If you’re adventurous like us, then you’re often looking for fun outdoor date ideas. For us, spending the day on this Weeki Wachee kayaking adventure was the ideal outdoorsy date!
The Weeki Wachee River is a 12-mile river supplied by a first-magnitude spring that flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
The springhead is located in the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park–which is popular for its iconic live mermaids’ show!
Additionally, this crystal-clear spring water is a great place to experience manatee viewing. We were lucky enough to have the experience of seeing two manatees this day.
Seeing them swim beneath us was so surreal!
Being able to see what’s under us while kayaking is definitely one of the best things about these clear kayaks. It was also great kayaking with a tour guide, especially since this was our first time kayaking this river together.
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Things to Know for Your Weeki Wachee Kayaking Adventure
Kayaking is a great outdoor activity for everyone and it’s super fun, especially when you go to Weeki Wachee Springs. Here, you can rent a clear kayak and see manatees swimming underneath you which is an incredible experience! For those of you who plan on paddling for the first time, here’s how to make it an unforgettable adventure.
1. Get a tour guide for kayaking in Weeki Wachee Springs
When it’s your first time paddling, having a tour guide can make the experience a lot easier. A tour guide will help you get in and out of the kayak and will teach you the basics of how to use the paddles.
This is the best way to experience this great outdoor activity for the first time!
Our friends at Get Up and Go Kayaking Weeki Wachee have excellent, knowledgeable tour guides! They also make it a super fun experience. Plus, they’re the ones with these super cool clear kayaks.
2. Dress for the water, not the weather
The best way to break this down is to think about the water first. You don’t want to be wearing layers of sweatshirts and jackets only because it’s chilly outside.
You want to wear something that is perfect for the water and that will give you flexibility when paddling.
For example, swimsuits, UPF sun shirts, hats, and sunglasses are all fantastic things to wear on your Weeki Wachee kayaking trip.
3. Bring extra clothes
Although you don’t get extra wet when kayaking, it’s best to be prepared just in case.
4. Use a dry bag for your personal items when going on the Weeki Wachee kayaking adventure
The best way to keep all of your personal items safely stored while kayaking, is to keep them inside a dry bag. These dry bags are great for storing your keys, phones, and any other items or equipment that are not waterproof.
Luckily, on every kayak tour with Get Up and Go Kayaking, you are provided with one dry bag to use for the duration of the tour at no extra cost.
5. No experience is needed for kayaking in Weeki Wachee Springs
Contrary to what many believe, you don’t need any prior experience. Kayaking is one of the best water adventures and it’s suitable for any skill level. However, I do recommend booking a kayaking tour if you’re a first-time paddler.
Plus, the great thing after doing a kayaking tour is that you’ll feel well-prepared to go on more adventures on your own!
6. Don’t go kayaking alone
Just like hiking, it’s never a good idea to go kayaking alone. Therefore, partner up with a buddy, book a tour, or make it a date with your significant other! Kayaking in the crystal-clear water of Weeki Wachee Springs is an amazing date idea for outdoorsy couples and it’s also a great way to spend quality time together.
Plan your Weeki Wachee Kayaking Tour
Tour guide: Get Up and Go Kayaking Weeki Wachee
Duration of the tour: 2.5 hours
Adult Fee: $65 per person
Launch location: Mary’s Fish Camp, Springhill, FL
Info and reservations: getupandgokayaking.com
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Yanitza Ninett
Yanitza is an avid adventurer with 15+ years of hiking experience and outdoor travel. As a PADI-certified scuba diver, she's also passionate about ocean conservation. When she's not exploring the great outdoors, Yanitza obsesses over The Vampire Diaries and dreams of traveling to Mallorca, Spain.
wow these clear kayaks definitely look like quite the adventure – i honestly never saw one before!
They’re really cool because you can enjoy the view a whole lot more!
We would definitely check out kayaking on the Weeki Wachee River. I would love to catch sight of the manatees. But who would be watching who? I think a tour would give us a better experience. We have experience but would love the local expertise.
Yes, a tour is definitely the best way to do it for a better experience, especially if you want to view the manatees. They know the best time of the day that they’re around and they spot them quickly!
What great tips! This looks like an amazing kayaking adventure. I really like the clear kayaks, I’ve never seen those before, but I think they’d make kayaking even more fun and exciting.
Oh, yes! Definitely more exciting with these clear kayaks!
This is right up my alley. Even though I always travel solo (and also hike solo), I definitely would book a tour for kayaking. I love these see-through kayaks. It would be so cool to see the manatees.
I do a lot of solo hiking as well, but it really just depends. However, I find that a kayaking tour is better than doing it alone because the tour guides have the expertise as to when is the best time to view the wildlife and they can also recommend the best time for the type of adventure that you want.
I love this article and your pictures. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun! absolutely have to try this kind of “easy and safe kayaking”..it looks so much fun!!!
Thank you so much! Yes, we had lots of fun!