Inflatable Kayak Blog

by Victoria L. Holt-Adams

I love to sail along the waves, taking in nature’s magnificent vistas and watching out for unique glimpses of wildlife. One particular creature, the Manatee, has been high on my personal “bucket list”. In a recent effort to see Manatees in their natural environment, I journeyed to Florida hoping to check that activity off my list. In the process of visiting some areas where Manatees were plentiful, I found that many of these were also excellent spots for sailing.

Crystal River/Kings Bay
This is a wonderful spot to just kick back and enjoy the scenery with all it has to offer. The river is tidally influenced because it is fed from Crystal Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. I honestly could not tell you how long the trip was as I spent a full day on the water and tried my hand at some diving. Sadly, I only saw one Manatee and it was rather far away from me, but still quite a majestic experience. I fully intend to go back again and maybe next time I will be lucky enough to see one up close.

Honeymoon Island State Park
This is a prime spot for a good sail. A good haul at 9 miles around the island, but it also offers a pet beach in case you are kayaking with a pet on board (though I do not recommend doing this unless your experienced with sea kayaking, and definitely not if you’re using a sail). The hiking trails on the Island offer opportunities to do a little bird watching and to take in some spectacular scenic views. You will also find a snack bar and gift shop on the Island, so you can enjoy lunch as well as your time on the water.

Weedon Island Preserve
This is a 1,046 acre park on the south west side of old Tampa Bay offering a decent spot to explore, but I don’t recommend sailing in this area because of the mangrove tunnels. Mangroves are made up of various kinds of trees growing up to medium height that are coupled with shrubs and grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics. Weedon Island also has an observation tower that is 45 feet above sea level offering breathtaking views of the surrounding area.

Anclote Key Preserve State Park
This Park is three miles off the west side of Florida and is North West of Tampa. The park is a very popular spot for boaters and sunbathers, so keep on the lookout for boat traffic and bikinis. Once you get going through the water traffic it is an opportune spot for marine life. Keep your eyes open as you may spot a Dolphin or two. Anclote Key also boasts a lighthouse. There is generally a ranger in this area, so if you’re interested in taking a tour of the lighthouse, check with the ranger on duty. Anclote is a great spot for photos and the sunset view is spectacular.

Key Largo
Key Largo is south of Florida and the most northern Key in the Florida Keys chain. It offers some of the most picturesque sites, in my humble opinion, as well as lovely cerulean waters teeming with ocean life. Coral reefs and white sandy beaches are begging for your adventures. It is home to Americas’ first undersea park, where you can Snorkel, Kayak, Fish, and Dive. An exciting treat for kayakers is that you will find a scuttled Navy ship off the coast, put there to encourage a coral reef to form, but ready and waiting to be explored.

I am predominantly a kayaker, however I often use my portable WindPaddle sail to turn my kayak into a mini sailboat. I found these Florida locations to be excellent for combining paddling and sailing. Florida is a stunning State to discover and revisit. So pack your bags, bring your sunscreen and bug repellent, but most importantly just enjoy Florida.

This article was originally published it’s author, Victoria Louise Adams in eZine Articles under the title “Five Of Florida’s Most Scenic Sailing Destinations“.

(Victoria L. Holt-Adams is the mother of two wonderful children, a stay at home mom, semi-professional photographer, and self taught graphic artist. She enjoys a myriad of other activities to stimulate her creative processes.)

I ran across a great Ezine article that shares some excellent tips for packing for kayaking trips. The essence of the article suggests that if you take a little time up front to think about where you’re going and how you are traveling there, whether it’s a car, plane or whatever, you’ll be able to come up with better ideas as to how to pack more efficiently.

The time of year you’re traveling makes a big difference, too. When you are going from one type of climate to another, there are items that can be left behind and others that must be taken. I know that sounds like common sense, but like I mentioned, you should take the time to think it through.

There are a few other good tips included explaining how she uses Ziploc bags and a waterproof bag called a Space Bag to break down the clutter and keep things organized.

Here’s a link to the kayak trip packing article. Now that I’m thinking “trips”, I just have to find a great place to go!

by Victoria L. Holt-Adams

Florida offers some of the most pleasant and appealing places to Kayak or Fish in the United States. Even though I’m giving away some of my secret fishing holes, in the spirit of camaraderie for my fellow paddlers and anglers, I’ll share my top five so you can enjoy them too.

Lake Talquin: This lake is located 20 miles west of Tallahassee and in 1927 the Jackson Bluff Dam was constructed on the Ochlockonee River to produce hydroelectric power. The waters held back by the dam formed Lake Talquin. The lake offers quite a few recreational activities such as fishing, nature walks, picnic spots, and boating. The lake is stocked with a variety of fish such as; Largemouth Bass, Shellcracker, Speckled Perch, and Bream. I recommend this lake for a day trip site only as I am unaware of any free campsites in the area.

Lake Okeechobee: There is so much to do here ranging from fishing and boating to hiking and horseback riding. The most popular recreational activity in Lake Okeechobee is fishing. Lake Okeechobee is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the state of Florida; it covers 730 miles of shallow areas up to 9ft deep water and offers more than 40 species of fish including Largemouth Bass, Blue Gill, Black Crappie, and Catfish. The scenery can be beautiful and serene at times as well as wild and tempestuous during storms.

Lake Tarpon: This lake is located south of Tarpon Springs, and it is known to be one of the best fishing lakes in Florida. Lake Tarpon offers a large variety of fish such as Sunfish, Catfish, Largemouth Bass, and Blue Gill. The lake is five miles long, one mile wide and covers 2, 500 acres of land. It offers a lot of room for exploring and wildlife viewing. It is a very popular lake so be aware of your surroundings and be respectful of others. If you’re going on the Canoe trail, watch out for alligators!

