Trade screens for sunshine and slip into the quiet magic of Central Florida with Venture Outdoors. Led by ACA- and British Canoeing-certified guide Astrid Jackson, this small-group outfitter combines meticulous safety training wit...
Trade screens for sunshine and slip into the quiet magic of Central Florida with Venture Outdoors. Led by ACA- and British Canoeing-certified guide Astrid Jackson, this small-group outfitter combines meticulous safety training wit...
TJ and Astrid clearly know their stuff when it comes to Florida's waterways and wildlife. Reviewers consistently praise both guides for being knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely kind throughout their tours. TJ seems to have a real talent for spotting wildlife even during off-season, managing to find manatees, alligators, and various birds when others might miss them. Astrid gets similar love for her expertise on local flora and fauna, particularly around Blackwater Creek and King's Landing. The tours work well for beginners and experienced paddlers alike, with guides adapting to different skill levels without making anyone feel rushed. People appreciate the small group sizes (sometimes even private tours), which creates a peaceful, personalized experience. Multiple visitors mention seeing manatees up close, alligators, and plenty of bird species. The guides also handle weather changes professionally and provide photo documentation of the trip, which is a nice touch that guests genuinely appreciate.
We had a brilliant kayak trip with our guide TJ. Despite the weather forecast being thunder storms and being contacted by Astrid to come earlier to miss them we had wonderful weather which was a real bonus. TJ was knowledgeable and willing to try to make sure we saw as much wildlife as possible and we did. We saw manitees, gators and lots of birds and fish. It was peaceful and relaxing. Really good for novice paddlers too.
Caryl Horscroft
October 10, 2025
We had a brilliant kayak trip with our guide TJ. Despite the weather forecast being thunder storms and being contacted by Astrid to come earlier to miss them we had wonderful weather which was a real bonus. TJ was knowledgeable and willing to try to make sure we saw as much wildlife as possible and we did. We saw manitees, gators and lots of birds and fish. It was peaceful and relaxing. Really good for novice paddlers too.
Caryl Horscroft
October 10, 2025