Hello All,My wife and I are off during the week+ that the kids have off for Christmas break this year and are considering a trip down to Florida. We originally thought Disney but don't think we want to be there with the massive crowds (and Ft Wilderness is sold out). Although we try to look for sites with hookups, we prefer the "state park" camping type feel vs RV park. We also love to Kayak. My 7 yr daughters have their own kayaks and enjoy paddling. With that said, we have / and we are recreational kayakers. Most of our experience is smaller lakes and rivers. I would certainly try the ocean or gulf but only where it is calm and safe. I have been researching some of the areas to kayak with Manatees during this time which looks incredible. Please share any thoughts on locations we could go for a week anywhere in Florida. Should we head to the keys, stay up near orlando, etc? Maybe we will hit Disney on the way home just for 1 day but really want to focus on outdoor activities (mainly kayaking) Thanks for any feedback.

Check out around Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

I just went to ReserveAmerica and it is slim pickens at any of the SP the week between Christmas and New Years. The Keys will be even worse, it is kinda of late in the year to try and get any reservations for that week. With that said you might be relegated to a private campground instead of a SP. the Crystal River area as already stated is a very good pace to see manatees and to kayak. Good luck on your search.

Not sure of your camper size but Manatee cg is on the Indian River. Manatees are abundant there I hear. We are going over Christmas and New Years as well. As of Monday of this week they did have some openings depending on your camper size.

Santa Fe is a great paddle. Lots of options including shuttling from the Sante Fe Outpost in High Springs. Olena St.Park is the closest, beautiful park but sometimes hard to get in. Juniper Springs has a very nice/remote 7 mile kayak run. Alexander Springs is another nice option to camp/kayak. Tomoka st.park near Ormond beach is great for kayaks too. Many other options, just depends on what area you want and campground openings.

Rainbow River SP is another good spot as is the Silver River SP in Ocala. There are a lot of kayaking opportunities. If you want to do the Everglades then Collier-Seminole SP down near Ft Myers will put you right in among the gators.

Florida in December ideas to kayak | Good Sam Community

ekirkland
Explorer
Sep 18, 2015
Here are some state parks that my wife and I enjoyed kayaking this spring: Koreshan, Bahia Honda, Curry Hammock, Sebastian Inlet.
JupiterRT
Explorer
Sep 16, 2015
Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound/Jupiter if you can get a spot......
NanciL
Explorer II
Sep 16, 2015
North Florida and even central Florida can be pretty cold toward the end of December.

The state parks will be all booked solid in the Keys and south Florida.
And the Everglades National park will be all booked also

My wife and I are avid kayakers and winter in the Keys.

A suggestion: Call up Miami Everglades Campground and see if you can book a site. It is a very nice private RV park, very close to the southern entrance of the national Park.
They have full hook ups, a swimming pool and lots of other amenities.

It is only about an hour from key Largo. You could do day trips with the kids. Head to John Pennekamp coral reef state park and the kids will love paddling the mangrove canals.
There are a lot of other day trip options from there such as the "Nine mile pond canoe trail" in the Everglades National Park.

Check out our google web site for lots of good paddling trips through out Florida including the Springs areas and the Keys

They all have descriptions and directions

It is: https://sites.google.com/site/flkeyskayaktrips/

Jack L
JoeH
Explorer III
Sep 16, 2015
Juniper Springs ( not far from Salt Springs) also has a great run to paddle. It's about 4 hours long. There is a livery service to get you back .
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Sep 16, 2015
rockhillmanor wrote:
kfp673 wrote:
H.... I have been researching some of the areas to kayak with Manatees during this time which looks incredible. Please share any thoughts on locations we could go for a week anywhere in Florida. Should we head to the keys, stay up near orlando, etc? Maybe we will hit Disney on the way home just for 1 day but really want to focus on outdoor activities (mainly kayaking) Thanks for any feedback.

Kayaking the springs in north central Florida would be your best bet Hands down. This area is Kayakers heaven! Google the several different springs/rivers in and near 'Dunnellon', FL and 'Crystal River', FL.

Rainbow Springs/River has the most beautiful surreal blue water I have ever seen. You could spend months kayaking the numerous springs/rivers in and around this area. :C

Rock Crusher RV is often mentioned by forum members as a nice place to use as a base camp as is Dunnellon Rainbow State Parks, Goethe State forest, etc. (IMHO stay way away from the Ocala National Forest)

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Rainbow-Springs

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Silver-Springs

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Crystal-River-Preserve

This area of Florida is the best kept secret for recreational RV'ing.:W
I can vouch for kayaking at Silver Springs State Park.

Excellent view of the springs, but don't get close to the monkeys!
kfp673
Explorer II
Sep 16, 2015
Wow. Thanks everyone! I have a lot of research to do! Looks like some beautiful areas at a glance! I love the idea of kayaking crystal clear spring waters with lots of wildlife. I have to make sure it's relatively easy since we will have two 7 year olds with us, but this is some great info for me to get started. Thanks again!
avan
Explorer
Sep 16, 2015
agesilaus wrote:
If you want to do the Everglades then Collier-Seminole SP down near Ft Myers will put you right in among the gators.
Collier Seminole SP campground is completely closed until at least March '16 due to construction of site & bldg upgrades.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Sep 16, 2015
Check THIS out,
JoeH
Explorer III
Sep 16, 2015
Look into Salt Springs Recreational Area ( recreation.gov link)
It has full hookups, nice spring and a nice run from the spring to the lake to paddle. Also in the area are several other springs and their outflows that are good for paddling.
It looks like there are sites available during your timeframe.
RRinNFla
Explorer
Sep 16, 2015
I think the best bet at that time of year would be along the Suwanee River.

There are a number of state parks along the Suwanee, including, Stephen Foster Cultural, Suwanee River SP, Manatee Springs SP, and many others.

It is possible in December that you could get a couple of cold days. That's why the manatee are up in the rivers.