This place is a gem! We love to kayak the waterways here. This time we worked up an appetite! Since we never saw gators, I ordered gator tacos at the tasty food vendor on site. My daughter enjoyed her Philly cheesesteak quesadilla! We took it back to our seat at the bar. We enjoyed great selections and the view! Service was elite level, always making sure we enjoyed our time. We will come back again someday! read more

Wekiva Island - Classical good time bar! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

Such a wicked spot. Enjoy the spring and rent paddle boards or just relax in a cabana or on the adirondack chairs along the water side. They have a full bar and a food truck, we got fish nuggets which was yummy with a cold beer.. After a nice bike ride along the trail we rode in for a quick stop but we will be back! read more

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Love this the place great for a spring or summer afternoon. The food is amazing and healthy and service is super fast. It s so relaxing here. Great to lounge or go kayaking. read more

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Hidden gem in seminole county. Staff are friendly. Many things to do like volleyball, swimming, kayaking and canoing. There is a food truck with very good food. Love the ability to rent a cabana and have a friendly campout read more

Wekiva Island - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

Yeah this place is pretty fun. Lots of stuff to do. The have kayak and canoe rentals with very fair prices. They have like 13+ miles of trails you can enjoy with lots of geocaching. Their swim hole is really nice as well. Haven't had a bad time here! Enjoy nature! read more

Great outdoor venue for kayaking and paddle boarding and swimming ! You can rent canoes there or bring your own. It's $5 per person and no time limit. There is seating area , or you can rent cabanas. Tons of food trucks to get burgers , onion rings and fries , fish tacos and a variety of drinks. Water is from a natural spring so it's cold but the kids loved it ! Staff is super cool and mostly teenagers at the entrance. We've been coming here for over 25 years and I really enjoyed it ! read more

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A tried and true Florida hangout spot. In the spring and summer, kayaking is a blast. We personally love the bar and the sangria. The food truck in the back serves tons of delicious options, and many vegetarian choices! Our favorite guilty pleasure is their pesto fries. Love to just grab a drink, snack and chill on the riverside. Always professional and kind service! read more

Wekiva Island - Sangria - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

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Extremely relaxing, students are respectful . I enjoy it always. The aura is so calming feeling.

Absolutely loved this slightly hidden gem for a sunny day trip! The fact that entrance to the island is free blows my mind! The open space, available tongue chairs, boardwalk, bar, food truck, and restrooms are top tier for a family day, hanging with friends, enjoying live music, or a date. The bar was very reasonably priced with beers around $5. They had a large selection on draft and a few cocktails available too. Though the bar was constantly busy, staff were quick and friendly. There are a few spots where you can take a ladder down into the springs, or just do a cannonball off the boardwalk, to enjoy the refreshing waters. read more

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Pretty cool place. But has a lot of rules. My girlfriend rented a cabana today for her 50th birthday. They were allowed to bring food and drinks but no alcohol. But if you're a guest you can't bring any food or Drinks in. They do have a big full bar and someone said there was like a big full bar and food. They made us pay $10 per paddle board Even though we brought our own. You can also rent kayaks there. For a Monday it was pretty packed.! Most people just hang out in the swimming area which is about waist deep by the shore. Then you can kayak or paddle board up and down the river. Some people brought their own tubes. We rented the Cabana from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We had a good day. This place also has an art gallery upstairs. Go early for the party or come later for a nice evening feel. read more

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Had the best time watching my favorite local band, Life On Mars at the Island! I haven't been to the island since I was a kid, and it was awesome coming back! The food truck on property is excellent, as well as the bar! All of the staff treats you like family and the crowd is just the best. Such a great place to hangout with friends! read more

Wekiva Island - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

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If you're looking for a place where you can swim and rent kayaks and paddle boards while staying away from the crowds in Central Florida, this is your place. Are their prices a bit higher than other springs in the area? That's what it looks like, but you'll have a better quality experience here. We rented the double kayak, which was well maintained and easy to rent/return. read more

I love this place! And I love the fact that they have a bar here, and food, as well as all the "nature" things to do. I come here often, sometimes to swim, other times to just sit at the bar and have a cold beer on a hot day. It is just a nice place to relax and people watch as well. While I love going to Wekiva Springs, that is so much more of a trek, plus you have to pay admission. Here, you just park and walk to the river. I came here for a WDBO event and they had it set up great- there is a small bar inside that was where they set up Erick Erickson, it was a great room, small but not tiny, a great place to rent for a private party! This place has the best of all worlds... read more

