Central Florida is dotted with lakes, springs and waterways. Bubbling up from warm underground springs just north of Orlando, the Wekiva River feeds the St. Johns River (which in turn flows into Lake Monroe). Numerous resorts and canoe outfitters offer trips through the springs surrounding the Wekiva, including Wekiva Falls (formerly known as Mastadon Springs). While there is a steep fee at the gate ($5 for adults, $3 for children and animals), it's offset by the cheap canoe rentals ($1.50/hour, minimum 2 hours). Three of us (and my dog) ran $24 for a two-hour excursion with two canoes.
Canoeing can range from a leisurely activity to a vigorous cardiovascular workout. At Wekiva, it's also a great nature expedition: the waterway through the rich, sub-tropical wetland abounds with painted turtles, egrets, herons and the occassional gator. You don't have to be an experienced oarsman to enjoy the experience, although canoeing is a skill that takes some practice (and is different if you are sitting in the front or the back of a two-person canoe.) Fortunately, most of the Wekiva Falls area is shallow enough to stand in and is a temperate 74 degrees year round (so capsizing is only a humiliating experience).
Wekiva Falls Resort 30700 Wekiva River Rd., Sorrento, Florida 32766. Phone 407-830-9828 or 904-383-8055 for more information. Print this webpage for a map or check out its location in Map Blaster.
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