Fun

KAYAKING

South Creek at Oscar Scherer State Park

Group photo of the Kayakers of Venice Lemon Bay, FL

Day or night, pick your type of kayak and have a blast. Meet new friends. Develop new skills. Visit new places. Make a new life for yourself. These great friends are all members of the Venice Lemon Bay Kayakers org, www.venice-lemonbaykayakers.org. We kayak pretty much in the Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte county areas and occasionally do an overnighter out of the area but usually still in Florida. A wonderful, warm, friendly, helpful group. This is a super group to paddle with, whatever your skill level. (Note, Gene and Kayne have reflective tape on their paddle shafts for added visibility both day and night.)

"Recreation or fun is the expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's body or mind. While leisure is more likely a form of entertainment or sleep, recreation is active for the participant but in a refreshing and diverting manner. As people in the world's wealthier regions lead increasingly sedentary life styles, the need for recreation has increased. The rise of so called active vacations exemplifies this." From Dictioary.com.

Florida Circumnavigation Saltwater Paddling Trail

Florida’s Longest and Most Ambitious Sea Kayaking Trail

The State of Florida has created the Florida Circumnavigation Saltwater Paddling Trail. You can check out there the web site at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/paddling/saltwater.htm

In October 2007 the State of Florida, Office of Greenways & Trails asked that a group of volunteers form an organization to monitor and improve the trail. This organization formed in November 2007 and is now called the Florida Paddling Trails Association (FPTA). The web site will be active by Feb1.

www.floridapaddlingtrails.com

If you are interested in more information or desire to help the FPTA contact:

Hank Brooks

President FPTA

paddletrails1@gmail.com

"It’s the saltwater version of the Appalachian Trail.

Beginning at Big Lagoon State Park near Pensacola, extending around the Florida peninsula and Keys, and ending at Fort Clinch State Park near the Georgia border, the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail is a 1,515-mile sea kayaking paradise. The trail includes every Florida coastal habitat type, from barrier island dune systems to salt marsh to mangroves. Several historical sites and points of interest are accessible by kayak along with colorful fishing communities and urban centers.

The Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail has been divided into 26 segments. Each segment is unique, ranging from the remote Big Bend Coast and Everglades/Florida Bay wilderness, to the more urbanized coastlines of Pinellas County and Fort Lauderdale. Once complete, the trail will likely be utilized by thousands of Florida residents and visitors alike who will paddle the trail for a few hours, days, weeks or months. Some hardy souls will want to paddle the entire trail, or complete the trail in segments over several years, similar to how hikers often tackle the Appalachian Trail".

Florida Paddling Trails Association

Connecting Paddlers to Florida's Water Trails
This site has information on Florida paddling trails with information on both the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail and inland river water trails. You will find details on campsites, launches, sights to see and facilities along the trails. The Florida Paddling Trails Association, is the steward of the Circumnavigational Trail and helps with all water trails. Our mission is to develop trail campsites, protect the environment along the trail and build the Florida paddling community. Read more...

2009 Photo Contest Winners

The 2009 Paddler Photo Contest sponsored by the Florida Paddling Trails Association (floridapaddlingtrails.com) and Club Kayak (clubkayak.com) is now over. The contest has been exciting with so many great entries to choose from!

First Place: "Canoe Launch at Snook Haven" by Kayne Torman of Sarasota

Kayne receives her choice of a Intova Waterproof Digital Camera rated to 130 feet plus a 2 GB memory card or two hours of kayak skills training provided by Sweetwater Kayaks (Tampa Bay area only). She also gets a nifty Club Kayak ballcap.

ECONOMY TACKLE-DOLPHIN DIVE

*941.922.9671 http://www.economytackledolphindive.com/

6018 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida, 34231

Store Hours: Monday-Saturday 8am-7pm Sunday 9am-5pm

“Serving the watersports enthusiasts since 1948”

Economy Tackle - Dolphin Dive

KAYAKS * NEW * USED * CLASSES * DEMO DAY * RENTALS * TOURS * NEWSWLETTER * MAPS

"Conveniently located amid some of the best beaches and natural settings of Florida's Gulf coast, Economy Tackle/Dolphin Dive and Kayak Center has served as the water sport enthusiast's premier outfitter for 60 years.

Whether you are taking to the water to kayak, dive, or fish, Economy Tackle/Dolphin Dive and Kayak Center has top-brand names in equipment and a professional, experienced sales and service staff to assist you.

We also carry live and frozen bait plus a full line of top name clothing, footwear, and sunglasses. Find a listing and weblinks to all our product lines on our Fishing/Tackle page".