This review is long overdue. We've been to Wekiva....umm...yes I lost count . Love the nature ambiance and endless option of water activities. If you want to keep it simple, you can literally just hang out in the lake. They also have a bar with so many craft beer options and they even have wine on tap! If you get a little hungry, they have a food truck, Without a Paddle Cafe, which offers seafood and even vegan options! Hubby and I have gone just us 2 and we've also visited with friends. They have open seating free of charge and they do have cabanas to rent that come with private entry to the lake with a grill. One of my favorite places in Florida! read more

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First time visiting Wekiva Island decided to go to see their Christmas decorations. Great decorations and ambiance. This place is amazing especially in the summer time to grab a drink from the bar and sit next to the lake. They have a bar and a food truck with a lot of options. You can also rent a canoe or a kayaks an enjoy a day in the water. If you have your own you, they have some spots on the side to park your own canoe or kayak. Great place for families and kids. Parking is big but since it gets full so is better to come early. read more

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Had a blast at Wekiva!!! Perfect cabana (#2) day with friends. Staff frequently checked in, provided ice and ice water. Everyone is so friendly and eco-conscious. Chill vibe, and welcoming to all. Did not try the food since we brought our own, but definitely smelled delicious! Will do this again! read more

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Have been coming to Wekiva Island since I was in high school. Love the layout with lots of room to be near the water or hang back by the bar. They also have other activities like kayaking and volleyball. The service is always great and I cannot sing enough praise for their food truck! The food options on the food truck are awesome and include a variety of selections. Anything fried from here is incredible! I do not know what they put in their batter but OH MY is it good. They even decorate for the holidays and it is very cute. Keep in mind this is natural spring water so it is very cold regardless of the time of year for swimming. My only complaint is they do not have a full liquor bar its beer, wine and malt based drinks only. I'm sure that has something to do with licensing, but it does limit your drink options. Also limits mixers and sodas to the can and bottle since they do not have a spray gun drink system behind the bar. Be sure to get here EARLY on the weekends. They have a very limited parking lot and reach capacity by about 10am on the weekends. There is no other parking nearby as they are located at the end of a residential road with no street parking. read more

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Really fun spot, there's so much to do here. You can play volleyball, kayak, paddle board, have a drink, have a bite or just take a swim. The springs are beautiful. It's a laid back vibe and everyone is just having a good time. Their bartenders are friendly. They have a wide selection of beer and wine. I loved their frozen mango strawberry margarita with sangria. Very refreshing on a hot day. Their food was surprisingly good. I've been to similar springs before and the food is always bottom of the barrel, not here. Their gator bite tacos were awesome and flavorful. Their Philly was everything you could want out of a Philly. Both of these were excellent recommendations from the attendant at the window. I love kayaking and was glad that it was available here. It was a scenic ride... the only part I wasn't fond of is there was no end in sight... i figured the river would just loop around after an hour or so. Nearly two hours in, we realized we hadn't seen another person for quite sometime.. We were just there alone and low key afraid for our lives haha. We turned around and paddled like our lives depended on it... finally about half an hour later we started seeing people so we knew we were safe. I guess it was somewhat our fault for not asking what it would be like.. but I will remove a star from an otherwise perfect experience because part of me feels the staff should have explained what to expect out there especially because they asked if it was our first time. Overall we had a great time here. Good food and drinks, fun activities and great vibes. I would for sure return here next time I'm in the area. read more

Wekiva Island - Gator tacos - very good! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

I wanted to take a moment to review all of the things on the island: Kayak rentals: the staff was friendly as we filled out our forms to rent the kayak and they told us not to get out of the kayaks as people have been stealing them. The island was getting busy so they seemed to handle it with ease and gave everyone a mini lesson who didn't know how to kayak. It was a great price for all day! About 50 bucks for a double. Bar: prices for beer was decent! About 6-7 bucks and we enjoyed sitting and watching the river. I have to say there is absolutely NO TOLERANCE FOR UNDERAGE DRINKING. We had witnessed staff calling the police on some kids who were drinking near the cabanas that were underage. You have to buy drinks from the bar , and they will check your ID. The island in general got super busy so come early if you can! There is a good truck that has a ton of food for decent prices. This is a fun place to be at when the weather gets hot and a different and unique place to go to besides the beach. read more

It's definitely a hidden gem in the area. I was recommended by a co-worker to give this place a try. It was so worth it. I got to relax with family and enjoy some ice cream and delicious tacos from the food truck on site. All of the staff were friendly and helpful with guidance. The view was amazing. I sat by the water and listened to my book. I will be back in a week to enjoy it again.thank you for such an amazing experience. My family got to kayak, and I will be kayaking next time, too. I might even paddle board. Lol, let's see how adventurous I will be. I would recommend that you bring a hat to block the sun from your face. read more

