like your making a new friend when you rent Talisa. We can't wait to take her out again and are definitely planning our next trip.

From the owner: ShantYacht Bareboat Charter : Where YOU are the captain! At ShantYacht, we place your safety first…read morebecause the most important part of any maritime vessel is YOU. From life vests, life ring, fire extinguisher, first aid kit to running and anchor lighting, we have gone to great lengths to insure a safe and pleasant adventure. No worries about being stranded on the river. We are covered by BoatUS who are bound by contract to provide gas and/or towing service, 24/7. We also have our own "rescue" boat, a 115 HP Yamaha Boston Whaler so you are never alone. We also believe in comfort which is why we installed six inch microfiber beds, cotton bedding and Serta pillows in an attempt to do our best to make sure you sleep in comfort with the solitude of the river. Explore, cook, sleep on the river for an adventure you don’t want to miss.

Please someone verify. They do not appear to be in business anymore. We have called for days, and…read morethere is no sign of life at their location. They have boat ads on boattrader com . Something is wrong.

This place is great. Reason why, you ask?…read more It's about the people, knowledgeable, professional, courteous, and friendly. Complete service and repairs, from a missing nut to a new motor install. Well stocked ship's store, groceries, and fuel. Great location on the river. What more could you want?

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.

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 ;)

The folks at Deland Boat Center operate at 110% ! Honest, knowledgeable and eager to help. Thank…read moreyou for getting us back on the river soaking up the Florida sun, just in time for the Holiday crowd to arrive :) Barbara B

Paul and Irene and the crew are awesome. Unfortunately it means they're always busy. Not a bad…read moreproblem to have. Merc and mercruiser are their specialty.

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

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

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!