We'll be headed to Florida for a few weeks soon and hope to do some boating on our own in the Everglades and Keys and perhaps on the Big O. Last year wifey and I had a great time van-camping and kayaking in central Florida but this year I'd like to head further south and also rent a small jon or vee boat for at least a half-day at a time in several different places. We don't need anything fancy, we would just be putting around any gunkholes to look for purty posies and intrestin' critters. Anyone familiar enough with this area to recommend someplace to rent a small outboard boat at a reasonable price?
Let me also make some recommendations from our last trip:
Juniper Springs: a top-five-in-the-US canoeing destination. After launching in barely enough water to float over the bubbling sands, you wind through five miles of canopy before emerging into full sunlight for the last few miles of ultra-pretty little river (we'd call this a 'creek' back home). Super-clear water, interesting Florida flora and fauna, not one house or cabin along the way. Juniper Springs is 40-plus miles due west of Daytona in the Ocala National Forest.
Rainbow River-- we kayaked upstream from Rainbow Springs State Park and then floated back down. But we wished we'd had a power boat to continue exploring further. We saw six river otters 200 yds upstream from the launch, our first spider lillies, and fish everywhere in the super-clear water among the always-waving aquatic plants.
Rainbow Springs State Park is north of Dunellon, FL. A boat launch is available at KP Hole County Park nearby.
Let me also make some recommendations from our last trip:
Juniper Springs: a top-five-in-the-US canoeing destination. After launching in barely enough water to float over the bubbling sands, you wind through five miles of canopy before emerging into full sunlight for the last few miles of ultra-pretty little river (we'd call this a 'creek' back home). Super-clear water, interesting Florida flora and fauna, not one house or cabin along the way. Juniper Springs is 40-plus miles due west of Daytona in the Ocala National Forest.
Rainbow River-- we kayaked upstream from Rainbow Springs State Park and then floated back down. But we wished we'd had a power boat to continue exploring further. We saw six river otters 200 yds upstream from the launch, our first spider lillies, and fish everywhere in the super-clear water among the always-waving aquatic plants.
Rainbow Springs State Park is north of Dunellon, FL. A boat launch is available at KP Hole County Park nearby.