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On a recent anniversary trip, we had an unbelievable experience at @wekivaisland and @wekiwa.springs.state.park We enjoyed a kayak trip on the Wekiwa River and swam in the swimming hole at the Wekiwa Springs State Park. The pictures and videos are just a glimpse into the beauty and peace of the surrounding nature. We lounged in the adirondack chairs along the river and enjoyed a delicious lunch at Without a Paddle Cafe. I'm always one to try new craft beers, and The Tooting Otter has plenty of beer, wine, and cold beverage options. Prices were reasonable, and the service was amazing. We'll definitely be planning a trip back with our entire family!! read more

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Wekiva island is a great spot to spend your weekends at! Food, water activities, cabanas, volleyball, they have it all! Highly recommend the frozen sangria and trying food from their resident food truck. The quesadillas are always delish! read more

Wekiva Island - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

This is an amazing spot just outside of Orlando that is obviously much more local and less tourist than many other spots. They have lots of seating along the river for enjoying the sun, a delicious bar with fantastic service, and an even better food truck along with volleyball and kayaks for rent. We had the gator tacos, homemade chips and salsa, and onion rings and everything tasted amazing. It farrr exceeded my expectations and was well worth the cost. After eating, we rented a tandem kayak and explore the local springs. You can either go on a longer route that takes you through less populated areas and is so peaceful and natural, or take a shorter route to Wekiwa Springs State Park where you can park your kayak and go for a swim in the springs. We ended up doing both and it was a fantastic time. I love how they've taken a simple concept along a river/springs and turned it into such a fun and exciting spot. I would absolutely come back here and maybe even reserve one of the specific reservable areas along the river to relax and hang out with friends! read more

Wekiva Island - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

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Cool place by the water with parking and an extensive list of beers. It is entirely an outdoor establishment with mosquitos and everything. It is very country style with wood and bricks everywhere. However, they don't permit pets so if you are enjoying the outdoors with your dog, you can't stop here for a beer with your family. I'm confused about their policy since the place doesn't even have tables and it is completely outdoor by the trees and water. I imganir. A lot of people asked the same since the area is great for families to take a vacation and enjoy nature. read more

Wekiva Island - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

We always have an amazing time at Island Great place to have lunch and drinks, go canoeing and check out great views and maybe a gator or 2 Support local!! Highly recommend eating at Without a paddle cafe!!! Delicious food!! They even have vegan menu read more

Wekiva Island - Fish tacos at Without a paddle cafe - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

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I was invited here for a family members Company picnic. It was such a treat and I am glad I was put on to this specific spot/area. They have a big food truck with so many choices for food that smelled great. Although we ate the Companys food they served us I was very tempted to see what theirs was about. I will def have to try on our next visit. Also, the bar area is pretty big and so many seating areas throughout with shade so you don't have to worry about that. The music that was playing was lots of country but I didn't mind it for the outdoors and vibes you get there. We got to do the kayaking and that was super neat too. The river has some calming scenic effects and lots of nature and animals to see. The restrooms are tidy and staff is helpful. Again, great for a quick chill weekend. read more

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We love it here! Christmas time is elite but it's great all year round! Family friendly, fun and a great day/night Kids day, family day, date, girls day, anything works here. You can rent kayaks or canoes, you can swim, drink or eat. The food truck is expensive but the food is good. Worth a trip! read more

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First time coming at night! Super chill vibe and would've been great to invite friends! We ate and then sat by the water as we listened to the music. Hope this place stays fun for locals! read more

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A cold beer on a Friday night with live music makes it a perfect place for date night or a relaxing kick off to the weekend with friends. I recommend getting there at golden hour to sit on the dock and enjoy nature as the sun goes down. read more

Wekiva Island - bar area inside - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

Bugs and mosquitoes can be bad at time. It's a beautiful kayaking experience specially if you go early morning, not too early. Bugs and mosquitoes can be bad at time. It's a beautiful kayaking experience specially if you go early morning, not too early. read more

I was looking forward for a long time to go to Wekiva Island, and finally had the opportunity to go. We went on a Friday around noon and stayed for about three hours. We lounged by the river, they have furniture/beach chairs and picnic tables all around the place. We paid $2 per person to get in, and ordered a couple of beers from the bar. We didn't eat or rent any gear, we saw that they rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, etc. We did see the prices and consider in the future going back. You can get on the water at your own discretion because there can be alligators, snakes and other creatures. River at this point water is dark, not dirty, compared to the springs were water is crystal clear and you can see your feet easily. I jumped in for a second and it was deep, and couldn't see anything. It was pretty cool though. The cons, I would say the not dogs/pet allowed policy, that's a bummer, since I'm a big dog person and like to go places with my pug. no biggie though, we understand and we were checking in, and now we know. For what I experienced, I giving them 5 stars for what we went for. We lounged by the river and consume some drinks, we didn't buy any food or pay for other services. In general, we enjoyed our day there and recommend read more

