Day Three: Staycation - Palmetto

Palmetto, Florida:  We made it, our first experience with kayaking was a major success.  It has been a long time coming but today was the day we decided to try kayaking for the first time and it was a favorite for everyone on the family.

We have been considering to go kayaking for a while but we kept holding off for a number of reasons.  At $55 per person, I always thought it was a big gamble for the unknown.  Would we like it, would it be too strenuous, are we going to flip over and drown or get bit by a shark or other sea life.

But the topic of kayaking during our Staycation came up earlier this week and we revisited the idea of going but once again, we were hesitant over the cost.  Since we were on a small budget,  $165 was a big risk and would drain a big chunk of what we had planned for our excursions.

Then over the weekend, we received a sign that really pushed us towards giving it a try.  While searching Groupon for deals on attractions, we came across an add for an Exotic Mangrove Tour by Shan-T Native Kayaks for just $20 a person.  Cost was no longer a factor and after reading their website, we decided to make it happen.

As we drove into Emerson Preserve, the butterflies began to settle in due to the uncertainty.  The feeling intensified briefly after getting underway on the water but it quickly disappeared after I realized how easy and peaceful kayaking actually was.  Plus knowing the water was only a few feet deep didn't hurt either.

The tour began with a quick Kayak 101, how to steer, how to stop and the basics.  Afterwards we were on our way through the mangroves.

The mangroves were a lot of fun to navigate through for a rookie kayaker.  I spent more time in the mangroves then in the open water, but by the time we reached the bay, I had a handle on steering.

Through the mangroves, we saw quite a bit wildlife. Herons, crabs, ospreys and even a snake.  Seeing snakes was actually one of the fears my wife had about the trip and of course she would be the one to run head first into the mangrove with the snake...face first.

After about a half hour trip through the mangroves, we opened up to Terra Ceia Bay.  What an amazing sight.  The views of the shoreline, Sunshine Skyway and St Pete skyline were great.

We spend some time paddling through the sea grass beds and sandbars looking for marine life.  The group managed to see several species of fish, some sting rays, star fish and many species of birds.  We didn't get to see any manatees, dolphins or sharks but the search was fun regardless.  I really enjoyed just floating along and taking in the beauty of the scenery and looking for sea life in the water.

The 2 1/2 hour kayak tour seemed to go by quickly.  But they always say, time flies when you are having fun and today was perfect proof of that.

Hats off to Mark with Shan-T Native Kayaks for making the tour an enjoyable experience.  His knowledge of the waters and the ecosystem made for a great tour.  I highly recommend his tour for anyone who wants to try kayaking.

I really enjoyed the kayak experience and will be doing it again in the future.  I told my dad about the experience on the way home and he wants to give it a try.  So we will be back on the water soon and hopefully it will be Mark guiding us through the waters.

Check back later for some more photos from today's tour.  Because of the wet environment, I did not take my good camera so photos are quite limited.

Our staycation continues tomorrow with a trip to Tampa.  We will be visiting the Y'Bor City Museum and the Henry Plant Museum as well as whatever else we find to do while traveling through downtown Tampa.