Boat Tours
Northwest Florida
The 538-acre Weeki Wachee Springs State Park (January archive) is located at 6131 Commercial Way in Weeki Wachee. Open daily. Check for updated times and events. Admission (boat tour included): adults-$13; Ages 6-12 costs $8; Free for children 5 and under. Call 352-592-5656 or go to www.weekiwachee.com or www.FloridaStateParks.org.
The Crystal River Preserve State Park (January archive) is one of the finest natural settings the state of Florida has to offer—a place that puts you in touch with the untouched. Call 352-563-0450 or go to www.dep.state.fl.us
Northeast Florida
Marine Discovery Center (July archive) is located at 520 Barracuda Blvd. in New Smyrna Beach. Advance reservations are required. Sunset and Twilight Eco Tours costs $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and students, $60 for family with 2 children; $10-children under 12. Kayak Ecotours are $30-adult, and $20 for children ages 6-12. For more information, call 386-4284828 go to www.marinediscoverycenter.org.
TurtleMoundTours (May archive) is located at New Smyrna Beach, and docked at JB’s Fish Camp and Restaurant. Two-hour tour/$100/6-8 people on Indian River Estuary or along the coast. Call 286-409-9325 or go to www.TurtleMoundTours.com
The Victory III in St. Augustine (October Archive) departs for a 1-hour-and-15 minute narrated tour daily: (April 1-October 15) from the downtown municipal marina at 11 am; 1, 2:45, 4:30 and 6:45 pm. Oct 16-Jan 1, it departs at 11 am; 1, 2:45, and 4:30 p.m. Feb 1-Mar 31 tours at 11 am; 1, 2:45, and 4:30 pm. Call 904-824-1806 or go to www.scenic-cruise.com.
Central Florida
Premier Boat Tours in Mount Dora runs daytime and sunset tours on the Dora Canal. Go to www.doracanaltour.com or for reservations call 352-434-8040.
Experience the swamp: call 800-500-5583 for more information about Babcock Wilderness Adventures (October Archive) located at 8000 State Road 31 in Punta Gorda, or go to www.babcockwilderness.com.
(West) Central Florida
On the Starlite Dining Cruise in St. Petersburg, the Luncheon tour is best for sightseers, but for the romantics there is a three-hour dinner-cruise from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. that showcases the sunset, stars, city lights and cool breezes, with a band and dance floor in the dining room. The Sunday luncheon cruise features a New Orleans jazz band and dancing. Call or go to www.starlitediningcruises.com
or call 1-800-444-4814.
Southwest Florida
Charlotte Sierra Club offers FREE (donations accepted) outings with certified Florida Master Naturalist guides. Must provide your own watercraft and be able to swim. For full calendar of events, go to www.Florida.SierraClub.org/CharlotteHarbor.
J. C. Cruises is located at 1300 Henry Street in downtown Fort Myers. Free parking. Boats load 30 minutes prior to sailing. Check for their seasonal schedule and prices. Call 239-334-7474 or go to www.jccruises.com.
Good Fortune II adventures include private charters and the following daily cruises: Early Morning Wildlife Adventure: 8:30-10:30am daily; Leisurely Lunch Cruise: 11:30am–1:30pm; Classic Sunset Adventure: call for times and info at 239-403-4236. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida and Nature Center is located in Naples at 1450 Merrihue Dr., off Goodlette-Frank Road at 14th Avenue North. Call 239-262-0304 or visit www.conservancy.org.
Myakka River State Park (March archive) is located at 13208 SR 72 east of Sarasota. It is open every day from 8 a.m. until sunset. Boat tour (through May 31) of Upper Myakka Lake -10am, 11:30am; 1pm, 2:30pm. Adults-$12; Ages 6-12-$6; 5 and under-free in adult's lap) Arrive 30 minutes early for boarding. Call 941-361-65 11 or go to www.FloridaStateParks.org/MyakkaRiver, or www.MyakkaRiver.org.