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Jerks. Just needed to load a canoe and made us carry it to the back parking lot first

We absolutely loved our trip to Wekiva Island-- It was a great outdoor excursion while staying in Orlando! We were a little apprehensive on our drive in, as we worried the long line for the nearby state park was for Wekiva Island. However, we were pleasantly surprised that our patience was rewarded with the organization at Wekiva Island. We were guided to a parking spot after a short wait. This was 9:30am on a Saturday and we were able to make it in. We paid $45 for a full day of a 3 person canoe. In actuality, it was too hot and tiring past 2pm so we ultimately gave up and headed for the volleyball courts, but the experience was definitely still worth it! Since we started early and beat the crowds, we were lucky to spot many alligators from a distance. We saw 12+ babies, and a handful of adolescents and adults too! We also saw a raccoon, otter, and many fish and birds. I would encourage you to be respectful and quiet to spot the most wildlife safely! It was completely worth it and an awesome experience! read more

Wekiva Island - 10 baby alligators - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

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This place is really great. Fun for kids and adults. There is canoeing, swimming, volleyball, a food truck, and cabanas. They do a lot of special events for Christmas and other holidays. The staff is always nice and the food is good at the food truck. 10/10 read more

Wekiva Island - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

Just a 20 minute drive north of Orlando sits this local's paradise for chillin out. Affectionately called the "Red Neck Riveria" Wekiva Island is an instituition located on a scenic tip of the Wekiva River. Activities include paddleboards, kayaking, swimming, volleyball and corn hole. Try a new tap beer from their large selection and relax riverside in the many Adirondeck chairs. The "Without a Paddle" food truck is there with seafood, burgers, hot dogs, taco and vegan options. The kayaking is very scenic and highly recommended and you will see some gators and other wildlife. So, there are gators in these waters, but there is very rarely any incidents. Live music includes some of the areas top bands for free in a very intimate setting. Put this place on your list. Taste **** Quality/Freshness **** Presentation/Uniqueness *** Service *** Atmosphere ***** Bar ***** Cleanliness **** Value ***** read more

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It's a pretty nice place to visit, put your feet in. Saw a friendly Florida softshell turtle (bullnose) and a water snake (non-venomous). Didn't see any gators this round, unfortunately. Fridays really aren't the best time to come. It's packed and a large amount of rude people. If you come other days of the week, Sunday-Thursday, you get the southerly crowd. Better chance for seats too. Brown chairs are available, green are reserved. They have some nice local beers on tap. Frozen sangria and another frozen beverage. Water is warmer than up stream at the head of the springs. Not by a lot, but every degree counts at this point! They offer rentals as well. You can launch your own vessel for a fee. read more

What a cool place to stop along the way while kayaking down the river. They have easy access to exit the river where you can land your canoe or kayak. There is a bar and restaurant plus lounge chairs and tables to relax at. They have a small amount of activities onsite and you can rent you canoe/kayak there also. The river is easy to navigate and is beautiful. Gazebo and event rental space is also available. read more

Wekiva Island - Dock with built in landing for canoes and kayaks so you can stop for a rest or bite to eat. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Longwood, Florida

Wekiva island is a busy fun peaceful place to bring the family and enjoy the water. It is Florida at its best. Locals often come to take a dip, have a drink, and enjoy time in one of the most beautiful places in the state. The food trucks provide great food and the bar has some refreshing drinks both leaded and unleaded. If you want a peaceful refreshing place to enjoy some time on the Wekiva river hit up Wekiva Island. read more

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Wekiva has always been a favorite spot but once we learned about the island, we started visiting more frequently! If you plan on renting a kayak, the waiver you sign lasts for a year so if you go often like I do, you should be fine after signing the waiver once. The view down the River is amazing and depending on the day they're might be more or less water traffic. Each time we go we always see a couple of gators, turtles and birds while we're out kayaking on the water and it's a cool experience but these waters are inhabited with wild fish and snakes etc; so if you're planning on swimming, either do so at your own discretion (and risk getting bit by a fish or otherwise) or just go down to the main part of the springs (safer for swimming) which is accessible by kayak (down the river) or by car from a separate entrance. read more

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I've made so many beautiful memories at Wekiva Island.There's swimming, kayaking, canoeing and a fantastic bar.The eats from the local food truck really hits the spot.They have live music and events on select dates.All and all this is a peaceful water oasis treasured by locals our Orlando community. read more