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March & April Tours
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Many paddlers find they have more fun if they take our 3 hour FUNdamentals Class first, taught on most Saturdays and Sundays. Your trip will be more fun if you bring:
- PFD (Which Must Be Worn)
- Whistle, Light, Hat, Sunglasses
- Sunscreen, Water, Towel, Waterproof Camera
- Water Shoes (no flip flops please)
Trips may be cancelled if insufficient people RSVP.
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Let's have watermelon!
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March Tours
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SARASOTA BAY
- Date: Sunday, March 9
- Time: 10 am to 4:00 pm
- Location: Bird Key or a Mystery Location
- Fee: $32 with your own kayak
- $64 with kayak rental
We will be paddling inside of Lido key, including the mangrove tunnels in the South Lido Park Kayak Trail. Don is working on a special event to include with this tour, but details are not yet ready to announce. Watch the weekly reminder due out on March 3 for more details. If it happens, it will be awesome! And, as always our wonderful lunch and post paddle watermelon ceremony will be included.
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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TGIF - Snug Harbor
By Special Request
- Date: Friday, March 14
- Time: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Location: Gandy Beach (Demo Day Site)
- Fee: $32 with your own kayak
- $64 with kayak rental
This is not only one of Don's favorite TGIF sports, but at least one customer thinks so, too. It is scheduled on this night just so they can bring out-of-town friends on this wonderful trip. The tides are in our favor and the moon will be up. We'll be able to see the moonlight right through the mangrove canopy - way cool.
Post-paddle snacks will be at a local watering hole, and decided about March 1.
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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CRYSTAL RIVER
The Last Manatee Paddle This Season
- Date: Sunday, March 16
- Time: 10 am to 4:00 pm
- Location: Hunter Spring Park
- Fee: $38 with your own kayak
- $70 with kayak rental
All 300 manatees are back at this wintering spot. We will begin our search, in Three Sisters Springs. Then back to the park for lunch, followed by a wonderful tour of the grass swamps. This is like having two different paddles in one day. The inset photo was taken in 3 Sisters Springs on one of our trips. The background of the photo is an aerial of the grass swamp canals. I just did this trip again two weeks ago, and already I can't wait to go again.
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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LITTLE MANATEE RIVER
Good Friday Family Paddle
- Date: Friday, March 21
- Time: 10 am to 4:00 pm
- Location: Under the Hwy 301 Bridge
- Fee: $32 with your own kayak
- $64 with kayak rental
So why is this called a family paddle? Since this is scheduled for Good Friday, with kids out-of-school, it is a natural day for family outings. To encourage you to have your family outing with us, we've reduced the price. Every child (under 19) that comes with an adult, can come along at half price.
However, this trip is not limited to families. Everyone is invited to paddle on this beautiful river. Our lunch will be served river-side as well as the post-paddle melon. Of special note, energetic paddlers can continue past the take out and take a creek back upstream to "LOOP" back to the take out.
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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BRADEN RIVER
Linger Lodge
- Date: Monday, March 24
- Time: 10 am to 4:00 pm
- Location: Jiggs Landing
- Fee: $32 with your own kayak
- $64 with kayak rental
Some people have said this is a prettier paddle than the Hillsborough River. It has lots of lily pads, and oaks with Spanish moss hanging down. Plus, it has a one-of-a-kind restaurant adventure. We’ll either paddle upstream from Linger Lodge or upstream from Jiggs Landing depending on water levels. When we get to Linger Lodge, Don will buy gator tail and other appetizers for us. If you want more, bring some money. If this sounds like a good time, join us on this quiet paddle.
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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MYAKKA RIVER - LOWER LAKE
Gator Viewing
- Date: Sunday, March 30
- Time: 10 am to 4:00 pm
- Location: Myakka River State Park
- Fee: $32 with your own kayak
- $64 with kayak rental
On this trip we plan to paddle the lower lake, which is restricted to 30 people per day. As you enter the park tell the ranger you plan to paddle the lower lake. They will have you register and give you instructions how to find the put-in near the old ranger station. The photo on the right is of the put-in. The trip starts in a river much like others in central Florida. Then it changes to a twisty narrow ribbon in a grassy flatland. Before long it opens into a large, very shallow lake, the lower lake. After paddling across the lower lake we will emerge near big hole, a 140 feet deep, clogged up sink hole. We will serve you a scrumptious lunch somewhere near big hole, where ever we find the best location.
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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April Tours
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Weeki Wachee
- Date: Tuesday, April 8
- Time: 10 am to 4:00 pm
- Location: Canoe Livery at Weeki Wachee Springs
- Fee: $48 with your own kayak
- $82 with kayak rental
What a beautiful stretch of water! We'll stop at the manatees (3 last week), stop and swim, stop and eat, stop and snorkel, and may even stop at a rope swing. You may even join Don jumping from a tree. We’ll be done by 4:00. We usually do this trip on a week day to avoid boat traffic.
Paddle Difficulty: Novice and above
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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TGIF @ Coffee Pot Bayou
Pizza Party half way Through
- Date: Friday, April 11
- Time: 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
- Location: Coffee Pot Bayou Park Boat Ramp
- Fee: $32 with your own kayak
- $64 with kayak rental
Paddle through historic old North East St Petersburg, past Bird Island and into Tampa Bay. Weather permitting we will head past North Shore park, past the Vinoy Basin and to Spa Beach where we be met with salad, fresh pizza, cold drinks and dessert. If the group is energetic we will paddle around The Pier before returning to Coffee Pot Bayou.
Paddle Difficulty: Novice and above
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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Egmont Key Tour
- Date: Sunday, April 13
- Time: 9:30 am
- Location: Ft DeSoto Gulf Pier Parking Lot
- Fee: $60 with your own kayak
Since this is for intermediate paddlers, let’s hope for semi-challenging waves to play in. Upon arrival at the key, Russell will lead you on a walking tour of: the island, its 150 year old working lighthouse, gun batteries from the 1800s, Gopher Tortoises and many varieties of birds.
Difficulty: Intermediate Paddle with open water crossing. Spray Skirts Needed
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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Chasssahowitzka River
And Spring Spring Hunt
- Date: Tuesday, April 22
- Time: 10 am to 4:00 pm
- Location: Chassahowitzka River Camp Ground Boat Ramp
- Fee: $40 with your own kayak
- $70 with kayak rental
What a fun day – spend it hunting for springs in the creeks feeding into the Chassahowitzka River... Check out this photo. This spring opening is about 8 feet across. About 5 feet away there is another just like it. And they are connected under the surface about 24 inches down. We’ll string a tow line between them and guests can pull themselves along the line. And that is just the start. Then we will see the big outflow from the springs by the old Yoga Center, and then have a contest to find the entrance to Baird Creek, then have lunch at the Crack-In-the-Earth, then visit Salt Creek, and finally the old railroad trestle. And after that, there is the watermelon.
Paddle Difficulty: Novice and above
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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 Rapids
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Hillsborough River
Rapids at the State Park and more . . .
- Date: Sunday, April 27
- Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Location: Dead River Park
- Fee: $32with your own kayak
- $60 with kayak rental
This is a great wildlife and picturesque adventure. We’ll paddle upstream from Dead River, to the rapids at the State Park, having a real good lunch near there. Then we will paddle back to the put-in, where cold watermelon will be waiting for us.
Paddle Difficulty: Novice and above
RSVP (727) 570-4844
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Book your own private tour
Special rates are available for both guided and unguided trips at the venue of your choice. Call the shop at 727/570-4844 or send us a message at TheShop@www.SweetwaterKayaks.com.
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