Economy Tackle - Dolphin Dive

A huge inventory of new kayaks of every description

REVIEW: ECONOMY TACKLE-DOLPHIN DIVE

ECONOMY TACKLE-DOLPHIN DIVE, Dick Pfaf and George the kayak department manager provide incredible paddling knowledge about the sport of kayaking and virtually every kayak made. Dick gives paddling lessons twice a month usually just before their spectacular "Demo Day" at which time they take 20 to 30 kayaks of every description over to Turtle Beach on Siesta Key or to Ackerman Park at Fruitville Rd and I-75. The best investment you will ever make is a paddling class with Dick and an opportunity to try every type of kayak possible at no charge and as many times as you like. Their location is convenient from most anywhere. The facility is first class. provides clean bathrooms and fitting rooms. Plenty off parking Their after sale service is unbelievable, period. I feature them on this "Fun" page my website for Best Dry Cleaners FL Nokomis FL.

A SILENT SPORTS OUTFITTERS

Mary Gordon mary@silentsports.comcast.net Hal White

941-966-5477

2301 Tamiami Trail North, Nokomis FL 34275

A Silent Sports OUtfitters

You won't believe how much inventory we have on hand.

We have over 250 kayaks and canoes on display and the largest selection of kayaking equipment and accessories in Florida.

Whether a first time kayaker or expert, whether it's for fishing, touring, exercise, surfing or just for fun we will help you select the right kayak for you.

We also know the importance of your safety that's why it has been our goal to not only get people started in this great sport but to keep them safe while enjoying this lifelong activity.

EASY KAYAKING - LESSONS / TOURS / RENTALS

Kayak with confidence and enjoy it more!

Terry Brawley, Owner

941-960-5505

352-262-4525

Info@EasyKayaking.NET

Venice, Sarasota, Florida

Snake Island at the mouth of the Venice Jetty in Florida. A very favorite dipping place for everyone.

On the right Gene's Current Designs Soltice GTS High Volume in Kevlar with a carbon fiber paddle. 18'-7"x 22"

Picture by K Torman

SISTA KEY BIKE & KAYAK (Formerly Midnight Pass Bike & Kayak)

SISTA KEY BIKE & KAYAK (Formerly Midnight Pass Bike & Kayak)is a family owned business serving Sarasota-Bradenton and the surrounding island beaches for over 25 years.

We have the best rates on Siesta Key with experience and friendly service and quality equipment.

We are a Fuji and Caloi Bicycle Dealer.

We rent Wilderness, Hurricane, and Ocean Kayaks.

We are a full service bike shop with new and used bikes and accessories.

SISTA KEY BIKE & KAYAK (Formerly Midnight Pass Bike & Kayak)

We have what you want.

REVIEW: SISTA KEY BIKE & KAYAK (Formerly Midnight Pass Bike & Kayak)

I am a kayaker and have know Scotty and Renee since 2004.I believe that you will never meet nicer, more friendly, helpful and hard working folks than Scotty and his wife Renee at SISTA KEY BIKE & KAYAK (Formerly Midnight Pass Bike & Kayak). I am so pleased to be their friend and fellow Florida small business person. They have a huge variety of quality kayaks for rent. Call or drop in and they will deliver and pick up your rental kayak complete with a map of the area, PFD (Lifejacket) and a paddle or paddles as needed for single or double kayaks. It's as easy as that. They have a dynamite location just over the South Siesta Key bridge. I feature SISTA KEY BIKE & KAYAK (Formerly Midnight Pass Bike & Kayak) on this "Fun" page of my web site for Best Dry Cleaners FL in Nokomis FL

Casey Key Fish House Old Tiki Hut. Great gathering place and watering hole. Good dipping place.

Right at the Blackburn Point Rd. Swing Bridge. Good swimming. Good fishing. Picture by K Torman

Grande Tours Kayak Center provides incredible paddling from their beautiful, convenient location. Short or long paddles are both a joy. The facility is first class.

The folks at Grande Tours Kayak Center are extremely helpful. You can't ask for nicer more helpful, knowledgable guys than Joe Mullen or Ed Engel. They give super kayak classes and Ed Engel is known and respected as one of the best makers of "Greenland Style", wood, paddles. Ed even gives classes on making paddles and helps folks that want to make their own paddle. A number of my friends have "Greenland Style" paddles made by Ed Engel.

Grande Tours Kayak Center provides clean bathrooms and showers and all other parts of their facilities are always right up to snuff. Plenty off parking on site with a very easy put in.

Ed and Joe are both directors of the Florida Paddling Trails Association.

I feature Grande Tours Kayak Center on this "Fun" page of my website for Best Dry Cleaners FL Nokomis FL.

WhatAboutBlue?

WAB "The Journey Begins" - Mississippi River Headwaters!

2500 miles down the Mississippi!

About the What About Blue? Campaign

What About Blue? is an emerging non-profit aimed at bringing attention to the Global Water Crisis on a local, national, and international level. Starting in July and ending in October, 3 adventurers will kayak 2500 miles down the length of the Mississippi from Bemidji, MN, to the Gulf of Mexico, in order to help raise awareness about this issue.

‘What About Blue?’ exists to encourage people to think specifically about Water and all the ways it is used in our lives. The organization’s mission is to enhance the awareness of Water and inspire action to preserve, cultivate, restore, protect, conserve, and share safe water.

Kevin Lilly