Adventure Kayak Florida
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Adventure Kayak Florida stands out as a comprehensive outdoor adventure hub, offering expert-led ACA-certified kayaking courses with highly knowledgeable instructors (Dennis and Jonathan) and a wide array of quality rental equipment including kayaks, 'top of the line' mountain bikes ($10/hr), fishing gear, camping equipment, and even tricycles for transporting babies to the beach. The venue is complemented by 'top notch' trails, easy beach access, and park benches for group cookouts, making it a versatile destination for active, educational, and family-friendly outdoor experiences.
Key Highlights
- ✓Expert-led ACA Level 2 kayaking courses covering basics, techniques, and tricks, taught by highly knowledgeable instructors Dennis and Jonathan.
- ✓Educational tours with Dennis, who possesses 'amazing knowledge of kayak tour planning and the local waterways as well as the Floridian flora and fauna'.
- ✓Wide selection of rental equipment beyond kayaks, including 'top of the line' mountain bikes ($10/hr), fishing gear, camping equipment, and tricycles for parents with babies.
- ✓Easy access to the beach and 'tons of park benches' available for group cookouts, facilitating diverse family activities.
- ✓Staff (like the woman at the campground rental shop) described as 'incredibly sweet, patient, and helpful', with the owner Dennis praised for 'genuinely wants people to enjoy themselves' and sharing insights for free.
Standout Features
- ⭐ACA Level 2 certified kayaking instruction with a strong focus on skill development and safety.
- ⭐Highly knowledgeable guides (Dennis) providing unique educational insights into local ecology, waterways, flora, and fauna during tours.
- ⭐Diverse rental offerings (kayaks, mountain bikes, fishing gear, camping equipment) enabling a multi-activity visit.
- ⭐Specific equipment for parents with young children, such as tricycles for beach access with a baby.
- ⭐Amenities like 'tons of park benches' for group cookouts and direct, easy beach access.
- ⭐Friendly and helpful staff, including a business owner (Dennis) willing to share expertise 'for free'.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →Consider booking an ACA Level 2 course with Dennis and Jonathan for comprehensive kayaking skills and in-depth local knowledge.
- →If you have a baby, inquire about renting a tricycle for easy and enjoyable beach transport.
- →Plan for a multi-activity day by utilizing the bike rentals for 'top-notch trails' or fishing gear in addition to kayaking.
- →Utilize the provided park benches for a group cookout, especially if visiting with multiple families or a larger party.
- →Don't hesitate to engage with Dennis for local kayaking insights, as he is known to share his expertise freely even to non-paying customers for specific tours.
Things to Consider
- ⚠No specific negative concerns or problems were reported by parents in these reviews.
Price & Value
Mountain bike rentals are available for $10 per hour, for 'top of the line' equipment. The value is enhanced by the owner, Dennis, providing free insights and knowledge about local kayaking, suggesting a strong commitment to customer experience beyond direct payment. Specific pricing for kayak rentals or courses is not explicitly mentioned, but the quality of instruction and equipment implies good value.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •Tricycle rentals available 'to take the baby to the beach' offer a specific accommodation for parents with very young children, facilitating beach access. No further details on general wheelchair accessibility or sensory accommodations were provided.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •The presence of 'tons of park benches for group cookouts' strongly suggests that outside food and picnicking are permitted and encouraged, at least in these designated areas.
🚗Parking Info
- •Not explicitly detailed, but activities originate from locations like 'Hanna Park' and a 'camp ground rental shop,' implying that convenient parking is available within a park or campground setting, typical for such outdoor venues.
👥Crowd Levels
- •One review indicates a plan to make it 'a weekend thing,' suggesting it is popular during weekends, but no specific crowd level issues or concerns (e.g., 'too crowded') were reported.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Offers ACA Level 2 kayaking courses, which inherently include comprehensive safety training and instruction in proper kayaking techniques. No other explicit safety features like staffed supervision of specific play areas or wristbands were mentioned, consistent with a guided outdoor activity provider.