Lake Harris and its sister lakes; Griffin, Yale, Eustis, Dora and Little Lake Harris; These lakes are all very close together so some friends and I headed down here for a weekend of sun and fun, visiting each of these lakes. There is quite a bit of Bass fishing to be had in these lakes, as well as some up close views of alligators. These lakes are all very open with no shade, so bring your sunscreen and stay hydrated. This is a great area to beat the heat and enjoy your day.

Lake Kissimmee: This lake is the third largest lake in the state and has many of the same activities as the other Florida lakes. The state park offers camping facilities as well as Ranger guided tours of the lake. They do not provide boats or kayaks as far as I know. Fishing is bountiful and there are plenty of things to do while you’re there. One of the non water activities I enjoyed was the Living History Tour they have which takes you back to the 1800’s and the cattle drives. The week I spent at this lake with my friends was both informative and fun.

(Victoria L. Holt-Adams is the mother of two wonderful children, a stay at home mom, semi-professional photographer, and self taught graphic artist. She enjoys a myriad of other activities to stimulate her creative processes.)

This article was originally published it’s author, Victoria Louise Adams in Ezine Articles under the title ” Top 5 Florida Lakes For Fishing Or Kayaking “.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Love is in the air today and I have an excuse for daydreaming about a romantic getaway with my hubby. We love kayaking and I’ve always wanted to plan a surprise getaway to a really nice kayak destination. Of course, I also try to do a little advance research before undertaking any major project.

I found a very informative Ezine article on romantic getaways that breaks down the process into 5 steps from budgeting and planning to methods for keeping the trip a secret. Even the ‘romantically challenged’ can follow these tips. And it doesn’t have to be a kayaking getaway. This article applies to any type of romantic getaway. So check it out whether you’re a kayaker or not.

My only recommendation for a kayak getaway is to take a folding or inflatable kayak with you. I’m partial, but a portable kayak is so much easier to include in your travel plans than a hard shell.

By Victoria L. Holt-Adams

Florida: Just a retreat from the snow… I think not. The state of Florida is not just for snow birds anymore. Many of my fellow water sporting friends are making Florida’s picturesque lakes, rivers, and oceans their winter sporting stomping grounds.  Through many long hours of pouring over past trips and various humorous events, I decided to share my top 5 River Trips in Florida.

My top five, must paddle list comes from Central Florida because of my numerous visits to old college buddies in Tampa. Without further delay, here are:

Victoria’s Top 5 Florida River Paddling Victories

1.       Hillsborough River- (14 miles)  I like Hillsborough River because your kayaking adventure can extend anywhere from 4 miles to 14 miles long if you have someone willing to pick you up at the end of the trip. The Hillsborough River tour is divided into four segments, allowing you to paddle them all at once (14 miles one-way, requiring a complete day), or try each section individually. You get to see a plethora of wildlife, and an old railroad bridge that makes for great photos. There are other more difficult sections on this river that I would not recommend unless you are an experienced paddler, because the entire trip in one day can be quite exhausting for beginners. I’m anxiously awaiting our next college reunion so I can explore a different route, do some fishing and just enjoy the scenery.

2.       Little Manatee River- (6 miles) A half dozen miles one way located in southeastern Hillsborough County, this paddleway has many opportunities to stop and rest, which makes it great for beginners. Depending on the water level, the Little Manatee can be more difficult for experienced paddlers as well. The river heads into Marsh lands and sadly there are some housing developments expanding toward the river, but it still makes for a pleasant paddle and offers opportunities for photographing wildlife.

3.       Chassahowitzka, pronounced “Chaz-wits-kuh” – (7 miles) This waterway is a 7 mile round trip loop of the springs that make up the river.  It has the advantage of offering you a nice paddle in some very clear water, but beware of the alligators. Safety tip: If you leave them alone they will leave you alone! Take along some bug repellant … the mosquitoes are fierce, and I do recommend getting a GPS unit to keep you from getting lost. The park rangers recommend getting a map at the Campgrounds, and go during the week or you won’t be able to find a parking spot.

4.       The Alafia River pronounced “Al-a-fy” -  (10 miles) This tributary offers a 10 mile long trip from Alderman’s Ford County Park to Lithia Springs Park. The canal is a bit of a challenge with a few rapids, sharp turns, and cypress branches that you have to navigate, but the scenery more than makes up for it.  A state park resides further up the road, but my friends and I did the 10 mile run and then went for a nice cozy swim at Lithia Springs before we camped for the night.

5.       Homosassa River- Homosassa Springs trip- When my friends and I decided to go on a short paddle trip my last Day in Florida, I told them I wanted something easy, relaxing, and scenic.  The Homosassa Springs fulfilled that wish and so much more. We stopped off at Monkey Island, and yes there are partially tamed monkeys that were very interested in the fruits I had packed for a snack. We continued on to Homosassa Springs and Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park where the wildlife photo ops were plentiful.

Central Florida is such a beautiful and picturesque state. It is well worth planning a winter trip to enjoy everything the semi tropical environment has to offer.

(Victoria L. Holt-Adams is the mother of two wonderful children, a stay at home mom, semi-professional photographer, and self taught graphic artist.  She enjoys a myriad of other activities to stimulate her creative processes.)

This article was originally published it’s author, Victoria Louise Adams in Ezine Articles under the title “Top 5 Florida River Paddling Destinations“.