To really experience Florida, you have to get out on the water. To get up close and personal with Florida’s waterways, the best way is by kayak. Not only was it a beautiful morning on the water but we learned so much about the local habitats and why biodiversity is important as we kayaked through the pristine estuary of Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTM-NERR). 
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Ripple Effect Ecotours Review St Augustine Kayak
Ripple Effect Ecotours in located at the Marineland Marina, the best place to swim with dolphins in St. Augustine. In fact, if you take a kayak tour with Ripple Effect Ecotours, you get a coupon for Marineland worth free admission.
We took an early morning guided kayak tour to beat the heat of the day. Our amazing tour guide, Sumo is a certified Florida Master Naturalist that answered every question we had and got us outfitted in the best kayaks for our needs – if you need more leg room like the men in my family, they got you covered.
There are several guided kayak tour options and all are customized to what you want to see and experience the most. My son is a budding ecologist so we asked to check out the flora and fauna of the coastal estuary and weren’t disappointed. He even found edible plants to nibble on!
We kayaked through large open waters as well as narrow creeks – something we could never do on our own as Florida tourists. However, if you are a seasoned kayaker, you can rent kayaks at Ripple Effects in St. Augustine as well.
I recommend bringing plenty of water, a large hat, and sunglasses! You’ll need it.
There are some quite shallow areas throughout. Sumo helps guide you through but if you get stuck, he’ll help you out. We were amazed at the salt marsh grasses as well as the many Florida birds we spotted and crabs on the banks. There was so to see as we leisurely paddled through. 
My kids are teens so they had no trouble paddling – but you should know that this tour is good for kids as young as 6. This is a very family-friendly event for families visiting St. Augustine, FL. It’s a real, authentic way to actually experience Florida – not just look at it but really get into the beauty of it. We were not lucky enough to spot dolphins or manatees during our trip but we had a fantastic time getting out in nature and exploring as a family. 
I highly recommend that you slow down and enjoy quality family time together on your next vacation and if it’s in St. Augustine, check out Ripple Effect Ecotours. You’ll learn so much about why biodiversity is important for the health of Floriday waterways and coastlines and how weather and seasons affect it all. You are sure to go away with a better appreciation of Florida than before you kayaked.
Book your guided kayak tour with Ripple Effect Ecotour now for your upcoming Florida vacation.
Ripple Effects Ecotour
The Town of Marineland Marina
101 Tolstoy Ln
St. Augustine, FL 32080