⏰When to Avoid
- • No specific situations, times, or conditions were mentioned in the reviews that parents should avoid.
Pricing/Package/Events
Pricing & Packages
Guided Kayak Tours
$75.00 per person plus tax (starting)Ideal way for families to get out on the water and have lots of fun. Offers short introductory tours and overnight family kayaking adventures.
Easy Instructional Kayak Tour at Hanna Park
$65.00 per personDuration: 1-2 hours
Great for beginners and those looking for a guided kayak tour in a calm and protected environment. Led by an American Canoe Association kayak instructor who will teach the basics of kayaking. Tour begins at 8:15am and concludes by 10:15am.
Includes:
- •1 single-seat kayak
- •life jacket
- •paddle
- •guided tour
Full Moon Paddle
A popular adventure type offered.
Half-Day Tour
Duration: Half-Day
A popular adventure type offered.
Overnight Adventures
Duration: Overnight
A popular adventure type offered for families.
Includes:
- •tent
- •sleeping pad and bag
- •pillow
- •headlamp
- •camp stove
- •fuel
- •food (Mountain House dehydrated meals)
- •chair
Events & Schedule
🍎Food Policy
- • Participants should bring their own lunch and snacks (depends on trip time and duration).
- • Guides provide a cooler with ice packs for lunch and beverages, and drinking water.
- • Camping tours include food (usually Mountain House dehydrated meals).
- • Campground store sells sandwiches and snacks.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • No alcoholic beverages allowed on tours.
- • ACA instructor-led kayaking workshops and courses are offered to acquire proper safety knowledge.
- • Lead guide Dennis Thompson holds an American Canoe Association (ACA) Level 2 Coastal Kayak Instructor certification with an Adaptive Paddling endorsement, and maintains Red Cross Certified Adult CPR/AED.
- • All equipment is cleaned and inspected daily.
- • Water shoes or old sneakers are recommended to protect feet from sharp or abrasive objects around launch sites and underwater, including oyster beds.
📅Booking Policy
- • Online booking is available ('Book Online!').
- • Rentals outside regular hours require advance appointment; call 904-252-7024.
- • Walk-ups are welcome at the campground store or kayak shack by the lake for rentals.
🚗Parking Information
- • Parking is implied to be available at Hanna Park, where primary activities and rentals are located.
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Even Kallevik
6 years agoMy girlfriend and I completed the ACA Level 2 course with Dennis and Jonathan at Adventure Kayak Florida. It was definitively one of the highlights of our vacation in Florida! Jonathan is an excellent teacher of kayak basics, and we learnt a lot of different techniques and tricks from him on the first part of the course. For the second part we went out from Hanna Park to St. Johns River. This tour was led by Dennis, who has an amazing knowledge of kayak tour planning and the local waterways as well as the Floridian flora and fauna. We learned so much important, and interesting stuff, while having a blast at the same time! We would absolutely recommend doing a kayak tour or class with Dennis and Jonathan for everyone looking for something exciting to do in Florida!
Malorie Polk- Miller
4 years agoThis is such a cool place. You can rent bikes, kayaks, fishing gear, and camping equipment. There are also tons of park benches for group cookouts and there's easy access to the beach. My husband and I came for an afternoon bike ride on Saturday. The woman at the camp ground rental shop is incredibly sweet, patient, and helpful. We're definitely making this a weekend thing.
Rusty Thompson
6 years agoRented a great mountain bike here for $10/hr. It was top of the line, too. The trails are top notch My wife rented a tricycle to take the baby to the beach, too. Great store!
Tokyo Eats The Globe
2 years agoAmazing experience here, can't wait to go back!
Alicia Polk
a year agoDennis is very knowledgeable and well-versed, regarding kayaking in the area, and shared his insight with us for free! It’s not every day you come across a business owner, who genuinely wants people to enjoy themselves even if they aren’t a paying Customer so to speak! Thank you, Dennis!